Brett Larkin is the founder of Uplifted Yoga® and the author of Yoga Life: Habits, Poses, and Breathwork to Channel Joy Amidst the Chaos. Her Online Yoga Teacher Training have set the standard for quality online certification since 2015 and matriculated thousands of yoga teachers. Brett’s award-winning YouTube channel with over half a million subscribers and Uplifted Yoga Podcast empowers you to actively design your life using yoga’s ancient wisdom. Yoga enthusiasts love her courses on Kundalini Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, and the Uplifted Yoga® Academy. Learn more at BrettLarkin.com. In this episode, you will hear about: Brett's rock bottom story Fitting yoga into your busy life Custom yoga practice for each trimester Find your soulmate postures Pregnant & Powerful Yoga Series Why do we get disconnected from our self-care rituals & how to get back to it Yoga Nidra for new Moms Yoga Habits (make it a game - how many times can I fit yoga into my life?) Prenatal Yoga Hub (it's free) Manage stress with breathwork Yoga Life book by Brett Larkin Connect with Brett: Website: brettlarkin.com Instagram: @larkinyogatv Twitter: @larkinyogatv YouTube: @brettlarkinyoga

Bianca Sprague is a passionate educator and advocate in the doula community, focusing her expertise on supporting women and queer individuals in the fields of fertility, birth, and postpartum care. As a self-identified 'super lesbian' and a dedicated mother, Bianca brings a unique perspective to her work, emphasizing the importance of balancing professional doula responsibilities with personal life, especially for mothers. She is deeply committed to addressing issues like queer care, combating fatphobia in medicine, and exploring women's rage and its implications. In this episode, you will hear about: Bianca's birth in an unsafe home Undiagnosed postpartum depression How doula care makes you a better parent Stop giving a hoot in your parenting Releasing anxiety vs. controlling life The role of a doula in your birth experience You want to feel strong and empowered with your birth team To be a doula or not? Take the quiz! How to Become a Doula? Free workshop! Learn about doula training at bebomia.com/Pure and save 15% off. Use discount code: PURE15  Connect with Bianca: Website: bebomia.com Facebook: @bebomiainc YouTube: @bebomia Twitter/X: @bebomiainc Instagram: @bebomiainc Pinterest: @bebomia TikTok: @bebomiainc

Susan Bratton, "Intimacy Expert to Millions " is a champion and advocate for all those who desire intimacy and passion their whole life long. She’s created hundreds of techniques that transform “having sex” into making love and is the world’s most well-respected sexual biohacker. Susan is co-founder and CEO of two companies: Personal Life Media, Inc., a publisher of the Better Lover  brand of heart-connected lovemaking techniques and bedroom communication skills and sexual regenerative therapies. And The20, LLC., a manufacturer of organic and botanical supplements that enhance sexual vitality. FLOW is a Nitric Oxide booster for better blood flow. The DESIRE multivitamin multi-mineral supplements have high quality methylated B vitamins and libido botanicals built in. In this episode, you will hear about: Fear and shame around talking about sex Libido, desire ladder, and arousal Vulva, labia, clitoris, vagina Pornography Sex after birth Yoni massage Penis Ask your partner for what you need Yoni massage videos Vaginal orgasms become easier with yoni massage G-spot orgasms & female ejaculation Awakening Arousal Oil Intimacy Melts Pleasure Protocol Thank you to our sponsor! Save 10% off Toups & Co., a clean skincare & makeup brand I love (and I’ve tried them all). Use discount code PURE10 to save 10% off! Connect with Susan: Website: betterlover.com Instagram: @susanbratton Website: susanbratton.com Website: gainswave.com Website: femiwave.com

Aimee Raupp, MS, LAc, is a renowned women’s health & fertility detective, celebrity acupuncturist & coach, and the best-selling author of the books Chill Out & Get Healthy (2009), Yes, You Can Get Pregnant (2014), Body Belief (2018), and The Egg Quality Diet: A clinically proven 100-day fertility diet to balance hormones, reduce inflammation, improve egg quality & optimize your ability to get & stay pregnant (June 2021). As a fertility detective with two decades of experience, Aimee works virtually with clients all over the world. As well, she is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in private practice in New York and Connecticut for the past two decades, seeing thousands of clients in the clinic. Aimee holds a Master of Science degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (2004) and a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Rutgers University (1998) plus Masters level education in neuroscience, biochemistry and both western & eastern nutritional science. Aimee has completed graduate level work in Chinese medicine and herbology with Sharon Weizenbaum as a repeat student of her Graduate Mentorship Program. As well, she has been a speaker at Pacific Symposium on the topic of women's health & fertility multiple times. She is also the founder of the Aimee Raupp Beauty line of hand-crafted, organic skincare products that are optimized for hormone harmony. Over the years Aimee has grown and mentored her team of fertility coaches and acupuncturists to serve more women on their path to motherhood. She has appeared on The View, and has been featured in Glamour, Allure, Well + Good, Mind Body Green, GOOP, Shape, and many podcasts including Wellness Mama, The Melissa Ambrosini Show, The Dr. Axe Show, and Tune into Wellness with Dr. Frank Lipman. Aimee has received endorsements from Deepak Chopra, Hannah Bronfman, Arianna Huffington, and Gabrielle Bernstein for her work in helping thousands of women to improve their fertility, celebrate their beauty, and reconnect to the presence of their optimal health. Aimee is also on the Scientific Advisory Board for THE WELL in NYC, and is a frequent speaker at women’s health & wellness conferences across the nation. She engages her large community worldwide through her social media presence, online programs, and her website, www.aimeeraupp.com In this episode, you will hear about: Aimee's path to becoming a fertility detective Acupuncture for fertility Why soulful nourishment matters for optimal health & fertility Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom book by Dr. Christiane Northrup Why menstruation is a luxury Trusting the timing in your life Body Belief book by Aimee Raupp Speak kindly to your body Emotional inflammation The Egg Quality Diet book by Aimee Raupp Yes, You Can Get Pregnant book by Aimee Raupp Chill Out & Get Healthy book by Aimee Raupp >> Shop this episode! Connect with Aimee: Website: aimeeraupp.com Instagram: instagram.com/aimeeraupp Facebook: facebook.com/bodybeliefexpert YouTube: youtube.com/aimeeraupp TikTok: tiktok.com/@aimeerauppfertility Freebie: aimeeraupp.com/preeq

Do you need a pediatrician? Dr. Lenz can care for your newborn through college to help navigate the challenges and joys of raising children. Are you an adult in need of a doctor? Dr. Lenz also can care for you and your children, often in back-to-back visits, allowing significant time-saving. Do you or your child need help with fibromyalgia or other invisible illnesses like migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other conditions often coexisting, like ADHD and Restless Leg Syndrome? He is an author, podcast host, producer, and blogger for Conquering Your Fibromyalgia. Are you interested in a holistic doctor using an evidence-based lifestyle medicine approach to preventing and treating chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure? Are you struggling to lose and maintain weight? Do you want the expertise of a lipid specialist who has training in the understanding of complex cholesterol problems leading to heart disease and the expertise in the use of advanced diagnostic tools to detect this silent killer and then offer comprehensive treatment options with the goal of preventing heart attacks, strokes, and bypass surgery? Michael helps care for those living with these diseases along with caring for common conditions affecting children and adults. Dr. Lenz is an internist, pediatrician, lifestyle medicine physician, and clinical lipidologist. In this episode, you will hear about: Dr. Michael Lenz's work in medical management & lifestyle medicine Conquering Your Fibromyalgia book by Dr. Lenz Why fibromyalgia is misunderstood Widespread Pain Index (WPI) Symptoms Severity Scale What causes fibromyalgia? First signs of fibromyalgia in infants Narrative medicine Testing (Revised Fibromyalgia Score) Top lifestyle medicine solutions Connect with Dr. Lenz: Website: conqueringyourfibromyalgia.com Podcast: Conquering Your Fibromyalgia Book: Conquering Your Fibromyalgia by Dr. Lenz Email: doctormichaellenz@gmail.com - Ask Dr. Lenz a question and it just may be answered on his podcast!

Dr. Andrea Niles is a clinical psychologist and founder of Prospera Mental Health and Wellness. She has studied anxiety and depression treatments and maternal mental health for 17 years and is passionate about making high-quality mental health care widely accessible and affordable to everyone. Prospera is a mental health platform designed specifically for moms. Prospera provides weekly 1-on-1 sessions with perinatal certified mental health coaches and a library of digital tools specifically designed to support moms' mental health. In this episode, you will hear about: Timeframe for postpartum depression & anxiety Managing postpartum depression & anxiety The gift of hiring a postpartum doula Cognitive behavioral therapy Setting up a support team Asking for help without guilt 2 ways to prevent postpartum depression & anxiety Rage & birth trauma Connect with Dr. Andrea: Website: prosperamhw.com Instagram: @drandreaniles & @prosperamhw

Emily Greene, known professionally as Emily the Medium, is a highly acclaimed psychic medium, who specializes in supporting families to connect to the energies of their children, or their ‘spirit babies’, at all phases of their journey: whether they’re struggling with fertility challenges, in the preconception phase, or while they’re pregnant. In addition, Emily also supports families in raising their sensitive children and helping them to acclimate to Earth, as well as helping individuals understand and master their innate intuitive abilities. In this episode, you will hear about: How Emily was drawn to mediumship When a soul comes into the body Are past lives real? At what age kids can recall their own past lives How to consciously connect with your spirit baby Fertility challenges Emily's book: A Cosmic Bond Connect with Emily: Website: emilythemedium.com + emilytheauthor.com Instagram: @emilythemedium Meditations: Spirit Baby Meditation & Pre-Incarnation Planning

Rachel Yellin has been an alternative therapist, coach, and birth expert for over 20 years. She has two companies... YestoBirth.com and TheFeelGoodLifeNow.com. She's helped thousands of people have confident, prepared, and relaxed birth experiences in addition to taking people through a process to rewire their nervous system, heal trauma, and retrain their pleasure centers. She's funny, down-to-earth, fiercely compassionate, and super grounded with an appropriate sprinkle of woo-woo. In this episode, you will hear about: Yes to Birth! program Showing up confident to birth How to regulate the nervous system Embodiment practices Relaxing into the surges Preparing for birth Free Audio: Relaxing into Pregnancy Audio & 10 Techniques for More Wow & Less Ow Rewiring the pleasure circuits & healing trauma with thefeelgoodlifenow.com Connect with Rachel: Website: yestobirth.com Free Audio: Relaxing into Pregnancy Audio & 10 Techniques for More Wow & Less Ow Coupon: Save 15% on the birth class package or relaxation audio program - use discount code: PURE More resources: thefeelgoodlifenow.com

Jodie Meschuk is a warrior, author, activist, coach, and companion. She partners with parents to demand more, be it from their doctor, the school district, or local government. Autism-turnaround expert, Master Herbalist, Aromatherapist and Quantum Medicine specialist, Jodie leads her membership group of Warriors to advocate for children and link arms to effect change. She has published two books and a new one on the way to help you reclaim your motherhood. She has created a line of provocative merchandise, and will never wear a mask. You can find her on a mountain hike, teaching an online class on alternative medicine, baking with her kids, or traveling to speaking engagements. She is a freedom-fighter and a change-maker, and has an army of parents right behind her. In this episode, you will hear about: Why Jodie helps women reclaim motherhood Reclaim Motherhood book by Jodie Autism Reimagined book by Jodie Infertility epidemic Joe Dispenza's retreats for rapid healing Tips for pre-conception Where did you lose your voice and how do you reclaim it? How to stop being controlled Connect with Jodie: Website: tribe.thewarriorcenter.com Instagram: @thewarriorcenter Facebook: @jodiemeschuk Membership: The Warrior Center Thank you to our sponsor! Save 10% off Toups & Co., a clean skincare & makeup brand I love (and I’ve tried them all). Use discount code PURE10 to save 10% off!

Sara Chana is a Master herbalist and classical homeopath. She does TV shows across the US teaching people how to safely integrate botanical medicine into their lives. Her book MOODTOPIA has been #1 on Amazon. She also guest lectures at medical schools and is a mom of 5 boys and 2 girls! In this episode, you will hear about: Who is Sara, mother of 7? The easiest and least expensive herb for birth Her book, MOODTOPIA about using herbs for emotional health Tea infuser bottle Great herbs for postpartum depression & nervousness Why homeopathy is misunderstood Future of medicine Helpful herbs for breastfeeding The science of faking a smile & laughter The edible herb Free handouts from Sara Herb brand's Sara recommends: Herb Pharm Herbalist & Alchemist Birch Boys Wish Garden Herbs for tinctures Frontier Herbs for bulk herbs Mountain Rose Herbs for herbs, teas, & more Amazon store for this episode Thank you to Toups & Co, our sponsor! Save 10% off Toups & Co., a clean skincare & makeup brand I love. Use discount code PURE10 to save 10% off! Connect with Sara Chana: Website: sarachana.com Instagram: @sarachanas Facebook: @moodtopiaacademy Herbal products discount codes: 20% off on Birch Boys Medicinal Mushrooms. Use code: SARA20 10% off (minimum of $65) on essential oils at Aytz Chayim with code: Scs10 15% off at Herbalist and Alchemist when you use this code: sarachanawelcome15 20% off at Oshala Farm with code: Mood20 Discounted Moodtopia Academy Membership: $10 off the first month

Sandy is a holistic occupational therapist and intuitive energy healer with over 26 years of experience. As a pediatric OT, she specializes in sensory processing and creating sensory smart environments in the home and in the classroom. After noticing for many years that there was something missing in the OT work she was doing, she organically began incorporating different forms of energy work into her practice. Several years ago, she took her lifelong study in the spiritual and energetic to a new level to become a Reiki Master and Advanced Crystal Master. This felt like coming home, and only deepened her commitment to bringing these perspectives and tools into her everyday practice both personally and professionally. She has since expanded her practice to now working with women who are seeking transformational shifts for themselves. In this episode, you will hear about: Sandy's role as a holistic occupational therapist and intuitive energy healer Hearthmath Institute The Celestine Prophecy book Our electromagnetic field Setting boundaries Protecting Mom's energy & the family's too How a teacher's energy can command the whole classroom Sensory processing A New Earth book Self-regulation practices that work How the energy of a mother impacts the baby More self-regulation tools Amazon store Connect with Sandy: Email: sandra@sandrabigelow.com Thank you to our sponsor!  Save 10% off Toups & Co., a clean skincare & makeup brand I love (and I’ve tried them all). Use discount code PURE10 to save 10% off! Full disclosure: I may earn a small commission from items recommended in my Amazon store. It costs you nothing extra!

Arielle is a doctor of physical therapy, yoga teacher, and certified pre and postnatal coach turned postpartum wellness coach after having her 2 children. Arielle supports new moms through their postpartum journey so they can have more energy, and feel strong and confident. In this episode, you will hear about: Arielle's path to wellness How unhealthy bounce-back culture IS Arielle's biggest postpartum challenges Pelvic floor therapy Am I doing enough? Planning postpartum support (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) Five-Minute Journal Breathwork Connect with Arielle: Website: findyourwaymama.com Instagram: @ariellemartone Free Course: Exhausted to Energized without Sleep Training Free eGuide: Take Care Down There: Pelvic Recovery 101 Full disclosure: I may earn a small commission from items recommended in my Amazon store. It costs you nothing extra!

In this episode, you will hear about: Dr. Warsh's passion for natural medicine Dr. Gator's Courses Integrative vs. conventional pediatrician Optimizing the pre-conception phase Top 3 habits for improving your health EWG Cord Blood Study EWG Skin Deep Databse WIFI Router Cover The rise of children's auto-immune diseases Book: Holistic Pediatrics Book: Cribsheet Connect with Dr. Warsh: Website: raisingamazingplus.com Instagram: @drjoelgator Full disclosure: I may earn a small commission from items recommended in my Amazon store. It costs you nothing extra!

Tiffany is a Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, and Yoga Teacher. She is an experienced executive leader and transformational coach who has a passion for helping others thrive by guiding them to shift their mindset, take action toward goals, and embrace self-care. An explorer at heart, with a never-ending curiosity for learning new things, she is constantly expanding her education and has received additional training in Nutrigenomics (DNA Testing), Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), Bioenergetics, Hypnotherapy (Board Certified), Quantum Biology and Biophysics.   In this episode, you will learn about: How yoga slowed down Tiffany's go, go, go lifestyle Healing autoimmune disease naturally Best practices for more energy LMNT electrolytes Earth Runner Sandals for grounding Structured Water with Veda Austin water STOP these detrimental habits Shortcuts to manage blue light What's up with technology and baby's developing brains Gelatin for Gummies Connect with Tiffany: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Are you ready to manage your stress, reduce pain and increase your success inside? Book a free Beat Pain & Be At Your Best call with Tiffany. For working moms - 5 must-dos for busy professionals who want to bring their A-game every day and stop feeling run-down. Download "From Fatigued to Fired Up!" and take the next steps towards living a healthier life.

Welcome to the Pure Nurture Book Club! Grab a cup of tea and soak up chapter 4 entitled, Yoga and Movement from my book, Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby. (It's only 31 minutes.) I wrote this book to pass on self-care tips I wish my friends would've shared with me while I was pregnant because the development of our babies is closely related to how we take care of ourselves. I hope it inspires you to find new ways to feel your best because self-care is NOT a luxury. It's vital. Each chapter of my book will relate to another book or guest I've had on the podcast so you can dive deeper on whatever intrigues you. As always, take in what feels right for you and forget the rest! In this episode, you will hear about: Benefits of prenatal yoga Slowing down Breathwork Breath Awareness for Pranayama 3-Part Breath Alternate Nostril Breathing Yoga poses Mountain Pose (see page 44 of my book) Cat Cow Toddler's Pose Hip Circles Warrior 2 Tree Pose Shavasana Resources for Prenatal Yoga at the end of my book Pure Nurture: A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby book by me Thank you to our sponsor! Save 10% off Toups & Co., a clean skincare & makeup brand I love (and I’ve tried them all). Use discount code PURE10 to save 10% off! I'm curious. What motherhood books do you recommend? DM me on Instagram — I'd LOVE to hear from you! Next week, a brand *NEW* season of The Pure Nurture Podcast goes LIVE — and — it's a whole new vibe! Bye for now.

Welcome to the Pure Nurture Book Club! Grab a cup of tea and soak up chapter 3 entitled, Mindfulness and Meditation from my book, Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby. (It's only 25 minutes.) I wrote this book to pass on self-care tips I wish my friends would've shared with me while I was pregnant because the development of our babies is closely related to how we take care of ourselves. I hope it inspires you to find new ways to feel your best because self-care is NOT a luxury. It's vital. Each chapter of my book will relate to another book or guest I've had on the podcast so you can dive deeper on whatever intrigues you. As always, take in what feels right for you and forget the rest! In this episode, you will hear about: Mindful eating When You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull Up a Chair: 50 Ways to Feel Thin, Gorgeous, and Happy (When You Feel Anything But) book by Geneen Roth The Chocolate Meditation inspired by Psychology Today Primary food Wheel of Life Activity Attitude of gratitude Positive affirmations for you & your baby Louise Hay's affirmations Guided meditation with Kristy Meditation resources (see page 94 of my book) Birth Without Fear: The Judgment-Free Guide to Taking Charge of Your Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum book by January Harshe Episode 032: Birth Without Fear with January Harshe Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby book by Kristy Rodriguez I'm curious. What motherhood books do you recommend? DM me on Instagram — I'd LOVE to hear from you! Next week, we'll dive into chapter 4 of my book - Yoga and Movement. Bye for now.

Welcome to the Pure Nurture Book Club! Grab a cup of tea and soak up chapter 2 entitled, Nutrition and Nourishment from my book, Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby. (It's only 18 minutes.) I wrote this book to pass on self-care tips I wish my friends would've shared with me while I was pregnant because the development of our babies is closely related to how we take care of ourselves. I hope it inspires you to find new ways to feel your best because self-care is NOT a luxury. It's vital. Each chapter of my book will relate to another book or guest I've had on the podcast so you can dive deeper into whatever intrigues you. As always, take in what feels right for you and forget the rest! In this episode, you will hear: Primary foods Nutrient density EWG's Dirty Dozen List of Foods that are Best to Buy Organic EWG's Clean 15 List of Foods that are Okay to Buy Conventional Kristy's journey with low-fat foods to binge eating sweets Kristy's struggle with nausea during both pregnancies A list of foods that are easy to keep down (see pages 12 + 13 of my book) Snacks & healthy recipes by Elise Museeles from my book Kale & Chocolate Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science & Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition book by Lily Nichols Episode 049: Real Food for Pregnancy with Lily Nichols Thank you to our sponsor! Save 10% off Toups & Co., a clean skincare & makeup brand I love (and I’ve tried them all). Use discount code PURE10 to save 10%! I'm curious. What motherhood books do you recommend? DM me on Instagram — I'd LOVE to hear from you! Next week, we'll dive into chapter 3 of my book - Mindfulness and Meditation. Bye for now.

Welcome to the Pure Nurture Book Club! Grab a cup of tea and soak up chapter 1 entitled, Why Self-Care is Important from my book, Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby. (It's only 13 minutes.) I wrote this book to pass on self-care tips I wish my friends would've shared with me while I was pregnant because the development of our babies is closely related to how we take care of ourselves. I hope you find new ways to feel your best because self-care is NOT a luxury. It's vital. Each chapter of my book will relate to another book or guest I've had on the podcast so you can dive deeper on whatever intrigues you. As always, take in what feels right for you and forget the rest! In this episode, you will hear: Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives: A Holistic Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth book by Deepak Chopra You don't need to apologize for saying no The Natural Pregnancy: Your Complete Guide to a Safe, Organic Pregnancy and Childbirth with Herbs, Nutrition, and Other Holistic Choices book by Dr. Aviva Romm Episode 076: C*\/id-19, Pregnancy, Birth, and Breastfeeding with Dr. Aviva Romm I'm curious. What motherhood books do you recommend? DM me on Instagram — I'd LOVE to hear from you! Next week, we'll dive into chapter 2 of my book - Nutrition and Nourishment. Bye for now.

Welcome to the Pure Nurture Book Club! Grab a cup of tea and soak up the introduction of my book, Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby. (It's less than 13 minutes.) I wrote this book to pass on self-care tips I wish my friends would've shared with me while I was pregnant because our well-being is connected to the development of our babies. I hope you find new ways to feel your best because self-care is NOT a luxury. It's vital. Each chapter of my book will relate to another book or guest I've had on the podcast so you can dive deeper on whatever intrigues you. As always, take in what feels right for you and forget the rest! In this episode, you will hear: The introduction to my book, Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby Do more of what brings you JOY! Self-Care Support Sheet Be Fruitful: The Essential Guide to Maximizing Fertility and Giving Birth to a Healthy Child book by Dr. Victoria Maizes Thank you to our sponsor! Save 10% off Toups & Co., a clean skincare & makeup brand I love (and I’ve tried them all). Use discount code PURE10 to save 10% off!

Michele Santo is an inspired energy healer and writer. Behind the scenes, Michele has actually helped me birth the podcast and keep it going for the past five years. It's fun to have her on the other side of the podcast! She helps women create more fulfilling relationships by asking for what they want without hurting a soul. Michele's unique method of emotional freedom technique can break patterns of anxiety, people-pleasing, and low self-worth so you can find peace. In this episode, you will hear about: How Michele owned her power with emotional freedom technique (EFT) Kristy's introduction to EFT The Tapping Solution App What is EFT and how does it work? How 10-minutes of tapping helped Kristy get over a panic attack Tapping for anxiety video How EFT can make trying to conceive easier Subtle tapping on the hand points Where the tapping points are on the body How often you should tap Children's books on tapping: Gorilla Thumps and Bear Hugs by Alex Ortner The Big Book of Hugs: A Barkley the Bear Story by Nick Ortner & Alison Taylor My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing by Nick Ortner The Tapping Solution for Parents, Children, and Teenagers by Nick Ortner The Tapping Solution for Teenage Girls by Christine Wheeler The power of feeling your feelings Connect with Michele: Complimentary Tapping Video: >>> You Can Feel Calm While Trying to Conceive Blog: michelesanto.com/blog YouTube: youtube.com/@xomichelesanto Instagram: @xomichelesanto Facebook: @xomichelesanto

With an extensive medical background in Laboratory Science, Fertility, and Blood Banking, Jennie is well equipped to understand your illness and symptoms. Utilizing the system of Homeopathic Medicine allows Jennie to help clients find a deeper and longer lasting healing than is often possible with conventional medicine, because Homeopathy is able to address the root cause of illness and stimulate a healing response in the individual. Jennie is a graduate of the 4-year Classical Homeopathy training program at Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy in Minneapolis, MN, and serves as clinic supervisor at NAH for many years. She is also an Integrative Provider with Pregnancy and Postpartum Support MN, and has a special interest in clients with postpartum mood disorders. Additionally, Jennie holds the CCH credential (Certified Classical Homeopath) through the Council for Homeopathic Certification, a national organization. Jennie is pleased to offer services to individuals and families suffering from acute or chronic ailments. To Jennie, there is nothing as rewarding as seeing a client find freedom and happiness through homeopathy. It really works! On this episode, learn more about: What is homeopathy? How does it work? Who can it help? Business coaching Law of attraction and healing Connect with Jennie: Website: hoglundhomeopathy.com Instagram: @enlightened.homeopath Facebook: @jhoglundhomeopathy

Kelly Brogan, M.D., is a holistic health psychiatrist, author of the New York Times bestselling book, A Mind of Your Own, Own Your Self, the children’s book, A Time for Rain, and co-editor of the landmark textbook, Integrative Therapies for Depression. She completed her psychiatric training and fellowship at NYU Medical Center after graduating from Cornell University Medical College and has a B.S. from M.I.T. in Systems Neuroscience. She is board-certified in psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and integrative holistic medicine and is specialized in a root-cause resolution approach to psychiatric syndromes and symptoms. She is a certified KRI Kundalini Yoga teacher and a mother of two. In this episode, you'll hear about: How Kelly started her career Depression isn't caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain Psychiatric medication — is there another way? Evolution of motherhood Chronic illness & modern-day diseases Symptoms are a gift Your body is a compass Kelly's notorious blog: Homebirth: The Opportunity of a Lifetime Emotional alchemy during birth Own Yourself book by Kelly Brogan Step into your own power Begin your journey home to yourself at KellyBroganMD.com. Get to know Kelly more on Instagram, YouTube. Facebook, and Twitter.\

Dr. Jen Forristal, BSc ND, is a Naturopathic Doctor with a primary focus in pediatric mental health and the founder and CEO of The Umbrella Project, a positive coping curriculum used internationally by thousands of parents, students, and educators. She has worked extensively with schools, researchers, and organizations in protecting the long-term health and performance of children facing unique challenges. Her work has been published in the Canadian Journal of School Psychology, and she was awarded the Health Promotion Canada Award for her contribution to child mental health. Dr. Jen lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, two teens, a toddler, and a sweet dog named Mango. In this episode, learn about: Early emotional intelligence development A baby's experience in utero How to refocus on NOW Self-leadership Be the person you want your child to be Umbrella Project Coping skills assessment The Umbrella Effect book Check out Toups & Co., a clean skincare & makeup brand I love (and I’ve tried them all). Use discount code PURE10 to save 10% off! Connect with Jennifer: Website: umbrellaproject.co Instagram: @umbrellapjct

Greer Kirshenbaum, PhD, is a neuroscientist, doula, and educator who empowers nurtured parenting, and disrupts modern parenting practices to begin new cycles of intergenerational wellness. She is on a mission to revolutionize the future of health and it all begins at the beginning of life.  Greer spent many years studying the brain in a lab and many years using her knowledge while supporting families as a doula. She wants families and perinatal practitioners to understand how caregivers can boost success, thrive and flourish, and diminish depression, anxiety, and addiction in adulthood by shaping babies’ brains through simple intuitive enriching experiences in pregnancy, birth, and infancy. In this episode, you will hear about: The Nurture Revolution book Greer's journey to becoming a neuroscientist, doula, and educator Let the baby cry vs. nurturing the baby Stop trying to be a fixer How to support our own nervous system Check out Toups & Co., a clean skincare & makeup brand I love (and I’ve tried them all). Use discount code PURE10 to save 10%! HPA Axis How to co-regulate our babies Sontakey Oath Bracelets How to speak kindly to your children Making a repair with our kids (even if it's years later) Connect with Greer: Website: nurture-neuroscience.com Instagram: @nurture_neuroscience_parenting

Gigi Vincent is a postpartum doula and host of the Ready for Baby podcast; she is committed to shifting the disparity between the amount of focus most families place on birth versus preparing for the fourth trimester. A strong advocate of preparing for postpartum by investing in maternal support instead of fancy baby equipment, Gigi empowers families to focus on resting and bonding instead of researching or stressing. Knowing there isn’t one right way to have and raise a tiny human, Gigi works with parents as they find their way to thrive in the fourth trimester and beyond. - what is a postpartum doula, and what do they do - using your baby registry to set yourself up for success (choosing services and /or minimalism) - using herbs and oil for warmth in the fourth trimester Gigi Vera Vincent Postpartum Doula - NCS - CLES Asimplehome.org hello@asimplehome.org

Your baby's birth day is right around the corner and you want to be prepared. There are so many birth education methods out there. How do you know which one will be the best fit for you? I've taken the uncertainty and guesswork out of it all and created a quick and easy guide leading you through a high-level overview of the 5 most popular courses out there (including a few other ones that are gaining popularity). You'll find helpful resources at the end of each section to point you in the right direction so that you can dive deeper into any specific method. Wishing you a confidently calm birthing day! Learn more about the childbirth education method/courses highlighted in this episode:   Learn more at the official Bradley Method website Learn more at the Hypnobabies website Learn more at the  HypnoBirthing website Learn more at the Lamaze website Grab your Free PDF listing ten popular childbirth classes/courses here if you'd like to find more class/course options. Or Take the 2-minute childbirth personality quiz to find out which one of the five courses covered in today's episode might be right for you.

Over nine years ago, Jodi and her family started the adventure of homeschooling. Towards the beginning, she wrestled with various methods and philosophies, curriculums, and checklists to find the correct fit for her family. She was in search of a method that embodied the beautiful use of art and natural materials in Waldorf education yet encompassed the pedagogy of Charlotte Mason, all while being simple enough to educate five children efficiently. Since she was unsuccessful in finding such a method or curriculum, she had no choice but to develop her own techniques that would meet the spiritual, educational, emotional, and physical needs of her children all while fitting into their family rhythm. Since implementing those techniques has been such a rewarding experience for all of them, she's decided to share them with you! Join our conversation to learn more about Jodi and all that she's created! In this episode, you will hear about: Learning each child's personality and individual needs How Jodi takes care of herself (even through grieving the loss her father) Creating an aesthetically pleasing home for children who have sensory issues Incorporating faith and spirituality in your life The Whole & Healthy Family book Homeschooling resources for sale The seasons of social media Connect with Jodi: Website: jodimockabee.com Instagram: @jodimockabee

Ana G. Herrera suffered from stage IV endometriosis for years and went through excruciating PMS pain, infertility and five surgeries, the last one ending in a full hysterectomy and a colon resection, which led to surgical menopause. Ana’s painful experience inspired her to help others struggling with hormonal imbalances avoid suffering in silence as she did. Knowing there’s a lot to be done and learned in order to make the right health choices, she started Hormone University to educate, support, and empower women to achieve better hormone health and lead a happy life. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Ana's struggle with endometriosis, fibroids, PMS, intense pain, and surgical menopause Common symptoms of endometriosis An inflammatory diet & hormonal interventions have consequences Increase sexual appetite by using PMS Transdermal Relief Cream Improve stress and sleep with Magnesium Lotion Symptoms of hormonal imbalance Check your hormonal symptoms (at no cost!) Hormone directory How to avoid endocrine disrupters The fate of natural conception Save 15% on Ana's Glow Botanica products - use discount code at checkout: PURE15 Connect with Ana: Website: hormoneuniversity.com Instagram: @hormoneuniversity LinkedIn: @hormone-university

Paige Cornetet is the bestselling author of the Spend-Then series, a collection of children’s books teaching financial literacy by simplifying traditionally complicated concepts. A forward-thinking entrepreneur, Paige founded Millennial Guru at the age of twenty-six to provide companies like Kroger and Capital One with business coaching and strength-based team-building workshops. Paige, the eldest of four, is passionate about helping parents teach children imperative life skills and financial management techniques. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband. In this episode, you’ll hear about: My Dad's Class: An Intentional Structure for Teaching Kids About Money and Life—a children's book written by Paige How to teach financial literacy to toddlers What money topics to avoid sharing with kids How to explain affordability to children Teaching kids about earning money vs spending money Are we becoming a cashless society? Creating a financial family economy The Family Bank (chapter 5 from the book, My Dad's Class) Connect with Paige: Website: mydadsclass.com Instagram: @spendthen

There are about 172 different pet names for a pacifier.  No matter what you call it, it can be hard on the entire family when it's time to break the binky habit. In this podcast episode, I'm sharing how our family said, “Chao chupito!" Depending on what you call it, you can be saying "Bye-Bye, Binky" in just a short time too.  Listen to our story here and find a step-by-step guide to breaking the binky habit below: How to successfully send all of your pacifiers off to new babies that don’t have any (and that really need them.) Begin two weeks or more before you actually plan to send the pacifiers off to… the trash, tell your little one that he or she is a big girl, boy, or kid now.  Let them know that only tiny babies use [pacifiers].  Insert whatever pet name you have for it.  Share with them in an enthusiastic way and confident way that they won’t need it for much longer.  (We used G’s second birthday as a time marker for her.) After talking about this story multiple times, you may find your child telling you the story as well, even though they will continue to use the pacifier.  When they’re tired or cranky, they may even say, “Pacifier, yes! No new babies!”  However, don’t give up or give in.  Stay positive and affirmative. When the day comes that you are ready to make the leap, don’t talk about the pacifier at all that day.  Around 4 or 5 pm or after dinner, begin the pacifier scavenger hunt. When your child is distracted, place all of the pacifiers around the house in any place that is eye-level and easy for your child to see. Tell your child it’s time to send the pacifiers to the new babies.  In our case, to new baby cousin.  Explain the process.  “It’s time to send the pacifiers to the new babies; let’s get a bag and collect them all.”  Ask in an excited voice, “Will you help me?” Give them a bag or box and have them collect all of the pacifiers. Tell them, “Now it’s time to put the bag on the front porch for the mailman/mailwoman.  He or she is going to take the pacifier to the new babies.  Have your child physically place the bag on the front porch and close the door. After you come inside, say in a very excited way, “You did it! You sent your pacifiers to the new babies! That was very helpful.” When your child probably realizes they didn’t want to give the pacifiers away, they will most likely ask for it at bedtime.  In a calm and gentle voice, reassure them by explaining that they put the pacifiers on the porch and the delivery person already took them. They’re all gone.  Now the new babies have them.  Reassure your little one by saying, “You can do it.  You can handle it.” You may have to cuddle more, give more milk, sing, or read a bit longer, but it’s worth it. Over the next few days and nights, repeat to them as many times as you need to that they are big now, and they gave their pacifiers to the new babies that didn’t have any.  Constantly reassure them that they can do it and that they can handle it. Stay strong!  “You can do it!” Good luck!!

