Birth, Baby, and Life

What does birth feel like to your baby? What does he or she do during childbirth? Baby isn't passive – he/she is actively working with you! In this episode I cover: Something exciting coming soon! What your baby does during birth (hint, baby doesn't just sit around!) Why working with your baby is so important […] The post BBL 042: Your Baby’s Experience of Childbirth appeared fir...

Parents often follow along with fetal development during pregnancy, but what does your baby actually experience inside the womb? What's it like in there? How can you make it the best environment possible? All that and more in this episode: In this episode I cover: Why look beyond “fetal development” How baby experiences time in […] The post BBL 041: Your Baby’s Experiences...

Starting solids can be really exciting, but also a little stressful. What do you do if your baby (or toddler) seems picky? How can you tell if things are going smoothly? What do you do if you think your baby isn't eating well? All those issues and more are covered in this weeks episode! In […] The post BBL 040: Handling Picky Eaters & Feeding Trouble appeared first on Natural Birth and...

Many moms want to nurse through pregnancy and tandem nurse their toddler and newborn. I cover what to expect and tips for success in today's podcast episode! In this episode I cover: How to know when it's safe (or not) to nurse during pregnancy Steps to take care of yourself while pregnancy nursing Will nipple […] The post BBL 039: Nursing in Pregnancy and Tandem Nursing appeared first on Na...

Microbiota has a lifelong influence on your baby's health. What can you do to give your baby healthy gut flora – also know as “the good bacteria?” That's what I talk about in this podcast. If you're pregnant or TTC you're in luck, because you can make a big difference right now. I also outline […] The post BBL 038: How to Give Baby Healthy Gut Flora appeared first on Natura...

They're so tiny you can't see them – but they have a huge influence on the health of your baby. Gut bacteria, part of the “microbiota” are just starting to be studied, and your baby's birth has a lifetime impact on how much they help – or hurt. In this episode I cover: What is […] The post BBL 037: Building Baby’s Health from Birth appeared first on Natural Birt...

How do you build a rich milk supply that keeps your baby growing well, and keeps you breastfeeding six months, a year, and beyond? I cover proven ways to build a strong supply and make high-quality milk to nourish your little one. In this episode I cover: Why the moments after your baby's birth are […] The post BBL 036: How to Boost Your Milk Supply Naturally appeared first on Natural Birth...

Hoping for a baby but seeing negative pregnancy tests month after month? Here's what to do when baby-making isn't going as smoothly as you'd hoped. In this episode I cover: Why you should chart your cycle What calorie level you need to meet to conceive Managing stress levels (yes, it's cliche!) Where do essential oils […] The post BBL 035: What to Do When You’re Not Getting Pregnant ap...

Fertility while breastfeeding is confusing – even frustrating! I can't give you all the answers, but I go a long way towards clearing up the confusion in this podcast episode. I discuss signs of returning fertility, how to delay the return of fertility, and how to encourage your cycles if you want to get pregnant […] The post BBL 034: Breastfeeding and Your Fertility appeared first on...

Did you know there are only a few days every month you can get pregnant? Women's bodies go through a monthly cycle building up towards ovulation, then sustaining a newly conceived baby. Understanding when you're fertile can help you get pregnant faster, and figure out why you're not getting pregnant. This episode covers the parts […] The post BBL 033: How Charting Helps You Get Pregnant appe...

It's a rite of passage for babies: the newborn exam. What's checked during the exam? How is the exam done? This episode covers the basics, why you want to watch, and what you should ask. In this episode I cover: What is the newborn exam? How does this exam differ from the APGAR Why you […] The post BBL 032: The Newborn Exam, Step-by-Step appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com .

Did you know your pelvis can flex for your baby? It's actually made of bones, joints, and connective tissue, meaning it's good at moving out of the way of baby! This episode covers how your pelvis can flex (and how tiny changes can mean big help for baby). I also show you how you can […] The post BBL 031: Your Awesome, Flexible Pelvis appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.com .

