Mothergood®

Has breastfeeding always been so hard? Have women always been shamed for not being able to breastfeed? Emily Kearney dives into the history of breastfeeding, why it matters, and the shame surrounding it. 

How do we prevent our children from becoming victims of child abuse? While we as parents would rather just not think about it, the reality is that at least one in seven children in the United States experience child abuse. But, we as parents can do a lot to prevent it. Consent educator and child abuse prevention specialist Rosalia Rivera discusses how to educate our children about body safety, boundaries, and consent along with how we as parents can minimize opportunities for abuse. She also talks about how to keep an open line of communication with our children to talk about these matters so that if they find themselves in a bad situation, they can tell us parents so that we can get them out of that situation. Although most of us think of abuse happening at the hands of a stranger, Rosalia also explains that a lot of abuse happens between children or by a trusted adult, who gain access to children by grooming. She gives many tips on what to look out for in order to avoid children getting into these situations, how rape culture affects everything, how to teach our kids about secret safety, and shares invaluable resources, plus must more.

Do you want to earn money by doing something you are passionate about, all while raising children? Elise Crawford Gallagher, founder and CEO of Ringlet Studio, discusses how she helps women-owned businesses succeed and women become financially independent. She talks about how she herself has been able to manage running a business as a mom. She also discusses how there is a space for every woman to earn money while pursuing her passions. Financially, she chats about how success is not measured by accolades, but by financial freedom balanced with how you want motherhood to look for you, and how a new wave of feminism helps define that.

Every mom knows about the dreaded first time having sex after having a baby. Most women are inappropriately told by healthcare practioners, family, and friends, to "grit and bear it." Some moms also continually struggle with the ability to experience pleasure during sex after having a baby. What if it didn't have to be so bad? Dr. Tayyaba Ahmed, D.O., a New York City based pelvic pain physician, talks about all things sexy in this episode. She discusses why many women should not do kegels, how most women with painful sex have a pelvic floor that is too tight or too loose, the two most important aspects of pelvic floor rehabilitation, and what next steps to take if pelvic floor physical therapy is not enough so that all moms can experience pain-free and enjoyable sex after babies. You can find Dr. Ahmed on Instagram at @drtayahmed.

Want to raise a little scientists? Or, at least want your child to be well-rounded and have fun learning STEM? Kay Yang, Mechanical Engineer and Inventor, chats about how to get your children interested in STEM activities and make the activities approachable for all moms. She also pays particular attention to how to get young girls interested in STEM, given that most STEM activities are presented in a way that caters to boys. And, she talks about how to get both boys and girls channel their particular passion into a STEM activities.  Kay founded Tinker the Robot, which is a subscription STEM activity service for kids that can be found here: www.tinkertherobot.com/

Thinking of a home birth? Should you have one? Dr. Candace Howe, a board certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and partner at HM Medical, chats about the appeal of home births and how you can have an empowered hospital birth. You can find out more about Dr. Howe's practice by clicking here and Hoag Hospital by clicking here. Watch the VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE

What role does the intellectual life play in the lives of mothers? Too often mothers are reduced to their emotional life which – while beautiful – does not encompass all that we are. Rachel Bulman chats about how we as mothers are more than how we “feel”, and while we are learning the value of our emotions – and of the freedom required to actually feel happiness, sadness, joy, or anger – we must not allow ourselves to be reduced to them alone. Amidst the craziness of motherhood, Rachel gives practical tips on how mothers can challenge themselves to think deeply, to be moved intellectually, to ask questions and keep looking for answers. 

Have you experienced an unplanned pregnancy?  What would you do if a friend confided in you that she was pregnant and it was not expected?  Alexa Hyman, founder of Back in February, shares her difficult, yet beautiful and inspiring, journey through an unplanned pregnancy and how motherhood is the best thing that has ever happened to her.  She talks about how to support a friend who has an unexpected pregnancy, how to create a space for negative feelings while still remaining positive and hopeful, tips for working moms and single moms, and how to support those who are navigating motherhood alone.

Do you want a big family? Or, do you want a smaller family but would like to implement some handy tips and tricks that big families have learned? Adele Collins shares her wisdom and practical advice for having more than the average size family.  She has seven children—six plus one on the way.  Adele shares the joy and beauty of having a big family, along with the struggles and negativity. Now, this episode isn't meant to promote a big family for every single family—many families have financial, health, fertility, or other reasons for having a small family. Every family size is absolutely beautiful, whether big or small. This episode on big families is important because they are definitely a segment of our population that often gets a lot of negativity and bashing and are not always supported, so this is a way to support big families and show that big families are beautiful as well. It's obviously must more "socially acceptable" to have the average 1.9 children that most Americans have. This episode also encourages moms out there who maybe want a big family, but feel negative societal or familial pressures to not have one when they really want one. If you are a mom listening and never intend on having a big family or can't, that is 100% ok too! For those who don't want to or can't have big families, Adele shares some tips she has learned from having a big family that also apply to families of every size. So, whether you have one child, 10 children, or even no children because you are struggling with infertility, you will find this episode both inspiring and filled with practical tips you can implement in your families.