Dr. Stephanie Dueger is a psychotherapist, parent coach, and educator, who works with expectant and new parents and their little ones. She facilitates parent workshops and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the academic Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health. Dr. Dueger lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and two daughters. Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families is her first book—the book she wishes she’d had for herself when first becoming a parent. Learn more about Dr. Dueger at drduegertherapy.com. In this episode, you'll hear about: New book: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families Concrete steps you can take right now to feel more prepared in becoming a parent Important conversation topics to discuss with your partner before having a baby Association of Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH): birthpsychology.com How to connect with your unborn baby Episode 23: The Importance of Prenatal Bonding with Kate White Episode 33: Kiersten Markham episode of Pure Nurture Podcast Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby (my book)  Connect with Stephanie: Website: drduegertherapy.com Facebook: @theattachmentdoctor Instagram: @theattachmentdoctor

Leah Boden is wife to Dave, mother to four children, and a longtime home educator. With over two decades of experience in church leadership, Leah’s background also features many years in youth, children’s, and family work within the church and for the local education authority. Leah speaks, hosts podcasts and coaching sessions, and runs workshops sharing the beauty of a Charlotte Mason approach to childhood, motherhood, and education. She and her family live in the West Midlands, England. In this episode, you'll learn about: What the Charlotte Mason Method is The rise of home education (home schooling) Book: For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School Myths about the Charlotte Mason Method to home schooling Explore Toups & Co. organic skincare and makeup - save 10% using code: PURE10 Frankincense Face Balm Mineral Makeup Foundation Mineral Makeup Sample Kit How to avoid burnout and weeks of exhaustion Protecting your "me time" and setting boundaries with your family Books: The Original Home Schooling Series Book: The Call of the Wild + Free Read-Aloud Revival Stories of Color Connect with Leah Boden: Website: leahboden.com Instagram: @modernmissmason

Learn 5 key facts that our culture gets wrong, so that you can stop the sleep struggle and “Am I doing it wrong?” anxiety. Kim Hawley, MA, MPH is a Holistic Sleep Consultant and Lactation Counselor, as well as, the owner of Intuitive Parenting. Kim's passionate about helping parents confidently navigate nighttime parenting and family sleep using evidenced-based information and parental intuition. Her specialty is gentle, attachment-based sleep support for breastfeeding families. Kim lives in Capitol Hill, Washington DC with her husband, her two children, and a few animals, including her guide dog. She loves to run, read a good book, eat delicious food, and enjoy a glass of wine or cup of coffee. In this episode, you'll hear about: Kim's story A holistic approach to sleep 5 Sleep Facts Guilt and pride over your baby's sleep Sleep is genetic Safe co-sleeping and room-sharing S L O W  D O W N  & see if sleep advice feels right to you See how you can be responsive to your baby’s needs and still take care of yourself. It's a delicate line. Don't over-commit yourself, so you can have a nice balance of work and play. With your intuition and as you try new things, you'll eventually sing a lullaby that soothes the whole family. Learn more about Kim and possibly working with her at IntuitiveparentingDC.com. Take care and sleep well.

Greer Kirshenbaum Ph.D. is super excited to be the first Neuroscientist Doula and the first Neuroscientist Infant Sleep Educator. Greer’s company, Nurture Neuroscience, is on a mission to revolutionize the future of health. She wants families and perinatal practitioners to understand how early caregiving experience can boost mental wellness and diminish depression, anxiety, and addiction in adulthood by shaping babies’ brains through simple, intuitive, enriching experiences in pregnancy, birth and infancy. Greer teaches courses, provides consultations for pregnancy and infancy, and is a birth and postpartum doula. She is currently creating an Infant Sleep Educator course with Bebo Mia. When you understand that how you respond to your baby's cries affects their long-term mental health, you may pick up your baby more. This episode explores how early caregiver and child bonding influences brain development. The science behind parenting is FASCINATING. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Greer's attraction to neuroscience How your early life experience impacts your mental health 3 ways you can support your baby’s lifelong mental health Prenatal bonding  How the caregiver and child relationship benefits lifelong mental health Serve and Return communication method Conscious Discipline Sleep Keep doing your best You're a BIG influence in the development of your baby's brain and nervous system. Ditch the fear of, "Am I parenting right?" Instead, do great things for the sake of being a positive force. Absorb as much of Greer's Instagram posts as you can. Find her at: Instagram - @nurture_neuroscience_parenting Facebook - @NurtureNeuroscience Website - www.nurtureneuro.com

"The power lies within to give birth and to heal. You are the expert of your experience." -J.S. Jennifer Summerfeldt, Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP), has nearly two decades of experience in maternal health and psychology. In addition to being a counselor, Jennifer has also been a childbirth advocate, maternal educator, doula, midwifery apprentice, and published writer. She is the founder and creator of the Healing After Birth program, where she uses her expertise and voice to help advance the dialogue on motherhood, mental health, and healing. In this episode, you’ll hear about: What inspired Jennifer to do postpartum coaching (1:39) Spiritual Midwifery Immaculate Deception How Jen heals women who’ve had a stressful postpartum period (14:50) If you don’t feel safe, your body won’t heal (15:55) Be informed to have better birth and postpartum cycles (17:56) Biologically, we have an innate wisdom that always wants to thrive (23:47) Neuroscience with Pankseep Polyvagal Theory Healing After Birth Program SacredAcoustics.com You can reach out to Jennifer at JenniferSummerfeldt.com and at Instagram.com/healingafterbirth.  Here's more from Jennifer: Healing After Birth Guidebook  - Navigating Your Emotions After A Difficult Childbirth CLICK HERE FREE 4 part video series - What Your Doctor Is Likely NOT Telling You About PPD/A  CLICK HERE Are you a soulfully inspired woman looking for next level counseling and coaching programs? CLICK HERE

Courtney Hasseman is a Certified Nurse-Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, and Functional Nutritionist who provides integrative healthcare and uses nutrition to support women’s hormonal and menstrual health. She sees women for care in her Leesburg office and offers online nutritional therapy for women everywhere. In this episode, Courtney shares all about the best nutrition during breastfeeding, how your periods change during the season of breastfeeding, choices for contraception while breastfeeding, and more! In this episode, you’ll hear about: Courtney & Kristy reconnecting after high school 25 years later (2:00) Courtney’s in-person and online Midwifery and Integrative Nutrition practice (2:58) Nutritional Therapy online course Try eating these foods while you breastfeed (5:40) Getting back to pre-pregnancy weight won’t happen overnight (7:43) Best foods to eat while breastfeeding (9:17) Foods to avoid while you’re breastfeeding (10:56) Best fish to eat a few times a week while breastfeeding (11:40) Hormonal changes while breastfeeding your baby (12:28) Sexual changes while breastfeeding (15:25) How to ease back into spending time with your partner (16:20) Normal changes in your breasts while breastfeeding (17:50) You can learn more about Courtney’s services in the D.C. Metro area or online at CourtneyHasseman.com. If you believe women deserve unhurried and personalized healthcare, follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

This is something I’ve NEVER talked about on the podcast before … SEX! Heather Bartos, MD, OB-GYN talks about five-sense-sex, the best position to try if you’re 39 weeks pregnant, bringing sex back after baby, prioritizing sex when you're a busy parent, and so much more.  Put your headphones on for this one! Heather Bartos, MD, OB-GYN, is a leading voice in the field of women’s health and wellness, the fierce founder of Badass Woman, Badass Health, and a proud creator of MindSHIFT medicine (the integration of mental, physical, and emotional health to care for the whole woman). Fascinated the way what we think about impacts how we feel, Dr. Bartos teaches women and their families how to thrive, no matter what their stage of life. She is a board-certified OB-GYN, US Navy Veteran, former Associate Professor at USUHS and former Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Texas Health Hospital in Denton, TX. She is currently the owner/medical director of her “village for women’s health,” Be. Women’s Health & Wellness. Featured in publications from Glamour and Huffington Post to Reader’s Digest, Women’s Health and ABC News, Dr. Bartos is a frequent speaker and writer on all areas of women’s health and her practice of MindSHIFT Medicine. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Who is Heather Bartos? (2:45) Sex will change as a woman changes (4:44) Having sex on your moon cycle (6:07) How to have sex while pregnant (7:12) How to boost your libido (12:30) Five sense sex (16:50) The sex position to try during week 38 or 39 of pregnancy (17:26) Your sex life will change after birth, especially when breastfeeding (21:40) You CAN get pregnant while you’re breastfeeding (24:10) How to have a healthy sex life when your kids are age one (25:10) Tap into Heather’s world at HeatherBartosmMD.com and check out her Facebook LIVE Series: Is this Normal? on her Facebook page, and say “Hayyy!” on Instagram @DrHeatherBartos. 

Diane Boden is the host of the Minimalist Moms Podcast. In this episode, Diane shares how we can take a more simplified and minimalist approach to pregnancy and postpartum. A minimalistic lifestyle means different things to different people. When you have a family and children, it changes the definition even more. Diane shares how to prepare for your baby's arrival. Set up your baby registry with only the essentials and maybe add in the “next up” items and “take it or leave it” items.  You'll learn how to be more mindful as you prepare for your baby's arrival and how to clear out all the "noise" when you're pregnant. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Meet Diane Boden and how the Minimalist Mom’s Podcast was born over drinks (2:39) What minimalism means for Moms (5:00) You really don’t need a lot on your baby registry (8:56) Take it or leave it baby gifts (14:02) Great ways to save money while raising your kids (16:32) Good things to invest in for your kids (18:28) Leveraging your community to save money (20:18) Connect with Diane: minimalistmomspodcast.com Instagram: @MinimalistMomsPodcast  Facebook: @TheMinimalistMoms

Devon Berrier founded Layton, a clothing line offering chic and modern clothing for nursing moms.  Following the birth of her first child, Devon wanted to create fashionable and comfortable breastfeeding-friendly options, something she found was missing as a new mom herself.  In our conversation, Devon shares her experiences as a business owner and mom and how she manages that delicate "balancing" act. She opens up about her experience with postpartum anxiety and how she moved through it. And a BIG congratulations to Devon and her family, as they just welcomed baby number three to their family last week! (April 2019) In this episode, you’ll hear about: Devon’s story (2:30) How Devon’s company Layton was born (3:20) The working Mom dance (6:38) Book: You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero Book: You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero Book: You Are a Badass Everyday by Jen Sincero Devon’s postpartum experience (13:52) Partners and caregivers need to be aware of how to support women going through postpartum (18:54) The Dadhood Journey with Dr. Jay Warren Episode 6 of the Pure Nurture Podcast A documentary about the seriousness of postpartum depression: When the Bough Breaks Devon has generously offered a 25% off coupon on all Layton styles for you! Visit https://www.laytonshop.com/ and enter PURE25 at checkout. 

Sarah Blunkosky, M.A., R-PYT, R-CYT is an integrative education consultant, certified peer-breastfeeding counselor, and registered Accessible yoga instructor specializing in family, children’s, special needs, and prenatal/postpartum movement/embodiment. She serves clients in Northern Virginia and travels for service appointments, conferences, and workshops with local studios and her company, Learning Heroine LLC. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook sharing her mission: Set learning free.  When she isn’t homeschooling her kids or teaching yoga, you can find her writing articles and working on a book to assist people in freeing obstacles in learning during their prenatal/postpartum, parenting, and life journeys. Check out Sarah's guest blog post on Pure Nurture, POSTPARTUM MINIMALISM, AND RECOVERY after you take a listen to our conversation below. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Sarah Blunkowskyi’s story (1:50) Flexi-Schooling (2:50) Integrative Education Consultant (4:45) How you can PLAN to have a more positive postpartum experience (9:00) Healthy boundaries for visitors who are meeting your newborn (14:44) Yoga and self-care to promote healing after your baby arrives (24:22) Connect with Sarah on her website and other social media pages: Learning Heroine LLC Facebook, Linked In, Instagram, Yoga If you're looking for more resources related to postpartum care and recovery, check out episode 30 of the Pure Nurture podcast with guest, Jennifer Summerfeldt, it's all about healing after birth. And, head over to an article that I wrote for Pregnancy Magazine where I share five essential tips for postpartum care.

Jessica is a pre and postnatal fitness instructor (as well as a dietitian, diabetes & bariatric educator). She healed her 4-finger diastasis recti gap after her pregnancy and now helps moms heal and restore their core in 30 days. You'll learn so much from our conversation and the bonus material included below in the show notes.  In this episode, you’ll hear about: Jessica Pumple, Host of Pregnancy and Postpartum TV (2:20) Diastasis recti (2:30) At-home diastasis recti test (4:39) Does everyone have diastasis recti? (6:04) Treatment for diastasis recti (6:37) Diastasis Recti Healing Core Workouts Playlists How you can prevent diastasis recti during pregnancy (9:17) Belly Bandit Bamboo Wrap How to improve your posture to heal diastasis recti (10:43) Core healing exercises for diastasis recti playlist (11:36) How the muscles of the core and pelvic floor are connected (13:18) Diet recommendations to repair your muscles (people usually get this wrong) (14:00) Other methods to consider for healing your pelvic floor and core after birth (17:13) Jessica’s program to heal diastasis recti (19:06) Roll out your yoga mat, then play Jessica’s videos and try to healing exercises. Stop by her site for more info on protecting your pelvic floor. Jessica made a special guide for Pure Nurture on healing your core and pelvic floor after birth.   More from Jessica: Pelvic Floor Foods to limit: Caffeinated beverages (coffee and tea) are diuretic and bladder irritant, which means they cause the kidneys to make more urine than normal. This causes overuse and sensitivity in the bladder. Carbonated beverages (soda – yes, even diet soda) can trigger overactive bladder symptoms because bubbly drinks tend to tickle and irritate the bladder. They also typically contain caffeine and artificial sweeteners, which are bladder irritation triggers on their own. Highly acidic fruits and veggies (tomato, cranberry, orange) can irritate the bladder lining due to their high acidity. Spicy foods can cause your bladder to burn for the same reason that they cause your mouth to burn. This can cause irritation to the bladder lining. Artificial sugars and sweeteners (Splenda) worsen symptoms of overactive bladder for similar reasons as do carbonated beverages. Alcohol is a diuretic and bladder irritant. Also, when a person consumes alcohol, that liquid accelerates the rate that kidneys gather water and causes the bladder to empty more often. Not a good combination. Foods to include for pelvic floor healing: Pure water Apricot, banana melon (low acidic fruits) Herbal teas (non-caffeine) Omega 3 fatty acids (fish, walnuts, hemp or chia seeds) What to look for in a belly band: (Belly band is for support, but not a replacement for strengthening exercise) Works - one that is recommended by doctors and HCPs Comfortable/lightweight especially if going to be exercising in it Discrete under clothes Price Material (Jessica recommends bamboo.) What Jessica's program is all about: Heal your core and pelvic floor in 30 days with her online program. It's a step-by-step guided video program to heal your core and pelvic floor. It's best for a  mom that is first cleared to do exercise or just starting after not exercising no matter how long post-partum needs different exercises than someone who has been consistently exercising for a few weeks. The program has been carefully designed to progress with you to heal and restore the diastasis as well and flatten and tone and also to prevent leaking or peeing a little when you sneeze or jump. Learn more here!

Deb Flashenberg is the founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC. She is a yoga teacher, labor support doula, Lamaze childbirth educator and has completed a midwifery assistant program at The Farm in Tennessee with Ina May Gaskin and The Farm midwives. On this episode of the Pure Nurture Podcast, Deb is sharing all about five essential questions to ask your care provider before birth. When you’re in labor, it’s not a good time to start negotiating your delivery wishes. You need to feel heard, respected, and supported BEFORE your big day and be sure you and your support team are all on the same page. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Who is Deb Flashenberg & how she got into supporting pregnant women before she became a Mom (2:35) Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC Yoga | Birth | Babies Podcast Who’s Afraid of the Pregnant Yogi? online program When you meet your doctor for the first time, ask these 5 key questions to make sure you’re on the same page (5:36) Is it too late to switch care providers in your 3rd trimester? (25:00) "As a doula, Deb has heard this lament time and time again: “I received the name of my doctor from a friend, and if I had known what to ask, I probably would have switched doctors a long time ago. Now I feel it’s too late to change!” Ideally, it’s best to have a very important conversation with your doctor at the beginning of your pregnancy to make sure that the way he or she practices medicine matches up with the way you want to birth. If you’re already into your pregnancy and a relationship with your doctor, be sure to ask these key questions at your next appointment! When you’re in labor, it isn’t a good time to start negotiating your labor and delivery wishes. It’s essential that you feel heard, supported and respected long before the big day!" - Via www.prenatalyogacenter.com Click here to read more about the 5 questions Deb recommends you ask your doctor.  If you found this podcast helpful and want more, visit Deb at her Prenatal Yoga Center, on Instagram, and Facebook. Check out her prenatal yoga teacher training (if you’re ready to dive deeper) and when you’re in New York City, pop in for a yoga class! Best part? You can practice yoga wherever you are with Deb’s free yoga videos.

Meet, Karly and Ali. Hosts of the Birth Kweens Podcast, a wildly honest conversation on all things natural pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and women's health. Together, they've attended 1,000+ births and have A LOT to say on this. They help women explore their pregnancy options with a funny, lighthearted approach. Our conversation is one of my faves. (I think I can officially call myself a "birth nerd.") In this episode, you'll hear about: What Ali & Karly are up to Vaginal Steam Therapy (or Yoni Steaming) Cervical exams- What they are, when they're done, how they're done, etc. Speeding up the birth process (or NOT speeding up the birth process) Birth Kweens Podcast They are a powerful combo! Between a Doula and a Midwife, they're definitely ones to watch! Catch them online and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Also, here: Instagram - @birthkweens Website - www.birthkweens.com

Birth Without Fear began with a simple passion to let women know they have choices in childbirth. It evolved into a corner of inspiration and support for women and their families through their trying to conceive, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journeys. January Harshe is a wife and a mother of six children. Each of her birth experiences was so different. She started the Birth Without Fear Facebook page as an outlet for this passion in May 2010 and the Birth Without Fear Blog was born in October 2010. In March 2019, January launched her book: Birth without Fear: The Judgment-Free Guide to Taking Charge of Your Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum. She now supports women through Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. However, she also wanted to inspire, support, and unify women in their communities. She launched Birth Without Fear events to see the amazing connections and healing taking place among attendees. Along with her husband, Brandon, she hosts the Harshē Podcast where they discuss everything from birth and parenting to coffee and marriage! January’s passion is to support women on their journeys of womanhood, pregnancy, birth, and motherhood with peace, love, and healing. She’s definitely one to watch! In this episode, you’ll hear about: January’s story & how she looked forward to turning 40 (0:45) Birth without Fear Facebook Group Birth without Fear book (3:24) Women wanting an empowered birth (6:00) Moving through medical interventions with self-love (8:58) January has three vaginal births after two cesareans (9:48) There is a provider who wants to support you, in the way that you need (12:06) How to FEEL more empowered about your birth (ask the right questions) (12:35)

Anita Lambert is the owner of Holistic Health Physiotherapy and a Registered Pelvic Health and Orthopaedic Physiotherapist with a focus on women's health, specifically prenatal and postpartum care. She’s one of the select few physiotherapists in Canada to receive advanced training in labor support, which blends orthopedic physiotherapy expertise with birth doula support. Anita is always looking to share and learn up-to-date information about pregnancy, birth, and beyond which led her to co-host the To Birth & Beyond Podcast. You can usually find Anita on the move - whether playing with her kids or exercising with strength training, spin, yoga, or Pilates. Anita lives in Peterborough, Ontario with her husband Andy, daughter Pippa and the newest addition to the family - baby Jack. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Anita’s work with prenatal and postpartum care (1:27) To Birth and Beyond Podcast Where your Pelvic Floor is (5:53) Preparing Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Podcast Kegel exercises (8:27) Best time to do Kegel exercises (most women do it wrong) (9:00) In-Depth Birth Prep Podcast Flower Bloom Breathe to expedite labor — How to video (10:40) Perineal Massage — How to video  (12:30) Massage oil recommendations (15:50) Exercises to prepare for birth (16:30) Spinning Babies Daily Essentials Video Ways to ease your birth (17:50) If you feel drawn to Anita, you can find her on Instagram here, Facebook, her site HolisticHealthPhysio.com, and her amazing podcast To Birth and Beyond. If thinking about birth gives you the jitters, Anita shares solid advice to help you prepare here. If I was pregnant, I would’ve downloaded this.

Eyla Cuenca is a holistic birth guide, Childbirth Educator, Lactation Counselor, health freedom advocate, and mother. She holds a BA in Anthropology from Bennington College and trained under Robert A. Bradley, MD where she became specialized as a Birth Educator. Her years of work as a Guardian Ad Litem for the 11th Judicial Circuit and attending births as a Doula in both hospital and home settings brought her into human rights and advocacy work. She stands behind the idea that it is everyone’s right to have access to empowering education from conception to parenting. Her practice is dedicated to offering guidance that supports women and men in the process that is a return to their deepest knowing about birth, individual sovereignty, and the body’s innate intelligence. She offers 1-1 guidance sessions to assist women and couples at any point in their journey, from conscious conception to processing births years later. She also offers her signature childbirth education program, as well as Doula training, and Placentophagy training (how to prepare the placenta for consumption). In this episode, you’ll hear about: The importance of taking a class about pregnancy and birth Nutrition to improve your birthing experience Navigating surprises during birth Eyla’s course: Uncovering Birth Masterclass What students get from the Uncovering Birth Immersion: Deep knowledge of how labor and birth work Fears transmuted into desires and courage Nutrition to avoid birth complications & support postpartum health Effective, non-chemical relaxation techniques A clear understanding of breastfeeding, newborn care, postpartum healing Tools for clear communication with medical providers & birth team A comprehensive unique birth & postpartum plan How to navigate variables & unexpected scenarios Deeper connection and communication with your birth partner PDFs, videos, and actions steps to support you in continued learning & conscious parenting “Maybe you want a natural birth but everyone says it’s painful, and maybe even impossible. This 8-week deep dive into an empowered birth will crush your limiting beliefs holding you back from having the experience you want and are worthy of.” I get it, there is a lot telling us we can’t do it. Telling us that birth is something we should want to get through as quickly as possible. I’m here to tell you, that birth can be transformative, pleasurable, and the best experience of your life. It’s just a matter of getting fully informed. Are you ready to break through limiting beliefs and have a peaceful & empowering experience? Results of Taking this Course As a mother, after this course you will: Know how to prepare your body and mind for easeful and connected birthing Feel confident about your birth choices & making informed decisions Be able to plan and accomplish the natural birth of your dreams Understand how to welcome, nurture and care for your new baby Breakthrough any fear or apprehensions about the “pain” or mysteries of birth As a father, after this course you will: Know exactly how to support the mother through her journey Feel confident in creating a masculine container within the birth context Be able to advocate more easily for your family Have the practical  tools to read labor and assist with newborn care and postpartum support Dispel limiting beliefs about birth  Connect with Eyla: Elya's online course: Uncovering Birth Masterclass Website: eylacuenca.com Instagram: @eyla_cuenca_birth Telegram: https://t.me/eylacuenca

A lot of women hit dead ends with their doctors during pregnancy. They don’t feel heard or taken seriously. They feel like they can’t stand up to a doctor and say, “That’s not what I want for my birth. What are some other options?”  It’s not about getting aggressive. It’s about being curious! Lauren Dunaway, PhD in Public Health, got up the courage to leave her doctor for a midwife midway through her pregnancy. When she saw how much they cared, she knew that she was in good hands.  If you’re a rule follower who’s scared to make a change, you’ll walk away from the conversation with courage!  In this episode, you’ll hear about: Lauren, her three daughters, and her mission in public health (2:00) How she got into natural remedies for her family (4:00) How essential oils helped Lauren get off some medication (6:47) Emotional support with essential oils (8:17) Wellness in the home with essential oils (8:50) Why it’s so important to be your own wellness advocate (12:15) Lauren left her doctor for a midwife midway through her pregnancy (15:23) 5 questions you must ask your care provider BEFORE birth Cultivate wellness in your life with LaurenEFDunaway.com. You can connect personally with Lauren on TWO Instagram feeds: @EssentialSimplicity or @LaurenEFDunaway. After this conversation, we sincerely hope you’ll feel more comfortable speaking up to your doctor and asking questions.

What if you could be excited about your upcoming birth? Rachel Yellin talks about this feeling on this episode of the Pure Nurture Podcast. She believes you do NOT have to take negative feelings from your past birth into your next. With over 15 years as a birth professional, Depth Hypnosis Practitioner, and yoga teacher, Rachel currently owns and is the primary teacher/coach of Yes To Birth!  If you want to have a less painful, more manageable pregnancy and birth, where you feel excited, calm and prepared for labor, and your baby is born on their terms, Rachel is for you! Rachel will inspire you with facts, opinions, and birth stories, while saying totally inappropriate things, and providing life and relationship skills that go far beyond birth. Rachel will support you to make conscious choices about where, how and with whom to give birth, create the most loving, peaceful pregnancy and birth environment, and see the baby as a wise person whose preferences matter. Rachel has been doing birthwork since 2002. For years she was a very successful doula, and has been teaching childbirth classes, prenatal yoga, and depth hypnosis therapy for a decade. Her audio program has been sold internationally since 2014. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Yes! to Birth (3:48) Conscious Parenting & Conscious Birth (13:16) Natural Birth (17:06) How to heal from a difficult or traumatic birth experience (23:04) How to not take a bad birth experience into your next one (28:12) Don’t you feel more empowered after that conversation? I hope you’re saying, “Yes! My body can do this. Yes! I can do this.” Learn more about this fantastic woman here: RachelYellin.com. As you lower your anxiety about birth, let’s lower your anxiety about nursing wear options. My next guest, Devon Berrier created a line of fashionable breastfeeding fashion options for the working mom. The best part? It doesn’t look like nursing wear, at all! She also opens up about her postpartum experience and the challenges that she faced. 

Dr. Aumatma is a Naturopathic Doctor & Nutritionist, in practice for close to 15 years. She specializes in women's health, is the best-selling author of "Fertility Secrets: What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You About Baby-Making," and is a sought out speaker on topics related to Women’s Health and Empowerment. Dr. Aumatma was awarded the “Best Alternative Medicine Practitioner″ award locally in 2015, and as a top “Women In Medicine” Doctor in 2020. In addition to supporting couples through private 1 on 1 care and online group programs, and she also trains practitioners who want to specialize in fertility In this episode, you'll hear about: Dr. Aumatma's road to fertility and postpartum support Pre-conception testing What ridges on your nails mean What a Naturopathic Doctor is Mind Body Spirit Approach Body Talk Prenatal Supplements Folic Acid vs Folate Nutrition for Pregnancy Emotional and Mental Support Website: HolisticFertilityCenter.com Facebook: @DrAumatmaNd Instagram: @holsitic_fertility_doctor

"You breathe. You blink. You digest. You don’t tell your body to do those things... Your body will know how to give birth. The mind-body connection is SO STRONG. The mind can influence the body..." A.L. Adriana Lozada’s background is multi-layered and multi-cultural. A former print and online editor from Venezuela, the birth of her daughter sparked her passion for being a birth advocate, leading her to open Birthful: a company that helps new and expectant parents take on whatever maternity sends their way. She is a certified Advanced Birth Doula (DONA International), a postpartum educator, and a healthy sleep consultant, as well as a bestselling author and international speaker. Adriana is also the host of the Birthful Podcast, where she talks to amazing, knowledgeable, and passionate birth professionals every week, to help new and expectant parents inform their intuition, so they can have more rewarding pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences. "After giving birth, Adriana became passionate about helping others on their maternity journeys. The fire to make a difference started from a place of outrage (have you noticed the broken state of maternity care? the non-existence of paid family leave in the US?), which she has since focused into a torch that lights her way towards supporting new parents to have joyful and satisfying birth and postpartum experiences. Adriana is an advanced birth doula, an eco-maternity consultant, a postpartum educator, and a child sleep consultant. She’s a bestselling author, speaker, and host of the acclaimed Birthful podcast. All part of her quest to help people have a smoother transition into parenthood." (from birthful.com) In this episode, you’ll hear about: The Birthful Podcast (0:11) Intuition vs fear (0:55) How to tune into our intuition (5:30) Supporting your physiology during labor (7:07) Labor Land (7:30) Birthing a 12-pound baby (9:40) Reducing anxiety about your upcoming birth (14:35) Pregnancy Brain book Delivering Miracles Podcast (High-risk pregnancy expert) Calming your nervous system (20:22) Why an OB Chose to Have a Home Birth with Amali Lokugamage podcast episode Childbirth education classes (Which class is best for your personality? Take this quiz.) (20:22) Michel Odant Sail into Adriana’s world at Birthful.com. She’ll help you navigate the unexpected seas of birth with her wisdom in your ear. Add her The Birthful Podcast to your list. What excites her? Hearing from you. Feel free to email her

No pregnancy is the same. We all have our own unique needs and this is also true from a nutritional standpoint. Not many people support pregnancy from a nutritional health perspective. Melissa Mor bridges that gap by supporting women during preconception, pregnancy, and after baby arrives.  After having two pregnancies with previas and having successful outcomes with fast recoveries, Melissa felt compelled to start a coaching business to support other women. Today, she helps moms and soon-to-be moms create healthier lifestyles by showing them how to easily implement natural solutions in their daily life or routines. According to Melissa, "No matter what the issue is, there is always a more natural solution." In this episode, you’ll hear about: Melissa’s career path from Fashion to Family Wellness Coach (1:08) What was missing around pregnancy support? (2:00) Homeopathy (Dive deeper in episode 15) (5:41) What issues a Family Wellness Coach can help you with (6:14) Not detoxing while you’re pregnant (7:50) How Melissa helps her clients (10:05) The difference between prescription vs plant based vitamins and supplements (10:41) What to eat while pregnant if you can’t stomach healthy food (15:40) Top 3 supplements to take if you’re nauseous during pregnancy (18:00) How to connect with Melissa at CaratsandKale.com (19:36) Get the support you need during the wild ride of Motherhood. Whether you’re trying to conceive, are pregnant, or just gave birth to a beautiful baby, CaratsandKale.com is the place for holistic friends, like you! Follow Melissa on Instagram to say, “Hi!” or send a love note to CaratsandKale@gmail.com.

