It's the little things! It's all about the little things, my friends
Episode #036 is out - I chat with Brooke from @brookerozzie ,a certified Nutritionist and Personal Trainer with over 13 years experience. Brooke coaches and mentors women to feel their best in their skin and mind through focuses on hormonal health, nutrition, mindset work, movement, and lifestyle/wellness components.
We cover topics ranging from...
🫑tips on how to simplify healthy meal-planning as a mama (something I'm always looking to do)
🥒how food impacts hormonal health which impacts day-to-day life
🥦just doing your best when it comes to eating good food.
Aaand to be honest: most days, I give myself a pat on the back for throwing some frozen veggies in the microwave for my family, even if the rest of the meal is a McDonald's burger or frozen chicken nuggets...and that is good enough. 🤷🏼♀️ YOU are good enough ❤
Click the link in my bio to tune in, or search for what about the mama? anywhere you listen to your podcasts!
Already a fan? Share with a mama friend, subscribe, or leave a review on Apple podcasts. Thank YOU for being here
Parenting is a lot of things, but it's definitely NOT this: perfect
Sidenote: There is no 🌟right🌟, or perfect, way to parent!
(Take a breath mama, you're doing great)
Something that works for me and my family, lifestyle, and aligns with our values, may not work for you. Who's right in that situation then? 🤷🏼♀️
Anyway, back to the episode. In this episode, I chat with Danielle Delorenzo, a rock star pediatric occupational therapist, author (her book was just released!) and mama with a neurodivergent son.
We dive into acceptance, the stigma behind perfect parenting, and how crucial it is to support our differences and show compassion to others. Because at the end of the day, we all have one goal: to do the best we can for our babies. Our paths may look vastly different, but our destination is the same.
Tune in by clicking the link in my bio, or searching for what about the mama? anywhere you listen to your podcasts.
Already a fan? Leave a review on Apple podcasts, share with a mama friend, or subscribe. Thank you! ❤
The fact that a woman's body can create, house, and feed a real human being is mind-blowing
I mean, our bodies create an entire ORGAN to take care of a human that grows inside of us. That sounds like something straight out of a science fiction movie, doesn't it?
But that's not the focus of many forms of media - instead, the focus is to share ways to quickly lose that baby weight and how to bounce back to your pre-baby body.
It's the unrealistic "before and afters"
It's the articles about "how it only took me 6 weeks to get back into my pre-pregnancy jeans!"
People are preying and trying to make money off of our insecurities, and that is so gross
The whole "bounce back" culture is the resistance between us and accepting our new mama bodies.
No wonder that many first-time mamas have distorted ideas of how postpartum "should" be! (yeppp, myself included)
That's what Emily, owner of Abide Health Coaching, and I chat about on this week's episode of the podcast. We talk about
❤What disordered eating is, and how that impacts new mamas
❤how our relationship with food impacts our children's relationship with food (whether we're aware of it or not)
❤body acceptance and simple ways to start loving your AMAZING body a little bit more
➡️Listen by clicking the link in my bio, or searching for "what about the mama?" anywhere you tune into your podcasts⬅️
If you like the podcast: Subscribe, leave a review, or share with a mama friend!
And remember...
Your body is amazing, exactly how it is.
Your body is amazing, exactly how it is.
And repeat as many times as needed. ❤
episode #033: what about being a mama of multiples?
Having one baby is a whole wild transition in itself, but what about
having twins? 👶👶
Or even triplets? 👶👶👶
That’s what I chatted about with Neely Neal, the guest on today's episode.
Neely had triplets, along with a toddler. She lived to tell the tale!
Neeley Neal is a former NFL Cheerleader and tech career woman turned wife, mom, and the founder of the Go Fit Win community and Fired Up! Grown Up Cheer Camp event for women.
Her story is remarkable and she shared some good tips on...
❤transitioning into motherhood
❤how to relinquish that need for control (and the positives that happen from doing so)
❤filling your cup as a driven, do-it-all mama
...not to mention life with triplets and a toddler!
Listen in by clicking the link in bio, searching for "what about the mama?" anywhere you tune in to your podcasts!
Love the podcast? Leave a review, and/or share with a mama friend! And thank you for continuously being here. ❤
We're back with a new podcast episode, #031 🥳
I tell you what, the first trimester of this pregnancy was ROUGH. I pretty much felt like I had a terrible, terrible hangover (like THE WORST) for about 15-16 weeks straight 🤢 which meant no energy or bandwidth to do much of anything with the podcast.
But now 25 weeks + a few days in and I'm feeling better, and I'm going with it. So here we are!
Prior to becoming pregnant with Lenny (and becoming a mama), I loooved working out and had a solid routine: run several times a week, lift weights a few times a week, yoga a few times a week.
