Birth of a Mama: a Birth and Postpartum Podcast

Today we dive deep into the transformational journey of motherhood with the radiant Shalin Butterworth, a mom of two, birth & postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and mentor extraordinaire. Shalin opens up about her two unique birth experiences, the importance of embracing support prenatally and in postpartum, and the enchanting chaos of motherhood. She reminds us it's okay to say "...

In today's episode, 25-year-old Kerynn opens up about the rollercoaster of motherhood, from the initial challenges with breastfeeding and overwhelming early newborn days to her return to the hustle and bustle of work and school just months after giving birth. Expect to be inspired as we explore the contrasts between Kerynn's two birth experiences, her proactive mental health journey, and h...

In today's episode, Chelsea Morris shares about her experience of becoming a mama and the subsequent need to advocate for your children. At the time of recording she was pregnant with her second (only a couple weeks out from her due date)! 00:00 Expectant mother shares honest reflections on motherhood. 06:17 Bradley method planned, but ended with c-section. 12:13 Resentful of husband due to fe...

In today’s episode, Jamie Toth, 26 year old mama of two, shares her experience of motherhood. Everything from not loving pregnancy and her two birth stories that were totally different in the way that she experienced them. Her first felt traumatic and her second felt like a dream. She shares about the amazing support from her grandma and the lack of support in the hospital for her choice of how sh...

In today's episode, second time mom Katie Wheaton shares her story. She was 8 years postpartum (from the birth of her first) at the time of recording. I was actually her doula and was AT the birth of her second baby, where she got to experience a redemptive and empowering birth.  She explains how she just woke up feeling like she had to be a mom one day when she was in high school. And how she...

In today's episode, first time mama Jackie Fox shares her story. She was about 1 year postpartum at the time of recording and very passionate about maternal health and postpartum care (same, girl!!) She and I share such similar perspectives on the transition into motherhood is highly underplayed in todays' world. She keeps it real in the episode and on her own platforms where she inspires...

In today’s episode I have health coach Amanda Ratkowski on the podcast. She’s a brand new mama to her baby girl living on mini farm land with her husband and their five animals. She shares about how her experience was the polar opposite of what she prepared for. She prepared for a birth center birth but went past 42 weeks and was induced in the hospital, labored for days, and ended up needing a C-...

In today's episode, Dawn tells of the birth of her two boys and her experience thereafter. I share her outlook and philosophy on the power of what it means to be a woman and I love how she shares about how motherhood is everything . She goes into some detail of her two birth experiences -- one birth center turned hospital birth with an epidural, and the second a birth center birth that ended u...

Today I have Debra Bauman on the podcast. She shares her very difficult and exhausting experience of having a baby from preconception on. Talking to her was so easygoing; it felt like I was chatting with my sister or a really close friend. She keeps it real by being open and forward about how dark postpartum can get when you’re isolated and alone with a newborn during a pandemic. She goes deep int...

In today’s episode I welcomed my long-time bestie, Bouchra Nafi-Krause, to the podcast. You'll feel our natural friendship chemistry throughout but also hear of so many insights into the common and often shared realities of motherhood. From things like feeling like you’ve prepared but realizing otherwise to having extreme worries and fears in postpartum and eventually making peace with things...

In today's episode I got to chat with Amy about her experience as a triathlete, birth doula, and mom of 5! She's had very positive pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences. As much as she loves being postpartum, she also knows that this chapter of having babies is finally closing for her. Talking with Amy was a joy and I hope you enjoy as much as I did! THINGS AMY SHARES: Loved being p...

Today on the podcast I have Lonnie on to share about becoming a new mom to her daughter Harper. She shares about how she would give birth over and over again before going through the fourth trimester, since she had such a smooth birth experience and not so much with PP. I could personally relate to many points in Lonnie’s story and I hope you gain some mama wisdom from listening! TOPICS LONNIE SHA...