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition and exercise. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and unapologetically critical of outdated dietary guidelines. She is the author of two bestselling books, Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Who is Lily Nichols (2:15) Real Food For Pregnancy book by Lily Nichols What prompted Lily to do prenatal nutrition for women (3:20) Common misconceptions about prenatal nutrition (5:42) Best vegetarian protein sources for pregnancy (10:06) You were fed wrong information on prenatal nutrition (14:22) Vital nutrients for Mom and baby (17:12) Folate versus folic acid (22:25) What needs to be improved in conventional prenatal nutrition (27:15) Read the first two chapters of Lily’s Real Food for Pregnancy book for free on her site. Her blog will keep you well-fed and if you’re curious to see what she eats, find her on Instagram.  More great podcast episodes with a prenatal + postpartum nutrition focus:  Your Body During Breastfeeding with Courtney Hasseman (nutrition during breastfeeding) The Whole30 and Whole30 Mamas Club (nutrition for moms) with Stephanie Greunke Prenatal Nutrition with Melissa Mor Preconception Nutrition with Ryann Kipping Functional Nutrition for Fertility, Pregnancy, and Motherhood with Andrea White

"There’re a lot of things you can do to make pregnancy comfortable via natural remedies." -S.G. Stephanie Greunke, MS, RDN, PMH-C, CPT, is a registered dietitian, pre & postnatal corrective exercise specialist, certified in perinatal mental health, military wife, and mama of two boys. Currently residing in San Diego, Stephanie helps mamas navigate the entire journey to motherhood. After battling postpartum anxiety, Stephanie is passionate about maternal/paternal mental health, helping families set themselves up for success before the baby comes and navigating the transition to parenthood. She’s the program director for Whole30’s Whole Mamas Club and co-hosts the Whole Mamas Podcast. Stephanie is committed to building a community of moms who encourage each other and share their own experiences so moms know they’re not alone and have resources to feel empowered. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Whole Mamas Club (0:05) Whole Mamas Podcast How postpartum health found Stephanie (2:40) Creating simple and nourishing meals (5:45) Start with breakfast (8:57) How to navigate your mental health (10:46) Order Comprehensive Lab Panels from Direct Labs How the Whole Mamas Club can help you during preconception through Motherhood (20:15) Whole30 Way of Eating (20:50) Looking for your girl and guy gang? Sync up with Wholemamasclub.com, stop by on Instagram, and Facebook. Check out their Whole Mamas Podcast, too. I like that they recap each episode, so you can learn, then take action! You can reach out to Stephanie personally on Instagram or her site at Stephgreunke.com.  

Andrea Laine White is a Functional Nutrition Therapist practicing at Colorado Natural Medicine and the Chief Marketing Officer and Nutritionist for Baby Fresh Organics (Fresh Start). In her clinical practice, Andrea has developed therapeutic nutritional protocols for a variety of different conditions including, but not limited to: hormonal weight gain related to menopause, acne, endometriosis, infertility and conception, disorders of the thyroid including Hashimoto’s, autoimmune disorders including Celiac / Rheumatoid Arthritis / Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), sleep disorders, migraine headaches, digestive disorders, HPA axis maladaptation/adrenal fatigue, hypertension, food sensitivities/ intolerances, depression/anxiety, gaining weight/increasing lean muscle mass, and cardiovascular disease/elevated cholesterol levels. Andrea attained her certification as a Master Nutrition Therapist from the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado. Her education was primarily administered by practitioners of functional medicine. Functional medicine addresses the underlying or root causes of dysfunction in the body and seeks to restore balance from within. In this episode, you’ll learn: Andrea’s story (0:45) Your Next Big Thing Book helped her find her purpose(1:25) Andrea’s approach to nutrition (3:29) Two factors that determine a healthy gut (4:55) What glyphosate is and how it affects the digestive system (10:16) Fun fact: learn about microbiome and epigenetics in episode 14 with Toni Harmon (11:10) Solocast: About Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) (12:30) Read the Dirty Dozen List and Clean 15 List from Environmental Working Group (EWG) (12:45) The first steps to feeding our little ones (13:12) Forming your child’s taste buds in utero (21:10) Andrea’s philosophy on supplements (22:29) Functional lab testing for micronutrients (24:05) Difference between folate and folic acid (31:26) Andrea sees clients all over the world (32:22) You can connect with Andrea at ColoradoNaturalMed.com, Instagram, or info@coloradonaturalmed.com. Andrea shares the number one gift a mom can give to her baby is a healthy gut. 75% of the immune system is housed in the gut (microbiome). Join us next week for episode 14 and learn even more about the microbiome and how it impacts overall health. I'll be talking with Toni Harman, producer of the documentary Microbirth. Toni will share more about the microbiome and the impact on your baby and ways that you can create a healthy foundation that can impact your child's health for the rest of his or her life!

Dr. Aly Cohen is a board-certified rheumatologist and integrative medicine specialist, as well as an environmental health expert in Princeton, New Jersey. She has collaborated with the Environmental Working Group, Cancer Schmancer, and other disease-prevention organizations, and is co-editor of the textbook, Integrative Environmental Medicine, part of the Oxford University Press Weil Integrative Medicine Library. In 2015, she created TheSmartHuman.com to share environmental health, disease prevention, and wellness information with the public. She lectures nationally on environmental health topics for el¬ementary/ high schools, colleges/ universities, medical schools, and physician-training programs, and she is a regular expert guest for television, print, and podcasts. In 2015 she received the NJ Healthcare Heroes Award in Education for The Smart Human educational platform and she was awarded the 2016 Burton L. Eichler Award for humanitarianism. Dr. Cohen is working to educate and empower the next generation to make safer, smarter lifestyle choices through the creation of environmental health and prevention curricula for schools nationally. Her TEDx talk, “How to Protect Your Kids from Toxic Chemicals” can be found on YouTube, and you can follow her health and wellness tips and recommendations on Facebook at The Smart Human, Twitter, and Instagram: @thesmarthuman. Sign up for The Smart Human newsletter, read her latest posts at TheSmartHuman.com, and listen to her podcast The Smart Human. Some highlights from this episode: Drinking water: what every mom and mom-to-be should know How to clean safely, especially with Covid-19 How and why to choose baby products and personal care carefully How to live a cleaner, more chemical-free life Learn more about Aly's work here: The SmartHuman.com AlyCohenMD.com Tedx Talk: How to Protect Your Kids from Toxic Chemicals New Book Link- Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World

Welcome to the very first episode of the Pure Nurture Podcast! I’m so glad that you’re here. I’m your host and the founder of PureNurture.com, Kristy Rodriguez. I’m excited to have you join me on this inaugural episode. In future episodes, we’ll be speaking with educators, experts, advocates, and moms in the field/ who have dedicated their lives and work to supporting women on their journey through Pregnancy, birth and the precious postpartum phase of motherhood. Before we dive into these conversations and learn more from and about our upcoming guests, I first wanted to introduce you to Pure Nurture and give you the background story and share what Pure Nurture is all about, how it got started, and where it’s headed. Pure Nurture is all about a Holistic approach to creating a healthy new life for mom and baby. It is a community where we fully believe that self-care is baby-care. It encompasses a mind-body approach to pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Pure Nurture is about connection, community, learning, inspiration, empowerment, self-care, self-love and most importantly, it’s a place where you can take all of this in, and ONLY keep what feels best for you and your family and leave the rest. I created Pure Nurture after suffering from postpartum depression. The various challenges of pregnancy and motherhood left me feeling alone and I knew I needed so much more connection and support. My hope is that this community will help you to feel more connected, to find the support you need and to ultimately feel your best. We are all in this together, this motherhood journey. And it’s full of love, laughter, crying, whining, excitement, contradictions, judgments, and so much more. Just like life, it is full of ups and downs. My hope is that this podcast supports you on your journey and leaves you feeling inspired, empowered, and supported as a woman, a mom-to-be, and as a mom. For our very first episode, we are joining Molly Mills, RN, and IBCLC. Molly is on the lactation team at the mama ‘hood where she runs a weekly Breastfeeding Group as well as an Infant Sleep Group. Molly is passionate about building a strong community for mamas and families so everyone has access to support. There is so much advice and information out there, Molly’s passion is in helping parents discover what feels right for them in their parenting journey, which is exactly what you will hear during our conversation. When she’s not at the ‘hood, she’s out on a run, learning to meditate or playing outdoors with her husband and three daughters. Molly will leave you feeling supported, empowered, and connected as a mama, especially related to birth and breastfeeding. In this Episode, You Will Learn: How Pure Nurture was born (1:23) Meet Molly Mills, a Mom, RN, and Lactation Consultant (6:06) What the Mama’Hood is in Denver, Colorado (8:11) How Moms can set themselves up for success expect after the baby arrives (10:50) How to tune into your intuition (17:33) How to prepare for birth (24:33) Asking women to please not share their birth stories until after you’ve given birth (29:15) How Moms can set up a good breastfeeding relationship with their baby (30:35) The Breast Crawl Video (34:08) Learn more about Molly Mills at the MamaHood.com. Thank you so much for listening. And remember, self-care is baby-care.  The better we support ourselves, and each other, as mamas, the more we’ll have to give back to our little ones. Please help this podcast reach more mamas and mamas-to-be by leaving a review on iTunes and subscribing to the show.

Tranquility by HeHe is a Maternity Concierge, Doula, and Birthing Service in the Boston area. Their mission is to provide high quality, holistic, individualized doula services to Boston families in an empowering and nurturing environment. They take their doula services above and beyond prenatal, birth, and postpartum support by managing all of the "time-sucking" things such as creating your baby registry, planning your baby shower, and researching top-quality baby essentials.  HeHe's Motto: "Choose what's right for your body, your baby, and your family. I'll support you in that choice."   In this episode, you'll hear about: Tranquility by He He Stuart Concierge Services The Birth Lounge Podcast Birth Lounge Birth trauma Communicate openly with your healthcare provider Induction methods Birth stories Guide to Childbirth book Birth plan If you're outside the Boston area, The Birth Lounge is a great option to work with HeHe virtually. It's designed for women who want to make educated decisions along the journey of pregnancy and birth. Save $5/month to your membership to The Birth Lounge with code: nurture5 HeHe LOVES Instagram, so if you have an account, she spends all day in her stories and DM's! Find her here.

Meet your Fertility Friend, Dr. Patti Haebe. She’s on a mission to optimize your fertility as a results-obsessed naturopathic doctor. Patti’s committed to root-cause healing through therapeutic supplementation, as well as, targeted diet and lifestyle modifications. Her practice, Ocotillo Integrative Medicine, provides integrative consultations worldwide via webcam for those looking to incorporate natural, proactive approaches to their healthcare. On the Pure Nurture Podcast, she talks about the best prenatal vitamins to look for, how a liver detox can enhance fertility, and why pooping and sweating should be top on your to do list. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Dr. Patti Haebe’s work as a licensed naturopathic who specializes in hormonal optimization Biggest fertility issues Properly preparing for pregnancy Partnering with a functional medicine doctor to improve your fertility Tuning into your own cycle Nutrition you need to enhance your fertility Detoxing for fertility Take more time thank you think to plan for pregnancy One of the biggest issues with fertility is the misconception that the first month you’ll try to conceive, boom, you’ll get pregnant. That’s not necessarily true. People plan one year for a wedding, so take your time setting up a fertile home and body for your baby. Her courses will guide you: Baby Making Basics – A mini course on everything you need to know to get pregnant Fertility Foundations – 4-month plan for effective and integrative pregnancy prep Explore Dr. Patti’s in depth advice on her website, OcotilloIntegrative.com, and Instagram.

Josephine Atluri is an expert in meditation and in overcoming adversity to find joy. Through her unique journey on her path to becoming a mom of five, Josephine weathered many ups and downs with IVF, international adoption, and surrogacy. Channeling her experience to find calm and courage and to focus on perseverance, she now helps others navigate life’s curveballs, through group and individual online meditation training and her “Responding to Life” podcast. On August 1st, Josephine will be hosting an online workshop to cultivate a fertility mindfulness practice called “Empowering Your Fertility Journey.” In this special workshop, participants will learn the basics of incorporating meditation and mindfulness to support and empower themselves in their fertility journey. The workshop will include meditation, journaling, and tools to reduce stress, boost your emotional and mental health, and increase calm. In addition, Josephine does group meditation training for staff of such prestigious entities as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.  She also offers fertility Ave parenting workshops and meditation sessions. Get 50% off her "Empowering Your Fertility Journey” Workshop for with code: PODCAST www.jatluri.com/workshops

When Sarah Clark was 28 years old, she was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure. She accepted it and had both her children through in vitro fertilization. Years later, she realized the root cause of her infertility was a food sensitivity, and later a gut infection. Now, she helps couples get pregnant naturally, so they can fast track the process. She's a certified life coach with accreditation from the International Coaches Federation and a health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's the author of Fabulously Fertile - Supercharge Your Fertility Naturally. Her fertility coaching program, which includes functional lab testing, supports couples to make diet and lifestyle changes that dramatically improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby! On her Get Pregnant Naturally Podcast, she shares that with functional medicine and natural fertility solutions, we can eventually reverse infertility. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Sarah's story of premature ovarian failure Food sensitivities she had no clue she had What led Sarah to an integrative approach to fertility Don't focus on an infertility diagnosis. Dig deeper. Try food sensitivities tests like IGE Test, Leap MRT Test, and Elimination Diet Three MUST DO things to enhance your fertility Use a water filter (Sarah likes the Berkey Water Filter) Set up your Healing Round Table Mind-Body Fertility Group Get Pregnant Naturally Podcast FertilityDietFreebie.com - Free Fertility Diet Challenge for Couples Hearing a "diagnosis" like ovarian failure or infertility is devastating to someone who wants a baby so badly. My guest, Sarah Clark, Integrative Health Coach, invites you to dig deeper than the diagnosis. Look at your whole body. Your gut health, stress level, self-care, and home-care products, plus food sensitivities play a HUGE PART in your fertility chances. Learn more about Sarah's work at FabFertile.com and look her up on Instagram.

Kristy Goodman is the Co-Founder and CEO of PreConception Inc., an online service that provides direct-to-consumer preconception testing. Kristy is a women’s health, physician assistant (PA) with an M.S. in PA Studies and an MPH in Health Education and Behavioral Science from Rutgers University. Kristy completed a postgraduate fellowship in Ob/Gyn and has worked in a variety of settings providing preconception and prenatal care, labor and delivery services, and infertility treatment. Kristy is an advocate for evidence-based, patient-centered care and shares educational resources on her Instagram @theobgynpa. Kristy lives in Los Angeles, California with her partner and breast-cancer survivor dog, Kira. This week, we talk about preconception care and what women can do to improve their health before pregnancy in order to improve their chances of having a healthy pregnancy. In this episode, Kristy offers an overview of pregnancy planning and what questions to ask your healthcare provider, when to start planning, which tests to get done, etc. On the podcast, you'll hear more about: Kristy and her company, PreConception Inc. Improving your health pre-pregnancy Episode 22: Preconception Nutrition with Ryann Kipping Diet and exercise Prenatal vitamins Preconception Testing Immunity Testing Genetic Testing Talk to your family & friends about preconception care No doubt that Kristy will either coin the term "Trimester Zero" or make it part of our everyday dialogue. Cheer her on! While you're at it, join the conversation! Instagram: @theobgynpa Facebook: www.facebook.com/theobgynpa Websites: www.theobgynpa.com & www.preconceptiontest.com

Kiersten Markham is a Pre- & Perinatal Educator, birth doula, and practices Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. She truly believes that if we want to make a positive change for our future we must start with how we conceive, connect to and birth our children. Kiersten works with individuals, couples, and families at every age and every stage. She also leads Conscious Conception Series for Couples online and monthly Conscious Women Circles in San Diego. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Kiersten’s personal life (0:11) How Kiersten became a Doula and Cranial Sacral Therapist (0:50) Conscious Conception Circles (3:20) Conscious Conception for Couples (4:40) What to expect at a Conscious Conception Circle (5:00) When the soul enters the body (7:26) Instagram post related to when the soul enters the body Cosmic Cradle Book (8:30) Watercolor painting of the soul coming into the body (9:30) Connect to your baby prior to conception (10:15) Some children remember being in utero (14:20) How cranial-sacral therapy supports couples who want to conceive (18:12) Tap into Kiersten’s wisdom and support at KeirstanMarkham.com, Craniosacral Therapy Practice, and follow her events on Instagram. If you’re not in San Diego, learn about her online courses:   Conscious Conception Series for Couples Online Conscious Conception Circle   Coming up on episode 34: A lot of the advice about pregnancy and motherhood out there is confusing and overwhelming. Don’t believe everything you read and don't feel like you have to take on or implement everything that you hear.  But how do you know what's BEST for you and your family and when to leave the rest?! In the next episode, Adriana Lozada, host of the Birthful Podcast shares how to tune into your intuition in order to know what you need in each moment and what will be best for you and your baby.  She also shares ways to prepare for birth and how to be less anxious about pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Don't miss this one! 

Lisa Hendrickson-Jack is a Certified Fertility Awareness Educator, Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner, and author of The Fifth Vital Sign: Master Your Cycles & Optimize Your Fertility. I help health-conscious women discover the connection between their menstrual cycles and their overall health, so they can ditch hormonal birth control forever. Our education system has failed to teach us about our fertility, so I’m here to empower you to take control of your fertility and your life. In this episode, you'll hear about: Lisa's passion about fertility awareness What a vital sign is What your menstrual cycle has to do with your health Your Fifth Vital Sign book How contraceptives affect fertility Postpartum charting Healthy menstrual cycle length If you're interested in becoming the Queen of your fertility, Lisa's Fertility Friday podcast is for you. Lisa's mission is to help you take control of your fertility (and your life), so dive into her world at FertilityFriday.com Oh, and if you're trying to conceive, Lisa has a free resource for you! Click here --> FertilityFriday.com/TTC

Ryann Kipping is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Lactation Educator Counselor. She helps clients who are planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, or recently postpartum reach optimum health during these extremely important and emotional periods of life. Aside from one on one nutrition consulting, Ryann is a nutrition writer and menu developer; she works with the supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and is currently attending San Diego State University to get her Masters in Public Health. You can connect with her via email or social media! In this episode, you’ll hear about: Ryann’s story (0:23) Preconception nutrition (1:01) What to eat while pregnant when you’re craving fast food (5:00) When to take prenatal vitamins and the best ones to take (6:00) Can you take vitamins one year before conception? (8:13) Preconception nutrition for Dads (8:35) When you’re pregnant, these little shifts will boost your nutrition (10:05) Healthy snack ideas (11:45) Sneak veggies in these foods (12:30) Kristy’s Power Pancake Recipe Ryann’s Sunrise Smoothie Recipe Nutrition tips for breastfeeding (16:45) Ryann’s virtual nutrition services (18:43) Connect with Ryann: Website: theprenatalnutritionist.com Instagram/Facebook: @prenatalnutritionist Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nutritionbyryann/ Did you know that babies have experience and cellular memory from preconception to birth? If you just said, “WOW!” in your head, listen to episode 23. You'll learn that and so much more from Kate White from APPPAH (The Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health). 

Alisa made history on the Dr. Oz Show when she discussed menstruation on national TV. She showed them how to ‘read’ your menstrual blood (using mashed fruit as props) to determine if you have hormonal imbalances. You can see the video here. She also spoke about hormones, neurochemistry, feminine energy, entrepreneurship, and success at TEDx, Talks@Google, Summit Series Outside, Hay House, WIE Symposium, and SHE Summit. While she’s super science-minded, Alisa has been known to drop F-bombs on stage. You’ll find her doing rituals on the new and full moon, and she wears tight, black dresses with colorful aprons in her kitchen — all with her baby girl on her hip and her Italian grandmother’s olive-wood spoon in hand. Alisa built FLO Living as a virtual online health center to help women solve their hormonal symptoms from anywhere in the world. I published a book called WomanCode, which has been in the Top 50 bestselling women’s health books of all time since it was published. Here’s a breakdown of our chat: WomanCode book Alisa’s hormonal breakdown FloLiving.com – Modern Menstrual Healthcare How to optimize your fertility Your period is your 5th vital sign (What is it trying to tell you?) In the Flow book Alisa invites you to get support for your hormones and fertility at FloLiving.com. Once you read her new book, In the Flo, you won’t be able to put it down. See what bonuses you can get with the book at IntheFloBook.com. Sync with Alisa’s IG flow here.

The Mommy Lifecycle™ was developed by Dr. Cleopatra Abdou Kamperveen, a mom, psychologist, author, and professor. She is best known for her innovative research and work on reproductive health, human flourishing, and the intergenerational transmission of health. Her multi-million-dollar research program has been funded by multiple arms of the National Institutes of Health and numerous other funding agencies. After losing her mother at birth, it became her life’s work to walk beside women through some of the hardest, most important, and beautiful parts of their lives—their baby and Motherhood journeys. She has formally studied and supported thousands of women over the past 21 years. She is also a head-over-heels in love Wifey and Mommy of 3 and has personally used the system that she developed for her Clients. She gave birth to her children just before her 35th, 37th, and 40th birthdays. All three children were conceived on the first try! Dr. Cleopatra is the author of Get Pregnant in No Time!, The Mommy Success Toolkit, and For Every Body: The 5 Essential Fertility, Pregnancy, & Postpartum Supplements. She teaches women all over the world how to create the families and the lives of their dreams. She provides a science-based + big-hearted space for fertility, pregnancy, and Motherhood support and education for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Dr. Cleopatra found her purpose through losing her Mom (3:16) What the Mommy Life Cycle is (10:58) Do you ever feel ready to have a baby? (17:19) Motherhood is a sacrifice vs joyful (24:15) Preparing for postpartum (33:10) How Dr. Cleopatra supports Moms with the In Bloom program (34:40) If you have any questions or would like to connect with Cleopatra, you can email her at info@drcleopatra.com and learn more at DrCleopatra.com.

Andrea Laine White is a Functional Nutrition Therapist practicing at Colorado Natural Medicine and the Chief Marketing Officer and Nutritionist for Baby Fresh Organics (Fresh Start). In her clinical practice, Andrea has developed therapeutic nutritional protocols for a variety of different conditions including, but not limited to: hormonal weight gain related to menopause, acne, endometriosis, infertility and conception, disorders of the thyroid including Hashimoto’s, autoimmune disorders including Celiac / Rheumatoid Arthritis / Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), sleep disorders, migraine headaches, digestive disorders, HPA axis maladaptation/adrenal fatigue, hypertension, food sensitivities/ intolerances, depression/anxiety, gaining weight/increasing lean muscle mass, and cardiovascular disease/elevated cholesterol levels. Andrea attained her certification as a Master Nutrition Therapist from the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado. Her education was primarily administered by practitioners of functional medicine. Functional medicine addresses the underlying or root causes of dysfunction in the body and seeks to restore balance from within.   Andrea shares the number one gift a mom can give to her baby is a healthy gut. 75% of the immune system is housed in the gut (microbiome). Join us next week for episode 14 and learn even more about the microbiome and how it impacts overall health. I'll be talking with Toni Harman, producer of the documentary Microbirth. Toni will share more about the microbiome and the impact on your baby and ways that you can create a healthy foundation that can impact your child's health for the rest of his or her life!  In this episode, you’ll learn: Andrea’s story (0:45) Your Next Big Thing Book helped her find her purpose(1:25) Andrea’s approach to nutrition (3:29) Two factors that determine a healthy gut (4:55) What glyphosate is and how it affects the digestive system (10:16) Fun fact: learn about microbiome and epigenetics in episode 14 with Toni Harmon (11:10) Solocast: About Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) (12:30) Read the Dirty Dozen List and Clean 15 List from Environmental Working Group (EWG) (12:45) The first steps to feeding our little ones (13:12) Forming your child’s taste buds in utero (21:10) Andrea’s philosophy on supplements (22:29) Functional lab testing for micronutrients (24:05) Difference between folate and folic acid (31:26) Andrea sees clients all over the world (32:22) You can connect with Andrea at ColoradoNaturalMed.com, Instagram, or info@coloradonaturalmed.com.  Join us for episode 14 of The Pure Nurture Podcast when we talk all about the microbiome and the impact on your baby's health with Toni Harman, producer of the documentary Microbirth. 

Anuka Gazara-Anthony is an accredited Mongan Method Hypnobirthing teacher currently based in Bethesda, Maryland. She was inspired to leave her career and train as a Hypnobirthing Practioner after having her daughter in 2013. Anuka's first pregnancy and delivery were extremely difficult, she had many complications and was unprepared for her delivery. This led to many complications to her body after birth. She was determined to learn a new approach that could help her understand her body better during pregnancy and delivery. Anuka was determined to have a peaceful and calm birth with her second child. Hypnobirthing has changed her life in so many ways, but more importantly, it empowered her with the tools and techniques she needed to have a calm and confident birth – the way she wanted! Anuka trained in Transpersonal Hypnotherapy through the National Association of Transpersonal Hypnotherapists. She also has a postgraduate diploma in business from Oxford University. Her passion is to promote meditation, mindfulness programs, holistic practices, hypnotherapy, and hypnobirthing services which encourage best practices of self-care. What you'll hear in this episode: Hypnobirthing Mindfulness Body Scan Mindful Pregnancy Breathwork to Relax the Uterus = Shorter Labor Connect with Anuka: Website: JanuJoyfulServices.com Instagram: @anuka86 More about Anuka: Anuka Gazara-Anthony is a Mindfulness teacher and Leadership & Wellness, Coach who combines her unique expertise and skills in organizational leadership, program management and hypnobirthing to her work as a mindfulness-based leadership coach. She mentors and leads training for executives, entrepreneurs and individuals in becoming confident mindful and effective leaders. For over 10 years Anuka has worked in areas of human resources and program management as well as in an executive officer role supporting and advising executives in government and international organizations which include the United Nations and the International Labour Organization. Across these roles, she has worked in different countries in Europe and Africa. These experiences have shown her how strategy, culture and the human connection can influence and impact how leaders can work with their employees with more effective leadership. Furthermore, it highlighted the positive influence of effective leadership can have on the lives of so many people from their conference tables to their dining tables. Anuka has over 20 years of experience of mindfulness meditation practice of various forms of meditation. Anuka is committed to strengthening the inner resilience and wisdom of individuals, executive teams, business groups and boards of directors using mindfulness-based leadership and emotional intelligence leadership coaching. She holds a BA from the University of Queen Mary ( University of London) a Master’s degree (MA) from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Organizational Leadership, Said Business School, from the University of Oxford. 

Preparing for birth (even if this is your 5th pregnancy) can be stressful and overwhelming. You might be feeling anxious and even a little scared about your upcoming birth. You’re not alone. This is quite common.   You might be searching for childbirth classes and feel overwhelmed by all the options, or have no clue where to start looking for a class. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place! Believe me, I know how you’re feeling right now. Been there! With my first baby, I didn’t have a clue where to begin, so I just took a couple of hospital childbirth education classes to get my feet wet. A big part of me just wanted a nurse or doctor to tell me what to do. With my second child, I learned about HypnoBirthing® and thought, “Oh, that sounds kinda like what I’m learning in yoga, I’ll try that.” I ended up loving it, but looking back, I was completely unaware of my options and which course might have been best for me, at the time. To help you get clear on your birthing method, I created a free quiz with the five most popular birthing methods to have an empowered birth. Check out the quiz and discover which course best fits your wants, needs, and desires for your upcoming birth.  There isn’t ONE right way or method, there are so many great options. It’s fantastic and can be overwhelming. I’m here to take away some of the stress and help you gain some clarity on which one is best for you. (Not your sister, not your mom, not your BFF.) Click here and take the 5-minute quiz. 

Dr. Stephanie Dueger is a psychotherapist, parent coach, and educator, who works with expectant and new parents and their little ones. She facilitates parent workshops and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the academic Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health. Dr. Dueger lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and two daughters. Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families is her first book—the book she wishes she’d had for herself when first becoming a parent. Learn more about Dr. Dueger at drduegertherapy.com. In this episode, you'll hear about: New book: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families Concrete steps you can take right now to feel more prepared in becoming a parent Important conversation topics to discuss with your partner before having a baby Association of Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH): birthpsychology.com How to connect with your unborn baby Episode 23: The Importance of Prenatal Bonding with Kate White Episode 33: Kiersten Markham episode of Pure Nurture Podcast Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby (my book)  Connect with Stephanie: Website: drduegertherapy.com Facebook: @theattachmentdoctor Instagram: @theattachmentdoctor

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition and exercise. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and unapologetically critical of outdated dietary guidelines. She is the author of two bestselling books, Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Who is Lily Nichols (2:15) Real Food For Pregnancy book by Lily Nichols What prompted Lily to do prenatal nutrition for women (3:20) Common misconceptions about prenatal nutrition (5:42) Best vegetarian protein sources for pregnancy (10:06) You were fed wrong information on prenatal nutrition (14:22) Vital nutrients for Mom and baby (17:12) Folate versus folic acid (22:25) What needs to be improved in conventional prenatal nutrition (27:15) Read the first two chapters of Lily’s Real Food for Pregnancy book for free on her site. Her blog will keep you well-fed and if you’re curious to see what she eats, find her on Instagram.  More great podcast episodes with a prenatal + postpartum nutrition focus:  Your Body During Breastfeeding with Courtney Hasseman (nutrition during breastfeeding) The Whole30 and Whole30 Mamas Club (nutrition for moms) with Stephanie Greunke Prenatal Nutrition with Melissa Mor Preconception Nutrition with Ryann Kipping Functional Nutrition for Fertility, Pregnancy, and Motherhood with Andrea White

Dr. Britta Bushnell (she/her) is a wife and mother, author of Transformed by Birth, host of the podcast Transformed, veteran childbirth educator, celebrated speaker, mythologist, and specialist in childbirth, relationship, and parenting. For over 20 years, Dr. Bushnell has worked with individuals and couples as they prepare for the life-changing experience of giving birth. Her work with parents has been enriched by her doctoral work in mythology and psychology, her years spent as a co-owner of Birthing From Within, as well as her dedicated study of solution-focused brief therapy, storytelling, sustaining sexual vibrancy, and helping romantic partnerships thrive even during parenthood. What you'll hear in this episode: Britta's yoga career Episode 97: Birth Story Medicine with Pam England Transformed by Birth book by Dr. Britta Bushnell E X P A N D  your birth expectations Global postpartum period The transformation brought on by birth and becoming a parent Dealing with isolation in 2020 The highs and lows of parenting The illusion of perfectionism Rites of passage and what they have to do with this moment in time Connect with Britta: Website: BrittaBushnell.com Instagram: @brittabushnellphd Facebook: @brittabushnellphd Book: Transformed by Birth Podcast: Transformed

Anita Lambert is the owner of Holistic Health Physiotherapy and a Registered Pelvic Health and Orthopaedic Physiotherapist with a focus on women's health, specifically prenatal and postpartum care. She’s one of the select few physiotherapists in Canada to receive advanced training in labor support, which blends orthopedic physiotherapy expertise with birth doula support. Anita is always looking to share and learn up-to-date information about pregnancy, birth and beyond which led her to co-host the To Birth & Beyond Podcast. You can usually find Anita on the move - whether playing with her kids or exercising with strength training, spin, yoga or Pilates. Anita lives in Peterborough, Ontario with her husband Andy, daughter Pippa and the newest addition to the family - baby Jack. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Anita’s work with prenatal and postpartum care (1:27) To Birth and Beyond Podcast Where your Pelvic Floor is (5:53) Preparing Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Podcast Kegel exercises (8:27) Best time to do Kegel exercises (most women do it wrong) (9:00) In-Depth Birth Prep Podcast Flower Bloom Breathe to expedite labor — How to video (10:40) Perineal Massage — How to video  (12:30) Massage oil recommendations (15:50) Exercises to prepare for birth (16:30) Spinning Babies Daily Essentials Video Ways to ease your birth (17:50) If you feel drawn to Anita, you can find her on Instagram here, Facebook, her site HolisticHealthPhysio.com, and her amazing podcast To Birth and Beyond. If thinking about birth gives you the jitters, Anita’s shares solid advice to help you prepare here. If I was pregnant, I would’ve downloaded this.

Pure Nurture Blog Series Guest post written by Sarah Brown. Grab your superfood recipe here. 

