Podcasts about motherbirth

What would you do if you really trusted yourself? This is a beautiful question that comes up in today's episode, and I think everyone can take something from it and carry it into their lives. Mellisa Reeves of Motherbirth is sharing part of her journey with us. From some of the traumatic elements of her first hospital birth with her first son Aiden, a stillbirth in hospital at 41 weeks pregnant with her second son Rowan and two subsequent miscarriages, she brings us to the healing process and experience of her home birth with her daughter, Etney.  And along the way, Mellisa leaned into her passions and opportunities to help other women with loss. She started a podcast and online community called Motherbirth with her friend Laura, and has been coaching and providing resources for women and families. Links From The Episode: Mellisa's website - www.motherbirth.co Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://bit.ly/2DuMBxP - use code DIAH to get 20% off your order Splash Blanket: https://bit.ly/3JPe1g0 - use code DIAH for 10% off your order Esembly: https://bit.ly/3eanCSz - use code DIH20 to get 20% off your order More From Doing It At Home: Send us your birth story: https://bit.ly/3jOjCKl Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH Website: https://www.diahpodcast.com/ DIAH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doingitathome/ DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Merch: www.diahpodcast.com/merch Give Back to DIAH: https://bit.ly/3qgm4r9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would you do if you really trusted yourself? Mellisa Reeves of Motherbirth is sharing her journey with us. From some of the traumatic elements of her first hospital birth with her first son Aiden, a stillbirth in hospital at 41 weeks pregnant with her second son Rowan and two subsequent miscarriages, she brings us to the healing process and experience of her home birth with her daughter, Etney. And along the way she started the Motherbirth podcast and has been providing resources for women.

Few people have the tenacity and the resolve to recognize a gap in women’s health care services and then break down the barriers to fill the gap and find a place for themselves amid the new design. But, that is exactly what today’s guest, Director of Midwifery Care, Nikia Grayson, CNM, DNP, MPH did at CHOICES — Memphis Center for Reproductive Health in Memphis, Tennessee. Coming from the DC area, Nikia found the infant mortality rates among families of color in Memphis distressing. With a lack of community-based programs and very little influence left over from the Granny Midwives of the past, Nikia set her sights on creating a high-quality, non-judgmental, comprehensive reproductive health center the entire community could use. The organization Nikia helped transform — CHOICES — started as a cash-only abortion clinic. The organization now provides different health care choices based on community needs. During our conversation, Nikia shares information about her personal journey to becoming a midwife, the new birthing center, and how MotherBirth listeners can support the program. Her passion for women, providing equal access for the entire community, and focusing on the entire spectrum of reproductive health needs is so inspiring. We are so excited to share this incredible conversation. In This Episode: The barriers to becoming a midwife How she built trust and relationships within the community How funds are raised for the reproductive center How policy and politics have disrupted the long-standing tradition of midwifery The importance of high-quality, non-judgmental care How the same women who have babies are the same women who have abortions Why having a birth team is important The past role of a Granny Midwife in a community How to support the work of CHOICES, locally or otherwise How to get a free 1-month trial of guided meditations through Expectful Show Notes: Memphis CHOICES Website Memphis CHOICES on Facebook @MotherBirth.co on Instagram Expectful — 1 Month Free Trial for MotherBirth Community Members

