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Show Notes:

[2:05] Our Reviewer of the Week, KaitlynL2021, says: "Absolutely love this podcast. My husband and I are hoping to get pregnant in the next year and this podcast makes me so excited. When we started talking about having kids I was nervous because I didn’t know anything. Now I feel confident and like I know what I’m getting myself into. I also feel like I have options and there isn’t one “right” way to give birth. I love that this podcast gives all of the options from crunchy to conventional, and I can’t wait to be in the birth class one day in the future!"

[2:49] Our guest this week is Booby Food founder and owner, Janna Hattingh, who knows all too well about the triumphs and struggles with breastfeeding, pumping, and supply issues. She's on a mission to save your breastmilk and the tears shed over spilled bottles. She is a wife and mama to 4-year-old Sage and 2-year-old Kassius, a.k.a. 'wrecker of nipples.' She has a...

Show Notes:

We're sharing our most downloaded episode in 2022!

One of the first things on our minds as soon as we have our babies is feeding them. Those first few days can feel like a blur, and if you're choosing to breastfeed, you may be feeling overwhelmed by ALL of the things you need to learn seemingly overnight. If you're worried about if you're producing enough or whether your baby is eating enough, or what the heck is happening to your nipple, don't worry. Take a breath. ‍

Our special guest, Sally Wright, an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and mother of five, is here to help clear up the confusion and pump out the facts you actually need to know!

Sally grew up in Hawai'i and now lives in Utah. She is the mother of five children, including a set of twins. She has been an IBCLC since 2016 and has served as a volunteer Leader with La Leche League since 2006, providing community breastfeeding support. Sally especially loves helping parents...

 :: This week's podcast episode is sponsored by DockATot! You get 15% off when you use the promo code: MYESSENTIALBIRTH at dockatot.com/MYESSENTIALBIRTH! #dockatotpod ::

Show Notes:

"What can I do to treat my mastitis?" It happens to so many mamas, and it can be painful, overwhelming, and just the absolute worst. But don't worry, I've got some incredible birth professionals from the Milk Minute Podcast here to help!

[1:11] Our reviewer of the week is Shannon Venus Taylor, and she says: “Hi! I absolutely love this Podcast as a Doula and first time mom I started listening to this podcast when I was 8 weeks pregnant. The information you share with your community is golden. This podcast has not only helped me improve my methods as a Doula but also provided me with a sense of ease and confidence during my home birth and postpartum journey. I will continue to recommend your Podcast to future clients and anyone in the birth community. ”

To all of my birth...

Show Notes:

When it comes to breastfeeding, mamas have alllll the questions! My guest this week, Jacqueline Kincer, is an IBCLC and the founder of Holistic Lactation. She shares her wisdom and expertise in a way that is empowering and encouraging to all mamas no matter what stage of their breastfeeding journey they are in!

[1:12] This week’s topic comes up ALL the time! “How do I feed my baby should I choose to breastfeed?”

[1:43] My guest, Jacqueline Kincer, is the founder of Holistic Lactation. She started the company 6 years ago. She is a stockbroker turned mama/business owner/podcaster/IBCLC/all the things! She found that the hardest part of new motherhood was breastfeeding. She also hosts a podcast: The Breastfeeding Talk and has launched a line of herbal supplements for breastfeeding moms. She wants to show up and serve moms in any way that she can!

[3:19] What is a lactation consultant? What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant...

Show Notes:

[1:11] Our reviewer of the week is morganstep13, and she says: “5 stars! I love this podcast! I’m not pregnant or a mom yet, but I still love listening to this podcast, and I find it really helpful to know this information so I can be fully educated when I do become pregnant! I love how you give lots of perspective and your voice is so soothing, haha! Keep up the great work!”

I am fully aware that my voice is not soothing, but thank you! I am so impressed whenever I hear about women who are not mothers yet, but they listen to the podcast! If you want to hear about a specific topic, send them my way! Send me an email at [email protected].