Dr. Aumatma is a Naturopathic Doctor & Nutritionist, in practice for close to 15 years. She specializes in women's health, is the best-selling author of "Fertility Secrets: What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You About Baby-Making," and is a sought out speaker on topics related to Women’s Health and Empowerment. Dr. Aumatma was awarded the “Best Alternative Medicine Practitioner″ award locally in 2015, and as a top “Women In Medicine” Doctor in 2020. In addition to supporting couples through private 1 on 1 care and online group programs, and she also trains practitioners who want to specialize in fertility In this episode, you'll hear about: Dr. Aumatma's road to fertility and postpartum support Pre-conception testing What ridges on your nails mean What a Naturopathic Doctor is Mind Body Spirit Approach Body Talk Prenatal Supplements Folic Acid vs Folate Nutrition for Pregnancy Emotional and Mental Support Website: HolisticFertilityCenter.com Facebook: @DrAumatmaNd Instagram: @holsitic_fertility_doctor

Hannah & Kelty are twins, coaches + speakers at the parenting resource, Upbringing. Certified in Simplicity Parenting, Positive Discipline + trained in Foundations of the respectful parenting approach, RIE, Hannah & Kelty empower parents to grow up alongside their babies and kids for sanity + social change, elevating their discipline practices one conversation at a time!   They are co-parenting in captivity on a farm outside Portland, Oregon that they share with their partners and kids, ages 4, 5, 6, and 7.   Learn more about their new baby course, Right From The Start and their discipline-related guides on their website, and catch their LIVE weekly Dismantling Discipline Q&As on their thriving Instagram community or their top-rated parenting podcast of the same name.   In this episode, you'll hear about: Simplicity Parenting Independent play Episode 105: Radical Unschooling How to can prepare toddlers/kids for your new baby Understand your child's stress language Mommy Daughter or Daddy Daughter Dates Boundaries Supporting your partner through the new baby Right From The Start Online Course CONNECT WITH HANNAH & KELTY: Website: Upbringing.co Instagram: @upbringing.co Right From The Start Online Course: yourparentingmojo.com/rightfromthestart

Hannah & Kelty are twins, coaches + speakers at the parenting resource, Upbringing. Certified in Simplicity Parenting, Positive Discipline + trained in Foundations of the respectful parenting approach, RIE, Hannah & Kelty empower parents to grow up alongside their babies and kids for sanity + social change, elevating their discipline practices one conversation at a time!   They are co-parenting in captivity on a farm outside Portland, Oregon that they share with their partners and kids, ages 4, 5, 6, and 7.   Learn more about their new baby course, Right From The Start and their discipline-related guides on their website, and catch their LIVE weekly Dismantling Discipline Q&As on their thriving Instagram community or their top-rated parenting podcast of the same name.   In this episode, you'll hear about: Simplicity Parenting Independent play Episode 105: Radical Unschooling How to can prepare toddlers/kids for your new baby Understand your child's stress language Mommy Daughter or Daddy Daughter Dates Boundaries Supporting your partner through the new baby Right From The Start Online Course CONNECT WITH HANNAH & KELTY: Website: Upbringing.co Instagram: @upbringing.co Right From The Start Online Course: yourparentingmojo.com/rightfromthestart

Nikki Bostwick is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of THE FULLEST and host of THE FULLEST podcast. She helps formulate THE FULLEST product line, alongside her amazing team. She is a mom of two, nestled in Newport Beach with her high school sweetheart and their Siberian Husky.   In this episode, you'll hear about: How THE FULLEST podcast was born Trusting your intuition Advocating what's best for your family Honoring people's choice about the shot Believing in your body's ability to heal naturally CONNECT WITH NIKKI: Website: thefullest.com Instagram: @nikkibostwick Instagram: @thefullestco

Betsy and Sofia are co-founders and co-CEOs of Tiny Organics. Named Forbes 30 under 30 and BBC's 100 Most Inspiring Women, Betsy has a decade of experience as an inventor, product founder, and CEO. Sofia is a PR and marketing veteran with vast experience, most recently at Ascend Foundation helping elevate women and minorities onto U.S. corporate boards and creating a pipeline of women and minorities to achieve the highest levels of leadership at Fortune 500 corporations.   In this episode, you'll hear about: What inspired the creation of Tiny Organics Lactation Bites The importance of childhood nutrition from an early age Low-sugar feeding Reducing the risk of toxins in baby food Baby Led Weaning CONNECT WITH BETSY & SOFIA: Website: tinyorganics.com Instagram: @tinyorganics LinkedIn - Betsy: linkedin.com/in/betsyfore LinkedIn - Sofia: linkedin.com/in/sofialaurell

Hilda Labrada Gore, also known as Holistic Hilda is a voice for healthy living, and she is convinced that we need to look at how our ancestors lived in the past to create good health today. She wants everyone to live their best life at any age and stage. It's not hard—enjoy the sunlight, get your feet on the Earth, and eat real, whole foods. As the host of the Wise Traditions Podcast, you will learn a lot from her. In this episode, you'll hear about: The power of mindset Affirmations for Hilda's natural childbirth (The Bradley Method®) Your perception of your kids can change them Serendipity list Gratitude list Do affirmations with your family Unplug from TV and social media Plug into what lifts your spirit Feel peaceful through breathing (Box Breathing blog) Connect with Hilda: Website: holistichilda.com Instagram: @holistichilda Podcast: Wise Traditions

Dr. Marie truly believes in the body’s innate healing wisdom and is passionate about helping others gain access to their inner power. She has been in naturopathic medicine practice since 2002 and has over 20 years of experience as a craniosacral practitioner.   As a fervent seeker and forever student, Dr. Marie’s own personal healing journey led her to experience and study a myriad of energy healing modalities. Dr. Marie recognizes that the physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual aspects of our human experience are all highly intertwined. She skillfully weaves the contents of her eclectic medicine bag to support people wherever they are on their own healing journey.   What you'll hear in this conversation:  Becoming empowered to trust your body's innate healing ability. Taking the fear out of the equation when it comes to your health and the health of your family. Turn off the TV and tune into yourself - the power of the mind-body connection. Our connection to nature is therapeutic and healing. Germ phobia is misguided   Connect with Dr. Marie here:    www.drmarierodriguez.com Children's Health Video Series:

Katie Sutherland is an energy medicine healer, teacher, and holistic wellness practitioner who has been building her sacred basket of modalities for almost 20 years. She supports mothers to thrive and reclaim their empowerment and vibrancy while navigating the journey of motherhood and childbirth.   In this episode, you will hear about: How healing your birth trauma is a huge gift to yourself & your family Breath work is How to resource and ground yourself even with your kids around - aka in the moment self-care Reclaim Your Birth Circle How ceremony works as a healing modality CONNECT WITH KATIE: Website: innerwisdommotherhood.com Instagram: @innerwisdommotherhood

Author, educator, and licensed marriage and family therapist, Jennifer Strube spent four decades assisting other people’s children before braving to have her own. Her most recent book Momlandia: An Imperfect Guide to Organic Mothering grew out of a year-long text message rant with her best girlfriend as they embarked into motherhood together. Her work champions all the postpartum feels—addressing topics of mom shame, mom-paring, and embracing one’s self as a good enough mother. When not soaking in the healing power of nature, she is an educational therapist at a private school in Santa Barbara, CA. In this episode, you'll hear about: The myth of the perfect mom (and why this unicorn keeps haunting us) Mom shame Tech Wise Littles Where's the support for after our milestones? Facing the Lion, Being the Lion by Mark Nepo Organic mothering Orthorexia Why “all the mom feels” are okay CONNECT WITH JENNIFER: Instagram: @JenniferStrube Instagram: @TechWiseLittles Website: jenniferstrube.com

Hayley Bukhamsin is the founder of The Gentle Mama, creator of Happy, Healthy Sleep: the online baby sleep course with NO sleep training and a certified infant sleep educator. She focuses on a truly gentle, evidence-based, attachment-supporting, empowering, and intuition nurturing approach to baby sleep.   Hayley is mama to two girls and lives in Dubai. She earned a BA Hons degree from The University of Nottingham, UK, before starting a career in advertising. It wasn’t until the birth of her first daughter that she discovered her true passion: Attachment Parenting, Gentle Parenting and above all, healthy infant sleep. For the last 6 years, Hayley has pursued this passion actively, building an Attachment Parenting community within the UAE, blogging about her parenting experiences via The Gentle Mama, certifying as an Infant Sleep Educator, and now launching Happy Healthy Sleep. Hayley now works internationally, helping parents with gentle, respectful sleep coaching. She helps tired families, often at the edge of desperation, find ways to improve their wellbeing in these tough times, without needing to ‘sleep train’ their babies. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Gentle sleep training Sleep training vs sleep education: The dawn of a new era 1. What is the difference between your approach and traditional sleep coaches? 2. What are your top tips for new parents? 3. What do new parents need to know about the common sleep advice out there? Connect with Hayley: Website: TheGentleMama.com Facebook: @thegentlemama Instagram: @thegentlemama

When Michelle, an attorney in Atlanta, became pregnant at the age of 40, she immediately scoured the internet for pregnancy information for women her age, only to be inundated with daunting statistics and risks from medical professionals, individuals, and articles. Not succumbing to all of the negative information, Michelle began a private Facebook Group to both give and receive encouragement to other women in the same situation. The “Pregnancy After Forty Private Group” now has over 5,000 members and has been the catalyst to creating a website and the “Pregnancy After 40” Podcast, which she now hosts. Michelle is also a Speaker who shares her “Pregnancy After 40” story and encourages other women that it’s possible to have a healthy baby or babies after 40 years despite having pregnancy issues. You'll hear about: The differences of pregnancies at age 25, 41, and 43 years old Early induction Fertility tips 50 Fertility Tips for Women After 40 Connect with Michelle: Website: PregnancyAfterForty.com Instagram: @pregnancyafterforty Private Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/pregnancyafterforty Facebook Page: facebook.com/pregnancyafterforty Podcast: Pregnancy After 40

In this episode, you’ll hear about: The Canary in the Design Mines Sustainability & wellness in the home Lyme disease Impact of our home on our health Detox your cleaning products Detox Guide: dwellingwelldesignacademy.com/detox-guide Off-gassing from carpet GOTS certified organic wool or cotton for carpets or rugs Progress over perfection Start with a bedroom makeover Dwelling Well: Healthy Bedroom Design Course Connect with Sarah: Website: dwellingwelldesignacademy.com Instagram: @thecuratedhouse

Christine Bullock has been teaching fitness and working in the beauty business around the world for over two decades. Christine is the creator of Evolution 20®, a 60-day fitness and nutritional program, Super Shred, and Body Reborn Post-Natal DVD Series. In addition to her Evolution20® Program Christine has developed the 30X30 Total Transformation program for Mindvalley as well as 10 Minute Solutions: Butt Lift which was rated one of the top Pilates DVDS for 2013 by Pilates Style Magazine and she was voted the hottest trainer in Los Angeles by Racked LA. Additionally, Christine used her background in total health to co-create the award-winning body care brand, KAYO Better Body Care. Christine can be seen as a judge and trainer on Season 1 and 2 of “Fit For Fashion TV.” Christine holds certifications in Yoga, Pilates, General Fitness, Pre & Post Natal Fitness, and Nutritional Counseling as well as has a B.A. in Psychology and Education. She was a finalist in Women’s Health “Next Fitness Star” competition for 2015.  She is an Ambassador for popular fitness fashion clothing lines such as Lorna Jane, Carbon38, Michi, Koral Activewear, and Vie Active. Christine is a go-to wellness expert and can be seen on NBC, E!, VH-1, Star TV, California Life, and PopSugar, as well as a contributor for many magazines and websites including Oxygen Magazine, Yahoo Health, Style.com, InStyle Magazine, Women’s Health Magazine, Woman’s Day, Men’s Health, Glamour.com, Well + Good, Mind Body Green, Bustle, In Touch Magazine, Life & Style, Fitness RX, The Bump, Fit Pregnancy, and many more. She is recognized as a top fitness model representing the world’s elite brands such as P-90X, Insanity, Equinox, American Gladiators, Metaball, and Sports Authority to name a few. Christine has been featured on the cover of Women’s Health Magazine, Europe’s biggest fitness magazine Sport & Fitness, as well as featured in Men’s Health with a full page interview. Christine is also the spokesperson for Champion Naturals™ which is an innovative line of clean sports nutrition with uniquely designed protein blends to support four different kinds of training: Strength, Fitness, Endurance and Sports. In this episode, you'll hear about: Ballet class with Kristy & Christine Christine's health and beauty career Adoption Christine's motherhood journey PCOS & thyroid imbalance Miscarriages Fluid movements Diets & supplements Christine's birth story Find self-care moments Adoption Story Video Series FitOn App Connect with Christine: Website: christinebullock.com Instagram: @christinebullock YouTube: @christinebullock Facebook: @christinebullock

Dayna Martin is an advocate, speaker, educator, and author of three books including Raising Rebels, Radically Unschooling, and Sexy Birth. Dayna been featured on The Dr. Phil Show, CNN, Nightline, The Jeff Probst Show, ABC’s hit show, Wife Swap, Fox News, 60 Minutes, and the Bethenny Show. She was used as an informational resource for Homeschooling stories on the Discovery Channel, The Today Show and Our America on the OWN Network and the Oprah Winfrey Show. She travels the world helping families change their lives by changing their parenting paradigm to bring more peace and connection to their lives with their children. Dayna is a featured speaker at the major parenting and education conferences worldwide. Shared in this episode: Attachment parenting Unschooling Disciplining kids Radically Unschooling Facebook Group Life Rocks Radically Unschooling Conference - Miami Sept 2021 Becoming an Unschooling Coach - Professional Advocacy & Coaching Program Filling your cup Parenting the highly sensitive child Connect with Danya (and tell her I said, "Hi!"): Website: daynamartin.com

Let me ask you a question: can you relate to any of these birth challenges? Doctors "diagnosed" you as infertile You're a cancer survivor and worry about birth complications You planned a birth at a midwife center and hope for an unmedicated experience If there's one speed bump that most of us Moms-to-be experience it's dealing with birth expectations. Ali Shapiro is back on the podcast to tell her birth story and remind you that you have the power to choose how you want your birth to go and accept it (whether it goes to plan or not). You do have rights and it's important to be aware. Click here to listen to Ali's  episode #52: How to Use Stress to Up-Level Your Fertility. Shared in this episode: A Truce with Food Ali's birth story Body, Soul, and Baby Book Evidence-Based Birth Blog Be informed and choose what's best for you Connect with Ali (and tell her I said, "Hi!"): Website: alishapiro.com Instagram: @alimshapiro Facebook: @alimarieshapiro

Dr. Stephanie Dueger is a psychotherapist, parent coach, and educator, who works with expectant and new parents and their little ones. She facilitates parent workshops and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the academic Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health. Dr. Dueger lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and two daughters. Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families is her first book—the book she wishes she’d had for herself when first becoming a parent. Learn more about Dr. Dueger at drduegertherapy.com. In this episode, you'll hear about: New book: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families Concrete steps you can take right now to feel more prepared in becoming a parent Important conversation topics to discuss with your partner before having a baby Association of Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH): birthpsychology.com How to connect with your unborn baby Episode 23: The Importance of Prenatal Bonding with Kate White Episode 33: Kiersten Markham episode of Pure Nurture Podcast Pure Nurture—A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby (my book)  Connect with Stephanie: Website: drduegertherapy.com Facebook: @theattachmentdoctor Instagram: @theattachmentdoctor

Jaren Soloff is a Registered Dietitian and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who serves as an expert in women’s health. While continuing to practice in the field of eating disorder treatment, Jaren gained additional experience as an IBCLC to fuse her love of nutrition and women’s health. Now working solely in private practice, Jaren combines her expertise as a skilled nutrition therapist and lactation consultant to support individuals looking to heal their relationship with food and body. Her brand, FULL CRCL provides evidence-based practices to support women at all stages of the reproductive cycle, from preconception to postpartum. Informed by her own journey and hundreds of women she has counseled, Jaren's experience comes full circle to support women in navigating pregnancy, birth, and postpartum from a simple and intuitive framework. - Why postpartum nutrition is just as important as prenatal nutrition (& intro to The Postnatal Cookbook) - How to meet nutrition needs without engaging in restricting, structured eating (intuitive eating) - The risk of disordered eating and eating disorders during postpartum - Navigating body image - Supporting mood with nutrition While you're here... Find out which childbirth education course is right for you in less than 2 minutes. Take this fun quiz to reveal your birth education personality and the course that will be the best match. Take the quiz here!

Evie Steinhart is a Registered Nurse and mother of 6 children, 3 of whom were born in the hospital and 3 who were born at a planned home birth. She just wrote a book “Is a Home Birth Right For You?” that helps moms weigh the pros and cons of having a hospital birth versus a home birth. The book draws on interviews the author had with home birth moms and birth professionals, and it cites an array of data and research studies to help women make an informed choice. Why women would choose to have a home birth Why it’s important for you to educate yourself about your birth options (even if you want a hospital birth) How you can make your home birth or hospital birth as safe as possible How to plan a home birth during a pandemic Click here to learn more and to connect with Evie.  PURENURTURE.COM When it comes to birth preparation, there is an overabundance of options out there. From having no idea of where to begin looking for classes to being overwhelmed by all of the amazing classes out there – it can leave you feeling lost and confused. This quiz will help! It’s a quick, fun, and easy way to find out which birth education style will best fit your personality. Take the quiz here! 

Preparing for birth (even if this is your 5th pregnancy) can be stressful and overwhelming. You might be feeling anxious and even a little scared about your upcoming birth. You’re not alone. This is quite common.   You might be searching for childbirth classes and feel overwhelmed by all the options, or have no clue where to start looking for a class. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place! Believe me, I know how you’re feeling right now. Been there! With my first baby, I didn’t have a clue where to begin, so I just took a couple of hospital childbirth education classes to get my feet wet. A big part of me just wanted a nurse or doctor to tell me what to do. With my second child, I learned about HypnoBirthing® and thought, “Oh, that sounds kinda like what I’m learning in yoga, I’ll try that.” I ended up loving it, but looking back, I was completely unaware of my options and which course might have been best for me, at the time. To help you get clear on your birthing method, I created a free quiz with the five most popular birthing methods to have an empowered birth. Check out the quiz and discover which course best fits your wants, needs, and desires for your upcoming birth.  There isn’t ONE right way or method, there are so many great options. It’s fantastic and can be overwhelming. I’m here to take away some of the stress and help you gain some clarity on which one is best for you. (Not your sister, not your mom, not your BFF.) Click here and take the 5-minute quiz.    

Guest post by Jenny Hart Giving birth is an amazing, miraculous experience. Obviously, when you have a baby, there are a lot of adjustments taking place, including the adjustments your body goes through during and after pregnancy. While you prepare for your little one, make sure you are also preparing for your own recovery, momma. These postpartum recovery tips can help ensure your after-birth experience is as smooth and comfortable as possible. Click here for the show notes. 

Pure Nurture Blog Series Guest post written by Sarah Brown. Grab your superfood recipe here.   

Calm Your Fear of Postpartum Anxiety Postpartum Depression gets a lot of attention these days (which is great! Awareness is important), but did you know that Postpartum Anxiety can be just as disruptive? “Great,” I hear you say. “Another thing to worry about.” But pregnancy is a time of joy. Or at least it should be. It can be hard to really feel that joy if you are worried about what’s coming. But the best offense is a great defense! Ease your mind—and help make sure that you are not caught off-guard—with four easy steps: Step 1—Educate Yourself: Learn about the signs and symptoms of postpartum anxiety, and how it is similar to (and different from) postpartum depression. Talk to your doctor, your midwife, your doula, and your mom friends. Then take matters into your own hands by seeking out information from multiple, reputable sources, in print or online. Do not just consume endless horror stories—there is nothing productive in that. Look instead for sources that focus on prevention and treatment. Step 2—Make A Plan: Discuss your concerns with those around you. Get your partner, your care providers, and any friends or family that will be helping you in the early weeks and months on board. Make sure they know what to look for and have a plan for checking in on your mental wellbeing after delivery. You need the people who know you well on the lookout, just in case you yourself are not in a state to identify what is going on. And if things get bad, they may need to push you a bit to get help. Step 3—Ask For Help: Compile a list of potential mental health treatment providers in your area, and know what your insurance does or does not cover. That way, if you need professional intervention, you can get the help you need faster, and you won’t need to scramble to find this information while under the influence of postpartum anxiety or depression, while learning how to care for your new arrival to boot. Think of it as your Worst-Case-Scenario toolkit. Step 4—Relax: When it comes to Postpartum Anxiety (or depression, or any number of physical or mental difficulties) the best prevention is to be as healthy as possible. So, take care of yourself the way you would anyway. Being kind to yourself, saying no to stress, eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated, getting quality sleep, making sure that you have at least some (doctor approved) movement in your days—all of these things will help you to be as physically and mentally healthy as possible. In other words, now that you are prepared for the worst, take the focus off of possible future problems and put your focus on meeting your needs in the here and now. If you need any help with these things, consider picking up a copy of Pure Nurture: A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby, your guide to self-care during pregnancy. If you are already struggling with postpartum anxiety, skip straight to steps 3 and 4. Getting help as soon as possible will help you get back on track faster. There is a way out, and there is no shame in needing a little help to find it. purenurture.com/quiz Kristy S. Rodriguez, pre- and postnatal wellness expert and advocate, is the owner and founder of Pure Nurture, LLC, a business devoted to educating and inspiring women to nurture and nourish themselves through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. As a Holistic Health Coach and Registered Yoga Teacher specializing in pre- and postnatal wellness, Kristy works with individual clients, as well as teaching classes and workshops, both in person and online.

“What we can expect from the newly released book–—Kristy Rodriguez, author of Pure Nurture: A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby.” Kristy Rodriguez, Prenatal Health Coach and Yoga Teacher, shares what we can expect from her upcoming book—Pure Nurture: A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby. Pure Nurture: A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby was very much a labor of love. It’s a gift, with my blessings, to pregnant women everywhere and to all mothers. And it is brimming with simple, actionable tips and strategies that any mother or mother-to-be can use to nurture both herself and her baby. Self-care is incredibly important for all of us, but it far too often is the very last thing that we prioritize amid hectic schedules and busy lives—parents especially, which is so backwards: parents need to practice self-care more than anyone, because our children depend on us, on our physical and mental wellbeing, to thrive. And at no time during motherhood is the direct relationship between a mother’s wellbeing and her child’s health quite so evident as during pregnancy. As such, the first, and perhaps greatest, act of love a mother can show toward her growing baby is to nurture herself. Sometimes people, women especially, feel guilty about putting time and other resources toward self-care. They might feel it is selfish. But I’m here to change that narrative. My journey, and my motivation to study at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and become a Holistic Health Coach, has its roots in my disordered relationship with food as a young woman. Without embracing the need for self-care, without slowly letting go of the guilt and learning to be kinder to myself, I would not have been able to rise above those self-limiting tendencies, and I would not be where I am today. When I became a mother myself, I was inspired to dedicate my work to supporting women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, as well as mothers of newborns. In my career (I am also a certified yoga instructor), I see the practice of self-care positively impacting women every day, sometimes in amazing and transformative ways. This book is the culmination of my experiences in this field. It is a gentle, non-judgmental guide to help you find and implement the self-care practices that will work for you and your unique needs during pregnancy (and beyond!), and to inspire you to treat yourself with the care and respect you deserve. Pure Nurture: A Holistic Guide to a Healthy Baby will be available for purchase on February 25th, 2017 in paperback or e-book on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Kristy S. Rodriguez, pre- and postnatal wellness expert and advocate, teaches prenatal yoga classes and workshops at East Meets West Center. She is also the owner and founder of Pure Nurture, LLC, a business devoted to educating and inspiring women to nurture and nourish themselves through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. As a Holistic Health Coach and Registered Yoga Teacher specializing in pre- and postnatal wellness, Kristy works with individual clients, as well as teaching classes and workshops, both in person and online. Connect with Kristy and learn about her current offerings at purenurture.com. View show notes here. Take the childbirth personality quiz here and find out which course might be best for you! Learn more about the book and purchase your copy at purenurture.com/book

Dr. Britta Bushnell (she/her) is a wife and mother, author of Transformed by Birth, host of the podcast Transformed, veteran childbirth educator, celebrated speaker, mythologist, and specialist in childbirth, relationship, and parenting. For over 20 years, Dr. Bushnell has worked with individuals and couples as they prepare for the life-changing experience of giving birth. Her work with parents has been enriched by her doctoral work in mythology and psychology, her years spent as a co-owner of Birthing From Within, as well as her dedicated study of solution-focused brief therapy, storytelling, sustaining sexual vibrancy, and helping romantic partnerships thrive even during parenthood. What you’ll hear in this episode: Britta’s yoga career Episode 97: Birth Story Medicine with Pam England Transformed by Birth book by Dr. Britta Bushnell E X P A N D  your birth expectations Global postpartum period The transformation brought on by birth and becoming a parent Dealing with isolation in 2020 The highs and lows of parenting The illusion of perfectionism Rites of passage and what they have to do with this moment in time Connect with Britta: Website: BrittaBushnell.com Instagram: @brittabushnellphd Facebook: @brittabushnellphd Book: Transformed by Birth Podcast: Transformed  

Tina Cassidy writes about women and culture. In addition to Mr. President, How Long Must We Wait?: Alice Paul, Woodrow Wilson and the Fight for the Right to Vote, she is the author of Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born; and Jackie After O: One Remarkable Year When Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Defied Expectations and Rediscovered Her Dreams. A former journalist who spent most of her career at the Boston Globe covering business, fashion, and politics, she is the Chief Marketing Officer of WGBH. Cassidy serves on the board of The Conversation US. She lives in the Boston area with her husband, the author Anthony Flint, their three sons, and a Norfolk Terrier named Dusty. What you'll hear in this episode: Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born book by Tina Cassidy Jackie After O book by Tina Cassidy Mr. President, How Long Must We Wait?: Alice Paul, Woodrow Wilson, and the Fight for the Right to Vote book by Tina Cassidy Issues with birth Cultural influences on birth Why birth is worse for women of color Women's rights Connect with Tina: Website: TinaCassidy.info Twitter: @historyofbirth Instagram: @TinaCassidy1 Facebook: @TinaCassidyAuthorPage

Brett Russo was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated with a degree in business management from Bucknell University, where she also met her future husband. After graduation, Brett found her passion working beside her twin brother and father for her family’s printing company, of which she is now the chief executive officer. She married her husband in 2015, and together they fought the hardest battle of their lives with their journey through IVF. Brett lives in new jersey with her husband and their one-year-old son, who enjoys meatloaf and responding with “Nah” every time his mom asks for a kiss. What you'll hear in this episode: The Underwear in My Shoe: My Journey Through IVF, Unfiltered by Brett Russo Creative expression is so healing The emotional rollercoaster of IVF It's not your fault Connect with Brett: Website: brett-russo.com

Pam England is the Founder and Director of Birth Story Medicine. When I was a young nurse-midwife, certified but not yet initiated by the power of birth itself, I used to teach 'fantasy birth' classes.  In labor, I had a profound awakening and vowed to tell the truth and to bring change to how women are prepared for birth. While on the cesarean operating table, I realized that the naive positivity and promises I believed (and taught) were the seed for my own rapidly manifesting emotional birth shock, trauma, and postpartum depression. I sought counseling from a midwife, cesarean support group, and therapist, but found only superficial listening. This prompted me to earn a Masters in Psychology /Counseling from Antioch University, with an emphasis on perinatal issues and group dynamics. Eight years of searching for answers and self-acceptance had passed since my initiation through birth; after meeting many teachers and authors and participating in conferences and ceremonies, I had a second epiphany which made me laugh out loud:   'All this time I thought I had to heal my birth, but now I see my birth healed me.'  Perhaps this was the pivotal moment I morphed from the seek to a wounded healer. Thus began Pam's now three-decade-long devotion to the study of emotional birth trauma and the development of the Birth Story Medicine philosophy and process that has helped many find their way "home" to self-acceptance and self-compassion following their initiation through childbirth or birth work. Following the publication of her best-selling book, Birthing From Within, Pam created a profound movement in multi-sensory, holistic, and mindful childbirth preparation and developed the concept of childbirth mentoring (versus teaching). What you'll hear in this episode: The message "I'll never lie to another pregnant woman again." Stories we believe before birth Children recalling their birth Hypnobirthing The judgment of your birth story The surprise The seven gates Trauma comes from self-judgment Free birth story sessions available through Oct. 31, 2020 Connect with Pam: birthstorymedicine.com pam@birthstorymedicine.com YouTube Facebook Instagram

Debra Pascali-Bonaro is a world-renowned inspirational speaker, filmmaker, doula trainer, childbirth educator, and author. Debra’s latest book, an Amazon #1 New Release, The Ultimate Guide to Sex After Baby: Secrets to Love and Intimacy brings together her passion for pleasure in every aspect of life with her Jersey-Girl attitude of talking about what no one is talking about! Debra is a mother, grandmother, and featured expert in parenting journals and media around the world.   Debra Pascali-Bonaro is also Co-Chair of the International Childbirth Initiative and Chair of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative both of which promote safe, respectful childbirth maternity care. She is a Lamaze International childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula trainer with DONA International, Director of the award-winning documentary Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret, co-writer of “Orgasmic Birth: Your Guide to a Safe, Satisfying and Pleasurable Birth” and the Founder & President of the revolutionary online childbirth class Pain to Power, which prepares expectant mothers, fathers, and partners to be positively prepared for birth and focuses on the intimate and sacred nature of birth. Debra’s passion comes from her over 30 years of working with women, men, midwives, doulas, physicians, and nurses in over 40 countries bringing comfort, love, and pleasure to birth and life! What you'll hear in this episode: Orgasmic birth Honoring the body after birth Intimacy & sleep Nine pleasures The Fives Love Languages book Sex education Goop Lab: The Pleasure is Ours In the Flo book Online Class: Sex After Baby launches November 2020 Connect with Debra: Website: OrgasmicBirth.com Instagram: @orgasmicbirth The Film: OrgasmicBirth.com The Class: PaintoPowerChildbirth.com Bali Retreats: EatPrayDoula.com Workshops: DebraPascaliBonaro.com

Stephanie and Jessica are both Doctors of Physical Therapy, Pelvic Floor Specialists, and the founders of the Chelsea Method, the first fourth-trimester rehabilitation program for moms. Passionate about raising the maternal standard of care, in August they launched a campaign called Think Beyond Birth with the mission of improving education, preparation, and care for the immediate postpartum mom. What you’ll hear in this episode: – Think Beyond Birth campaign – Postpartum care for moms in the US & how it’s lacking – 4th Trimester Guidebook – Helpful postures post-birth – Mental, emotional, & social support post-birth – How to return to intimacy – Baby blues & seeking help – Practical must-haves for recovery – Perineum care – Breastf – Why new moms need rehab prior to jumping back into fitness Connect with Stephanie or Jessica: ChelseaMethod.com Instagram: @chelseamethod  

Dr. Variste’s desire for pediatrics began at a very young age. Later she fulfilled her dream and obtained her Medical Degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She went on to complete a pediatric residency at UT Houston Health Science Center. After residency, she returned to practice in her hometown of College Station, Texas. Dr. Variste is grateful for the five years she spent treating the families there and for the relationships and connections she's made.   As a board-certified pediatrician, her passion is to empower moms and dads to raise their kids to lead happy, healthy lives full of positive memories and discovery. She desires to create the same positive experiences for her patients that she had with her pediatrician as a young child. Dr. Variste is thankful to be a new member of the team at Family First Pediatrics and is excited about the new relationships to be made. What you'll hear in this episode: The American Academy of Pediatrics' statement on the reopening of schools Talking to your pediatrician about learning at home or in school Emotional wellness for kids Mental tele-health Level of viral transmission in your community Easing kids into wearing masks What to do if your child is exposed to a positive case Managing the flu season Boosting immunity Connect with Jennifer: Website: FamilyFirstPediatrics.com Facebook: Jennifer Variste MD Instagram: @jvpediatrics

Anuka Gazara-Anthony is an accredited Mongan Method Hypnobirthing teacher currently based in Bethesda, Maryland. She was inspired to leave her career and train as a Hypnobirthing Practioner after having her daughter in 2013. Anuka's first pregnancy and delivery were extremely difficult, she had many complications and was unprepared for her delivery. This led to many complications to her body after birth. She was determined to learn a new approach that could help her understand her body better during pregnancy and delivery. Anuka was determined to have a peaceful and calm birth with her second child. Hypnobirthing has changed her life in so many ways, but more importantly, it empowered her with the tools and techniques she needed to have a calm and confident birth – the way she wanted! Anuka trained in Transpersonal Hypnotherapy through the National Association of Transpersonal Hypnotherapists. She also has a postgraduate diploma in business from Oxford University. Her passion is to promote meditation, mindfulness programs, holistic practices, hypnotherapy, and hypnobirthing services which encourage best practices of self-care. What you'll hear in this episode: Hypnobirthing Mindfulness Body Scan Mindful Pregnancy Breathwork to Relax the Uterus = Shorter Labor Connect with Anuka: Website: JanuJoyfulServices.com Instagram: @anuka86 More about Anuka: Anuka Gazara-Anthony is a Mindfulness teacher and Leadership & Wellness, Coach who combines her unique expertise and skills in organizational leadership, program management and hypnobirthing to her work as a mindfulness-based leadership coach. She mentors and leads training for executives, entrepreneurs and individuals in becoming confident mindful and effective leaders. For over 10 years Anuka has worked in areas of human resources and program management as well as in an executive officer role supporting and advising executives in government and international organizations which include the United Nations and the International Labour Organization. Across these roles, she has worked in different countries in Europe and Africa. These experiences have shown her how strategy, culture and the human connection can influence and impact how leaders can work with their employees with more effective leadership. Furthermore, it highlighted the positive influence of effective leadership can have on the lives of so many people from their conference tables to their dining tables. Anuka has over 20 years of experience of mindfulness meditation practice of various forms of meditation. Anuka is committed to strengthening the inner resilience and wisdom of individuals, executive teams, business groups and boards of directors using mindfulness-based leadership and emotional intelligence leadership coaching. She holds a BA from the University of Queen Mary ( University of London) a Master’s degree (MA) from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Organizational Leadership, Said Business School, from the University of Oxford. 