Shownotes: http://fizzleshow.com/286 Do you need new ideas for content creation? How can you setup a stream of constant creative energy to best serve your audience? Is there a recipe for this process? Although there are no definitive answers to these questions, here at Fizzle we do think we have some helpful directions to get your content conveying belt rolling! It is actually a bit easier than you might think to get that pot steaming and your platforms fizzling with fresh new stuff for you clients. In this episode we talk a little about marketing and social media and the different philosophies around these concepts before getting down to the actual nitty gritty ways to jumpstarting your creativity. We also talk about SEO, bias, viral sharing and all that good stuff you are usually aiming for. We look at the three major avenues that you can use, that are right at your fingertips, so we know you are going to want to get in on this! For all this and much more, be sure to tune into this must-hear episode! Key Points From This Episode: • The evolution of content marketing and social media now. [0:03:55.4] • The two schools of thought on what makes content grow. [0:07:19.6] • Matching your content and strategy with your type of business. [0:12:38.4] • The built in bias that can help us along our entrepreneurial path. [0:18:45.7] • Using both schools of thought in conjunction with each other. [0:22:20.9] • Accidental SEO and finding your way as you go. [0:28:02.4] • Writing content for shares or viral possibility. [0:29:50.3] • Content creation as a means to scratch your own itch. [0:35:25.7] • Taking inspiration from your own life and business for new content. [0:39:05.4] • Ideas from research and surveys in an existing community. [0:45:00.8] • What are your contemporaries creating? Using this question as a starting point. [0:50:22.4] • Grouping these strategies into passive and active. [0:56:49.1] • And much more! Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: • Fizzle — https://fizzle.co/ • Motherbirth — https://motherbirth.co/ • Simplified Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/simplified/?hl=en • Matt Giovansci — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgiovanisci • Swim University — https://www.swimuniversity.com/ • Flywheel Hosting — https://fizzle.co/sparkline/fizzle-plus-flywheel • SEO fro Bloggers — https://fizzle.co/seo • Brendan Hufford — https://brendanhufford.com/ • Epic Content Marketing - https://fizzle.co/sparkline/epic-content-marketing • Clayton Christensen — http://www.claytonchristensen.com/ • BuzzFeed — https://www.buzzfeed.com/ • Joe Rogan — https://www.joerogan.com/ • Fizzle Roadmap — https://fizzle.co/sparkline/small-business-roadmap-1-clarity • Courage and Clarity — https://www.courageandclarity.com/ • The Goal Digger Podcast — https://podcast.jennakutcher.com/ • Jenna Kutcher — https://jennakutcher.com/home • Is Your Dream Really Possible? Episode — https://www.courageandclarity.com/podcast/108 • Scott Dinsmore — https://liveyourlegend.net/about-scott-dinsmore/ • Ahrefs — https://ahrefs.com/ • Pat Flynn — https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/ • Joe Biden — https://www.huffingtonpost.com/topic/joe-biden • Corbett Barr on Twitter — https://twitter.com/CorbettBarr • Chase Reeves on Twitter — https://twitter.com/chase_reeves • Start A Blog That Matters Course — https://fizzle.co/start-a-blog-that-matters • Fizzle 80/20 Copywriting Guide — https://fizzle.co/sparkline/writing-copy-for-web • Fizzle Toolkit — https://fizzle.co/toolkit • Fizzle Goals Course — https://fizzle.co/courses/goals • Fizzle Journaling Course — https://fizzle.co/courses/journal • Fizzle Craft + Commerce — https://fizzle.co/sparkline/craft-commerce • Fizzle Project Management for Entrepreneurs — https://fizzle.co/sparkline/project-management-for-entrepreneurs • Fizzle Try 5 — http://fizzle.co/try5 • Fizzle Hosting — https://fizzle.co/hosting

Today’s episode inspires women to shed the programming and ideals society has fed us about how we feel about our bodies and what we should look like. Licensed Psychotherapist Ellen Boeder shares insights on how to be empowered during motherhood and beyond and how we can profoundly respect the value of our nurturing, feminine, magnificent selves. Ellen has spent most of her career working with women through the deep-rooted confusion that can lead to eating disorders and body image issues. She helps women sort through the culturally handed-down and media-driven information that has created unrealistic ideals of what it means to be a woman. We get into how pregnancy and the postpartum period can be significant contributors to a woman’s perception of her body and lead to body dysmorphia, eating disorders and generalized shame about our bodies and even our worth as humans. During our conversation, Ellen also shares her own personal journey to motherhood including how she integrated the newfound joy of motherhood with her treasured career. In This Episode: The narrative women are offered around work and their bodies Society’s impact on the motherhood journey The use of food to distract from deeper issues The earning mentality: Binging and deprivation Motherhood as a trigger and a cure of body image issues Unconscious modeling The influence of marketing on women’s decisions about beauty, health, and wellness Disassembling the beliefs handed down from past generations The lost practice of celebrating our fertile bodies A Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) Using crowdfunding to save for future college expenses Show Notes: Rearranged by Motherhood Blog Rearranged by Motherhood on Facebook Ellen Boeder Private Practice College Backer — Listeners of Motherbirth receive a $10 match contribution with this link

