Birth, Baby, and Life

Photos captured by Shoots & Giggles, serving Los Angeles & Orange County Do you worry about the “ring of fire” as your baby is being born? Want to bring your own baby up but not sure if you can do it? This podcast episode covers all those worries and practical tips for you <3 Topics […] The post How to Handle Crowning and Bring Baby Up Yourself appeared first on Nat...

Are you struggling with loneliness? Many mamas dream of being at home with their little ones – but the day-to-day reality of being home with small children can feel isolating. In today's episode I cover how to overcome loneliness – and enjoy being with you kids! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: What “take care […] The post Handling Loneliness while Mothering appeared first o...

Life as a student midwife is exciting, educational, and very, very busy! Here's how I've balanced that, what I can improve on, and the general scoop on living life on call! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: A month in the life of a student midwife What it's like to live on call The “go […] The post The Life of a (Pregnant) Student Midwife appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com...

Parents often get stuck in the day-to-day when they make parenting choices – but it's important to parent for who you want your children to become. I talk about what that means – and how to do it – in today's episode! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: Life with a newborn requires all focus […] The post Parenting for the Person You’d Like Your Child to Become appeared fi...

Parents often know that a kid's behavior isn't the whole story – in today's episode we talk about how to get to the heart of what's going on with your child! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: Why what's going on with our kids is often not the real story How to figure out what's […] The post What Your Kids Are REALLY Saying With Their Behavior appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care...

Are you feeling overwhelmed with life? House in chaos and kids going crazy? Eating lots of fast food? You're not alone – here's how to conquer the overwhelm and get back on track! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: Why I've been missing in action! How overwhelm can happen to any family (and why it's […] The post How to Beat Overwhelm and Take Back Your Life appeared first on Natural Birth...

Some women have an actual fear of pregnancy, carrying a baby, and/or giving birth. I give some thoughts and hints in today's episode. This is a must-listen episode, even if you don't have these fears. Topics I Cover in This Podcast: What is fear of pregnancy – and why do some women experience it? Specific […] The post How to Overcome Fear of Pregnancy (and Childbirth) appeared first on...

A schedule is a key to smooth – and productive – homeschool days, even if you have little ones around! Today I discuss what's worked for us with scheduling 😀 Topics I Cover in This Podcast: Why it's OK for your schedule to look different from everyone else's 😉 How to make your schedule flexible […] The post Homeschool Scheduling with Little Ones appeared first on Natural Birth...

Today's podcast is getting personal! Many listeners asked for more about our family's story so I share it all in here 🙂 Topics I Cover in This Podcast: A little about me pre-kiddos Discovering that my first little one was on the way – and the choices I made My time as a single mama […] The post Our Family’s Journey appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com .

Are you in the thick of homeschooling your kids when you discover the happy news that a new baby is on the way? How can you juggle the needs of babies and toddlers while still giving your older kids what they need to succeed? I cover what I've learned in juggling homeschool with kids from […] The post How to Juggle Homeschooling, Babies, and Toddlers! appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby...

Have you wondered how complications are handled if they come up during a home birth? I cover everything from stalled labor to “stuck” babies to lots of bleeding in this week's episode! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: Does technology make birth “safer?” Why prevention is the most important thing to consider (no matter where […] The post How to Handle Complications Duri...

Are you trying to balance working from home with caring for your small children? Or juggling the full-time student load? I share my own experiences working from home and some top tips for making WAHM work for you! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: Why working from home is ALWAYS an adjustment (even if you […] The post Working from Home with Young Children appeared first on Natural Birth and Ba...

Do you feel tired much of the time? You're not alone – many new mamas (and not-so-new mamas) feel fatigue or even exhaustion. This week we talk about how to overcome exhaustion and find more energy – naturally. Topics I Cover in This Podcast: A super-food you MUST include in your diet to boost energy […] The post How to Find More Energy and Balance in Your Life appeared first on...

What difference does the microbiome make? Today I share my family's story in beating the bad bacteria and bringing in the good – and the unexpected benefits we discovered. Plus, I discuss how you can take on this battle to give the gift of health to yourself – and your little ones. Topics I Cover […] The post Battling for the Microbiome appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Ca...

Are you thinking about homeschooling when you've still got little ones underfoot? It's not too early to start making plans and thinking about what's important for your tots to know now for homeschooling success then. I talk about my recommendations and practical strategies in this podcast episode! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: Can you […] The post Getting Started with Homeschooling appeare...

Have you felt torn about returning to work and being with your baby? In today's podcast I discuss how some parents and businesses are making babies and work mix – with great results! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: Should babies be welcome in the workplace? The benefits of bringing baby to the office What […] The post Bringing Baby to Work appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care....

Hannah shared her experiences advocating for herself and having a great natural hospital birth in last week's podcast – this week she shares why she chose an unassisted birth for her second baby, and what she learned from that pregnancy and birth! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: How Hannah is learning the joy of […] The post Listening to Pregnancy Intuition with Hannah Smerkonich appea...

What are real mamas thinking, feeling, experiencing… and how are they handling birth and baby choices? This week Hannah Smerkonich shares part of her journey through her pregnancies and births. She discusses how she handled communicating her wishes both gracefully and firmly – enjoy! Topics We Discuss in This Podcast: How a friendly, casual comment […] The post Standing Firm in Y...

Many mamas are shocked by just how much life changes postpartum – not only does your body feel different, but life looks very different with baby in tow. How can you prepare for these changes – and enjoy them when they happen? Arianna and I cover those questions and more in today's podcast. Topics We […] The post Feeling Great Postpartum with Arianna Taboada appeared first on Nat...

What if we as mothers were to stand up – to stand in charge of pregnancy, of birth, of mothering? What if we were to start a quiet, confident rumble that grows into a roar too big to ignore – that shakes the very foundations of “becoming mama” – and gives it back to women, […] The post What if YOU Were in Charge of Pregnancy & Birth? appeared first on Natur...

There are many supposed benefits to eating the placenta after birth – either fresh or encapsulated. In today's episode I share some benefits and some possible downsides to choosing to consume your placenta! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: The purpose of the placenta during pregnancy How the placenta works on your side (the maternal […] The post Should You Eat Your Placenta? appeared fi...

Curious about starting solids? Wondering how to help your little one become a great eater… or how to get a picky eater back on track? Sarah Bester, a family nutritionist and picky eating coach shared how to help your kids – and you – have a great relationship with great food! Topics We Discuss in […] The post How to End the Fight Over Healthy Food with Sarah Bester appeared...

How do you really enjoy your pregnancy and nurture your baby by nurturing yourself? I talk with Kacey, Kate, and Kara this week for an inspiring look at how you can honor your pregnancy, your creativity (even if you think you have none!), and your baby! And don't forget to check out the book giveaway […] The post The Daily Soul Sessions for Pregnancy appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby...

At least a quarter of all mamas-to-be are induced to begin labor – and countless others have “augmentation” to increase the strength of contractions. There's no debate – induction leads to a cascade of interventions and causes stress for moms and babies. How can you prevent induction and make sure your baby is born at […] The post How to Avoid Induction of Labor appea...

How can you help your little develop a strong, resilient immune system? There are lots of germs all around, but some simple steps can help you little one have a stronger immune system – for life. Today's podcast covers everything! Topics I Cover in This Podcast: Why you should start thinking about your baby's immune […] The post Building Baby’s Immune System appeared first on Nat...