Mercedes Thomas, APRN, CPNP, CLC is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner, certified lactation counselor, maternal child health consultant, and author of What in the Baby?!?: The Modern Mama's Guide To Confidently Caring For Your Baby And Surviving The Postpartum Period, which will be released on October 30, 2020. Mercedes also is the owner of Advanced Practice Wellness & Lactation, a private practice based in the Washington, DC area where she provides virtual lactation services, parenting classes and healthcare consulting to organizations serving families. She also serves on several national committees in an effort to improve infant feeding practices, access to primary care, and maternal-infant mortality rates. Mercedes has over 12 years of nursing experience working in both inpatient and outpatient, neonatal and pediatric settings. Her mission is to combine her nursing expertise with her experiences as a mom to support families with evidence-based education and resources. To learn more visit MercedesThomas.com. What you'll hear in this episode: What in the Baby?!? book Birth and postpartum doulas Womanly Art of Breastfeeding book Mocha Manual book Postpartum warning signs Association of Women's Health Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses  Tips to survive the new normal of motherhood in the fourth trimester Infant feeding tips (breast and bottle) Maternal & infant mortality How to rally for each other Connect with Mercedes: Website: AdvancedPracticeWellness.com Facebook: Facebook.com/mercedesthenp Instagram: Instagram.com/mercedesthenp Sneak Peek of Her Book: What in the Baby?!? Resources: NapNap.org/families HealthyChildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx  LLLI.org BlackMaternalHealthCaucus-Underwood.House.gov/Momnibus  USBreastfeeding.org/about-us

Kelly Bryant is a Yoga Alliance Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (ERYT-200) and Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RPYT), Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT), and a realist. She is committed to helping women understand their bodies — specifically their core and pelvic health — and adopt a mindset around movement that addresses physical and psychological components. She is passionate about empowering women through all stages of life from prenatal to postpartum and beyond to take care of themselves so that they can show up and do their work in the world. Prior to quitting her job to travel in 2016, she worked at health & fitness startup, Noom, where she led content and community marketing efforts and soaked up everything she could learn about psychology and behavior change.   > Understanding pain and how to mentally and physically address it > Breath + Core: Everything you need to know about your breath, core, and pelvic floor > Exercising after giving birth and how to avoid common postpartum issues

Dr. Aly Cohen is a board-certified rheumatologist and integrative medicine specialist, as well as an environmental health expert in Princeton, New Jersey. She has collaborated with the Environmental Working Group, Cancer Schmancer, and other disease- prevention or¬ganizations, and is co-editor of the textbook, Integrative Environmental Medicine, part of the Oxford University Press Weil Integrative Medicine Library. In 2015, she created TheSmartHuman.com to share environ¬mental health, disease prevention, and wellness information with the public. She lectures nationally on environmental health topics for el¬ementary/ high schools, colleges/ universities, medical schools, and physician- training programs, and she is a regular expert guest for tele¬vision, print, and podcasts. In 2015 she received the NJ Healthcare Heroes Award in Education for The Smart Human educational platform and she was awarded the 2016 Burton L. Eichler Award for humanitarianism. Dr. Cohen is working to educate and empower the next generation to make safer, smarter lifestyle choices through the creation of en¬vironmental health and prevention curricula for schools nationally. Her TEDx talk, “How to Protect Your Kids from Toxic Chemicals” can be found on YouTube, and you can follow her health and wellness tips and recommendations on Facebook at The Smart Human, Twitter, and Instagram: @thesmarthuman. Sign up for The Smart Human newsletter, read her latest posts at TheSmartHuman.com, and listen to her podcast The Smart Human. Some highlights from this episode: Drinking water: what every mom and mom-to-be should know How to clean safely especially with Covid-19 How and why to choose baby products and personal care carefully How to live a cleaner, more chemical-free life Learn more about Aly's work here: The SmartHuman.com AlyCohenMD.com Tedx Talk: How to Protect Your Kids from Toxic Chemicals New Book Link- Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World

Before we dive into these conversations and learn more from and about our upcoming guests, I first wanted to introduce you to Pure Nurture and give you the background story and share what Pure Nurture is all about, how it got started, and where it’s headed. Pure Nurture is all about a holistic approach to creating a healthy new life for mom and baby. It is a community where we fully believe that self-care is baby-care. It encompasses a mind-body approach to pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Pure Nurture is about connection, community, learning, inspiration, empowerment, self-care, self-love and most importantly, it’s a place where you can take all of this in, and ONLY keep what feels best for you and your family and leave the rest. I created Pure Nurture after suffering from postpartum depression. The various challenges of pregnancy and motherhood left me feeling alone and I knew I needed so much more connection and support. My hope is that this community will help you to feel more connected, to find the support you need and to ultimately feel your best. We are all in this together, this motherhood journey. And it’s full of love, laughter, crying, whining, excitement, contradictions, judgments, and so much more. Just like life, it is full of ups and downs. My hope is that this podcast supports you on your journey and leaves you feeling inspired, empowered, and supported as a woman, a mom-to-be, and as a mom. For our very first episode, we are joining Molly Mills, RN, and IBCLC. Molly is on the lactation team at the mama ‘hood where she runs a weekly Breastfeeding Group as well as an Infant Sleep Group. Molly is passionate about building a strong community for mamas and families so everyone has access to support. There is so much advice and information out there, Molly’s passion is in helping parents discover what feels right for them in their parenting journey, which is exactly what you will hear during our conversation. When she’s not at the ‘hood, she’s out on a run, learning to meditate or playing outdoors with her husband and three daughters. Molly will leave you feeling supported, empowered, and connected as a mama, especially related to birth and breastfeeding. In this Episode, You Will Learn: How Pure Nurture was born (1:23) Meet Molly Mills, a Mom, RN, and Lactation Consultant (6:06) What the Mama’Hood is in Denver, Colorado (8:11) How Moms can set themselves up for success expect after the baby arrives (10:50) How to tune into your intuition (17:33) How to prepare for birth (24:33) Asking women to please not share their birth stories until after you’ve given birth (29:15) How Moms can set up a good breastfeeding relationship with their baby (30:35) The Breast Crawl Video (34:08) Learn more about Molly Mills at the MamaHood.com.

Josephine Atluri is an expert in meditation and in overcoming adversity to find joy. Through her unique journey on her path to becoming a mom of five, Josephine weathered many ups and downs with IVF, international adoption, and surrogacy. Channeling her experience to find calm and courage and to focus on perseverance, she now helps others navigate life’s curveballs, through group and individual online meditation training and her “Responding to Life” podcast.   On August 1st, Josephine will be hosting an online workshop to cultivate a fertility mindfulness practice called “Empowering Your Fertility Journey.” In this special workshop, participants will learn the basics of incorporating meditation and mindfulness to support and empower themselves in their fertility journey. The workshop will include meditation, journaling, and tools to reduce stress, boost your emotional and mental health, and increase calm.   In addition, Josephine does group meditation training for staff of such prestigious entities as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.  She also offers fertility Ave parenting workshops and meditation sessions.   Get 50% off of her "Empowering Your Fertility Journey" Workshop with code PODCAST. www.jatluri.com/workshops. 

The New Year brings with it a lot of anticipation, hopes, dreams, aspirations, and maybe some resolutions and a vision board or two. It can all be extremely overwhelming, especially as a mom. On this episode of the Pure Nurture Podcast, Lisa Druxman, founder of Fit4Mom and author of Empowered Mama talks all about finding strength in motherhood, how to manage our time, and how to focus on ourselves and our children, especially as moms. Where do you fit in? How can you manage it all? How can you tune into what's best for you and your family amidst the ideas and ideals of media, social media, friends, family, etc? After listing to this episode, you'll feel inspired, connected, and empowered. In this episode, you’ll hear things like: What Lisa’s created at Fit for Mom (1:50) Empowered Mama Book and Empowered Mama Podcast Fit for Pregnancy or MamaWell Online Program (2:55) How Lisa manages her time as a Mom (4:35) After bringing a baby home, where do you fit in? (9:24) How you can find strength in Motherhood (13:03) How perfect social media pictures can make us feel isolated (14:26) When you choose something, you give up something else (15:45) My Year of YES Book How can we get in tune with what’s right for ourselves and our family (19:20) Find out about the fitness classes at Fit4Mom.com. Learn more about Lisa at LisaDruxman.com and her Empowered Mama Book. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram. If you’re over corporate life and craving a deeper purpose, press play on episode 21 with Crystalee Beck, founder of The Mama Ladder. She helps Moms, like you, start a business AROUND raising a family. A lot of online business trainings were created by women without kids. Crystalee gets it. She also hosts Mama Spring Breaks -- business and adventure retreats! 

Andrea Laine White is a Functional Nutrition Therapist practicing at Colorado Natural Medicine and the Chief Marketing Officer and Nutritionist for Baby Fresh Organics (Fresh Start). In her clinical practice, Andrea has developed therapeutic nutritional protocols for a variety of different conditions including, but not limited to: hormonal weight gain related to menopause, acne, endometriosis, infertility and conception, disorders of the thyroid including Hashimoto’s, autoimmune disorders including Celiac / Rheumatoid Arthritis / Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), sleep disorders, migraine headaches, digestive disorders, HPA axis maladaptation/adrenal fatigue, hypertension, food sensitivities/ intolerances, depression/anxiety, gaining weight/increasing lean muscle mass, and cardiovascular disease/elevated cholesterol levels. Andrea attained her certification as a Master Nutrition Therapist from the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado. Her education was primarily administered by practitioners of functional medicine. Functional medicine addresses the underlying or root causes of dysfunction in the body and seeks to restore balance from within. In this episode, you’ll learn: Andrea’s story (0:45) Your Next Big Thing Book helped her find her purpose(1:25) Andrea’s approach to nutrition (3:29) Two factors that determine a healthy gut (4:55) What glyphosate is and how it affects the digestive system (10:16) Fun fact: learn about microbiome and epigenetics in episode 14 with Toni Harmon (11:10) Solocast: About Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) (12:30) Read the Dirty Dozen List and Clean 15 List from Environmental Working Group (EWG) (12:45) The first steps to feeding our little ones (13:12) Forming your child’s taste buds in utero (21:10) Andrea’s philosophy on supplements (22:29) Functional lab testing for micronutrients (24:05) Difference between folate and folic acid (31:26) Andrea sees clients all over the world (32:22) ou can connect with Andrea at ColoradoNaturalMed.com, Instagram, or info@coloradonaturalmed.com. Andrea shares the number one gift a mom can give to her baby is a healthy gut. 75% of the immune system is housed in the gut (microbiome). Join us next week for episode 14 and learn even more about the microbiome and how it impacts overall health. I'll be talking with Toni Harman, producer of the documentary Microbirth. Toni will share more about the microbiome and the impact on your baby and ways that you can create a healthy foundation that can impact your child's health for the rest of his or her life!

When Toni Harman launched her award-winning documentary, MICROBIRTH, she wanted to shout from the rooftops about the critical microscopic events happening during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. She believes that this is critical knowledge that every healthcare professional should know about and should care about to help empower parents with full informed choice. After all, the infant microbiome is a field of science that strongly supports vaginal birth (when possible), immediate skin-to-skin contact, and exclusive breastfeeding. This enables the optimal training of the infant immune system to benefit a child's lifelong health. That's why she created the Microbirth School, an online course offering continuing education for healthcare professionals. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Toni went from filming horror films to filming childbirth (0:35) What is the microbiome (4:46) Supporting a healthy pregnancy (12:43) Being obsessed with cleanliness isn’t always good (17:13) Benefits of living on a farm (19:20) How to support your baby’s microbiome if you have a c-section (25:15) Can a Mom request Swab Seeding? (31:07) Do your own research and raise your kids in the best way you can (32:25) Be excited about the microbiome and open your mind to new possibilities (34:49) Where to study the microbiome (35:55) Get the Microbirth book here: Your Baby's Microbiome: The Critical Role of Vaginal Birth and Breastfeeding for Lifelong Health Check out these helpful links to learn more about the Microbirth Documentary, Microbirth.com, Microbirth School, Twitter, and Facebook.

Kelly Brogan, M.D., is a holistic health psychiatrist, author of the New York Times bestselling book, A Mind of Your Own, Own Your Self, the children’s book, A Time for Rain, and co-editor of the landmark textbook, Integrative Therapies for Depression. She completed her psychiatric training and fellowship at NYU Medical Center after graduating from Cornell University Medical College and has a B.S. from M.I.T. in Systems Neuroscience. She is board-certified in psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and integrative holistic medicine and is specialized in a root-cause resolution approach to psychiatric syndromes and symptoms. She is a certified KRI Kundalini Yoga teacher and a mother of two. In this episode, you'll hear about: How Kelly started her career Depression isn't caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain Psychiatric medication — is there another way? Evolution of motherhood Chronic illness & modern-day diseases Symptoms are a gift Your body is a compass Kelly's notorious blog: Homebirth: The Opportunity of a Lifetime Emotional alchemy during birth Own Yourself book by Kelly Brogan Step into your own power Begin your journey home to yourself at KellyBroganMD.com. Get to know Kelly more on Instagram, YouTube. Facebook, and Twitter.

Anita Lambert is the owner of Holistic Health Physiotherapy and a Registered Pelvic Health and Orthopaedic Physiotherapist with a focus on women's health, specifically prenatal and postpartum care. She’s one of the select few physiotherapists in Canada to receive advanced training in labor support, which blends orthopedic physiotherapy expertise with birth doula support. Anita is always looking to share and learn up-to-date information about pregnancy, birth and beyond which led her to co-host the To Birth & Beyond Podcast. You can usually find Anita on the move - whether playing with her kids or exercising with strength training, spin, yoga or Pilates. Anita lives in Peterborough, Ontario with her husband Andy, daughter Pippa and the newest addition to the family - baby Jack. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Anita’s work with prenatal and postpartum care (1:27) To Birth and Beyond Podcast Where your Pelvic Floor is (5:53) Preparing Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Podcast Kegel exercises (8:27) Best time to do Kegel exercises (most women do it wrong) (9:00) In-Depth Birth Prep Podcast Flower Bloom Breathe to expedite labor — How to video (10:40) Perineal Massage — How to video  (12:30) Massage oil recommendations (15:50) Exercises to prepare for birth (16:30) Spinning Babies Daily Essentials Video Ways to ease your birth (17:50) If you feel drawn to Anita, you can find her on Instagram here, Facebook, her site HolisticHealthPhysio.com, and her amazing podcast To Birth and Beyond. If thinking about birth gives you the jitters, Anita’s shares solid advice to help you prepare here. If I was pregnant, I would’ve downloaded this.

Crystalee Beck is a mama of three, cute, mess makers, writer, and cofounder of The Mama Ladder, an organization that empowers women at the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurship. After leaving her corporate ladder job, she "created her own ladder" to fit her family in 2016. She gets her best ideas on mountain climbs and treasures daily adventures with her kids. See more at TheMamaLadder.com. In this episode, you'll hear: Who is Crystalee Beck? How Crystalee prepared for her 3rd birth (VBAC: Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) Painless Childbirth Book  Recognizing my own power Making a difficult decision during birth Experiencing a painless birth Mama Power Program Website: TheMamaLadder.com Instagram: @themamaladder Facebook: Facebook.com/themamaladder

Dr. Aviva Romm is a midwife, herbalist, and Yale-trained MD, Board Certified in Family Medicine with Obstetrics, who has been bridging the best of traditional medicine with good science for over three decades. Her focus is on what she calls our total health ecology, utilizing medicine to identify and reverse the root causes of chronic health conditions, particularly hormonal problems in women and common children’s health problems. She is considered one of the world's leaders in botanical medicine and is the author of 7 books on natural medicine, including the textbook, Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health (Elsevier) and The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution (Harper One).   Dr. Romm is the author of the integrative medicine curriculum for the Yale Internal Medicine and Pediatric Residencies, is on numerous scientific advisory and editorial boards, and is a widely sought after and highly engaging speaker. Her online programs for women are wildly popular and successful, helping women take back their health, affordably, and innovative professional programs are educating the next generation of health practitioners. Her non-profit organization, DharmaMoms, provides funding for midwifery education and salaries in high risk obstetric, low resource communities. Dr. Romm lives and practices medicine in the Berkshires and New York City. You can learn how to study with Aviva here: https://avivaromm.com/online-courses   In this episode, you'll hear about: Natural Pregnancy Book Nutritional supplements & botanical remedies Natural Healthy Babies & Children Book Natural Health After Birth Book The resurgence of midwifery & home births How coronavirus impacts pregnancy Emotional support for anxiety about COVID-19 John Hopkin's Map for COVID-19 Informed consent & the power of being informed Learn more about Aviva's great books and online courses on her website here. Find her on Instagram and Facebook for her day-to-day updates.

Meet Lindsay Meisel, Chief Science Editor at Ava Fertility Tracker, a bracelet using new technology to detect a woman’s fertile window in real time. She loves breaking down science, tech, and health to improve women’s health and their menstrual cycles. With over a decade of experience educating and writing about reproductive health, Lindsay is a sought-after speaker and presenter. Her work has been featured on The Fertility Hour, The Birth Hour, The Breakthrough Journal, and The Rumpus. In this episode, you'll hear about: Ava World Blog Myths of Fertility Your menstrual cycle matters (beyond fertility) The Kate & Mike Show: How to Use Your Hormones as a Superpower with Kate Northrup and Alisa Vitti WomanCode book by Alisa Vitti NHI Study: Prolonged PMS can be a sign of future ailments (Source: Alisa Vitti's work) CemCor No Period: Now What? book by Dr. Nicola J Rinaldi Ovulation More fertility myths Progesterone Getting off the pill Myths of miscarriages You can find out more about Lindsay through the AvaWorld Blog.

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition and exercise. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and unapologetically critical of outdated dietary guidelines. She is the author of two bestselling books, Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. In this episode you'll hear all about: What are some of the most common misconceptions about prenatal nutrition? What are a few foods that provide vital nutrients for mama and baby? How could conventional prenatal nutrition guidelines be improved? And more! Visit her here: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/ Book websites: realfoodforGD.com (includes free video series on gestational diabetes + a comprehensive online course) and realfoodforpregnancy.com (Grab the first chapter of the book for free!) Insta and Twitter: @lilynicholsRDN More great podcast episodes with a prenatal + postpartum nutrition focus:  Your Body During Breastfeeding with Courtney Hasseman (nutrition during breastfeeding) The Whole30 and Whole30 Mamas Club (nutrition for moms) with Stephanie Greunke Prenatal Nutrition with Melissa Mor Preconception Nutrition with Ryann Kipping Functional Nutrition for Fertility, Pregnancy, and Motherhood with Andrea White

Sarah is the founder of Empowering Fearless Birth (a non-profit organization). EFB was founded in 2013 and is Utah's largest and longest-running pregnancy and birth expo. Sarah is passionate about helping women find their ideal resources to have a safe, healthy, and beautiful pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. As a professional filmmaker, she is able to bring unique and high-quality resources to the world. Sarah is also a trained doula and is a powerful connector in the birth community. In this episode, you'll hear about: Sarah filming an at-home water birth Empowering Fearless Birth Event BirthCircle.com - Birth Professionals Directory Informed consent Birth team Home births Choosing your birth support person/people TheTouchofLife.com - Birth & Adoption Films ***Find a Healthcare Provider that you Feel IN LOVE WITH*** Website: BirthCircle.com Instagram: @birth_circle

This is a special episode. Imagine the song, We Are the World, and a Ted Talk had a baby. If you're pregnant during the pandemic, we sing this one for you. It's good for those I-can't-do-this-anymore moments. A few guests share words of wisdom to help you navigate a whole new world. I hope their messages lift your soul. Help you find the power within to keep going (even when things are bad). Make you exhale deeper. I can't wait for you to hear this. So much love, Kristy In this episode, you'll hear about: Episode 006: The Dadhood Journey with Dr. Jay Warren What Can You Look Forward to? — Dr. Jay Warren Episode 039: The Five Questions You Must Ask Before Birth with Deb Flashenberg This Too Shall Pass — Deb Flashenberg 034: Using Your Intuition to Imporove Your Birth & Pregnancy Experience with Adriana Lozada You are RESILIENT — Adriana Lozada 075: How to Have a Luxurious Pregnancy with HeHe Stuart Staying in Control of Your Birth: You Can Do This — HeHe Stuart 010: The Mommy Lifecycle with Dr. Cleopatra We Have HOPE Even When Things Feel Terrible — Dr. Cleopatra  

Molly Caro May is a writer whose work explores body, place, and the foreign/familiar. Her latest book, Body Full of Stars: Female Rage and My Passage Into Motherhood, was named a “searingly eloquent memoir” by Kirkus and excerpted in TIME and Lenny Letter. Her first book, The Map of Enough: One Woman's Search for Place was called “addictive” by Elle Magazine. She teaches personal narrative and story workshops online and across the country and gave a TEDx talk called “Female Rage and Resilience in the Modern Era.” Her mission is to work with story as a healing tool.   In this episode, you'll hear about: Her experience of the pandemic Body Full of Stars: Female Rage and My Passage Into Motherhood book The Map of Enough: One Woman's Search for Place book Postpartum story How to prioritize yourself Boundaries with your kids Be the change Mom guilt Metabolize your postpartum stories Writing workshops with Molly Morning Pages 31 Days of Writing Prompts: Learn More + Sign Up Birth Yourself Writing Workshop Transform Your Old Story Writing Workshop Website: MollyCaroMay.com Instagram: @mollycaromay

William Sears, MD, has been advising busy parents on how to raise healthier families for over 40 years. Together with this wife, Martha, he has written more than 40 books and countless articles on parenting, nutrition, and healthy aging. He serves as a consultant for TV, magazines, and other media. Visit him at AskDrSears.com. In this episode, you'll hear about: Dr. Sears' 50 year MD career The brain is now sicker than the heart The Healthy Brain Book Preloading Pregnancy Microbiome Meditation Depression & Anxiety Make your own medicines Outdoor movement Inflammation in the brain Gratitude Sipping Solution Floatation Therapy - Swim with a Mantra Sleep Smart Websites: AskDrSears.com | DrSearsWellnessInstitute.org Instagram: @askdrsears Facebook: Facebook.com/askdrsears Twitter: Twitter.com/AskDoctorSears

Dr. Aumatma is a Naturopathic Doctor & Nutritionist, in practice for close to 15 years. She specializes in women's health, is the best-selling author of "Fertility Secrets: What Your Doctor Didn't Tell You About Baby-Making," and is a sought out speaker on topics related to Women’s Health and Empowerment. Dr. Aumatma was awarded the “Best Alternative Medicine Practitioner″ award locally in 2015, and as a top “Women In Medicine” Doctor in 2020. In addition to supporting couples through private 1 on 1 care and online group programs, and she also trains practitioners who want to specialize in fertility In this episode, you'll hear about: Dr. Aumatma's road to fertility and postpartum support Pre-conception testing What ridges on your nails mean What a Naturopathic Doctor is Mind Body Spirit Approach Body Talk Prenatal Supplements Folic Acid vs Folate Nutrition for Pregnancy Emotional and Mental Support Website: HolisticFertilityCenter.com Facebook: @DrAumatmaNd Instagram: @holsitic_fertility_doctor

Laurel Wilson is a TEDx and internationally known speaker who specializes in Epigenome and Breastmilk, Prenatal Bonding and Brain Development, as well as, Cannabis and Human Milk. Her business, MotherJourney.com, offers BabyFriendly Hospital support; offering kick off staff education, CEO and CFO education programs, Grand Rounds, staff audits, and intensive staff training. See LaurelAWilson.com for more. MotherJourney is a safe and inclusive space welcoming all families, all genders, and all identifications of parenthood. With over 26 years of experience, Laurel takes a creative approach to working with the pregnant family and perinatal professionals. She's co-author of best-selling books, The Greatest Pregnancy Ever: The Keys to the MotherBaby Bond and The Attachment Pregnancy: The Ultimate Guide to Bonding with Your Baby. She is also a contributing author to Round the Circle: Experienced Doulas Share What They Learned the Hard Way and is the original editor of the CAPPA Lactation Educator Manual. Laurel currently travels the world presenting on hot topics as Social Media and the Pregnant Family, Epigenetics and the Microbiome and First Foods, plus Cannabis and Perinatal Health. She believes that the journey towards and into parenthood is a life changing rite of passage that should be deeply honored and celebrated. In this episode: Laurel's work Critical 1,000 days of human development How Laurel got into perinatal work Attachment Pregnancy book Stress and human milk Microbiome Barriers & Tips for Breast or Chestfeeding Impact of cannabis on babies who breastfeed Thirsty for more? See what Laura is up to at: Website: MotherJourney.com Instagram: MotherJourneyLaurelWilson Facebook: MotherJourneyLaurelWilson

Lisa Hendrickson-Jack is a Certified Fertility Awareness Educator, Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner, and author of The Fifth Vital Sign: Master Your Cycles & Optimize Your Fertility. I help health conscious women discover the connection between their menstrual cycles and their overall health, so they can ditch hormonal birth control forever. Our education system has failed to teach us about our fertility, so I’m here to empower you to take control of your fertility and your life. In this episode, you'll hear about: Lisa's passion about fertility awareness What a vital sign is What your menstrual cycle has to do with your health Your Fifth Vital Sign book How contraceptives affect fertility Postpartum charting Healthy menstrual cycle length If you're interested in becoming the Queen of your fertility, Lisa's Fertility Friday podcast is for you. Lisa's mission is to help you take control of your fertility (and your life), so dive into her world at FertilityFriday.com Oh, and if you're trying to conceive, Lisa has a free resource for you! Click here --> FertilityFriday.com/TTC

Loretta J. Ross is a nationally-recognized trainer on using the transformative power of Reproductive Justice to build a Human Rights movement that includes everyone. Ms. Ross is an expert on women’s issues, hate groups, racism and intolerance, human rights, and violence against women. Her work focuses on the intersectionality of social justice issues and how this affects social change and service delivery in all movements. Ross has appeared on CNN, BET, "Lead Story," "Good Morning America," "The Donahue Show," "Democracy Now," "Oprah Winfrey Radio Network," and "The Charlie Rose Show." She is a member of the Women's Media Center's Progressive Women's Voices. More information is available on the Makers: Women Who Make America video at  http://www.makers.com/loretta-ross. Ms. Loretta is a rape survivor, was forced to raise a child born of incest, and she is also a survivor of sterilization abuse. She is a model of how to survive and thrive despite the traumas that disproportionately affect low-income women of color. She serves as a consultant for Smith College, collecting oral histories of feminists of color for the Sophia Smith Collection which also contains her personal archives (see https://www.smith.edu/library/libs/ssc/pwv/pwv-ross.html).  She is a mother, grandmother and a great-grandmother.   She is a graduate of Agnes Scott College and holds an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law degree awarded in 2003 from Arcadia University and a second honorary doctorate degree awarded from Smith College in 2013. In this episode, you'll hear about: Loretta's work as a Reproductive Justice Activist White Supremacy in the Age of Trump Class Birth justice SisterSong.net Social media Her upcoming book: Calling in the Calling Our Culture Building a united rights movement Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organizing for Reproductive Rights book Reproductive Justice: An Introduction book Radical Reproductive Justice book Activism The best way to reach this wonderful woman is by visiting LorettaRoss.com.

Gina Giordano is a doula and a creator. Originally from Miami Florida, she grew up in a close family unit. As the oldest of five children, she was taught how to support and nurture at a very young age. After studying fine arts in college, she moved to New York City where she was introduced to the idea of doula work. Just after one training her passion for working in pregnancy, childbirth and beyond was ignited. In 2005 she started a business, offering birth and postpartum doula services and education to families. Through her work she learned how to offer compassionate, dignified care for ALL families during childbirth and the postpartum time, no matter their choices. She also saw a need for more doulas. Driven to serve that need she co-founded DTI with her long time friend and business partner Tara Brooke. By working as the creative director of DTI, Gina’s mission is to bring awareness to all birth and reproductive options through innovative and curated design. She is the mother to two wild girls, married to her lifelong sweetheart and lives in Austin, TX. Doula Trainings International Gina's path to become birth doula & postpartum doula Tara Brook Gender neutral births Reproductive health Fertility Born into This Non-Profit Instagram: @doulatrainingsint Website: DoulaTrainingsInternational.com Instagram: @BornintoThis.co Website: WeAreBornintoThis.com Instagram: @GinaGiordano

Amanda Thomas is a certified Elimination Communication (EC) coach and consultant for Go Diaper Free. She teaches parents how to potty train their kids without using diapers. Or, at least using fewer diapers! In this episode, you'll hear about: Natural infant pottying Go Diaper Free Elimination Communication (EC) Potty Training without diapers Bamboo - Eco-friendly diapers Top Hat Potty Environmental factors of going diaper-free Saving money EC Classes in DC One-on-one EC Classes Amanda's giving away a Top Hat Potty & free 30-minute consultation! Head over to Instagram for details. While you're at it, follow Amanda on Instagram here: @diaperfreedc.

Sometimes big, life-changing events happen. They leave you feeling bruised and a lot less like the person you know you are in your soul. You divide your life into the before and after. You wonder how to make sense of it and how to move on as a new version of yourself. At 18 weeks pregnant with her second child, she was thrust unwillingly into the dizzying world of pediatric cardiology. She was faced with enormous life or death decisions about the tiny being inside of me, his heart the size of a grape. Crafting and sharing that story of survival (listen to it here!) planted the seed for what has become her creative business, Orchid Story. Trained as a genetic counselor, Rachel Nusbaum looks for places in the world where science, writing, and healing meet together in a pretty Venn diagram. In this episode, you'll hear about: How Rachel started Orchid Story Her son was diagnosed with congenital heart disease Story Corps Podcast Narrative identity Birth story Sanctuary online program 1:1 VIP Coaching Workshops with Rachel The Orchid Story Podcast: Healing Through Personal Narrative The best place to dive into Rachel's story (and how you can write your own) is on her site. Follow her for more writing therapy on Instagram and Facebook. She says, "Your story is your strength."

Dr. Aviva Romm is a midwife, herbalist, and Yale-trained MD, Board Certified in Family Medicine with Obstetrics, who has been bridging the best of traditional medicine with good science for over three decades. Her focus is on what she calls our total health ecology, utilizing medicine to identify and reverse the root causes of chronic health conditions, particularly hormonal problems in women and common children’s health problems. She is considered one of the world's leaders in botanical medicine and is the author of 7 books on natural medicine, including the textbook, Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health (Elsevier) and The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution (Harper One).   Dr. Romm is the author of the integrative medicine curriculum for the Yale Internal Medicine and Pediatric Residencies, is on numerous scientific advisory and editorial boards, and is a widely sought after and highly engaging speaker. Her online programs for women are wildly popular and successful, helping women take back their health, affordably, and innovative professional programs are educating the next generation of health practitioners. Her non-profit organization, DharmaMoms, provides funding for midwifery education and salaries in high risk obstetric, low resource communities. Dr. Romm lives and practices medicine in the Berkshires and New York City. You can learn how to study with Aviva here: https://avivaromm.com/online-courses   In this episode, you'll hear about: Natural Pregnancy Book Nutritional supplements & botanical remedies Natural Healthy Babies & Children Book Natural Health After Birth Book The resurgence of midwifery & home births How coronavirus impacts pregnancy Emotional support for anxiety about COVID-19 John Hopkin's Map for COVID-19 Informed consent & the power of being informed Learn more about Aviva's great books and online courses on her website here. Find her on Instagram and Facebook for her day-to-day updates.

Tranquility by HeHe is a Maternity Concierge, Doula, and Birthing Service in the Boston area. Their mission is to provide high quality, holistic, individualized doula services to Boston families in an empowering and nurturing environment. They take their doula services above and beyond prenatal, birth, and postpartum support by managing all of the "time-sucking" things such as creating your baby registry, planning your baby shower, and researching top-quality baby essentials.  HeHe's Motto: "Choose what's right for your body, your baby, and your family. I'll support you in that choice."   In this episode, you'll hear about: Tranquility by He He Stewart Concierge Services The Birth Lounge Podcast Birth Lounge Birth trauma Communicate openly with your healthcare provider Induction methods Birth stories Guide to Childbirth book Birth plan HeHe's got your back and your birth plan wishes at heart. Learn more about doula work at TranquilitybyHehe.com. If you're outside the Boston area, The Birth Lounge is a great option to work with HeHe virtually. It's designed for women who want to make educated decisions along the journey of pregnancy and birth. Save $5/month to your membership to The Birth Lounge with code: nurture5 HeHe LOVES Instagram, so if you have an account, she spends all day in her stories and DM's! Find her here.

Robin Shirley, CHHC, is the Founding President of Take Back Your Health Int’l, a company that hosts internationally attended health conferences and retreats across the U.S. She speaks, consults, and writes about The Take Back Your Health Lifestyle and how to reduce the symptoms of chronic illness. She has spoken for the University of Virginia Cardiovascular Center, The Arthritis Foundation, Arthritis Introspective, Match.com, The Take Back Your Health Conference and Yogasmoga. Robin grew up with out-of-control systemic inflammation, which her doctors labeled as Systemic Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and Chronic Lyme Disease. At 23 years old, Robin was on track to file for disability and give up on her dream to run her own hospitality company. After 17 years of experimentation, research and education, she has personally experienced the power of a therapeutic healthy lifestyle on reducing pain and inflammation. Robin is finally free from pharmaceuticals and running the company of her dreams. Robin is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and a member of the American Board of Drugless Practitioners. After coaching hundreds of patients with Chronic Lyme Disease, Autoimmune Disease, and Depression through her nutrition protocol, Robin launched Chronic Lyme Nutrition, a therapeutic nutrition protocol that teaches Chronic Lyme patients how to eat to reduce inflammation and depression, increase energy and strengthen the immune system. She writes and posts about the Take Back Your Health Lifestyle on www.ClubTBYH.com In this episode, you'll hear about: Lyme Disease Elimination Diet Take Back Your Health Event in D.C. Pregnancy Probiotic foods Sweet treats (without refined sugar) Join Robin's newsletter Pregnancy hormones Be clear when asking for what you want Robin said you're welcome to email her directly at info [at] clubtbyh [dot] com. I look forward to reading her newsletters. You're always welcome at the Take Back Your Health community.