How have your personal experiences launched you into a certain line of work or the pursuit of a passion? Today’s show is about someone who used the tough and challenging journey into motherhood to find ways to help others through their difficulties. If your road to motherhood has been anything but smooth sailing, then you don’t want to miss today’s show!   Mellisa Reeves is a doula, coach, and the co-founder of the Motherbirth podcast and community. She shares her personal story around postpartum anxiety and the difficulties that caused in connecting with her son, along with the subsequent loss, birth trauma, and milestones that came and went. She shares about what she had to overcome and how she felt disconnected after the birth of her son and how her experiences have shaped the work she does today. Mellisa works with women who have experienced pregnancy loss and want to trust their bodies again, helping them find their path to hope and healing through the innate intuition they each possess. Brought up with an innate love for simple, natural, rhythmic living, Mellisa’s perspective on motherhood and life comes from a slow reawakening to the depth of feminine wisdom through her experience of stillbirth, multiple miscarriages, and postpartum anxiety. Mellisa is based in Portland but travels semi-fulltime with her husband and two children.    Show Highlights:   How Mellisa’s interest in perinatal wellness was sparked by her first pregnancy loss, and then intensified with a difficult postpartum period with her son and the stillbirth of her second son As the oldest of ten siblings, she grew up on a farm in Canada with a hippie mother who was either pregnant or breastfeeding for Mellisa’s entire childhood and youth How her mother was very intentional, thoughtful, and present as a mom, and how Mellisa drew confidence from her about the manual aspects of motherhood, but felt severely lacking in the emotional preparation The challenges with a difficult birth, postpartum, and bonding issues with her son How she struggled with postpartum anxiety and felt like that trying time period would NEVER end How she was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t comprehend having more children, lacked any peer support, and lacked connection with her intuition and inner voice How her son reacted with force to her attempts to control him and she thought she would never have a connected relationship with him She got pregnant with her second son when her oldest was 3, and she still had high anxiety and felt the darkness of that time Why she couldn’t reconcile her “different lives” as mother to her oldest as she was pregnant with her second, who was stillborn at 42 weeks; this became the turning point in the healing of the relationship with her oldest Now, when he is 9 years old, they have a difficult relationship, but a beautiful and dynamic one in which they both sense what it takes to stay connected How the healing happens in a non-linear way Mellisa’s journey into doula care and birth advocacy, supporting women and coaching them through pregnancy loss and birth trauma How her personal experiences have resonated and taken her into certain fields where she finds passion to help others How a doula supports mental health for mothers where relationships and connection are usually lacking How we can change the first few months of motherhood to impact the rest of a woman’s journey The experience after Mellisa’s daughter was born last year, despite a difficult postpartum and multiple losses previously Why it’s difficult to admit that our relationships with our children are less than ideal because of what it says about us as mothers How her podcast shares stories and experiences of women and the significant identity shift that takes place with the birth of the firstborn How the podcast shares stories of the transition to motherhood and its themes and narratives that are common and shared Her co-host, Laura, is finishing up her doctorate in Nurse Midwifery and focuses on the power of storytelling and group coaching   Resources: The Conscious Parent by Shefali Tsabary Find Mellisa online, along with her courses and group coaching:  www.trustyourbodyagain.com Find the Motherbirth podcast:  www.motherbirth.co Connect with Mellisa on Instagram

In today’s episode, we have an in-depth conversation with Megan Connolly, a Co-Founder of Well Made Mama. There are many resources available to women regarding the physical changes their bodies experience during motherhood but few focus on the emotional and mental transformations that last a lifetime. For Megan, starting a conversation and raising awareness about the importance of community during motherhood is essential. Her organization aims to offer resources and community to modern mothers to help them thrive in their transition to motherhood. The science of motherhood often has a gap that exists in what to expect when preparing for a baby. During our conversation, we discuss the changes in our society that have removed the community component from motherhood, how making friends can be an essential survival skill for a mother, the neuroscience of motherhood, identity shifts, and how to adapt to all of these changes in a personal, healthy way. In This Episode: The continuous state of change that is motherhood The role of oxytocin and dopamine during pregnancy and breastfeeding How having a community can ease your anxiety The transitions and identity shifts of young mothers The process of turning to information for comfort in place of communities Creating an assessment of the level of support a new mother has Tips for finding a community How to invest in your well-being Different cultures offer different levels of community support How friends are beneficial role models to mothers Extending the meaning of postpartum Using crowdfunding to save for future college expenses Show Notes: Well Made Mama Trust Your Body Again — A Course from Motherbirth College Backer — Listeners of Motherbirth receive a $10 match contribution with this link