And then Lenny came along. My priorities shifted, and time to go to the gym quickly became a thing of the past.
But! Getting exercise is still something that I love to do. Maybe I can't make it to a yoga class or the gym (yet...because there will be a time where I will be able to do that again) but being active and moving my body is still an important value of mine.
One thing that I've been consistently practicing: feeling good about the movement that I do get. Just because I don't get an hour-long workout in, but instead get 10 minutes of stretching done, doesn't mean that it "doesn't count" or "isn't as good". Movement is movement, and it still counts. It is still good!
This is what Surabhi and I chat about on this week's episode of the podcast. Surabhi is the owner of @thepassionatephysio and is a registered physiotherapist and postpartum athleticism coach. We talk about the intention behind our expectations, re-cultivating healthy habits around exercise, and the pressure to quickly "bounce back" after making and creating and birthing and feeding and caring for a real live human being (which is even more gross than the feeling of a 4-month hangover🤢🤢).
Join us by clicking the link in my bio, or searching for what about the mama? anywhere you listen to your podcasts.
One thing's for sure: this week's guest on the podcast is a woman that isn't afraid to go after what she wants, no matter what other people might think.
No wonder she's accomplished so much!
And to be honest, I adore people like that. Because it's something that I'm working on personally, but it's not an easy feat.
This week's guest is the one and only Stevi Carr, founder + CEO of WISe Wellness Guild.
During this episode, Stevi and I chat about the myths around adoption and her own journey, her perspective on being a “B+ parent”, and what she does that makes her feel like her. I truly enjoyed this conversation and getting to know her better!
Tune in by clicking the link in my bio or searching for "what about the mama?" anywhere you listen to your podcasts! And as always, thanks for being here.
Love the podcast? Share with a mama friend, subscribe, or leave a review on Apple podcasts.
❤
p.s. This episode is brought to you by the program BABY KNOW: BODIES, HEARTS & MINDS.
This program provides new parents with a holistic approach to their child’s development, and includes information, tools, and strategies to create strong parent-child relationships, incorporating developmental milestones and nurturing the emotional well-being of all family members.
Parents will learn through video lectures, demonstrations, and activities, covering all aspects of development. Tune in to this episode for a special thank you, from me and the founders of Baby Know!
🌟New podcast episode!🌟
The first twelve months of a baby’s life are a crucial period for learning and brain development
It is often said that “Parents are a child’s first and most important teachers.”
Yet, access to information, tools, and strategies for baby’s first year of life is not always readily available or utilized. New parents want the best for their child including all of the tools available, especially when they may not know how to promote or enhance their baby’s development.
I loved this conversation with Bethany and Candi, founders of the program called Baby Know: Bodies, Hearts, and Minds. We talk about this part of development that isn’t always readily addressed: the emotional side. And stay tuned till the very end of the episode for something special just for you🌟
Tune in by clicking the link in my bio, or searching for "what about the mama?" anywhere you listen to your podcasts ❤
and p.s.: taking it easy over here in the world of Instagram. I've been fully embracing these feelings of "I-just-don't-want-to-post-anything RN" versus trying to barrel through them. This rest and break feels *right*. Just know that I'm still here, maybe showing up a little less, but I'm not going anywhere. Thank you for being here!
The power of community is truly remarkable, especially when it comes to mental health.
Lisa Hardwick from A Life Postpartum, author of A Life Postpartum, is this week's guest on the podcast for episode #028. This episode couldn't be released at a better time, since May is mental health awareness month.
The shifts, transitions, and evolutions that happen in motherhood are amazing and have a huge impact on mental health; however, mama’s mental health is just something that isn’t readily addressed
According to Postpartum Support International, 1 out of every 5 mamas have a mental health problem during pregnancy and in the first year following birth, and of those women, over 75% of them do not get diagnosed and do not receive adequate treatment and support.
"I wanted to become a mom so bad, so why am I now having feelings like this? I should be happy and overjoyed"
"I should just have maternal instincts, right? This is a natural process"
"This isn't something that people talk about much, so that just means I'm the only one struggling with this"
Lisa and I chat about these topics. She shares her own beautiful motherhood journey, and we talk about strategies to support mental health.
This episode has a ⚡TRIGGER warning⚡ because depression and the struggles associated with depression can be super touchy. We have space for you, but if you find topics related to depression (specifically postpartum), this might be an episode to skip. If you need help, text or call 800-944-4773, the number to PostPartum support international❤
Listen by clicking the link in my bio, or searching for "what about the mama?" anywhere you listen to your podcasts!
Episode #027 is out! and p.s., don't let the title fool you: Lorie and I talk about waaaaay more than simply food.