Today on the podcast I chat with Stephanie about her birth and early postpartum experience with her wife and new son Maison. She shares everything from having a fairly positive emergency C-section experience to having to emotionally grieve over her past self after becoming a mom. She even shares about tackling her diabetes with simple nutrition interventions. It was lovely to talk to Stephanie abo...

Today on the podcast I chat with Krista, mama to her daughter Willow and psychotherapist that specializes in working with women, especially pre- and postnatally and those who are TTC. She’s also the host of the podcast Conversations on Well-being where she covers everything from wellness and relationships to motherhood and healing. Krista and I had very similar emotional and even physical experien...

Today on the podcast I spoke to Shannon Buhera and learned of her story becoming a mom and how it shifted her whole identity. She shares the birth experiences of her two children, both of which were nothing like what she really prepared for. We talk about everything from her totally loving being pregnant but having an intense fear of blood and hospitals to having a long C-section recovery due to i...

In today's episode I have Nicole Mineroff on the podcast. We became mom friends when I was living in Los Angeles and our littles played together. Today she shares the story of the birth of her daughter Hazel, as well as some of the struggles of being a new mom in the COVID era like being gaslit by care providers, formula shortage implications, and postpartum mood disorders. And so much more!!...

In today's episode, I have my cousin-in-law, Melissa, on the podcast. She shares about the overwhelming hospital birth of her son Teddy during peak COVID and how isolated (and grateful) her and her new family of three felt postpartum. TOPICS SHE TALKS ABOUT: Losing a close family member before birth Trying to breastfeed Switching to formula and why Having a postpartum plan that only accounted...

In todays episode I have Kate Blocker on the podcast. She’s mama to an almost 3 year old boy named Miles and a nutrition product co-worker of mine at BODi. Her story and the conversation we have is overflowing with tiny new-mom 'wisdoms' that I know you’re going to love. We talk about everything from planning for postpartum through a focus on fitness and nutrition during pregnancy and what...

In this episode I have Nicole on the podcast to share the story of the birth of her daughter Ava, and the birth of herself as a naturally anxious female with ADHD. This free flowing convo was fun to have and sheds light on many important and sometimes concerning things that commonly happen in motherhood (but that, surprise, are rarely talked about). Some of the awesome topics we cover: Hospital bi...

So sad about the awful audio in this episode (mostly on my end) because it's SUCH a great conversation full of relatable nuggets. In this convo, single mama, birth doula, and future midwife Chloe Girot shares so authentically about her unconventional transition into motherhood after the birth of her son, Jack. Every minute of this chat was pure gold and so much of what she shares resonates wit...

In this episode I have a very special guest on the podcast (listen and you'll find out who she is)! We chat about her beautiful home birth experience brining her son Ezekiell into the world and the intense environmental circumstances they were succumbed to just days after. They got through it all and she's come out the 'other side' always remaining full of hope despite the obstacle...

In this episode, I have such an easy and open conversation with Audrina about the quick birth of her daughter Ava and all the ups and downs thereafter. I love how Audrina brings up the trade-off moments of motherhood, from the really difficult moments to the ones that make it all worth it. Some of the wonderful topics we touch on: Fetal ejection relfex Overnight help Jaundice Bottle preference ove...

In this episode, I have a deeply emotional and moving conversation with Megan, military mom of three kids, Audrey, Bradley, and Colby. She shares about all of her births in poetic detail: a super quick induction with epidural and two drastically different C-sections. We discuss everything from needing a flexible mindset and how that first newborn cry is magic, to the overwhelm of new motherhood an...

In the very first episode of BOAM, I talk with first time mom Nicole about her experience with the birth of her son Callum, and the scary realities of her life immediately postpartum. We touch on so many important things: Preeclampsia Postnatal hypertension Mom guilt Breastfeeding / pumping difficulties Anxiety Appointments for baby right after birth Inadequate care for mama postpartum Dinner tabl...