In today’s episode, we speak with three women who were instrumental in establishing midwifery into traditional, bustling, hospital settings. Between them, they have over 50+ years of birth work experience and they continue to mentor, teach and serve women in the midwife community and beyond. Nel assisted her mother in the birth of a sibling at age three. The baby was stillborn. This left a lasting impression on her. After countless babies appeared in her life, she knew she should follow the path to midwifery and has dedicated her career to creating a homebirth model in a small hospital setting. She currently mentors and teaches midwifery to midwives in rural Maine. Nell has pioneered many revolutionary practices in midwifery and is well known for her contributions. Denise is a midwife in a hospital in The Bronx. She assists women from marginalized areas of society gain access to a midwife in high-risk pregnancies. She works to build trust with doctors who may not understand the role or purpose of a midwife and with the patients who come from various cultural backgrounds. Sharon is Chief of the Midwifery Division and oversees a midwife education program at Baystate Medical Center. She works with women who need care but have barriers to getting it. She helps women of all backgrounds to make informed decisions about their pregnancy with the goal of removing the anxiety and judgment sometimes related to the birth process. We sat with these women and heard their powerful stories and now share their power with you. *This is our second session of recordings with women who serve as midwives from the Motherbirth booth at the American College of Nurse-Midwives Annual Conference. In This Episode: The importance of relationships The similarities of Midwifery in rural and urban environments Integrating the homebirth model into a hospital setting How midwives can decrease the level of trauma during birth Changes in midwife care since the 1970’s The continuity model of care Eliminating the judgment women have about their birth experience Building access to midwife care for women in marginalized communities Making doctors aware of the role of a midwife Prenatal and postpartum emotional support The need to reduce anxiety in expectant mothers Allowing the body to follow its natural birth process The father’s experience of childbirth Using crowdfunding to save for future college expenses Show Notes: Listen to Episode #68 — “Peyote In Labor, Feminism, and Running Away From the Army” College Backer — Listeners of Motherbirth receive a $10 match contribution with this link

In today’s episode, we speak with three extraordinary women who are dedicating their lives to the service of others. All three are birth workers who embrace respecting a woman’s cultural heritage and traditions. They candidly share their personal journeys and the wisdom they have cultivated over their many years of service. T’Karima believes that birth is a ceremony. She is an American who deeply identifies with her Mexican roots. She is researching a highly controversial topic — using peyote during labor and giving birth in sweat lodges like many indigenous Latin American cultures do. Missy is a certified midwife who serves all people. She is an advocate of human rights and for the LGBTQ+ community. She is working to implement an IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) program within her practice. Mary Rose is a nurse/midwife who left the Army at 18 when she became pregnant after being raped. She gave birth to her son at The Farm in Tennessee. She stayed at the Farm for four years as a midwife assistant apprentice and she now serves Navajo women on a reservation. We sat with these women and heard their powerful stories and now share their power with you. *This episode was recorded live from our Motherbirth booth at the American College of Nurse-Midwives Annual Conference. In This Episode: The importance of respecting cultural heritage and customs Supporting a mother’s choice of birth environment and method Giving birth in a sweat lodge Using medicinal plants during pregnancy and childbirth Midwife care for LGBTQ+ communities Implementing an IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) program What midwives can do next Identifying with multiple cultures The importance of language while serving all people Running away from the army after being raped and having no recourse Finding a safe place on The Farm to give birth and heal Setting a foundation of love and peace for children Using crowdfunding to save for future college expenses Show Notes: American College of Nurse-Midwives Annual Conference T’Karima Ticitl on Facebook College Backer — Listeners of Motherbirth receive a $10 match contribution with this link