Postpartum body changes can feel a little overwhelming (or maybe really overwhelming), but knowing what to expect helps a lot. This is the second half of our series on what's going on with you during the postpartum time. Here are some things you may experience – and how to handle them! In this episode I […] The post BBL 030: More on How to Handle Postpartum Changes appeared first on Na...

Pregnancy and baby information are everywhere – but there's not a lot of information on the early postpartum period. This podcast is the first in a series of two covering what to expect postpartum so you're feeling confident and prepared about what you'll experience in your body, mind, and emotions. In this episode I cover: […] The post BBL 029: What to Expect in the Early Postpartum a...

The births of my last three babies have helped me grow as a mother and a birthing woman. I share wisdom I've gleaned during this walk – so you can use it when you're giving birth! In this episode I cover: Galen's birth story (the midwife didn't make it!) Why pregnancy with Honor was so […] The post BBL 028: Getting Better at Giving Birth appeared first on Natural Birth and Baby Care.co...

The holidays are full of food, fun, and family… and can get downright overwhelming when you're pregnant… or bringing along a new baby. These tried and true tips will help you survive (and enjoy) the holiday fun. In this episode I cover: Why hydration is so important during pregnancy How to really enjoy holiday events […] The post BBL 027: How to Survive the Holidays While Pregnan...

We're celebrating positive natural birth stories on the podcast this week! Birth stories encourage pregnant moms and build a legacy for our children – and they bring a hope for more conscious, peaceful birthing of the next generation. In this episode I cover: Why sleep apnea could lead to smaller babies and c-sections (and what […] The post BBL 026: It’s Birth Story Week on Natur...

You'd give everything for your kids, your family, and your loved ones. But if you never take time for yourself, you quickly run out of what there is of you to give. In this podcast episode I cover some simple strategies that literally only take minutes – and help renew and refresh you to be […] The post BBL 025: Why Taking a Few Minutes of You-Time Makes You a Better Mama appeared firs...

How do you make time to prepare for a natural birth when you're busy running after older children? How do you get ready to give birth when you feel totally unprepared? How do you make it through the pushing stage without screaming? I answer these questions and more on today's episode! In this episode I […] The post BBL 024: Fit Childbirth Prep (or Anything) Into Your Busy Life appeared first...

Balancing a new baby along with your toddler or preschooler can be a big challenge. With a little planning (and some patience), though, this can become a wonderful time for you and your older child to bond with each other and to form a warm family connection with your new baby! In this episode I […] The post BBL 023: Meeting the Needs of Your Toddler and Newborn appeared first on Natural Bir...

Alarming numbers of mothers are being induced today. Many of the moms contacting me have had two or three babies – and have never gone into labor naturally! Other moms share a related concern: maternal or uterine exhaustion during labor. How do you prevent these situations and have a safe, natural birth? I address those […] The post BBL 022: Avoiding Induction and Preventing Fatigue Du...

Baby milestones are a big deal nowadays – you want to know if your baby is on target! In this episode I cover what to expect from your baby each month, what to do if you're worried, and where to get more info when you need it. In this episode I cover: Milestones from newborn […] The post BBL 021: What’s Normal and What’s Not – Baby Development appeared first on Natura...

Welcome to Episode 20!! In today's episode I feature some great reader Q and A. I've gotten several questions on breastfeeding during pregnancy, so I cover that extensively. I also cover planning a natural birth when you're expecting twins, stress relief during pregnancy, and what to do about heartburn! In this episode I cover: A […] The post BBL 020: Reader Q&A with Pregnancy Nursing,...

Eat food, grow baby. It seems so simple – but the reality is that a nourishing pregnancy diet can be confusing. Conflicting advice, various choices, and disagreement among “professionals” makes things, well, complicated. The good news is, good pregnancy diet doesn't have to be tough – and the best news is a proven, healthy prenatal […] The post BBL 019: Pregnancy Diet...

Despite vain attempts to fortify baby cereals with the nutrients babies need, they're essentially just empty fillers… they sit in your baby's stomach like a brick. Dr. Alan Greene has even started a “White Out” campaign to get these empty white foods out of your baby and toddler's diets! I cover the “why's” (including the […] The post BBL 018: Why You Should Ski...