Is your child a picky eater? Are you frustrated with meal time?  Is your child always hungry and asking for a snack?  Do you want your child to have a healthy relationship with food and a healthy body image both as a child and adult?  Pediatric dietician Ashley Smith shares the best practical tips on how to properly feed your children, how to approach meal time, how to incorporate more variety and healthy foods, plus many more. Her tips are applicable for parents of children of all ages!

All women have an innate desire to be mothers, and all are meant to be mothers in some capacity. All women are called to be spiritual mothers, even if that does not entail being a biological, adoptive, or foster mother. Sister Stephanie Baliga, the Running Nun, talks about her journey to becoming a nun and how every woman is meant to be a spiritual mother. She also discusses how every woman's spiritual journey is so unique to her and how has still continued to incorporate her passion, running, into her vocation. She chats about how hard it is, even as a nun and teacher, to stay present to small demanding children. And, she gets deep about why we as women are obsessed with perfection and the desire to be the "perfect" mom, plus so much more.

Ever wonder how military moms juggle motherhood with military life? Ali Denning chats about why she joined the military, how she handles having three children (plus, one on the way!) with a demanding job, the positives/negatives of military life, and how civilian moms can best support military moms.

Do you find yourself constantly Googling every parenting question? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the information that is out there? Are you confused by all the conflicting opinions? Or, do you feel drained by endless comparison on social media? If so, don't worry! You are not alone. There is nothing wrong with you. If you're a millennial facing these experiences, this is what Dr. Christine Sterling is calls the Millennial Parent Problem. In this episode Dr. Sterling breaks down the four main elements of the Millennial Parent Problem. We also chat about practical steps to overcome it. And, we chat about how we can begin to feel more confident and more calm when it comes to parenting in the modern age. You can learn more about Dr. Sterling at her Instagram @drsterlingobgyn.

What are developmentally appropriate expectations in children? Why do we expect children to act like adults when they are toddlers? Developmental psychologist Dr. Amber Morabito discusses ways our children communicate with us with their behavior, how can we better understand behavior as communication, how we can reframe the notion of the "strong willed child," how to install grit in our children, plus much more.

The Labor Nurse Mama is back to talk all things VBACs, C-Sections, and the fear of birth. Trish Ware, a labor and delivery nurse with over fifteen years of experience, talks about why some women end up with medically unnecessary c-sections, how c-sections are life-saving, myths about VBACs, how women can make the best choices to get the best shot at having a VBAC, how to be proud of their body and not feel like a failure no matter what kind of birth they have, and how to minimize fear in the labor and delivery room.

Yoga isn't just an exercise to do at a studio, it's something you can incorporate into your busy daily motherhood life. April Lovett of Unfold Yoga chats about how to the benefits of yoga and having a community, especially in the prenatal and postpartum period. She also talks about how incorporate breathing techniques, mantras, and small exercise throughout your day. Enjoy a free yoga class and/or 15% April's courses by using the code "mothergoodco" Watch Yoga Video By Clicking HERE Watch Video Podcast By Clicking HERE Join April's Virtual Yoga Studio By Clicking HERE Visit April's Website By Clicking HERE

Did you know that there is so much more to potty training than just not wearing a diaper? Quiara Smith, pediatric pelvic health occupational therapist, talks all things toilet training, including how can you teach your toddlers good bowel and bladder habits, what is the right age to potty train, what to do if your child struggles with constipation, what to do if your child have FOMO while playing and does not remember to use the restroom, how to get your child to feel the urge to pee and poo, plus so much more! WATCH VIDEO OF EMILY & QUIARA CHAT HERE  

Are you struggling to find the time to take a shower or other basic necessities while having young children? Are you having a hard time communicating with your spouse what kind of help you need from him, as well as actually getting that help? Licensed marriage and family therapist, Catherine O'Brien, chats about why self-care after baby is so important, how to make time for that self-care, how to better communicate with your spouse so that you can get that time, how to communicate effectively so that you and your spouse can work as a team, plus much more. WATCH VIDEO OF EMILY AND CATHERINE CHATTING BY CLICKING HERE Click here to join Happy With Baby Facebook Community (not affiliated with Mothergood)

Do you want to play with your baby or toddler in a way that promotes their development? Pediatric Physical Therapist Dr. Danielle PT, DTP chats about purposeful play—simple activities you can do with your baby/toddler for each age range. She also discusses the many ways you can have your baby do tummy time, ways to prevent improper development, how to practice gross motor skills to prepare for potty training, plus much more! CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF THIS EPISODE CLICK HERE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Scientist and mom Margaret McEachran shares her postpartum story of being diagnosed with postpartum hypertension twice, after experiencing completely normal pregnancies. Most pregnant women are familiar with preeclampsia and monitored for it, but postpartum hypertension is not effectively monitored to the extent it needs to be in women's healthcare. We hope this episode raises awareness to this important aspect of women's healthcare. WATCH VIDEO OF EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/v_aNDIb0WV0