Shownotes: http://fizzleshow.co/275 (http://fizzleshow.co/275) Have you been waiting to hear more about Chase's better half's business? What exactly is Motherbirth and how did Mellisa Reeves go about starting her company? This episode is all about Mellisa and the business she started centering around helping and fostering meaningful maternal dialogues. Mellisa is here today, talking to Chase and unpacking her journey before and after launching her own company. We discuss the inspiration behind her work, her job in real estate before branching out and the ideas and values that are the foundation of what she does. A big takeaway from the episode is the idea of the slow-burn approach and Chase and Mellisa really flesh out this great concept. We also talk about charging for a service aimed at people in pain, self-awareness, content creation and getting away from the information overload. So for all this and more, join Mellisa and Chase for an extra special episode! Key Points From This Episode: • Some information on what Motherbirth is about. [0:05:40.2] • The reasons that underpin Mellisa's work with her company and podcast. [0:07:52.6] • Turning a passion into a profit and balancing the pressure. [0:10:56.2] • Gauging your own inner compass of connection to what is most important. [0:14:02.1] • The concept of slow-burn progress and the sustainability it provides. [0:17:44.6] • A lesson we can all learn from bacteria! [0:22:20.3] • The catalyzing factors in developing the Motherbirth course. [0:31:20.6] • What sparked the idea of Mellisa's motherhood coaching. [0:32:21.4] • Making peace with charging people who are in pain. [0:38:29.3] • The first steps in developing the group coaching and course. [0:40:01.2] • The way Mellisa managed creating the content for each week of her course. [0:46:30.8] • The technical skills that Mellisa picked up along the way. [0:49:25.9] • Avoiding the entrepreneurial inclination to fiddle endlessly. [0:52:39.6] • Why this process of fiddling is so enticing. [0:55:39.6] • Mellisa's policy on lessening the amount of unhealthy kinds of information. [0:57:59.6] • And much more! Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: • Gusto — https://gusto.com/fizzle • HoneyBook — https://www.honeybook.com/fizzle • Sezzle — https://sezzle.com/fizzle • Fizzle — https://fizzle.co/ • Fizzle Toolkit — https://fizzle.co/toolkit • Fizzle Goals Course — https://fizzle.co/courses/goals • Fizzle 80/20 Copywriting Guide — https://fizzle.co/sparkline/writing-copy-for-web • Fizzle Journaling Course — https://fizzle.co/courses/journal • Fizzle Roadmap — https://fizzle.co/sparkline/small-business-roadmap-1-clarity • Fizzle Craft + Commerce — https://fizzle.co/sparkline/craft-commerce • ConvertKit — https://fizzle.co/convertkit • Motherbirth — https://motherbirth.co/ • Motherbirth Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/motherbirth.co/ • Motherbirth Course — https://motherbirth.co/trust-your-body-again • Alan Watts — http://www.alanwatts.org/ • Joe Rogan — https://www.joerogan.com/ • Final Cut Pro — https://www.apple.com/lae/final-cut-pro/ • Tim Ferriss — https://tim.blog/

Dez and her same-sex partner chose their own path to getting pregnant — after carefully selecting a sperm donor through a personal connection, they successfully performed at-home insemination with sterile tools purchased on Amazon. The couple has been able to use the same donor for both of their children and maintain a relationship with him that feels just right. Dez had two distinctively different births — during her first birth, it was decided to induce labor at 39 weeks. Her blood pressure plummeted after her first epidural and the staff gave her a second. When her contractions started, the staff prepped her for it to take awhile, but her labor from there was unbelievably fast! Throughout her next pregnancy, she combated gestational diabetes and a complication during birth which led to a NICU stay for her son and the possibility of losing her own life. Dez’s story may be unique but its themes are so common — reminding us that every journey into motherhood takes us to the edge of ourselves and also awakens love we never knew we had. Expectful is a guided meditation app for each stage of the motherhood journey — you can sign up for an exclusive 1-month free trial here! In This Episode: ● The alternative at-home options to fertility clinic procedures ● How she fertilized her eggs with cost-friendly options ● How she and her partner chose their known donor ● How she was treated by hospital staff because she was plus-size ● How therapy is helping her cope emotionally with almost losing her second child ● How she changed her diet and still experienced gestational diabetes ● How she cared for her child after his stay in NICU ● How to get a free one-month trial of guided meditations through Expectful ● Join us for our 3o Days of Mindfulness this month — more info on our Facebook page Show Notes: Expectful — One Month Free Trial for MotherBirth Community Members 30 Days of Mindfulness with Motherbirth and Expectful