Alisa made history on the Dr. Oz Show when she discussed menstruation on national TV. She showed them how to ‘read’ your menstrual blood (using mashed fruit as props) to determine if you have hormonal imbalances. You can see the video here. She also spoke about hormones, neurochemistry, feminine energy, entrepreneurship, and success at TEDx, Talks@Google, Summit Series Outside, Hay House, WIE Symposium, and SHE Summit. While she's super science-minded, Alisa has been known to drop F-bombs on stage. You'll find her doing rituals on the new and full moon, and she wears tight, black dresses with colorful aprons in her kitchen — all with her baby girl on her hip and her Italian grandmother’s olive-wood spoon in hand. Alisa built FLO Living as a virtual online health center to help women solve their hormonal symptoms from anywhere in the world. I published a book called WomanCode, which has been in the Top 50 bestselling women’s health books of all time since it was published. Here's a breakdown of our chat: WomanCode book Alisa's hormonal breakdown FloLiving.com - Modern Menstrual Healthcare How to optimize your fertility Your period is your 5th vital sign (What is it trying to tell you?) In the Flow book Alissa invites you to get support for your hormones and fertility at FloLiving.com. Once you read her new book, In the Flo, you won't be able to put it down. See what bonuses you can get with the book at IntheFloBook.com. Sync with Alissa's IG flow here.

Meet Leslie Huddart. Although she didn't recognize it as a child, she's been on a healer’s path her whole life. She's an acupuncturist who studied reiki, Thai massage, shiatsu, and Asian medicine. Now she teaches women (and men who "get it" ) skills of self-mastery in her Subtle Body Certification TM program, The Body Wisdom Academy, so they can win in life, stay grounded in tough times, nurture awesome relationships, and feel great about being who they actually are. In this episode, you'll hear about: The Path of Motherhood is a Path of Spiritual Growth Subtle Body Expert Body Wisdom Mind Shifts HypnoBirthing Mind-Body Connection Postpartum Depression Soul Pancake YouTube Channel If you could talk to Leslie all day, continue the conversation at TheBodyWisdomAcademy.com and LeslieHuddart.com. Consider doing her 21-Minute Free Training to deepen your body wisdom. Your body really does have a mind of its own and you can talk to your body like a friend! For fun, Leslie is giving our listeners a gift, so head over to Instagram.com/Pure_Nurture to enter to win!

What is Astrology and how can it help you become the kind of mom you want to be? How understanding your child’s birth chart can help you to embrace and support the unfolding of your child’s authentic self. How understanding your birth chart can help you stay grounded in your own soul work as you navigate the very demanding, life-changing, (and sometimes overwhelming) experience of mothering. How to use the monthly Moon cycles to support you in your daily job of mothering. In this episode, you'll hear about: Tara, the Astrologer and Coach for mindful moms How astrology can help you parent your kids Natal Chart Your North Star or purpose in life Where Mercury is on your chart shows how you learn Where Saturn is on your chart shows your life lessons Daily cosmic weather Instagram posts CafeAstrology.com If you want to read Tara's daily posts on what's going on in the cosmos, stop by Instagram. You can go deeper in coaching sessions with how to relate to your family best based on their astrology. If you're obsessed with astrology and want to learn more, Debra Silverman has an online course. Win a mini astrology session with Tara. Click here!

Important question: Are you living from your head or your heart? A lot of us are stuck in our heads, working a job we hate without considering what our heart wants. Angela Barbieri Usas, mom of three, guides us back to our hearts, so we can hear the truth of what we want. She believes we're meant to live a life beaming from our heart centers. With the everyday demands of life, pulled in a million directions, it can be hard. Her passion is to empower women back to their wholeness, their hearts. In this episode, you'll hear about: Radiant Heart Center in Virginia What is a Heart Guide? Heart-to-Heart Support Where are you stuck right now? Radiating from your heart Virtual, phone, or in person coaching Crystal Grid Workshop Intentional Jewelry Kundalini Yoga Pure Nurture Podcast Gratitude Group Join the Pure Nurture Gratitude group for 30-days of gratitude beginning Friday, February 7th, 2020. Click here to join for free. 

Meet this power couple, Sarah Bivens: coach, podcaster, & amazing mama — AND — Matthew Bivens: coach, podcaster, & purpose activator. They individually and collectively help people prepare for parenthood in an orgasmic way. Sarah's mission is: To be the Badass Goddess in exquisite execution of balanced lifestyle; acknowledging and honoring my divine feminine source and owning my power to co-create, while intimately connecting to others through love, service, nurturing, and healing; exploring and being what’s possible, attuned to the abundance of the Universe and answering its call with a joyful and faithful heart that generates orgasmic and sustainable health and wealth. Matthew's mission is: To help you transform fear to love and scarcity to abundance, and I’m so committed to creating and holding the space for your greatness! In this episode, you'll hear about: Doing it at Home Podcast with Sarah & Matthew Bivens Home Birth stories & resources Having it A.L.L Podcast with Matthew Bivens Balanced Lifestyle Coaching Fasting Empowered Birth Community Kids magnify everything Communication in marriage Breakdown to breakthrough Pre-children counseling Scheduling sex Kids are our teachers Resolving conflict with kids Book Recommendation: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey Documentary: E-MOTION by Gaia Healthy relationships vs codependency Thank you, Sarah & Matthew, for giving us a lot to think about for our own personal & familial fulfillment! Be open to what they've co-created: DIAHPodcast.com SarahBivens.com + Sarah's Instagram MatthewBivens.com + Matthew's Instagram

Welcome Shveta Sontakey back on the podcast! On episode 19, she said how hypnobirthing was the most empowering thing she did for herself, and her family. Today she invites us to see what our brains look like for the first time. In her new business, Nurtured Brain, she helps families optimize their brain power through neuroscience and tech. I WISH I lived in LA to try this service out with her! It sounds AMAZING and LIFE CHANGING for parents. When you see your brain for the first time (just like looking in the mirror), you'll automatically make adjustments. Things like resolve trauma, rewire your brain to be more mindful, and calm your nervous system. Powerful stuff! In this episode, you'll hear about: A magical birth experience through the power of your brain Mental fatigue Nurtured Brain - All about healing our brains Neurofeedback sessions Bio Strap - A tech bracelet that tracks sleep, recovery, and performance Neurofeedback Practitioners Benefits of neurofeedback Sontakey affirmation bracelets Neurofeedback paired with Singlet Oxygen Therapy Sheveta LOVES creating stronger neural pathways in your brain. What she LOVES MORE is connecting with you! Say "HI!" to her on Instagram, see how to optimize your brain at Nurtured Brain, and check out her affirmation bracelets. To your brilliant brain!

Tracey L. Rogers is an Activist, professional Astrologer, and certified Life Coach serving clients throughout the DMV, nationally, and abroad. With extensive knowledge of Western astrological thought and traditions, Tracey has been studying the stars for over 20 years. As a Leo who understands the importance of self-awareness, self-acceptance, and being completely authentic, Tracey’s practice of Astrology is interwoven with Life Coaching techniques that provide clients with a fully encompassing approach to empowered living. Tracey’s work has been featured in Alexandria Living Magazine, Black America Web, Martha Stewart Weddings, O – The Oprah Winfrey Magazine, Other Words DC, Rebelle Society, Sasstrology, Sesi Magazine, and The Horoscope Junkie. She is also a featured guest on nationally syndicated radio, including the Russ Parr Morning Show (MAJIC 102.3) based in Washington, DC, and Dee Dee In The Morning (K104) based in Dallas, TX. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Tracey’s family of mediums and astrologers What is astrology? Birth Map How Birth Maps make you a better parent Baby Astrology Books For a chance to win a personalized baby astrology book, click here. Giveaway ends Friday 1/17/20 at 4 pm est. Baby’s First Astrology book tells the story of how the universe aligned itself at the moment of child’s birth. They describe your son’s or daughter’s personality based on their full astrological make-up. Find out more on BabyAstrologyBooks.com and TraceyLRogers.com.

Alex is the creator of Nurture. She lives with her husband on a little farm in California where they raise their three little ones. Alex is a homeschooler, certified postpartum doula, and keeper of the precious seasons of motherhood for herself and others through honest photographs and words. Inspired by the innate connections and organic rhythms of everyday life with her children; the magic moments present in the mundane, motherhood is her muse, and love is her platform. Alex talks all about being present and letting the small everyday moments speak volumes of gratitude in our lives. In this episode, you'll hear about: Alexandria Smith Nurture's monthly offer Gentle discipline (without anger) Postpartum doula life Homeschooling Nature Tough Mom moments Conscious Discipline Sow seeds of JOY at NurtureMotherhood.com where mundane tasks are magical. Find her on Instagram, too.

Meet Lindsay Meisel, Chief Science Editor at Ava Fertility Tracker, a bracelet using new technology to detect a woman’s fertile window in real time. She loves breaking down science, tech, and health to improve women’s health and their menstrual cycles. With over a decade of experience educating and writing about reproductive health, Lindsay is a sought-after speaker and presenter. Her work has been featured on The Fertility Hour, The Birth Hour, The Breakthrough Journal, and The Rumpus. In this episode, you'll hear about: Ava World Blog Myths of Fertility Your menstrual cycle matters (beyond fertility) The Kate & Mike Show: How to Use Your Hormones as a Superpower with Kate Northrup and Alisa Vitti WomanCode book by Alisa Vitti NHI Study: Prolonged PMS can be a sign of future ailments (Source: Alisa Vitti's work) CemCor No Period: Now What? book by Dr. Nicola J Rinaldi Ovulation More fertility myths Progesterone Getting off the pill Myths of miscarriages You can find out more about Lindsay through the AvaWorld Blog.

Mindfully Loved founded by Chloe and Michael exists to empower new and expectant parents to find the art of self-love and slow living. About Chloe Chloe is a certified hypnotherapist and psychologist working with adults, children, and parents for almost 10 years. She has worked at her own private practice overseas, worked in youth organizations, various school settings, and private clinics. She has two master’s degrees in Educational Psychology and School Psychology having completed her studies at Columbia University – Teachers College in New York City. During that time she also developed a passion for Hypnotherapy and completed her certificate in hypnotherapy through the National Guild of Hypnotists Inc. Chloe is a dreamer, who wants to be part of the change to our future generation. She loves the outdoors, traveling, volunteering, the beach, and essential oils. About Michael Michael is an Allied Health Professional with over 11 years of hands-on and case management experience with people recovering from soft tissue injuries to severe brain and spinal injuries. Michael studied Health Sciences at La Trobe University before finding his calling, completing an Advanced Diploma in Myotherapy. Battling with his own Mental Health for 8 years, he discovered the power of self-worth and acceptance. Since then he's been able to support and help lots of others through his own learning’s, writing and poetry. Michael has a passion for personal, spiritual, and collective growth. He enjoys writing, being immersed in music and sports. In this episode, you'll hear about: Mindfully Loved's mission Self-Love Slow Living Fully accepting all of yourself (even trauma) & letting it go Shveta's mantra bracelets Mindfully Loved: An eCourse for Expectant Parents Preparing for parenthood HypnoBirthing & hypnotherapy We need to clean out our own garage in order to create a safe space of love for our children, partner, and others. Chloe and Michael empower expecting and new parents to heal themselves through the art of self-love and slow living. Learn more at: Website: www.mindfullyloved.com (Feel free to join their list) Download their free ebook entitled, Mindfully Growing: A Holistic and Mindful Approach to Preparing for Parenthood. (no opt-in is required) Instagram: @mindfullyloved Facebook: @Mindfully Loved

Kristy Goodman is the Co-Founder and CEO of PreConception Inc., an online service that provides direct-to-consumer preconception testing. Kristy is a women’s health, physician assistant (PA) with an M.S. in PA Studies and an MPH in Health Education and Behavioral Science from Rutgers University. Kristy completed a postgraduate fellowship in Ob/Gyn and has worked in a variety of settings providing preconception and prenatal care, labor and delivery services, and infertility treatment. Kristy is an advocate for evidence-based, patient-centered care and shares educational resources on her Instagram @theobgynpa. Kristy lives in Los Angeles, California with her partner and breast-cancer survivor dog, Kira. This week, we talk about preconception care. and what women can do to improve their health before pregnancy in order to improve their chances of having a healthy pregnancy as this is my recent area of expertise! We could do a general overview of pregnancy planning or a more focused discussion on what questions to ask your healthcare provider, when to start planning, which tests to get done, etc. On the podcast, you'll hear about: Kristy and her company, PreConception Improving your health pre-pregnancy Episode 22: Preconception Nutrition with Ryann Kipping Diet and exercise Prenatal vitamins Preconception Testing Immunity Testing Genetic Testing Talk to your family & friends about preconception care No doubt that Kristy will either coin the term "Trimester Zero" or make it part of our everyday dialogue. Cheer her on! While you're at it, join the conversation Instagram: @theobgynpa Facebook: www.facebook.com/theobgynpa Websites: www.theobgynpa.com & www.preconceptiontest.com

Kelly Brogan, M.D., is a holistic health psychiatrist, author of the New York Times bestselling book, A Mind of Your Own, Own Your Self, the children’s book, A Time for Rain, and co-editor of the landmark textbook, Integrative Therapies for Depression. She completed her psychiatric training and fellowship at NYU Medical Center after graduating from Cornell University Medical College and has a B.S. from M.I.T. in Systems Neuroscience. She is board-certified in psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and integrative holistic medicine and is specialized in a root-cause resolution approach to psychiatric syndromes and symptoms. She is a certified KRI Kundalini Yoga teacher and a mother of two. In this episode, you'll hear about: How Kelly started her career Depression isn't caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain Psychiatric medication — is there another way? Evolution of motherhood Chronic illness & modern-day diseases Symptoms are a gift Your body is a compass Kelly's notorious blog: Homebirth: The Opportunity of a Lifetime Emotional alchemy during birth Own Yourself book by Kelly Brogan Step into your own power Begin your journey home to yourself at KellyBroganMD.com. Get to know Kelly more on Instagram, YouTube. Facebook, and Twitter.

Meet Sarah! She's a Registered Nurse, Mom, Certified Postpartum Doula, and Doula Certified Childbirth Educator. Sarah realized that childbirth education and doula work doesn't have to be all or nothing. Like a lot of things in life, most families (like hers) end up landing somewhere in the middle. She helps new parents find the best way to nurture their birth and postpartum phase. In this episode, you'll hear about: What is a postpartum doula? Our society is lacking communal support for women Evidence-based education Preparing for childbirth Here are Sarah's favorite resources: DoulaMatch.net - Find a postpartum doula near you who fits well with your personality The Birth Partner Book This Isn't What I Expected Book: Overcoming Postpartum Depression Nurturingbirthrva.com Instagram: NurturingBirthandBeyond Facebook: Nurturing Birth and Beyond Our society is lacking communal support for new parents. It really does take a village to raise your child and now that we live so far from family, it can be SO hard. Having a postpartum doula tips us back to where we're supposed to be—doing the best that we can, with helping hands.

Jeanne-Marie Paynel, founder and CEO of Voila Montessori, is a Parenting Mentor and Home Consultant. Her mission is to help parents appreciate the true importance of their role - not as servants or teachers, but as guides for their children's natural development. She believes that a supportive and peaceful atmosphere at home will allow every child to grow up as an independent and confident learner. Jeanne-Marie speaks locally and internationally about her three passions: Montessori, Conscious Parenting, and Positive Discipline. In this episode, you'll hear about: Jeanne-Marie's passion for the Montessori Method The Art of Parenting Podcast with Jeanne-Marie What is a Montessori School? Four Montessori areas to create in your home Parent with more joy and ease Parents are guides for their children (not servants) Nursery Checklist For more about Jeanne-Marie, visit: VoilaMontessori.com/jeanne-marie-paynel Montessori's Website: Voilamontessori.com Montessori's Facebook: Facebook.com/jeannemariepaynel.yourparentingmentor Montessori's Instagram: Instagram.com/jeannemariepaynel Montessori's Vimeo: Vimeo.com/voilamontessori Jeanne-Marie's Pinterest: Pinterest.com/jmpaynel Jeanne-Marie's YouTube Channel: Youtube.com/user/VoilaMontessori/videos

Vered is a musician, music therapist, psychotherapist, and mom of 3. Her albums Good Morning My Love and Hello My Baby received GOLD awards from both the Parents Choice Association and the National Parenting Publications. She's the creator of Baby in Tune, a workshop that teaches parents how to use music to bond with and understand their baby. Vered has done staff trainings for Sanctuary for Families, the San Francisco Public Library, and was invited to present her work at Zero to Three, the largest conference for professionals working with ages 0-3 years old. She lives with her husband and kids in Brooklyn. In this episode, you'll hear about: How Vered got into music Grieving her dream career of being a rockstar Music and pregnancy: fetal auditory learning Music and less colicky babies Kristy's daughter remembered her favorite Marc Anthony song (first heard in utero) How you can use music to connect with your baby Why music is so important to play for babies How you can use music during pregnancy to connect with your baby Learn how to soothe your baby with Vered's NY and online classes. Find more here: Website - BabyinTune.com Instagram - @babyintune Facebook - Facebook.com/babyintune

Crystalee Beck is a mama of three, cute, mess makers, writer, and cofounder of The Mama Ladder, an organization that empowers women at the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurship. After leaving her corporate ladder job, she "created her own ladder" to fit her family in 2016. She gets her best ideas on mountain climbs and treasures daily adventures with her kids. See more at TheMamaLadder.com. In this episode, you'll hear: Who is Crystalee Beck? How Crystalee prepared for her 3rd birth (VBAC: Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) Painless Childbirth Book  Recognizing my own power Making a difficult decision during birth Experiencing a painless birth Mama Power Program Website: TheMamaLadder.com Instagram: @themamaladder Facebook: Facebook.com/themamaladder

Learn 5 key facts that our culture gets wrong, so that you can stop the sleep struggle and “Am I doing it wrong?” anxiety. Kim Hawley, MA, MPH is a Holistic Sleep Consultant and Lactation Counselor, as well as, the owner of Intuitive Parenting. Kim's passionate about helping parents confidently navigate nighttime parenting and family sleep using evidenced-based information and parental intuition. Her specialty is gentle, attachment-based sleep support for breastfeeding families. Kim lives in Capitol Hill, Washington DC with her husband, her two children, and a few animals, including her guide dog. She loves to run, read a good book, eat delicious food, and enjoy a glass of wine or cup of coffee. In this episode, you'll hear about: Kim's story A holistic approach to sleep 5 Sleep Facts Guilt and pride over your baby's sleep Sleep is genetic Safe co-sleeping and room-sharing S L O W  D O W N  & see if sleep advice feels right to you See how you can be responsive to your baby’s needs and still take care of yourself. It's a delicate line. Don't over-commit yourself, so you can have a nice balance of work and play. With your intuition and as you try new things, you'll eventually sing a lullaby that soothes the whole family. Learn more about Kim and possibly working with her at IntuitiveparentingDC.com. Take care and sleep well.

Meet, Karly and Ali. Hosts of the Birth Kweens Podcast, a wildly honest conversation on all things natural pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and women's health. Together, they've attended 1,000+ births and have A LOT to say on this. They help women explore their pregnancy options with a funny, lighthearted approach. Our conversation is one of my faves. (I think I can officially call myself a "birth nerd.") In this episode, you'll hear about: What Ali & Karly are up to Vaginal Steam Therapy (or Yoni Steaming) Cervical exams- What they are, when they're done, how they're done, etc. Speeding up the birth process (or NOT speeding up the birth process) Birth Kweens Podcast They are a powerful combo! Between a Doula and a Midwife, they're definitely ones to watch! Catch them online and anywhere you listen to podcasts. Also, here: Instagram - @birthkweens Website - www.birthkweens.com

When Khyati Desai-Seltzer gave birth, her Mom came to live with her for six months to help out and would frequently massage her baby. Khyati took infant massage for granted and saw it as something her culture does for babies. The more she learned from her Mom, the more she became fascinated. Now, she's certified by the International Association of Infant Massage to provide instruction to parents on massaging their babies for short term and long term benefits. She received a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and International Studies from LSU and a Master's in Public Administration in Nonprofit Management from GMU. She's the mother of a three-year-old girl and enjoys yoga, meditation, travel, and dancing in her free time. Khyati believes if every baby had a chance to experience loving, physical touch on a regular basis, our world would look very different. She's passionate about holistic living and wants to share the power of infant massage with as many parents as possible. In this episode, you'll learn: Khyati’s Mom taught her infant massage Benefits of infant massage Massage techniques & tools What is epigenetics? Conscious conception Massage helps calm postpartum depression VyanaInfantMassage.com Online classes to learn all about infant massage IAIM: International Association of Infant Massage - Find in-person instruction for infant massage It’s time to stop feeling like a stressed-out parent (or worse - guilty over it)! When you massage your infant, you’ll start to relax and bond with your baby. Maybe you'll even hear a coo.  Reach out and touch Khyati's world at: Website - VyanaInfantMassage.com Instagram - @vyana.infantmassage

Kate Turza is a mom of 3, co-host of the Mom Deconstructed Podcast, and postpartum Doula. She’s passionate about normalizing the emotions that new (and seasoned) moms feel and creating a community in motherhood. It's so important to share personal stories with other Moms, so you know you're not alone. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Who's Kate Turza? Mom Deconstructed Podcast Hiring a Postpartum Doula (AKA Mothering the Mother) Increasing your confidence as a Mom How Kate became a Postpartum Doula Importance of community Mommy and Me Groups Breastfeeding Support Groups Postpartum Support International Pittsburgh Postpartum Center for Women Why it's important to share your story Mother's intuition or trial and error? If you're not getting postpartum support you need, do your research. The Pure Nurture Podcast is a great resource to find Mom support systems. It does feel awkward to be vulnerable about your first-time-Mom-experience, at first. There's this myth that we're supposed to "just know everything" about being a good Mom, but you're not really sure about this or that. Guess what? No one knows what they're doing. Having a sounding board to get things off your chest is so liberating! Free your mind with Kate in these safe places: Instagram – @momdeconstructed Facebook – @momdeconstructed Website – MomDeconstructed.com

Greer Kirshenbaum Ph.D. is super excited to be the first Neuroscientist Doula and the first Neuroscientist Infant Sleep Educator. Greer’s company, Nurture Neuroscience, is on a mission to revolutionize the future of health. She wants families and perinatal practitioners to understand how early caregiving experience can boost mental wellness and diminish depression, anxiety, and addiction in adulthood by shaping babies’ brains through simple, intuitive, enriching experiences in pregnancy, birth and infancy. Greer teaches courses, provides consultations for pregnancy and infancy and is a birth and postpartum doula. She is currently creating an Infant Sleep Educator course with Bebo Mia. When you understand that how you respond to your baby's cries affects their longterm mental health, you may pick up your baby more. This episode explores how early caregiver and child bonding influences brain development. The science behind parenting is FASCINATING. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Greer's attraction to neuroscience How your early life experience impacts your mental health 3 ways you can support your baby’s lifelong mental health Prenatal bonding  How the caregiver and child relationship benefits lifelong mental health Serve and Return communication method Conscious Discipline Sleep Keep doing your best You're a BIG influence in the development of your baby's brain and nervous system. Ditch the fear of, "Am I parenting right?" Instead do great things for the sake of being a positive force. Absorb as much of Greer's Instagram posts as you can. Find her at: Instagram - @nurture_neuroscience_parenting Facebook - @NurtureNeuroscience Website - www.nurtureneuro.com

When Sarah Clark was 28 years old, she was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure. She accepted it and had both her children through in vitro fertilization. Years later, she realized the root cause of her infertility was a food sensitivity, and later a gut infection. Now, she helps couples get pregnant naturally, so they can fast track the process. She's a certified life coach with accreditation from the International Coaches Federation and a health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's the author of Fabulously Fertile - Supercharge Your Fertility Naturally. Her fertility coaching program, which includes functional lab testing, supports couples to make diet and lifestyle changes that dramatically improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby! On her Get Pregnant Naturally Podcast, she shares that with functional medicine and natural fertility solutions, we can eventually reverse infertility. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Sarah's story of premature ovarian failure Food sensitivities she had no clue she had What led Sarah to an integrative approach to fertility Don't focus on an infertility diagnosis. Dig deeper. Try food sensitivities tests like IGE Test, Leap MRT Test, and Elimination Diet Three MUST DO things to enhance your fertility Use a water filer (Sarah likes the Berkey Water Filter) Set up your Healing Round Table Mind Body Fertility Group Get Pregnant Naturally Podcast FertilityDietFreebie.com - Free Fertility Diet Challenge for Couples Hearing a "diagnosis" like ovarian failure or infertility is devastating to someone who wants a baby so baldy. My guest, Sarah Clark, Integrative Health Coach, invites you to dig deeper than the diagnosis. Look at your whole body. Your gut health, stress level, self-care and home-care products, plus food sensitivities play a HUGE PART in your fertility chances. Learn more about Sarah's work at FabFertile.com and look her up on Instagram.

Ali Shapiro is an integrated health expert, host of the top-rated Insatiable podcast, creator of Truce with Food (R) and rebel with a serious cause. She created her Truce with Food process while in graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania and is a 27-year cancer survivor. Her work has been featured on NBC and in Redbook, Prevention, Women's Health, Cosmo, Forbes, Philadelphia Inquirer, Wall Street Journal and many more. In this episode, you’ll hear about: How Ali Shapiro cleared her depression “Optimal Conflict” - If it’s something you care enough about, you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone Getting your fertility checked Infertility diagnosis Acupuncture & herbs for fertility Try this first to improve your fertility See infertility as a symptom (NOT a diagnosis) 3 patterns that cause you more stress than you need Being an empowered patient CHOOSING your path is very potent medicine HypnoBirthing & what led Ali to it How HypnoBirthing helps your partner know what to expect during birth Ali believes when you have more information about what’s happening to your body during pregnancy, you feel safer. Cuddle up to the world of food, psychology, and behavioral change at AliShapiro.com

Meet your Fertility Friend, Dr. Patti Haebe. She's on a mission to optimize your fertility as a results-obsessed naturopathic doctor. Patti's committed to root-cause healing through therapeutic supplementation, as well as, targeted diet and lifestyle modifications. Her practice, Ocotillo Integrative Medicine, provides integrative consultations worldwide via webcam for those looking to incorporate natural, proactive approaches to their healthcare. On the Pure Nurture Podcast, she talks about the best prenatal vitamins to look for, how a liver detox can enhance fertility, and why pooping and sweating should be top on your to do list. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Dr. Patti Haebe's work as a licensed naturopathic who specializes in hormonal optimization Biggest fertility issues Properly preparing for pregnancy Partnering with a functional medicine doctor to improve your fertility Tuning into your own cycle Nutrition you need to enhance your fertility Detoxing for fertility Take more time thank you think to plan for pregnancy One of the biggest issues with fertility is the misconception that the first month you'll try to conceive, boom, you'll get pregnant. That's not necessarily true. People plan one year for a wedding, so take your time setting up a fertile home and body for your baby. Her courses will guide you: Baby Making Basics - A mini course on everything you need to know to get pregnant Fertility Foundations - 4-month plan for effective and integrative pregnancy prep Explore Dr. Patti's in depth advice on her website, OcotilloIntegrative.com, and Instagram.

Welcome to the Summer Encore Series of the Pure Nurture Podcast where you’ll find a themed mashup of our most listened to episodes. The fifth encore episode is all about prenatal nutrition with Lily Nichols, author of Real Food for Pregnancy (episode #49) and Andrea White, Nutritionist and CMO of Baby Fresh Organics (episode #13). We talk a lot about functional nutrition for pregnancy and motherhood. Gut health is intimately connected to your brain. 

Welcome to the Summer Encore Series of the Pure Nurture Podcast where you’ll find a themed mashup of our most listened to episodes. The fourth encore episode is all about sex and orgasmic birth with Heather Bartos (episode #38) and Debra Pascali-Bonaro (episode #41).  Heads up! Put your headphones on for this one, because we use adult language.

Welcome to the Summer Encore Series of the Pure Nurture Podcast where you’ll find a themed mashup of our most listened to episodes. The third encore episode is all about pelvic floor health with Anita Lambert (episode #46) and Jessica Pumple (episode #47). When you prepare your pelvic floor BEFORE and AFTER birth, you’ll avoid a lot of pain and frustration that comes with abdominal separation.  Even if you’re a Mom of toddlers, you can still tighten up your midsection. It’s not too late. This replay is a MUST LISTEN! Grab your headphones to listen and please share.

Welcome the Summer Encore Series of the Pure Nurture Podcast where you’ll find a themed mashup of our most listened to episodes. The second encore episode is all about having an empowered and intuitively guided birth. I’ve brought together two powerhouse leaders, January Harshe, author of Birth Without Fear (episode #32) and Adriana Lozada, host of the popular Birthful Podcast (episode #34) to remind you that your body was born to give birth. Listen in and find trust in your body’s ability to give life, without fear. Enjoy and please share.

Welcome to the summer encore series of the Pure Nurture Podcast! I have 5 encore episodes to share with you, bringing you a replay of some of the most popular episodes of season 1. Each one will be a combo-conversation with a common theme or topic. For our first encore of the series, I've brought, Kiersten Markham (episode #33) and Kate White (episode #23) together, both sharing about the importance of conscious conception, preparing for pregnancy, and prenatal bonding. Learn more at purenurture.com/podcast

A lot of women hit dead ends with their doctors during pregnancy. They don’t feel heard or taken seriously. They feel like they can’t stand up to do a doctor and say, “That’s not what I want for my birth. What are some other options?”  It’s not about getting aggressive. It’s about being curious! Lauren Dunaway, PhD in Public Health, got up the courage to leave her doctor for a midwife midway through her pregnancy. When she saw how much they cared, she knew that she was in good hands.  If you’re a rule follower who’s scared to make a change, you’ll walk away from the conversation with courage!   In this episode, you’ll hear about: Lauren, her three daughters, and her mission in public health (2:00) How she got into natural remedies for her family (4:00) How essential oils helped Lauren get off some medication (6:47) Emotional support with essential oils (8:17) Wellness in the home with essential oils (8:50) Why it’s so important to be your own wellness advocate (12:15) Lauren left her doctor for a midwife midway through her pregnancy (15:23) 5 questions you must ask your care provider BEFORE birth Cultivate wellness in your life with LaurenEFDunaway.com. You can connect personally with Lauren on TWO Instagram feeds: @EssentialSimplicity or @LaurenEFDunaway. After this conversation, we sincerely hope you’ll feel more comfortable to speak up to your doctor and ask questions.

Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition and exercise. Her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and unapologetically critical of outdated dietary guidelines. She is the author of two bestselling books, Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. In this episode you'll hear all about: What are some of the most common misconceptions about prenatal nutrition? What are a few foods that provide vital nutrients for mama and baby? How could conventional prenatal nutrition guidelines be improved? And more! Visit her here: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/ Book websites: realfoodforGD.com (includes free video series on gestational diabetes + a comprehensive online course) and realfoodforpregnancy.com (Grab the first chapter of the book for free!) Insta and Twitter: @lilynicholsRDN More great podcast episodes with a prenatal + postpartum nutrition focus:  Your Body During Breastfeeding with Courtney Hasseman (nutrition during breastfeeding) The Whole30 and Whole30 Mamas Club (nutrition for moms) with Stephanie Greunke Prenatal Nutrition with Melissa Mor Preconception Nutrition with Ryann Kipping Functional Nutrition for Fertility, Pregnancy, and Motherhood with Andrea White

We are 2 episodes away from the end of Season 1 of the Pure Nurture Podcast! We'll celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the podcast in September 2019 with the kick-off to season 2. As we head toward the finish line, I thought it'd be fun to go through a TOP 10 recap of the ten most downloaded episodes of the podcast. The most downloaded episode of season 1 is Episode 33, Conscious Conception and Pregnancy with Kiersten Markham Episode 23, The Importance of Prenatal Bonding with Kate White Episode 32, Birth Without Fear with January Harshe Episode 34, Using Your Intuition to Improve your Pregnancy and Birth Experience with Adriana Lozada Episode 01, Preparing for Birth and Breastfeeding with Molly Mills Episode 39, Five Questions You Must Ask Your Care Provider Before Birth with Deb Flashenberg Episode 13, Functional Nutrition for Fertility, Pregnancy, and Motherhood with Andrea White Episode 35, Say Yes to Birth with Rachel Yellin Episode 41, Orgasmic Birth with Debra Pascali-Bonoro Episode 25, Prenatal Nutrition with Melissa Mor Browse the archives and find more informative and inspiring conversations with incredible guests.