Lorie is the face behind the blog Lemons and Zest, where you can find simple yet delicious recipes that your whole family will love. I can personally attest to these recipes: they are simple, healthy, and delicious. Bonus! Lenny and Lana have approved just about all of them.
Lorie is also the mama to a 3-and-a-half-year-old named Sam. Her motherhood journey has NOT been easy though. We chat about that, and we also chat about the realization she had around her own eating habits. Did these eating habits best fit her and her family's values and needs? (Spoiler alert: Nope).
I honestly loved getting a peak into the person behind the blog that I get a lot of my dinner plans from. Tune in by clicking the link in my bio or searching for "what about the mama?" anywhere you listen to your podcasts.
Love the podcast? Show your support:
❤share with a mama friend
❤subscribe to the show
❤leave a review on Apple podcasts
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Ah, the delicate balance of having a good plan, yet being able to go with the flow. Something I've been practicing myself lately.
That's what Abby and I talked about during this week's episode of the podcast, episode #26. We also talked about
✔how the birth of her first baby didn't go anything as planned, which is how she founded @mother.lover.ot
✔various strategies that support a successful 4th trimester
✔occupational therapy in the maternal wellness space (because happy occupational therapy month!)
Listen by clicking the link in my bio or searching for "what about the mama?" anywhere you tune in to your podcasts.
And, if you're already a fan of the podcast and have a moment...
❤leave a review on Apple podcasts
❤share with a mama friend
❤subscribe so that you know when a new episode airs
p.s. If you know me, you know that I'm a huge personal development junkie. Give me something that'll uncover more about who I am and how I can live life to the fullest? YES. That's why I love Wellison Enterprises. Whitney, founder of @wellisonenterprises , is an Enneagram and Quantum Energy coach, and she brings practicality to the woo. She has graciously sponsored this episode and if you're curious about what your Enneagram type is, tune in for a special code on her Intro to Enneagram course, for all of you mama listeners Thank you, Wellison Enterprises!
Happy occupational therapy month!
This episode, episode #25, is all about how occupational therapy can play a vital role in postpartum healing.
There's the physical healing after birth, but then there's also the mental, psychological, and spiritual pieces that shift and transform, and perhaps need healing, too.
Anna, an occupational therapist and founder of @motioninmotherhood , and I talked about all the various ways that we as OTs play an essential role in postpartum healing.
Working with an OT may be beneficial if you...
✔experience pain during your everyday tasks (picking baby up, playing with baby, feeding, moving, sleeping)
✔pee when you laugh, sneeze, or move a certain way
✔find sex to be painful or not enjoyable
✔struggle with the adjustment into this new Mom role
✔are less-than-confident in your daily routines
✔feel like you could use help getting some structure and consistency to your days (yes, it is possible even with a newborn!)
✔have become all-consumed in being "mom" and have forgotten yourself and who YOU are
✔could use some lactation/baby feeding support
Lots of good benefits with having an OT that's on your side postpartum! 🎵Listen to this episode by clicking the link in my bio or searching for "what about the mama?" wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Show your support by...
❤sharing with a friend
❤subscribing
❤leaving a review on Apple podcasts
AND this episode is sponsored by @wellisonenterprises , founded by Whitney Ellison. Whitney offers Enneagram and Quantum Energy Coaching, virtually and in person (as safety allows), for those ready to shift from a lack-based mindset into abundance.
💕Tune in for a special discount code for her digital Enneagram e-course, which is a holistic introduction to the Enneagram and how to discover your type, just for you mama listeners.
Thank you to Wellison Enterprises for sponsoring this episode!
One of the biggest parenting decisions to make, in my opinion, is how to deal with the sleepless nights that are most certainly part of being a mama. Sleep train/cry it out? Rush to each and every cry? When is it appropriate to do each? How? So many questions! This isn't an easy decision by all means because in the end, we all want what's best for our babies and family.
Side-note: do you want to know something that I've quickly learned about being a parent? There's no magical right, absolutely correct answer for anything. At all. And that's terrifying. But we can, however, educate ourselves and then use our intuition to make the best decision for ourselves, our families, and our babies.
This is a topic that's talked about during episode #024 on the podcast. Michelle from @tonguetiebabies , an occupational therapist for over 24 years as a Neonatal/Pediatric OT with specific focus on posture, movement and connection for the precrawling baby, mama to three, and private practice owner right here in Cincinnati, OH, and I also talk about all kinds of things on this episode, such as
🌟our views on sleep training/crying it out
🌟one of the most important traits to learn to have in parenthood (hint: it's flexibility)
🌟the meaning of co-regulation
🌟finding the rhythm of your day, versus a routine.
I loved this chat with Michelle, and I hope you do too. Listen by clicking the link in my bio or searching for "what about the mama?" anywhere you listen to your podcasts!