From a very young age, Stephanie Tillman was called to care for people. After a short time of studying to become a physician, she discovered the model of midwifery was more aligned with her personal goals of providing humanistic care to people. She is a passionate and vocal advocate for women’s rights, queer and trans health care, reproductive rights and for breaking down power dynamics in health care relationships. On her Feminist Midwife blog, she writes about her experiences in serving people’s sexual and reproductive health needs and provides educational resources for providers looking to adopt an empathetic approach. Her compassionate method of care includes talking through the intimate experience of gynecological care, the importance of asking for consent, and empowering the people she provides care to. During this inspirational and informative conversation, she shares why it’s important that caregivers prioritze the transfer of power and knowledge to the patient and details the process she uses when working with people including assuming everyone she works with comes from a place of trauma. Expectful is a guided meditation app for each stage of the motherhood journey — you can sign up for an exclusive 1-month free trial here! In This Episode: ● The history of midwifery and the many roles of a midwife ● How she works and communicates with people of different cultures and colors ● How she holds space and stays present for people as a midwife ● Her concern of violence against women in the name of healthcare ● How she works to decrease blatant human rights violations in people’s bodies ● How to balance power and allow people to ask for the type of treatment they are seeking ● The opportunity to create intentional, conscious healthcare providers ● How she creates resources for midwives who work with the queer and trans population ● How instances of sexual assault are higher in the queer community and with people of color ● How she removes judgment by assuming all people come from a place of trauma ● How to get a free one-month trial of guided meditations through Expectful ● Join us for our 3o Days of Mindfulness this month — more info on our Facebook page Show Notes: Expectful — One Month Free Trial for MotherBirth Community Members Feminist Midwife Blog 30 Days of Mindfulness with Motherbirth and Expectful

When Jannie and Carrie decided to have children they both hoped for the experience of being pregnant. After multiple IUI and IVF fertility treatments for both of them, Carrie was finally the one to get pregnant. The story of her pregnancy and how they both transitioned to motherhood together is raw and beautiful. The playful couple is trying to get pregnant again. They have had several unsuccessful insemination attempts and choose to stay positive and supportive despite the challenges. They are well aware of the physical, emotional and mental drains that go along with the fertility process but the love and fun a baby brings into their lives make it all worth it. We talk about career, going back to work after baby and how they make it all work while running a booming business together - hint, hint… it takes lots of communication! Jannie and Carrie’s spunky outlook on life, motherhood and work will have you laughing and also thinking about how similar our stories are even when they might look different on the surface. You’ll love this episode! Expectful is a guided meditation app for each stage of the motherhood journey — you can sign up for an exclusive 1-month free trial here! In This Episode: ● Their unconventional method for choosing a sperm donor ● How being pregnant can bring creativity ● How they share parenting & discipline duties in the home ● Dealing with PUPP skin rash ● The relief postnatal massage and acupuncture offers ● How hormonal shifts can bring guilty feelings ● The emotional, physical and mental strains of the fertility process ● How Jannie handled being unable to get pregnant along with Carrie ● Being an LGBT parent ● How they explain the many different types of families to their son ● How to get a free 1 month trial of guided meditations through Expectful ● Join us for our 3o Days of Mindfulness this month - more info on our Facebook page Show Notes: Expectful — 1 Month Free Trial for MotherBirth Community Members Feast Portland Little Green Pickle 30 Days of Mindfulness with Motherbirth and Expectful

Today’s guest, Anna Gannon, is a Mother, Writer, Yoga Teacher and Co-Founder and Community Guide at Expectful.com. At 7 ½ months pregnant she was let go from her position as a yoga instructor and uncertain of her next steps. Anna had always struggled with depression and while she had never previously used meditation as a tool, a timely connection opened her up to the world of mindfulness - and had a life-saving impact on her postpartum experience. Anna hadn’t done a lot of preparation for her daughter’s birth, reflecting the experience of her mother who never complained and had seven children. But, when she experienced breastfeeding issues so severe her nipples were cracked and bleeding and she had difficulty sleeping, the meditation she’d been experimenting with would become a non-negotiable daily practice. Anna is passionate about the benefits of meditation for mothers. Facing postpartum depression and at one point questioning whether her daughter would be better off without her, she describes meditation as saving her life. As the Co-Founder and Community Guide at Expectful, she has created a safe place for women to share, to listen, and to be heard in supportive conversations during their fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood journey.This episode launches our collaboration with Expectful, a guided meditation app for each stage of the motherhood journey - you can sign up for an exclusive 1 month free trial here! In This Episode: ● Overcoming emotional and physical challenges during pregnancy ● How she dealt with breastfeeding and sleep issues ● How meditation can assist mothers through every stage of motherhood ● How using meditations can ease postpartum depression ● The importance of support and community for women ● How to be more present in life ● How to calm your thoughts ● How to celebrate and experience the whole spectrum of motherhood ● How to get a free 1 month trial of guided meditations through Expectful ● Join us for our 3o Days of Mindfulness this month - more info on our Facebook page Show Notes: Expectful — 1 Month Free Trial for MotherBirth Community Members Expectful on Facebook 30 Days of Mindfulness with Motherbirth and Expectful