Jessica is a pre and postnatal fitness instructor (as well as a dietitian, diabetes & bariatric educator). She healed her 4-finger diastasis recti gap after her pregnancy and now helps moms heal and restore their core in 30 days. You'll learn so much from our conversation and the bonus material included below in the show notes.  In this episode, you’ll hear about: Jessica Pumple, Host of Pregnancy and Postpartum TV (2:20) Diastasis recti (2:30) At-home diastasis recti test (4:39) Does everyone have diastasis recti? (6:04) Treatment for diastasis recti (6:37) Diastasis Recti Healing Core Workouts Playlists How you can prevent diastasis recti during pregnancy (9:17) Belly Bandit Bamboo Wrap How to improve your posture to heal diastasis recti (10:43) Core healing exercises for diastasis recti (11:36) How the muscles of the core and pelvic floor are connected (13:18) Diet recommendations to repair your muscles (people usually get this wrong) (14:00) Other methods to consider for healing your pelvic floor and core after birth (17:13) Jessica’s program to heal diastasis recti (19:06) Roll out your yoga mat, then play Jessica’s videos and try to healing exercises. Stop by her site for more info on protecting your pelvic floor. Jessica made a special guide for Pure Nurture on healing your core and pelvic floor after birth.  

Anita Lambert is the owner of Holistic Health Physiotherapy and a Registered Pelvic Health and Orthopaedic Physiotherapist with a focus on women's health, specifically prenatal and postpartum care. She’s one of the select few physiotherapists in Canada to receive advanced training in labor support, which blends orthopedic physiotherapy expertise with birth doula support. Anita is always looking to share and learn up-to-date information about pregnancy, birth and beyond which led her to co-host the To Birth & Beyond Podcast. You can usually find Anita on the move - whether playing with her kids or exercising with strength training, spin, yoga or Pilates. Anita lives in Peterborough, Ontario with her husband Andy, daughter Pippa and the newest addition to the family - baby Jack. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Anita’s work with prenatal and postpartum care (1:27) To Birth and Beyond Podcast Where your Pelvic Floor is (5:53) Preparing Your Pelvic Floor for Birth Podcast Kegel exercises (8:27) Best time to do Kegel exercises (most women do it wrong) (9:00) In-Depth Birth Prep Podcast Flower Bloom Breathe to expedite labor — How to video (10:40) Perineal Massage — How to video  (12:30) Massage oil recommendations (15:50) Exercises to prepare for birth (16:30) Spinning Babies Daily Essentials Video Ways to ease your birth (17:50) If you feel drawn to Anita, you can find her on Instagram here, Facebook, her site HolisticHealthPhysio.com, and her amazing podcast To Birth and Beyond. If thinking about birth gives you the jitters, Anita’s shares solid advice to help you prepare here. If I was pregnant, I would’ve downloaded this.

Easily tap into your intuition! Think of intuition differently than you ever have before. Katie uses Carl Jung’s definition of God within which to me means an all-knowing force that loves you unconditionally and completely. It is always available for guidance and support and is always protecting you, like a perfect parent, which so many of us never had.   The directions are to write (not type) out a question, thought or feeling to your intuition. Wait to see what you hear and feel in response and write that down. Then write back. Wait for a response again and write back. You can continue for as long as you would like. I use this technique to talk with my guides, my body and also loved ones on the other side when I want more intensity than just doing it in my head.   The writing provides focus, connection to the body, mindfulness meditation, and grounding. My only rule: don’t overthink. Just put down whatever you get.  It's life-changing and it saved my life. If anyone would like to write to Katie and ask her any questions, she'd love to hear from you. Katie shares other ideas on her Facebook page and was featured in Goop.com. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Childbirth Education Personality Quiz Katie’s work as a Medical & Spiritual Intuitive (2:54) How Katie knew that she could help people intuitively (3:58) How you can use intuition to be a better parent (6:07) Taking care of yourself to avoid anxiety (9:27) How to tap into your intuition exercise (11:19) Do you need to recharge exercise for kids (15:50) Allowing your kids to do nothing and why it’s important (17:44) Learn more about Katie on her website.   If you're fascinated about the idea of intuitive pregnancy and parenting, listen to my conversation with birth doula and host of the Birthful podcast, Adriana Lozada on episode 34 of the Pure Nurture podcast.

Sarah Blunkosky, M.A., R-PYT, R-CYT is an integrative education consultant, certified peer-breastfeeding counselor, and registered Accessible yoga instructor specializing in family, children’s, special needs, and prenatal/postpartum movement/embodiment. She serves clients in Northern Virginia and travels for service appointments, conferences, and workshops with local studios and her company, Learning Heroine LLC. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook sharing her mission: Set learning free.  When she isn’t homeschooling her kids or teaching yoga, you can find her writing articles and working on a book to assist people in freeing obstacles in learning during their prenatal/postpartum, parenting, and life journeys. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Sarah Blunkowskyi’s story (1:50) Flexi-Schooling (2:50) Integrative Education Consultant (4:45) How you can PLAN to have a more positive postpartum experience (9:00) Healthy boundaries for visitors who are meeting your newborn (14:44) Yoga and self-care to promote healing after your baby arrives (24:22) Check out Sarah's guest blog post on Pure Nurture, POSTPARTUM MINIMALISM, AND RECOVERY Connect with Sarah here: Learning Heroine LLC Facebook, Linked In, Instagram, Yoga  

Diane Boden is the host of the Minimalist Moms Podcast. In this episode, Diane shares how we can take a more simplified and minimalist approach to pregnancy and postpartum.  A minimalistic lifestyle means different things to different people. When you have a family and children, it changes the definition even more. Diane shares how to prepare for your baby's arrival. Set up your baby registry with only the essentials and maybe add in the “next up” items and “take it or leave it” items.  You'll learn how to be more mindful as you prepare for your baby's arrival and how to clear out all the "noise" when you're pregnant.  In this episode, you’ll hear about: Meet Diane Boden and how the Minimalist Mom’s Podcast was born over drinks (2:39) What minimalism means for Moms (5:00) You really don’t need a lot on your baby registry (8:56) Take it or leave it baby gifts (14:02) Great ways to save money while raising your kids (16:32) Good things to invest in for your kids (18:28) Leveraging your community to save money  Connect with Diane: http://www.minimalistmomspodcast.com  Instagram: @MinimalistMomsPodcast  Facebook: @TheMinimalistMoms

Retired Circus Acrobat turned health coach for moms, Shannon Shearn helps moms learn how to prioritize their health and happiness in a way that feels sustainable and gets them to their healthy living goals! Grab several incredible resources related to this episode here. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Shannon and her two boys (3:55) Shannon’s life as a circus acrobat (6:47) From performing in a circus to running a family circus (8:52) Shifting from intense fitness to inner calm (12:39) How Shannon helps women put themselves first (18:30) The Savage Six (20:50) Shannon Shearn is the owner and founder of Savage Wellness, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

Founder & President of Pain to Power Childbirth online classes, Director of the award-winning documentary Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret and co-writer of “Orgasmic Birth: Your Guide to a Safe, Satisfying and Pleasurable Birth” Debra Pascali-Bonaro talks about: What is Orgasmic Birth? Birth and Sex? How are they connected? How does fear cause pain in childbirth?  Debra is an inspirational international speaker, Chair of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization, and Co-Chair executive committee of the International Childbirth Initiative. Debra’s passion comes from her years as a Lamaze International childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula trainer with DONA International as well as acclaimed international speaker, teaching parents, midwives, nurses, doulas, and physicians in over 40 countries. Featured on ABC 20/20, NBC Today Show, New York Times, LA times and in media and parenting magazines around the world. In this episode, you’ll hear about: How Debra became a Doula and Childbirth Educator (3:28) What led Debra to create the Orgasmic Birth concept (5:17) The percentage of women who’ve had an orgasm during birth (11:15) How sex and birth are related (17:23) Healing from trauma (20:57) Orgasmicbirth.com

Courtney Hasseman is a Certified Nurse-Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, and Functional Nutritionist who provides integrative healthcare and uses nutrition to support women’s hormonal and menstrual health. She sees women for care in her Leesburg office and offers online nutritional therapy for women everywhere. In this episode, Courtney shares all about the best nutrition during breastfeeding, how your periods change during the season of breastfeeding, choices for contraception while breastfeeding, and more! In this episode, you’ll hear about: Courtney & Kristy reconnecting after high school 25 years later (2:00) Courtney’s in-person and online Midwifery and Integrative Nutrition practice (2:58) Nutritional Therapy online course Try eating these foods while you breastfeed (5:40) Getting back to pre-pregnancy weight won’t happen overnight (7:43) Best foods to eat while breastfeeding (9:17) Foods to avoid while you’re breastfeeding (10:56) Best fish to eat a few times a week while breastfeeding (11:40) Hormonal changes while breastfeeding your baby (12:28) Sexual changes while breastfeeding (15:25) How to ease back into spending time with your partner (16:20) Normal changes in your breasts while breastfeeding (17:50) You can learn more about Courtney’s services in the D.C. Metro area or online at CourtneyHasseman.com. If you believe women deserve unhurried and personalized healthcare, follow her on Instagram and Facebook. 

Deb Flashenberg is the founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC. She is a yoga teacher, labor support doula, Lamaze childbirth educator and has completed a midwifery assistant program at The Farm in Tennessee with Ina May Gaskin and The Farm midwives. On this episode of the Pure Nurture Podcast, Deb is sharing all about five essential questions to ask your care provider before birth. When you’re in labor, it’s not a good time to start negotiating your delivery wishes. You need to feel heard, respected, and supported BEFORE your big day and be sure you and your support team are all on the same page.  In this episode, you’ll hear about: Who is Deb Flashenberg & how she got into supporting pregnant women before she became a Mom (2:35) Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC Yoga | Birth | Babies Podcast Who’s Afraid of the Pregnant Yogi? online program When you meet your doctor for the first time, ask these 5 key questions to make sure you’re on the same page (5:36) Is it too late to switch care providers in your 3rd trimester? (25:00) "As a doula, Deb has heard this lament time and time again: “I received the name of my doctor from a friend, and if I had known what to ask, I probably would have switched doctors a long time ago. Now I feel it’s too late to change!” Ideally, it’s best to have a very important conversation with your doctor at the beginning of your pregnancy to make sure that the way he or she practices medicine matches up with the way you want to birth. If you’re already into your pregnancy and a relationship with your doctor, be sure to ask these key questions at your next appointment! When you’re in labor, it isn’t a good time to start negotiating your labor and delivery wishes. It’s essential that you feel heard, supported and respected long before the big day!" - Via www.prenatalyogacenter.com Click here to read more about the 5 questions Deb recommends you ask your doctor.  If you found this podcast helpful and want more, visit Deb at her Prenatal Yoga Center, on Instagram, and Facebook. Check out her prenatal yoga teacher training (if you’re ready to dive deeper) and when you’re in New York City, pop in for a yoga class! Best part? You can practice yoga wherever you are with Deb’s free yoga videos.

For the couples trying to conceive, this podcast is for you!   Dr. Victoria Maizes is the Executive Director of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and a Professor of Medicine, Family and Community Medicine and Public Health, at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Interviewing Victoria, author of Be Fruitful, the pregnancy book that I actually used was so exciting! On the podcast, you'll hear all about: How to maximize your fertility What foods to avoid for conception Her favorite free meditation apps In this episode, you’ll hear about: Who is Victoria Maizes? (2:10) What is integrative medicine & how can it help your pregnancy? (3:20) How you can maximize your fertility (5:07) Be Fruitful: The Essential Guide to Maximizing Fertility and Giving Birth to a Healthy Child book by Victoria Maizes Proven natural ways to improve your rate of conception (8:03) Difference between folic acid + folate acid (10:20) Vitamins, diet, and environmental factors that affect your fertility (12:26) Stress and fertility (21:30) Insight Timer Meditation App Headspace Meditation App Calm Meditation App Find her book at your library or on Amazon. Learn more about her at VictoriaMaizesMD.com, Twitter, and through the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.

This is something I’ve NEVER talked about on the podcast before … SEX! Heather Bartos, MD, OB-GYN talks about five- sense-sex, the best position to try if you’re 39 weeks pregnant, bring sex back after baby, prioritizing sex when you’re a busy parent, and so much more.  Put your headphones on for this one! Heather Bartos, MD, OB-GYN, is a leading voice in the field of women’s health and wellness, the fierce founder of Badass Woman, Badass Health, and a proud creator of MindSHIFT medicine (the integration of mental, physical, and emotional health to care for the whole woman). Fascinated the way what we think about impacts how we feel, Dr. Bartos teaches women and their families how to thrive, no matter what their stage of life. She is a board-certified OB-GYN, US Navy Veteran, former Associate Professor at USUHS and former Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Texas Health Hospital in Denton, TX. She is currently the owner/medical director of her “village for women’s health,” Be. Women’s Health & Wellness. Featured in publications from Glamour and Huffington Post to Reader’s Digest, Women’s Health and ABC News, Dr. Bartos is a frequent speaker and writer on all areas of women’s health and her practice of MindSHIFT Medicine.  In this episode, you’ll hear about: Who is Heather Bartos? (2:45) Sex will change as a woman changes (4:44) Having sex on your moon cycle (6:07) How to have sex while pregnant (7:12) How to boost your libido (12:30) Five sense sex (16:50) The sex position to try during week 38 or 39 of pregnancy (17:26) Your sex life will change after birth, especially when breastfeeding (21:40) You CAN get pregnant while you’re breastfeeding (24:10) How to have a healthy sex life when your kids are age one (25:10) Tap into Heather’s world at HeatherBartosmMD.com and check out herFacebook LIVE Series: Is this Normal? on her Facebook page. Or say, “Hayyy!” on Instagram at @DrHeatherBartos.

Devon Berrier founded Layton, a clothing line offering chic and modern options for nursing moms.  Following the birth of her first child, Devon wanted to create fashionable and comfortable breastfeeding-friendly options, something she found was missing as a new mom herself.    In our conversation, Devon shares about her experiences as a business owner and mom and how she manages that delicate "balancing" act. She opens up about her experience with postpartum anxiety and how she moved through it. And a BIG congratulations to Devon and her family, as they just welcomed baby number three to their family last week! (April 2019). In this episode, you’ll hear about: Devon’s story (2:30) How Devon’s company Layton was born (3:20) The working Mom dance (6:38) Book: You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero Book: You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Cincero Book: You Are a Badass Everyday by Jen Cincero Devon’s postpartum experience (13:52) Partners and caregivers need to be aware of how to support women going through postpartum (18:54) A documentary about the seriousness of postpartum depression: When the Bough Breaks Devon has generously offered a 25% off coupon on all Layton styles for you! Visit https://www.laytonshop.com/ and enter PURE25 at checkout. 

What if you could be excited about your upcoming birth? Rachel Yellin talks about this feeling on this episode of the Pure Nurture Podcast. She believes you do NOT have to take negative feelings from your past birth into your next. With over 15 years as a birth professional, Depth Hypnosis Practitioner, and yoga teacher, Rachel currently owns and is the primary teacher/coach of Yes To Birth!  If you want to have a less painful, more manageable pregnancy and birth, where you feel excited, calm and prepared for labor, and your baby is born on their terms, Rachel is for you! Rachel will inspire you with facts, opinions, and birth stories, while saying totally inappropriate things, and providing life and relationship skills that go far beyond birth. Rachel will support you to make conscious choices about where, how and with whom to give birth, create the most loving, peaceful pregnancy and birth environment, and see the baby as a wise person whose preferences matter. Rachel has been doing birthwork since 2002. For years she was a very successful doula, and has been teaching childbirth classes, prenatal yoga, and depth hypnosis therapy for a decade. Her audio program has been sold internationally since 2014. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Yes! to Birth (3:48) Conscious Parenting & Conscious Birth (13:16) Natural Birth (17:06) How to heal from a difficult or traumatic birth experience (23:04) How to not take a bad birth experience into your next one (28:12) Don’t you feel more empowered after that conversation? I hope you’re saying, “Yes! My body can do this. Yes! I can do this.” Learn more about this fantastic woman here: RachelYellin.com.  

"You breathe. You blink. You digest. You don’t tell your body to do those things... Your body will know how to give birth. The mind-body connection is SO STRONG. The mind can influence the body..." A.L. Adriana Lozada’s background is multi-layered and multi-cultural. A former print and online editor from Venezuela, the birth of her daughter sparked her passion for being a birth advocate, leading her to open Birthful: a company that helps new and expectant parents take on whatever maternity sends their way. She is a certified Advanced Birth Doula (DONA International), a postpartum educator, and a healthy sleep consultant, as well as a bestselling author and international speaker. Adriana is also the host of the Birthful Podcast, where she talks to amazing, knowledgeable, and passionate birth professionals every week, to help new and expectant parents inform their intuition, so they can have more rewarding pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences. "After giving birth, Adriana became passionate about helping others on their maternity journeys. The fire to make a difference started from a place of outrage (have you noticed the broken state of maternity care? the non-existence of paid family leave in the US?), which she has since focused into a torch that lights her way towards supporting new parents to have joyful and satisfying birth and postpartum experiences. Adriana is an advanced birth doula, an eco-maternity consultant, a postpartum educator, and a child sleep consultant. She’s a bestselling author, speaker, and host of the acclaimed Birthful podcast. All part of her quest to help people have a smoother transition into parenthood." (from birthful.com) In this episode, you’ll hear about: The Birthful Podcast (0:11) Intuition vs fear (0:55) How to tune into our intuition (5:30) Supporting your physiology during labor (7:07) Labor Land (7:30) Birthing a 12-pound baby (9:40) Reducing anxiety about your upcoming birth (14:35) Pregnancy Brain book Delivering Miracles Podcast (High-risk pregnancy expert) Calming your nervous system (20:22) Why an OB Chose to Have a Home Birth with Amali Lokugamage podcast episode Childbirth education classes (Which class is best for your personality? Take this  quiz.) (20:22) Michel Odant Sail into Adriana’s world at Birthful.com. She’ll help you navigate the unexpected seas of birth with her wisdom in your ear. Add her The Birthful Podcast to your list. What excites her? Hearing from you. Feel free to email her. boosts#toggleFormOnEscOrEnter" data-boosts-adding-class="boosts--adding" data-boosts-deleting-class="boost--deleting"> 

Kiersten Markham is a Pre- & Perinatal Educator, birth doula, and practices Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. She truly believes that if we want to make a positive change for our future we must start with how we conceive, connect to and birth our children. Kiersten works with individuals, couples, and families at every age and every stage. She also leads Conscious Conception Series for Couples online and monthly Conscious Women Circles in San Diego. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Kiersten’s personal life (0:11) How Kiersten became a Doula and Cranial Sacral Therapist (0:50) Conscious Conception Circles (3:20) Conscious Conception for Couples (4:40) What to expect at a Conscious Conception Circle (5:00) When the soul enters the body (7:26) Instagram post related to when the soul enters the body Cosmic Cradle Book (8:30) Watercolor painting of the soul coming into the body (9:30) Connect to your baby prior to conception (10:15) Some children remember being in utero (14:20) How cranial-sacral therapy supports couples who want to conceive (18:12)   Tap into Kiersten’s wisdom and support at KeirstanMarkham.com, Craniosacral Therapy Practice, and follow her events on Instagram. If you’re not in San Diego, learn about her online courses:   Conscious Conception Series for Couples Online Conscious Conception Circle

Birth Without Fear began with a simple passion to let women know they have choices in childbirth. It evolved into a corner of inspiration and support for women and their families through their trying to conceive, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journeys. January Harshe is a wife and a mother of six children. Each of her birth experiences was so different. She started the Birth Without Fear Facebook page as an outlet for this passion in May 2010 and the Birth Without Fear Blogwas born in October 2010.  In March 2019, January launched her book: Birth without Fear: The Judgment-Free Guide to Taking Charge of Your Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum.  She now supports women through Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. However, she also wanted to inspire, support, and unify women in their communities. She launched Birth Without Fear events to see the amazing connections and healing taking place among attendees. Along with her husband, Brandon, she hosts the Harshē Podcast where they discuss everything from birth and parenting to coffee and marriage! January’s passion is to support women on their journeys of womanhood, pregnancy, birth, and motherhood with peace, love, and healing. She’s definitely one to watch! In this episode, you’ll hear about: January’s story & how she looked forward to turning 40 (0:45) Birth without Fear Facebook Group Birth without Fear book (3:24) Women wanting an empowered birth (6:00) Moving through medical interventions with self-love (8:58) January has three vaginal births after two cesareans (9:48) There is a provider who wants to support you, in the way that you need (12:06) How to FEEL more empowered about your birth (ask the right questions) (12:35)

Stephanie Greunke, MS, RDN, PMH-C, CPT, is a registered dietitian, pre & postnatal corrective exercise specialist, certified in perinatal mental health, military wife, and mama of two boys. Currently residing in San Diego, Stephanie helps mamas navigate the entire journey to motherhood. After battling postpartum anxiety, Stephanie is passionate about maternal/paternal mental health, helping families set themselves up for success before the baby comes and navigating the transition to parenthood. She’s the program director for Whole30’s Whole Mamas Club and co-hosts the Whole Mamas Podcast. Stephanie is committed to building a community of moms who encourage each other and share their own experiences so moms know they’re not alone and have resources to feel empowered. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Whole Mamas Club (0:05) Whole Mamas Podcast How postpartum health found Stephanie (2:40) Creating simple and nourishing meals (5:45) Start with breakfast (8:57) How to navigate your mental health (10:46) Order Comprehensive Lab Panels from Direct Labs How the Whole Mamas Club can help you during preconception through Motherhood (20:15) Whole30 Way of Eating (20:50) Looking for your girl and guy gang? Sync up with Wholemamasclub.com, stop by on Instagram, and Facebook. Check out their Whole Mamas Podcast, too. I like that they recap each episode, so you can learn, then take action!   You can reach out to Stephanie personally on Instagram or her site at Stephgreunke.com. Tell her I said, “Hi!”  

"The power lies within to give birth and to heal. You are the expert of your experience." -J.S. Jennifer Summerfeldt, Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP), has nearly two decades of experience in maternal health and psychology. In addition to being a counselor, Jennifer has also been a childbirth advocate, maternal educator, doula, midwifery apprentice, and published writer. She is the founder and creator of the Healing After Birth program, where she uses her expertise and voice to help advance the dialogue on motherhood, mental health, and healing. In this episode, you’ll hear about: What inspired Jennifer to do postpartum coaching (1:39) Spiritual Midwifery Immaculate Deception How Jen heals women who’ve had a stressful postpartum period (14:50) If you don’t feel safe, your body won’t heal (15:55) Be informed to have better birth and postpartum cycles (17:56) Biologically, we have an innate wisdom that always wants to thrive (23:47) Neuroscience with Pankseep Polyvagal Theory Healing After Birth Program SacredAcoustics.com You can reach out to Jennifer at JenniferSummerfeldt.com and at Instagram.com/healingafterbirth.  Here's more from Jennifer: Healing After Birth Guidebook  - Navigating Your Emotions After A Difficult Childbirth CLICK HERE FREE 4 part video series - What Your Doctor Is Likely NOT Telling You About PPD/A  CLICK HERE Are you a soulfully inspired woman looking for next level counseling and coaching programs? CLICK HERE Next week on the Pure Nurture Podcast: Let’s face it. Birth can be as challenging or as uplifting as you make it. My next guest, Stephanie Greunke, is from the Whole Mamas Club. She helps you connect what you’re eating to the impact it has on your mental health. Food affects everything. Tune in!

Former educator and marine mammal trainer, Kelly Schott is a mom of two boys ages 4 and 6. After many years of training dolphins and sea lions, she created The Oil Dispensary. She's passionate about using unique ways to keep her home and her kids healthy.  The Oil Dispensary is a place to educate and inspire mothers to care for their family in a more natural and sustainable way.  She believes that when we know the science and the legislation behind how our products are made, we are able to make a more educated decisions as to which products we'll allow into our home.   Through one-on-one consulting sessions, she lays out a clear and custom road map to eliminate harsh chemicals and support the growth and development of our children. She provides parents with the tools and resources that will set their family on a whole new health trajectory. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Kelly’s job as a Marine Mammal Trainer (0:58) How talking to animals helped Kelly communicate with her kids (3:40) Kelly’s transition from working with animals to essential oils (6:11) First essential oils that Kelly started using (11:57) Are essential oils safe for Mom and baby? (16:52) How to use essential oils (20:16) Easiest way to start using essential oils (22:59) Where to find Kelly (26:19) Connect with Kelly on Instagram, her digital home at TheOilDispensary.com, or email her directly at KellySchott3@gmail.com. It’s amazing how effective essential oils are for our physical, emotional, and mental health. If you need a safe space around the tenderness of the postpartum experience, my next guest, Jennifer Summerfeldt gets it.    

"Being a Mother today is an equivalent to having 2.5 full-time job for 90 hours a week. Research shows that people burn out after 4 hours a day of work." Stephanie Jhala Stephanie Miranda Jhala of A Mother's Movement is a multidisciplinary force in the realm of business, social impact, and leadership. She brings over a decade of experience in Strategy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Culture, and Coaching. Pre-baby, she propelled purpose-driven companies with a bold vision to make a difference in the world. Upon becoming a mother, Stephanie shifted her focus to building a community of empowered mothers. Motherhood whooped her butt. She deeply mourned the loss of her old identity and felt desperately lonely. When she hit rock bottom, she decided to gather mothers to learn if she was crazy, only to find out that we were all in the same boat. What started as a personal quest for support, grew into a much bigger mission to empower mothers around the globe. All the Mama Feels (NOTE: rebranding to "A Mother's Movement") was born and has since blossomed into a deeply connected and healing community. The ultimate vision is to activate maternal power, rise up to positions of leadership, close the gender gap, and restore balance to the planet: boardrooms, governments, oceans, and forests. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Where Stephanie’s passion for leadership coaching came from and how she’s creating a ripple effect with her leadership coaching (0:30) Changing practitioners during pregnancy (9:00) How Instagram lies to you about motherhood (9:52) Why working Moms are in constant fight or flight mode and how society lost touch with Mothering the Mother (13:00) Where you can join the Mother’s Movement Program (12:45) WOW. This episode got me fired up to take back our POWER and DIVINE WORTH as Mothers. You’re not “Just a Mom.” Nurturing a child is the most important gift for both a kid and a Mother.   This conversation was so rich, you’ll want to share it with your Mom friends. It’s time to pursue balance for the Modern Mom because living in the masculine structure doesn’t work anymore. There should be a #MeTooMom Movement for this.   March over to AMothersMovement.com to RECLAIM your birthright to live an empowered life! Connect with Stephanie’s Facebook Group and Instagram for an enlightening discussion.

As I made changes in our house, I realized that I was becoming a healthier, calmer parent." -K.H. Kate Hamblet is an architect and owner of the custom residential design studio Balanced Architecture. As a wellness architect, she has a passion for integrating wellness and health into architectural design. Her mission is to help health-conscious families create homes that support and promote health, happiness, and longevity.  Kate’s newest venture, Balanced Home, Balanced Life was created so that she could help families across the country design homes that encourage healthy living. Creating an online business also provides the flexibility of being able to go between her two favorite places, New Hampshire and Colorado, and call them both home.   In this episode, you’ll hear about: Kate’s businesses: Balanced Architecture and Creating Healthy Homes (0:05) What sparked Kate’s interest in sustainable design (2:05) Decluttering your kitchen to make it functional (3:20) The Well Building Standard Interior design tips that have the most impact on your health (5:00) How to clean up indoor toxins and declutter your home (7:44) Safe indoor paint brands: AFM Safecoat, Benjamin Moore Natura, & Lullaby Paints (8:18) How to Improve Indoor Air Quality Blog Why you’ll want to open the windows more (11:40) What you’re sitting on may be harmful to your health (12:35) Flame retardants are still into baby’s pajamas (13:47) Quality, non-toxic, organic cotton mattresses (14:20) Safe mattresses brands: Naturpedic, Soaring Heart, & Furnature  (15:30)  Three things your family can start with to create a Healthy Home (16:18) Safe home cleaning product brands: Seventh Generation & Doctor Bronner’s Download your Designing a Toxin-Free Nursery Guide - a free gift from Kate at PureNurture.com/Podcast Wow, Kate taught us how easily we can healthify our homes. Let’s bookmark this episode, shall we? Then, open your windows and welcome in fresh air. Ahh! Inhale her ideas to see your home with fresh eyes. The bed we sleep on for oh, ⅓ of our life, has toxins. Your indoor air quality can improve by bringing in plants. Who knew paint emits off-gases long after you slap it on the wall?    Her blog is brimming with sound advice to improve your living space. Stick to her like water-based paint on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.    Download you free guide to a toxin-free nursery here. Or www.purenurture.com/027

"I had all these expectations of what my pregnancy was going to be, and I had the opposite." -L.M. We hear a lot about postpartum depression, but we don't talk much about depression or anxiety during pregnancy. In this episode, Elizabeth Masucci, an actress, producer, director, writer, and yoga teacher is sharing all about her experience during pregnancy and postpartum, when she realized she needed help, and how and where she found the support she needed.  Liz created a production company called In The Meantime Productions. She lives in New York City with her husband, daughter, and King Charles Cavalier. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Liz’s life in Manhattan (0:12) Liz’s experience with pregnancy and postpartum depression (0:57) The Motherhood Center in New York City (3:29) The moment Liz realized she needed help (6:13) How Kristy realized she had postpartum depression (7:46) Top three things to support yourself if you have postpartum depression (8:54) The hardest part is stepping outside of your own space (10:50) Resources to help you with anxiety or postpartum depression (13:42) Mom and Mind Podcast It’s OK to not know how to take care of a baby (17:10) How to connect with Liz (21:44) If you learned one thing from this episode, it’s OK to ask for help. Liz will cheer you on! She’s mostly active on Instagram and can find her @LizMasucciYou can also see what she’s up to on Facebook at Elizabeth Masucci.    When you’re designing your home or setting up an office space, it’s OK to ask for help, too! My next guest, Kate Hamblet is a Wellness Architect. She shares the best safe brands for mattresses and paint. Did you know that several years after you paint your bedroom, it still emits harmful off-gases? You’ll want to press play on this episode to learn more ways to make your home healthier, especially when you're bringing home a new baby.

This is a special bonus Valentine's Day episode of the Pure Nurture podcast.  Being a mom is one of the hardest and most fulfilling “jobs” in the world. Moms deserve so much love, care and appreciation. Not only from others but from ourselves. And not just on Valentine's day, but every day.   Since becoming a mom, I have to say, it's a little more fun because my girls just love it. I try to move beyond the "commercialism" of most U.S. holidays and dig down to the deeper meaning of the day being celebrated. How are you feeling about Valentine's Day? Rather than wondering what someone else is going to do for us, let's just take the lead and do something for ourselves! In this bonus episode, I'm sharing some ideas to spark some inspiration. Hopefully one will be the perfect little gift  for yourself or another mama in your life.  

No pregnancy is the same. We all have our own unique needs and this is also true from a nutritional standpoint. Not many people support pregnancy from a nutritional health perspective. Melissa Mor bridges that gap by supporting women during preconception, pregnancy, and after baby arrives.  After having two pregnancies with previas and having successful outcomes with fast recoveries, Melissa felt compelled to start a coaching business to support other women. Today, she helps moms and soon-to-be moms create healthier lifestyles by showing them how to easily implement natural solutions in their daily life or routines. According to Melissa, "No matter what the issue is, there is always a more natural solution." In this episode, you’ll hear about: Melissa’s career path from Fashion to Family Wellness Coach (1:08) What was missing around pregnancy support? (2:00) Homeopathy (Dive deeper in episode 15) (5:41) What issues a Family Wellness Coach can help you with (6:14) Not detoxing while you’re pregnant (7:50) How Melissa helps her clients (10:05) The difference between prescription vs plant based vitamins and supplements (10:41) What to eat while pregnant if you can’t stomach healthy food (15:40) Top 3 supplements to take if you’re nauseous during pregnancy (18:00) How to connect with Melissa at CaratsandKale.com (19:36) Get the support you need during the wild ride of Motherhood. Whether you’re trying to conceive, are pregnant, or just gave birth to a beautiful baby, CaratsandKale.com is the place for holistic friends, like you! Follow Melissa on Instagram to say, “Hi!” or send a love note to CaratsandKale@gmail.com.

Isn’t it fascinating that someone was able to withstand surgery with no meds, just hypnotherapy? WOW! If you tell yourself, “Birth will hurt like heck,” OR “Birth will be a pleasure,” you’re right!  Dianne Mouchon Rhodes is a Consulting Hypnotist and Certified Projective Dreamworker.  Her lifelong curiosity of how the mind works led her to become trained in hypnosis in 2015. Using a client-centered approach in her work, Dianne helps people make positive behavior changes using the powerful tool of hypnotherapy.  In this episode, you’ll hear about: How Dianne got into hypnosis to help people make positive change (1:20) What is hypnosis? (3:00) Debunking the myth that hypnotists can control you (5:13) Guided meditation (9:27) Aromatherapy and relaxation class with seniors (10:18) Common reasons why people seek hypnosis (11:14) Is it OK to fall asleep during hypnosis? (13:40) Hypnosis for pain management (15:48) Hypnosis for fears (17:31) Other benefits of hypnotherapy (18:00) How many sessions of hypnotherapy are needed to create change? (19:06) Self-hypnosis (19:46) Learn more about hypnosis and Dianne Rhodes (20:14) If you’re interested in diving deeper into hypnotherapy, Dianne offers free phone consultations. You can connect with her (and your subconscious) at DreamYourInnerHorizons.com. In the next episode... If you need more nutrition advice while trying to conceive, during pregnancy, or in the precious postpartum phase, press play on Melissa Mor’s episode. She helps women dial in their nutrition to create a healthy path to Motherhood.