For many mamas, baby's sleep can be a huge worry and cause us to second-guess every choice we make. We'll talk about what's "normal" and how to anticipate your baby's needs. 

[2:24] If you haven’t heard yet, I am in the process of creating a postpartum course! We are scripting as we speak! ...

If you haven't heard of "Occupational Therapy," join the club! I literally never heard of this until Kayln reached out to me and it's something I think every mom should be aware of. In case you have NO idea what OT's do - it's holistic care from professionals that are trained to help people get back to all of their normal things they do in life. It can be as "small" as getting in and out of bed, making sure you're showered for the day, getting back to exercises or rock climbing...literally whatever your normal and joyful day looks like - they help.

It is a completely individualized approach to healthcare. You can head to your OB or pediatrician and ask for this kind of care BUT take a listen to see what may or may not qualify. The BEST part? It's usually covered by insurance so it's an inexpensive way to get the support you need no matter where you are at in your pregnancy, birth, postpartum...or life.

Kayln Robertshaw is an occupational therapy doctorate student at Rocky Mountain...

Placenta encapsulation was a foreign concept just a few years ago, but now as it becomes more mainstream there are tons of questions around who should have it done, what the benefits actually are, if there are risks involved and when to avoid encapsulation, how Covid-19 has affected placentas, and how to find someone who really knows what they're doing. Today I get to answer all of those questions with doula and almost midwife , Bonnie Baker. For as long as I have known Bonnie in the birth world, she has been involved in finding ways to improve birthing outcomes and take care of mothers during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. This includes the wonderful work of encapsulating placentas. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

 1:15 - Our reviewer of the week talks about the Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy being her very favorite after listening to thousands of hours of birthing podcasts! Thanks mama!

3:20 - Bonnie discusses the details of the placenta encapsulation process and the history behind...

One of the first things on our minds as soon as we have our babies is feeding them. Those first few days can feel like a blur and if you're choosing to breastfeed you may be feeling overwhelmed by ALL of the things you need to learn seemingly overnight. If you're worried about if you're producing enough or whether your baby is eating enough, or what the heck is happening to your nipple, don't worry.

Today, I'm here with our special guest, Sally Wright, an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and mother of five, to help clear up the confusion and pump out the facts you actually need to know!

Sally grew up in Hawai'i and now lives in Utah. She is the mother of five children, including a set of twins. She has been an IBCLC since 2016 and has served as a volunteer Leader with La Leche League since 2006, providing community breastfeeding support. Sally especially loves helping parents of multiples meet the joys and challenges of a life with abundance. When...

Are you prepared for the very first step of the postpartum period? This week on the podcast, I talk about the golden hour—that crucial first 60 minutes following your baby’s birth. I’ll be going through why the golden hour is so important, how to get it (if it’s not immediately offered to you during your care), and exactly what you and your partner should be doing during that time. Tune in and enjoy!

Show Notes

1:45 - The golden hour is the first hour after the baby is born. It’s the crucial 60-minute transition that your baby goes through between the womb and the outside world. During this important time, mom and baby need time together, undisturbed, in order for them to bond, familiarize themselves with each other, and start building a connection outside the womb.

3:27 - Look for a hospital with a baby-friendly certification, as these hospitals are guaranteed to offer you this golden hour. But it’s not a deal-breaker even if your hospital...

You’ve had the baby, now what? This has now become a 24 hour responsibility. In this episode, I walk you through what happens from the time you give birth, until you reach home, and even some tools that can be useful once you've brought baby home and start to manage your everyday life. My husband also share's his dad perspective of what it was like for him when welcoming our children home. Listen in, get some great information and even better, some awesome laughs.

Show Notes

4:40 - Hospital to home, what happens? We chat about a series of things such as, the car being checked and different tests both mom and baby have to pass prior to being discharged from the hospital. 

10:13 - Visitation! We talked about our experience when it came to visitors after the birth of our children, and how it varied from child to child, both in hospital in home. We also made light of how we’re in Covid times and what visitation may look like these days. 

13:10...