When you are on the right path you don’t always recognize it at first. Roadblocks often seem like the perfect place to give up. Laura, the co-host of the Motherbirth podcast, didn’t give up. She has been pursuing her life’s calling of becoming a nurse-midwife for years. During this episode, Laura shares the intimate details of her personal journey, her ups and downs, how her determination has paid off, and the reason she energetically advocates for women’s healthcare issues. Laura believes passionately in the midwifery model of care.  She would like to see all women receive the support of a midwife or doula offers in terms of holistic care.  Throughout her challenging journey to be able to provide this kind of care to women herself, Laura has worked as a doula, labor and delivery nurse, and is now finishing her doctorate in Midwifery.   Advocacy on behalf of immigrants, minorities and people without access to health care is a big part of her her work and the passion that she cultivates daily in her education and practice as a birthworker. Hearing behind the scenes of how Laura got to where she is today and how she is able to bring so much wisdom and experience to Motherbirth was a true joy; and we know you will love learning more about her journey too!   In This Episode: ● How the role of a midwife differs from an OB/GYN ● How laws for midwives differ by state ● The importance of engaging in women’s healthcare rights ● The close personal relationship between a doula and a mother-to-be ● How women should trust their intuition and their bodies ● How a culture shift is needed in the U.S. surrounding women’s healthcare rights ● How insurance companies treat women differently than men   Show Notes: Birthing Stone — Baby Sleep Program Birthingway College American College of Nurse-Midwives  

Are you ready for this bonus episode?! It's a little out there and incredibly raw... and while it's a departure from the classic C&C format, I'm still a little electrified from this conversation. As we prepare to kick off Season 2 of these podcast (YAY!), I was having a conversation with my teammate and friend, Chase Reeves. He asked me one important question:"How do you want Courage & Clarity to feel?" The question gave me pause for a few different reasons.First of all, it was refreshing. Questions like, "What should our goal be for this podcast?" often leave me scratching my head -- uhh, 1,000 people listen to it? A million people? Having Oprah on the show?? But how I want it to feel? That's a question I can actually answer. This conversation isn't about shirking results. Results are big time important mile markers -- I'm starting to see them as the guard rails that help ensure a project is on track. But I see them less and less as a guiding light. You see, "results" or "goals" as we traditionally define them are burdened with energy-draining traps laid by ego, comparison and doubt. Those goals want to keep us on the hamster wheel, chasing "success" without ever really feeling great.You have to start with how you want it to feel, not just when it's over, but while you're creating. Here's how Chase put it:"If you want some outcome, spend time practicing how you want that outcome to feel." I know it might feel like a stretch, but all the things you want to feel -- joy, competence, excitement, security, safety -- you don't have to wait to feel them. You can feel those things right now, before you reach "success" (

Todays special show is all about what is happening in LA and how you can help ...This is from my guest I will have on in the morning: Thousands of families lost everything in the flood waters. They had to be evacuated in boats and leave everything behind. MotherBirth is in a unique position in which we have influence with people who could not sleep knowing a baby would go without food or a clean bottom. So, we started collecting diapers, wipes and formula. It is specific. It is important. And it makes a difference in the lives of moms and babies.It's overwhelming the number of people in need, the number of different needs, and the distance in which this devastation is.  Within a matter of one day, the donations were pouring in and the emergency needs were being reported all over social media. MotherBirth mobilized and began to connect the needs with the help. We've had organizations, churches, businesses and generous individuals partner with us to maximize these efforts. We are merely the conduit for the help to get to those in need that is being provided by our community and others around the country. It is overwhelming, heart breaking and at the same time our hearts swell with pride and gratitude over all of the goodness in this world that is still left. We're honored to be a small part of the help in our community. We pray our efforts make a difference to parents who have found themselved in a tragic situation, and they feels loved and supported by their community. We know we'll never meet them and don't do any of this for recognition.