Kate White is an award-winning prenatal and perinatal educator and an advanced bodyworker. She is trained in somatic therapies, prenatal and perinatal health, lactation, brain development, infant mental health, and has specialized in mother-baby dyad care using somatic prevention and trauma healing approaches for nearly 20 years. She is the Founding Director of Education for the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health and currently co-directs this department, administering an online program for parents and parent professionals. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Kate’s work with APPAH  (0:15) How an unlikely panic attack holding a newborn inspired Kate to research pre and perinatal psychology (0:55) Cranial sacral therapy (3:42) Children can remember things about their birth (5:34) ClassWomb Online Class (5:38) If you have a traumatic experience during birth, who can you turn to for support? (10:22) Three ways to nurture the baby in your belly (14:47) Nine positive imprints (20:24) The Conscious Baby (21:41) Support for a traumatized birth experience (22:26) You can find helpful practitioners at BirthPsychology.com, then click Resources, and click Practitioners under Directories. APPAH Online Courses: ClassWomb APPAH Social Media: Facebook YouTube Kate White’s Prenatal and Perinatal Programs: PPNCenter.com BelvederArts.com Learn more at https://birthpsychology.com, email katewhite@birthpsychology.com. In episode 24, you'll hear all about how to create any positive change imaginable with hypnotherapy. Open your mind and listen to my guest, Dianne Rhodes who debunks the myth that hypnosis will make you quack like a duck.

Ryann Kipping is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Lactation Educator Counselor. She helps clients who are planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, or recently postpartum reach optimum health during these extremely important and emotional periods of life. Aside from one on one nutrition consulting, Ryann is a nutrition writer and menu developer; she works with the supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and is currently attending San Diego State University to get her Masters in Public Health. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Ryann’s story (0:23) Preconception nutrition (1:01) What to eat while pregnant when you’re craving fast food (5:00) When to take prenatal vitamins and the best ones to take (6:00) Can you take vitamins one year before conception? (8:13) Preconception nutrition for Dads (8:35) When you’re pregnant, these little shifts will boost your nutrition (10:05) Healthy snack ideas (11:45) Sneak veggies in these foods (12:30) Kristy’s Power Pancake Recipe Ryann’s Sunrise Smoothie Recipe Nutrition tips for breastfeeding (16:45) Ryann’s virtual nutrition services (18:43) Did you know that babies have experience and cellular memory from preconception to birth? If you just said, “WOW!” in your head, listen to episode 23. You'll learn that and so much more from Kate White from APPPAH(The Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health). 

Crystalee Beck is a mama of three cute mess-makers, writer, six-figure entrepreneur, and co-founder of The Mama Ladder International, an organization that empowers women at the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurship. After leaving her corporate ladder job, she "created her own ladder" to fit her family in 2016.   In this episode you’ll learn: Crystalee’s journey to Motherhood (0:30) Crystalee’s transition from corporate communications to creating her own business with the Mama Ladder (1:40) How you can be a Mom AND run a business (6:00) How to prepare for maternity leave as a business owner (9:50) How to nurture yourself as a Mom (13:40) How the Mama Ladder helps Mompreneurs (17:00) Ready to climb the Mama Ladder? Step up here at themamaladder.com. If you need help trying to conceive, you'll want to come back next Tuesday to hear from Melissa Mor. She’s a Pregnancy and Wellness Coach who helps women focus on nutrition to create a healthy path to Motherhood. Next week on episode 22 of the Pure Nurture Podcast. 

The New Year brings with it a lot of anticipation, hopes, dreams, aspirations, and maybe some resolutions and a vision board or two. It can all be extremely overwhelming, especially as a mom. On this episode of the Pure Nurture Podcast Lisa Druxman, founder of Fit4Mom and author of Empowered Mama talks all about finding strength in motherhood, how to manage our time, how to focus on ourselves and our children, especially as a new mama. Where do you fit in? How can you manage it all? How can you tune into what's best for you and your family amidst the ideas and ideals of media, social media, friends, family, etc? After listing to this episode and Lisa's story you'll feel inspired, connected, and empowered. In this episode, you’ll hear things like: What Lisa’s created at Fit for Mom (1:50) Empowered Mama Book and Empowered Mama Podcast Fit for Pregnancy or MamaWell Online Program (2:55) How Lisa manages her time as a Mom (4:35) After bringing a baby home, where do you fit in? (9:24) How you can find strength in Motherhood (13:03) How perfect social media pictures can make us feel isolated (14:26) When you choose something, you give up something else (15:45) My Year of YES Book How can we get in tune with what’s right for ourselves and our family (19:20) Find out about the fitness classes at Fit4Mom.com. Learn more about Lisa at LisaDruxman.com and her Empowered Mama Book. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram. If you’re over corporate life and craving a deeper purpose, press play on episode 21 with Crystalee Beck, founder of The Mama Ladder. She helps Moms, like you, start a business AROUND raising a family. A lot of online business trainings were created by women without kids. Crystalee gets it. She also hosts Mama Spring Breaks -- business and adventure retreats!

Learn all about why Hypnobirthing was the most empowering thing Shveta Sontakey did for herself and her family, and how a business grew out of her experience. "After taking hypnobirthing classes, I went from terrified to give birth to looking forward to it." - Shveta Sontakey, Hypnobirthing mama and small business owner. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Shveta’s passion for birth, postpartum, and being mindful (1:37) How hypnobirthing changed Shveta’s life (2:20) How to know if hypnobirthing was the right birthing class for you (4:57) Women’s mental health (6:30) The power of affirmations (8:20) Oath Bracelets by Sontakey (11:17) Instagram.com/Sontakey Cut out the start/stop here → (17:37 - 17:54) Now that you’ve heard how hypnobirthing can help you look forward to giving birth, marvel at these beautiful Oath Bracelets at Sontakey.com and on Instagram. I mean, who couldn’t use this reminder: Every wave brings me closer to the shore. Learn about Shveta and see her beautiful family photo shoots at Shveta.com.

Beth is a yoga instructor and Thai Yoga practitioner. She’s been practicing yoga since 2002 and teaching since 2006. Through the years she has drawn inspiration from a variety of styles and teachers, including Ashtanga, Iyengar, Dharma Mittra, and Anusara. Beth encourages her students to take chances in their practice so that they may develop the same courage off their mats. Beth is the owner of Get Bent Yoga. She is also a freelance writer/editor. She has a Master’s in Clinical Social Work and previously counseled survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Beth lives in Arlington and is the mother of two precocious and funny girls. In this episode, you’ll learn: Beth didn’t have plans to become a stay-at-home Mom (2:40) Basics of Thai massage (9:50) Benefits of Thai massage on fertility (13:50) What women want to receive from a Thai massage (17:44) How to do yoga and Thai massage if you’re pregnant (18:48) Make quality time for yourself (21:00) How to contact Beth and find a Thai massage therapist near you (25:17) If your body can use some relaxation, reach out to Beth at Get Bent Yoga, Instagram, and where she works, Fall Church Wellness Center in the DC area.

Maria Alcoke is the host of the Engine Mom Podcast, a CrossFit-L1 trainer, a Certified Pre&Postnatal Coach and runs her own graphic & web design studio, MariaVida Creative. In this episode, you’ll learn: What mama Maria is up to (0:15) Maria’s CrossFit routine and how she supports Moms-to-be (1:30) The best type of movement for pregnancy (4:25) The right amount of exercise while pregnant and as a new Mom (5:59) The importance of working with a fitness coach (11:00) What exercises Maria’s going to stop doing during her second pregnancy (13:57) How new Moms can expect to exercise with a pregnant belly -- Moving with Intention & Intensity (16:50) Find a fitness coach you can trust online or in your area (18:44) The mindset to stay fit during pregnancy through postpartum (19:50) How Maria works with women in person and online (22:48) After a hard workout, your muscles are crying out for rest. There’s regular massage and then there’s Thai massage. In the next episode, Beth Howarth explains how pregnant women can receive massage and do yoga.

My doula, Mari Smith is joining me on the Pure Nurture Podcast. Mari supported me through both of my birth experiences and she is an absolute gem! I can honestly say that I wouldn't have had the intervention-free birth experience that I had hoped for without the support of my doula. At our very first prenatal visit, Mari opened my eyes to all the choices I could make about my birth and how to have an empowered experience. If you'd like to have an intervention-free, empowered, calm, and supported birth experience, you'll gain so much from our conversation.  In this episode, you’ll learn: Mom & Mind Podcast About Mari Smith (3:33) Mari first introduced the idea of empowered birth options to Kristy (5:00) A team can support you and your birth (7:44) What’s a Doula? (10:28) The transition from birth to parenting can be challenging (15:13) Birth taboos -- what’s not talked about and how it impacts birth experiences (17:13) The future of Arrow Birth (21:08) How to connect with Mari at CelebratedBirth.com (23:28) If you're looking for more than meditation and yoga to keep your mind and body healthy and fit, join us next week when we talk to Maria Alcoke, mama, new mama to be, trainer, podcast host, and coach. 

Our natural response to heal has been suppressed for a variety of reasons. Homeopathy offers a supportive environment that allows the body to heal on its own. Cilla Whatcott guides us through the wonderful world of homeopathy. With a Ph.D. and a Board Certification in Homeopathy, she eloquently explains this beautiful science. If you wondered what those blue vials are in the health food shop, this conversation fills you in. In this episode, you’ll learn: She found a calling in homeopathy by curing her son’s asthma (3:47) What homeopathy is and how it works (5:44) Every cell has intelligence and is designed to heal itself (9:22) The explosion of chronic illness and the beauty of emergency medicine (12:43) Building immunity naturally (14:10) Miller’s Review of Critical Vaccine Studies book (16:50) Your voice echoes here - I’d cut this part out (19:15 - 19:24) What you can do at home to support your immunity (19:49) 12 Cell Salts (20:26) Elderberry Syrup (22:26) Influenzinum (22:40) What is homeoprophylaxis or HP? (24:10) The difference between homeoprophylaxis and homeopathy (27:18) How often to take homeopathic medicine during flu season (29:28) How to handle bad vaccine injuries with a homeopath (30:12) How Willa educates and empowers parents to develop healthy immune systems for these kids (32:05) The inspiration behind Cilla’s film, Real Immunity (32:50)  Passage to Real Immunity, Cilla’s next film (34:14) Learn more about immunity support and Cilla’s work (35:32) Best advice Cilla received about raising children (36:22) Dive into the homeopathy world of CillaWhatcott.com, FamilyHomeopathyCare.com, WorldwideChoice.org, and RealImmunity.org. Next time on the Pure Nurture Podcast, tune into an intimate chat with Mari Smith, my Doula. 

When Toni Harmon launched her award-winning documentary, MICROBIRTH, she wanted to shout from the rooftops about the critical microscopic events happening during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. She believes that this is critical knowledge that every healthcare  professional should know about and should care about to help empower parents with full informed  choice. After all, the infant microbiome is a field of science that strongly  supports vaginal birth (when possible), immediate skin-to-skin contact, and exclusive breastfeeding. This enables the optimal training of the infant immune system to benefit a child's lifelong health. That's why she created the Microbirth School, an online course offering continuing education for healthcare professionals. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Toni went from filming horror films to filming childbirth (0:35) What is the microbiome (4:46) Supporting a healthy pregnancy (12:43) Being obsessed with cleanliness isn’t always good (17:13) Benefits of living on a farm (19:20) How to support your baby’s microbiome if you have a c-section (25:15) Can a Mom request Swab Seeding? (31:07) Do your own research and raise your kids in the best way you can (32:25) Be excited about the microbiome and open your mind to new possibilities (34:49) Where to study the microbiome (35:55) Dig around to learn more at Microbirth.com, Microbirth School, Twitter, and Facebook.   If you've been curious about what those blue vials are at the health food store, tune into episode 15. Cilla Whatcott, PHD and Certified Homeopath reminds us that cells are designed to heal. Vaccines and antibiotics suppress immunity. With a supportive, loving environment, the body will thrive.

Andrea Laine White is a Functional Nutrition Therapist practicing at Colorado Natural Medicine and the Chief Marketing Officer and Nutritionist for Baby Fresh Organics (Fresh Start). In her clinical practice, Andrea has developed therapeutic nutritional protocols for a variety of different conditions including, but not limited to: hormonal weight gain related to menopause, acne, endometriosis, infertility and conception, disorders of the thyroid including Hashimoto’s, autoimmune disorders including Celiac / Rheumatoid Arthritis / Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), sleep disorders, migraine headaches, digestive disorders, HPA axis maladaptation/adrenal fatigue, hypertension, food sensitivities/ intolerances, depression/anxiety, gaining weight/increasing lean muscle mass, and cardiovascular disease/elevated cholesterol levels. Andrea attained her certification as a Master Nutrition Therapist from the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado. Her education was primarily administered by practitioners of functional medicine. Functional medicine addresses the underlying or root causes of dysfunction in the body and seeks to restore balance from within.   Andrea shares the number one gift a mom can give to her baby is a healthy gut. 75% of the immune system is housed in the gut (microbiome). Join us next week for episode 14 and learn even more about the microbiome and how it impacts overall health. I'll be talking with Toni Harman, producer of the documentary Microbirth. Toni will share more about the microbiome and the impact on your baby and ways that you can create a healthy foundation that can impact your child's health for the rest of his or her life!  In this episode, you’ll learn: Andrea’s story (0:45) Your Next Big Thing Book helped her find her purpose(1:25) Andrea’s approach to nutrition (3:29) Two factors that determine a healthy gut (4:55) What glyphosate is and how it affects the digestive system (10:16) Fun fact: learn about microbiome and epigenetics in episode 14 with Toni Harmon (11:10) Solocast: About Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) (12:30) Read the Dirty Dozen List and Clean 15 List from Environmental Working Group (EWG) (12:45) The first steps to feeding our little ones (13:12) Forming your child’s taste buds in utero (21:10) Andrea’s philosophy on supplements (22:29) Functional lab testing for micronutrients (24:05) Difference between folate and folic acid (31:26) Andrea sees clients all over the world (32:22) You can connect with Andrea at ColoradoNaturalMed.com, Instagram, or info@coloradonaturalmed.com.  Join us for episode 14 of The Pure Nurture Podcast when we talk all about the microbiome and the impact on your baby's health with Toni Harman, producer of the documentary Microbirth.     

Dr. Aly Cohen is a practicing rheumatologist and integrative medicine physician in Princeton, New Jersey. She has been actively involved in the area of environmental health over the past decade. Her work has led to education collaborations with Environmental Working Group and several medical schools and physician training programs. She recently co-edited the text, "Integrative Environmental Medicine, through Oxford University Press/ Weil Academic Series.   In 2016, she founded "The Smart Human" social media platform, in order to better educate the general public on topics in environmental health and prevention, and she is currently working to create curriculum on environmental health to be available to high school students nationally. She posts practical health and prevention tips and recommendations on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. She is also a mother of two crazy young boys and several adorable animals.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How her dog’s death opened her eyes to Environmental Health (2:10) What Environmental Health is and why you should care (4:58) Environmental Health is important during pregnancy (8:23) Things to do if you want to have a healthy child (11:12) If you can’t buy all organic food, follow the Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 (18:15) Soak conventional produce in warm water and white vinegar (20:48) How to be sure that you’re drinking clean water (22:15) How to Make Our Drinking Water Safer Video by Dr. Cohen Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Guide to Buying a Water Filter(26:50) Water delivery (27:17) Plastics to avoid in baby bottles, sippy cups, and water bottles (30:00) Integrative Environmental Medicine Book (31:54) Life Factory glass water bottles, Kleen Kanteen stainless steel cups, glass baby bottles, glass sippy cups, silicone nipples (32:33) Top five changes to create a healthy home (34:55) Environmental Trust - EHTrust.org (39:30) You can find Dr. Aly Cohen and her amazing resources at TheSmartHuman.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn. If you’re near Princeton, New Jersey, visit her private practice.

Author, educator and former healthcare consultant, Beth Lambert has monitored and documented the escalating rates of childhood chronic conditions for nearly a decade.  Her book, A Compromised Generation, provides a thorough analysis of the origins of this modern health crisis and documents how modifications to environmental and lifestyle factors can profoundly influence health outcomes, including full disease reversal. Beth is the founder and Executive Director of Epidemic Answers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to reestablishing vibrant health in our children.  She is also the creator and Executive Producer of The Documenting Hope Project, a multi-year prospective research study and media project that examines the cumulative impact of environmental stressors on health and their mitigation through personalized and systems-based treatment approaches.  Beth is the mother of three children and is passionate about raising awareness about the connection between daily choices, human health, and planetary health. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Beth got into her work at Epidemic Answers (2:29) How to talk to practitioners when you disagree with the diagnosis (10:14) How to support your kids who have health issues (16:09) How to work with your doctor and create a wellness team (21:33) What’s contributing to childhood chronic conditions and how we can turn it around (25:20) Total Load Theory (28:30) Living in sync with nature (32:44) Healing can take time (34:00) Three steps towards a healthy family (35:15) Documenting Hope Project (37:30) Chirp Survey: Child Health Inventory for Resilience and Prevention(37:50) Using the Chirp Survey Report to clean up your home (38:36) Take the Chirp Survey Report and see a Health Coach (39:38) Find a health-conscious friend to stay on track (40:30) Practitioner Directory (43:40) Health Coach Directory (43:50) Health Coaching Training Program (44:00) If you’d like to connect with Beth, learn more at EpidemicAnswers.org. Follow her on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.   Join us next week as we continue our conversation about creating a healthier next generation with Dr. Aly Cohen, MD, FACR, FABOIM, practicing rheumatologist and integrative medicine physician. She is the founder of The Smart Human, a social media platform that educates the general public on topics in environmental health and prevention. Next week, Dr. Cohen will be sharing simple ways that you can improve your family's health and the health of your home, and much more!

The Mommy Lifecycle™ was developed by Dr. Cleopatra Abdou Kamperveen, a mom, a psychologist, author, and professor. She is best known for her innovative research and work on reproductive health, human flourishing, and the intergenerational transmission of health. Her multi-million-dollar research program has been funded by multiple arms of the National Institutes of Health and numerous other funding agencies. After losing her Mother at birth, it became her life’s work to walk beside women through some of the hardest, most important and beautiful parts of their lives—their baby and Motherhood journeys. She has formally studied and supported thousands of women over the past 21 years. She is also a head-over-heels in love Wifey and Mommy of 3 and has personally used the system that she developed for her Clients. She gave birth to her children just before her 35th, 37th, and 40th birthdays. All three children were conceived on the first try! Dr. Cleopatra is the author of Get Pregnant in No Time!, The Mommy Success Toolkit, and For Every Body: The 5 Essential Fertility, Pregnancy, & Postpartum Supplements. She teaches women all over the world how to create the families and the lives of their dreams. She provides a science-based + big-hearted space for fertility, pregnancy, and Motherhood support and education for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How Dr. Cleopatra found her purpose through losing her Mom (3:16) What the Mommy Life Cycle is (10:58) Do you ever feel ready to have a baby? (17:19) Motherhood is a sacrifice vs joyful (24:15) Preparing for postpartum (33:10) How Dr. Cleopatra supports Moms with the In Bloom program (34:40) If you have any questions or would like to connect with Cleopatra, you can email her at info@drcleopatra.com and learn more at DrCleopatra.com.

Becca Campbell is passionate about her mission to spread the news: you don't have the be a tired parent! She works with parents who are struggling to get their newborn, baby or child to sleep well all night. Through courses, group classes or one-on-one coaching she is able to give you the tools to create a solid night of sleep so you can look forward to bedtime! And in this episode, Becca is sharing some of her sleep secrets with us! In this episode, you'll hear about what Becca calls the 3 key pillars of overall health. She'll answer the biggest question of the day: How do I get my baby to sleep? She'll share all about setting up every step of the process to help get your baby to sleep. And the importance of building healthy sleep foundations from the beginning. In this episode, you’ll learn: Becca’s obsession with sleep (0:44) How she got her kids to sleep 12 hours a night (2:15) 3 Pillars of Health (4:30) Finding your family’s sleep style (8:00) Breaking up with binky (11:37) (If you'd like more binky-breakup ideas, check out my article in Pregnancy Magazine.) Why is sleep so important for Moms (14:42) Getting Dad on board with sleep training (24:25) You should see results within 3 days (25:17) Free chapter from Becca’s online sleep course (27:27)   If you have more questions or would like to connect with Becca, you can find her at LittleZSleep.com, Little Z Sleep Podcast, and on Instagram. Don't forget to grab the first chapter from her online sleep course here.

For the first half of Marcia Sheehan’s life, she was one of four girls. She traded that in for a husband, 2 boys, and a boy dog...which may have played a part in her starting a women's empowerment society, the Charmed Cardinals. Since 2015, Marcia has developed and led the Charmed Cardinals in a way that has cultivated a safe space for women to reconnect with themselves. This is done through introspection and experiential workshops, sharing who they are within the membership in an uncensored way, and supporting each other's successes. In a few weeks (on Oct. 13, 2018, in Arlington, VA), Marcia is facilitating the inaugural Connector Conference by Charmed Cardinals. This will be the first of many events that will encourage and engage attendees to reconnect with their callings, confidence, creativity, and community. In this episode: Meet Marcia, Founder of Charmed Cardinals (2:15) Why prioritizing your mental health is so important for Moms & Moms-to-be (3:39) How do you find your tribe? (11:55) How do you find fulfillment outside of motherhood? (28:20) Book:  Mommy Wars: Stay-at-Home and Career Moms Face Off on Their Choices, Their Lives, Their Families (29:40) Journaling & talking it out to find your way (33:30) Connector Conference: Connecting with your Calling, Community, Creativity, Confidence (37:34) Join us next time for episode 9 of the Pure Nurture Podcast. We’ll continue our conversation with Becca Campbell, founder of Little Z Sleep. If you’re a parent and don’t want to be tired all the time or a mom-to-be and you want to get a jump on this sleep thing everyone's been telling you about, this episode is for you!

Connecting with other moms during your journey through pregnancy and on into motherhood can be essential to your overall health and sense of well-being. In this episode, we’re joining Alex Winkelman, founder of Hello My Tribe. Because of her own experiences as a new mom, Alex understands the need for community and connection. Her own deep need for a support system is one of the reasons she created Hello My Tribe, online and in person communities offering honest, inspiring, and informative content for moms. Through her own personal journey into motherhood that included an identity crisis, postpartum struggles, and an auto-immune disease diagnosis, Alex's eyes were opened to maternal health issues facing women today in the US. Inspired to create change, Hello My Tribe is the answer to Alex's two biggest beliefs about motherhood: that it's a team sport and that self-care is required. In this Episode, You Will Learn: What is Hello My Tribe (1:30) How to be OK with however birth happens (4:18) Your pregnancy and postpartum tribe (7:14) Handling motherhood and work (11:40) How to reinvent yourself after you become a Mom (15:58) How to bring more self-care into your life (20:12) How to build your mama tribe (23:15) Connect with Alex Zeplain at HelloMyTribe.com and Instagram. Join us next time for episode 8 of the Pure Nurture Podcast. We’ll continue our conversation about the importance of community with Marcia Sheehan, founder of Charmed Cardinals and the Connector Conference. Another mom who deeply needed and depended on her community to support her through the various stages of motherhood. Her own journey led her to create new and innovative ways to support women not only as moms but also as small business owners. If you’re a mom that is thinking about creating your own business or just starting out and working through the challenges of being a working mom, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Dr. Jay Warren has been a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor for 18 years. He is also the Wellness Care Coordinator at the CAP Wellness Center in San Diego, CA where 90% of his practice is pregnant or postpartum women and babies under one year old. He is the host of 2 popular podcasts “Healthy Births, Happy Babies” and “The Dadhood Journey,” where he shares real-life lessons and practical tools to support new dads in navigating their parenthood experience. Dr. Jay has also created an online program, “Connecting with Baby” which guides pregnant women through processes to strengthen maternal bonding in-utero so that she is more confident as a parent and better able to soothe and connect with baby when they arrive. In this episode, Dr. Jay shares all about the importance and benefits of prenatal bonding- developing a connection with your baby before they are born. He knows first-hand as a dad how beneficial this experience was and he is now supporting dads through his newly released podcast, "The Dadhood Journey." Dr. Jay shares ways that Dads can support their wives best during pregnancy and postpartum and how Dads can support themselves during this time too. (A topic that doesn't seem to get enough attention.) He shares ways that dads can become more involved in the process and how families can set themselves for a happier and healthier start together. So grab your hubby or that special man in your life and join in on the conversation with Dr. Jay.  You can also forward this to any mom or dad in your life that you think might enjoy this topic as well. In this Episode, You Will Learn: About Dr. Jay’s work (0:33) The Dadhood Journey Podcast (4:59) Healthy Births, Happy Babies Podcast (5:17) Self-care for Dads (9:19) How to encourage Dads to support their partners (15:10) How to support Dads through the birth process (19:14) Watching birth videos with your partner (20:35) Prenatal bonding course with Dr. Jay (25:05) Connect with Dr. Jay at www.drjaywarren.com Join us next time for another episode of the Pure Nurture Podcast. Alex Zeplain, Founder of an incredible community for mothers, Hello My Tribe, is hanging out with us on the Pure Nurture podcast for a fun and casual conversation about mom life, community, the highs and lows of motherhood, and so much more. Hello My Tribe is based in Austin, Texas and by the end of the conversation, you're going to wish you had a Hello My Tribe community in your town. Hopefully one day! See you next week!

Anna Gannon is a mom, the Community Guide and Editorial Lead at Expectful, a Writer and a Yoga & Meditation Guide. Her work has been featured on The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, Yoga Today and The Expectful Blog. Anna is passionate about the importance of the mind, body, and baby connection. Her mission is to improve women's emotional health during their fertility, pregnancy and new motherhood experience by sharing open and honest stories, educating them on the benefits of meditation and movement and most importantly, letting them know they are never alone. Along with sharing some important aspects of her mom life journey,  Anna also has answers to some of the most come questions about meditation like... What is meditation? Why is meditation so beneficial? What is the ideal length of time for daily meditation? How can a mother incorporate meditation into their daily lives? You can learn more about Anna and the Expectful Podcast and App here: expectful.com or annagannon.com Join us next time as we welcome Dr. Jay Warren to the show.  Dr. Jay is the host of one of the TOP pregnancy and birth podcasts, Healthy Births, Happy Babies. He has been a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor for 18 years. He is also the Wellness Care Coordinator at the CAP Wellness Center in San Diego, CA where 90% of his practice is pregnant or postpartum women and babies under one year old. Dr. Jay just launched a new podcast dedicated to dads called the "The Dadhood Journey”, where he shares real-life lessons and practical tools to support new dads in navigating their parenthood experience.  See you next time on the Pure Nurture Podcast and be sure to invite dad to listen in with you next week!

Patricia Panasri is on a mission to guide mom entrepreneurs back into the flow of motherhood through her gifts as an astrologer and her personal journey into motherhood. She uses this wisdom to support other entrepreneurial mothers who are lost in the struggles of balancing motherhood and work. Patricia knows firsthand what it's like to be in survival mode after her second was born. A deep postpartum depression made her turn her attention inwards and heal the deep wounds from within. Patricia leads them to redefine themselves as women, mothers, entrepreneurs and learn how to trust their intuition again, using a unique astrology infused coaching method with her 1-on-1 clients and in her online membership community. In this episode, you'll learn ... -How to use astrology and the phases of the moon to support yourself and your relationship with your child(ren). -About the balance all the different demands of life and motherhood. Is there really such a thing as balance? -How to trust your intuition through astrology. -About Patricia's experience with postpartum depression and how it shaped the work that she does today. Thank you so much for listening. And remember, self-care is baby-care.  The better we support ourselves, and each other, as mamas, the more we’ll have to give back to our little ones. Please help this podcast reach more mamas and mamas-to-be by leaving a review on iTunes and subscribing to the show.

In this episode, we are joining Kori Kostka, Registered Dietitian and mama of two little ones.  Kori started off as your typical meal planner but quickly realized she personally needed more. She now coaches mindful eating, which is also about self-compassion and self-discovery. Food is meant to be fun! She lives on an old working farm in the country, Uxbridge Ontario Canada, with my husband and two kids.  I love seeing all the beautiful photos from Kori's farm on her Instagram page! I try not to have favorites, but this conversation with Kori ranks high on the list. I enjoyed this conversation so much and walked away with simple ideas that I implemented in my kitchen and with my family immediately. Her kind demeanor and loving way of speaking about food and mindful eating will leave you feeling satisfied. She is incredibly knowledgeable and shares information that will help mamas and mamas-to-be create a healthier relationship with themselves, their food, and their families. On this episode you learn about: -Mindful eating and mindful movement to live a more nourished life. -It's not about slowing down, it's more about setting boundaries. -What the "Netflix Effect" means and how it can impact our mood around food. -And so much more!   You can find Kori on  Facebook , Instagram and on her website, https://nourished-body.mykajabi.com/blog Thank you so much for listening. And remember, self-care is baby-care.  The better we support ourselves, and each other, as mamas, the more we’ll have to give back to our little ones. Please help this podcast reach more mamas and mamas-to-be by leaving a review on iTunes and subscribing to the show.   Join us on another episode of the Pure Nurture Podcast! Next week Patricia Panasri will join us for an intuitive conversation about the connection between astrology and motherhood. She'll also be sharing about her experience with postpartum depression, how she moved through it, and how it shaped the work that she is doing today. Patricia lives in Thailand with her husband and two children.

Rebecca Ryan is joining us from Melbourne, Australia. She has incredible insights to share for mamas and mamas-to-be about the benefits of developing a mindfulness practice and how to easily incorporate more mindfulness into your daily life. As a mama myself, I know how challenging this can be. Just listening to this episode will leave you feeling more relaxed.  So pop in your earbuds and prepare to leave the mini-chaos of life behind (just for a bit) and when you return you'll be able to manage the ups and downs of mom-life with greater ease and less stress. More about Rebecca... Rebecca is the author of ‘Mindfulness for Mothers’ and a mother of two. She is the founder and principal yoga and meditation teacher at Surrender Yoga and Meditation. She has taught meditation and pre & postnatal yoga since 2007. Rebecca’s meditations are featured on Insight Timer, the most popular free meditation app. Rebecca is currently on the Board of Advisors of the International Forum for Wellbeing in Pregnancy. (IFWIP) Previously, she was a faculty member of the International Yoga Teachers Association’s Diploma of Yoga Teaching (Pre & Post Natal).   Connect with Rebecca Website Instagram Facebook Insight Timer    If you’ve found this podcast helpful, leave a review on iTunes and help the show reach more moms!  Hit the subscribe button too and never miss an episode. Speaking of mindfulness... Join us next time when we welcome Kori Kostka to the show. Kori is a mom supporting other moms to incorporate mindfulness into mealtimes. And just like Rebecca, Kori has a soft and gentle way of speaking that will leave you feeling more relaxed and inspired to take on whatever comes your way.

Welcome to the very first episode of the Pure Nurture Podcast! I'm so glad that you're here. I’m your host and the founder of PureNurture.com, Kristy Rodriguez. I’m excited to have you join me on this inaugural episode. In future episodes, we’ll be speaking with educators, experts, advocates, and moms in the field/ who have dedicated their lives and work to supporting women on their journey through Pregnancy, birth and the precious postpartum phase of motherhood. Pure Nurture is all about a Holistic approach to creating a healthy new life for mom and baby. It is a community where we fully believe that self-care is baby-care. It encompasses a mind-body approach to pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Pure Nurture is about connection, community, learning, inspiration, empowerment, self-care, self-love and most importantly, it’s a place where you can take all of this in, and ONLY keep what feels best for you and your family and leave the rest. I created Pure Nurture after suffering from postpartum depression. The various challenges of pregnancy and motherhood left me feeling alone and I knew I needed so much more connection and support. My hope is that this community will help you to feel more connected, to find the support you need and to ultimately feel your best. My hope is that this podcast supports you on your journey and leaves you feeling inspired, empowered, and supported as a woman, a mom-to-be, and as a mom. For our very first episode, Molly Mills, RN, and IBCLC is joining us to share all about experience supporting women at the mama 'hood where she runs a weekly Breastfeeding Group and an Infant Sleep Group. Molly is passionate about building a strong community for mamas and families so everyone has access to support. There is so much advice and information out there, Molly's passion is in helping parents discover what feels right for them in their parenting journey, which is exactly what you will hear during our conversation. Molly will leave you feeling supported, empowered, and connected as a mama, especially related to birth and breastfeeding. In this episode you’ll hear all about: -How it takes a village to raise a child AND support a new mom. -Preparing for your upcoming birth- a mind-body approach. -Best ways to set yourself up for breastfeeding success. -The power of affirmations, especially during motherhood. -And so much more! Thank you so much for listening. And remember, self-care is baby-care.  The better we support ourselves, and each other, as mamas, the more we’ll have to give back to our little ones. Please help this podcast reach more mamas and mamas-to-be by leaving a review on iTunes and subscribing to the show.