Instinctual Motherhood

Instinctual Motherhood Podcast

Kids EN ↓ 28 episodes

Instinctual Motherhood is the podcast that celebrates the beautiful, messy, imperfect, and ever-evolving journey of motherhood. Hosted by Jordyn Riegel, a birth and motherhood educator (and mom & stepmom to three boys!), this show is your go-to space for real, relatable conversations that empower you to trust your instincts and embrace the motherhood path that feels right for you. Whether you’re preparing for birth, navigating newborn life, or figuring out the balance of mom life at any stage, you’ll find encouragement, expert insights, and unfiltered stories that remind you: there’s no “right...

Author

Instinctual Motherhood

Category

Kids

Latest episode

Nov 3, 2025

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Episodes

Stop Putting Yourself Last This Holiday Season 03.11.2025

This week, we’re talking about something that every mom needs to hear — especially during the holidays: stop putting yourself last. Between the travel, the traditions, and the endless to-do lists, it’s easy to lose yourself in making everything perfect for everyone else. But what if this year looked different? What if you started your day doing something for you first — before answering to everyon...

Do I Really Need a Doula? Birth Support, Informed Consent & Advocacy with HeHe Stewart 22.09.2025

Assumptive language robs women of autonomy. True informed consent gives it back. This conversation with HeHe Stewart, doula and childbirth educator, dives into how to recognize coercion in both prenatal appointments and the birth room, why doulas are critical for first-time moms (and their partners), and the exact scripts you can use to pause, decline, or request. If you’ve ever wondered whether y...

From Toddlers to Teens: My Current Season of Motherhood 15.09.2025

Motherhood isn’t color-coded planners and spotless houses. It’s meltdowns over the wrong snack, potty training struggles, and teenagers rolling their eyes like you’re the least cool person alive. And yet, it’s also bedtime milestones that leave you both proud and teary, little voices learning new words, and kids who are slowly becoming best friends. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the mic a...

If You’ve Perfected Your Baby Registry, It’s Time to Plan Your Birth 08.09.2025

You’ve probably spent hours researching strollers, car seats, and swaddles for your registry… but what about your birth plan? In this episode of Instinctual Motherhood, I’m sharing what I wish I had known before writing my first birth plan. From the mistake of “just going with the flow,” to why every mom needs a backup plan, how to define your non-negotiables, and the role your partner and doula c...

5 Things Missing From Most Birth Plans (and How to Fix Them) 03.09.2025

Most moms spend hours on their baby registry but only minutes on their birth plan—and it shows. The truth? Most birth plans are just checklists that leave out the pieces that matter most. In this episode of Instinctual Motherhood, I’m breaking down the 5 things missing from most birth plans—and how to add them in so you can walk into birth feeling prepared, supported, and empowered. From instincts...

Why Most Birth Plans Fail—And How to Create One That Honors Your Instincts 25.08.2025

Birth isn’t just “epidural in the hospital” or “unmedicated at home.” In reality, birth exists on a spectrum—and where you fall on that spectrum can shape the birth plan that feels safest and most instinctual for you. In this episode, Jordyn walks you through the five points on the spectrum of birth—from medical preferred to biological —and helps you reflect on where you naturally align. You’ll di...

The 5 Things I’d Beg My First-Time Postpartum Self to Do Differently 11.08.2025

If you're a soon-to-be or brand-new mom drowning in conflicting advice, this episode is for you. In this raw solo episode, I’m taking you back to my first postpartum experience—the one where I ignored all the “rest” rules, tried to bounce back too quickly, and believed I had to prove I could do it all. Spoiler: I regret it. Now, as a mom of two, I’m sharing the five things I’d beg my first-time po...

Biologically Normal Infant Sleep: What the Sleep Training Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know with Resting in Motherhood 04.08.2025

Tired of being told to “just sleep train” your baby? Let’s talk about what’s actually normal. In this conversation with Brittni from Resting in Motherhood, we’re busting myths about baby sleep, breaking down the science behind night wakings, and exposing how the sleep training industry profits from moms who feel broken. Brittni Mella Cepeda is a certified infant & toddler sleep specialist, mom...

The Secret to Motherhood Is Not Control: A Conversation on Surrender with Sadie Golden 21.07.2025

We’ve been sold the lie that control is the key to “doing motherhood right.” Perfect routines. Predictable naps. A clean house. Especially those of us who were over-achievers and chased perfection before motherhood.  But what if the secret isn’t more control… it’s finally letting go? In this honest, hilarious, and deeply relatable conversation, I sit down with Sadie Golden—mom of 3 and might I say...

What If the Problem Isn’t Breastfeeding—It’s Gluten and Dairy? 14.07.2025

You’re told your baby is just “colicky.” You’re told their reflux is “normal.” Maybe even that your breastmilk is the issue. But what if the real problem… is what you’re eating? In this episode, I share my personal story of discovering food sensitivities while breastfeeding—how dairy and gluten impacted both of my boys, the symptoms I couldn’t ignore, and how I made the decision to cut them out. I...

Co-Sleeping, Sex, and the Sleep Training Lie 30.06.2025

Is co-sleeping dangerous? Will it kill your sex life? And is sleep training really the only way to get some damn rest? Let’s break down the lies we’ve been sold. In this episode, I share: Why I swore I’d never co-sleep… and now I’ll never stop How my husband and I keep intimacy alive—even in different beds What most Western parents don’t realize about global co-sleeping And why the sleep training...

Flying with Two Kids on 24 Hours’ Notice: Chaos, Core Memories, and Stanley Cup Wins 23.06.2025

What kind of mom flies across the country with a toddler and a baby on less than 24 hours’ notice? Me. 🙋‍♀️ In this episode, I’m sharing the wild story of how I said YES to chaos, booked a last-minute trip to the Stanley Cup Final, and created one of our favorite family memories—tantrums, sleep deprivation, and all. If you've ever felt the tug between logic and your gut instinct in motherhood… th...

The Truth About Home Birth—From a Partner Who Wasn’t So Sure at First 16.06.2025

In this special episode of Instinctual Motherhood, I’m joined by my husband for a candid conversation about what it was really like supporting me through two home births—one as a first-time, unsure partner… and the second with a whole new level of confidence and trust. We’re sharing his honest thoughts from the moment I first brought up home birth during our pregnancy with Theodore, to what shifte...

Home Birth in 90 Minutes: My Fast, Fierce Second Birth Story 09.06.2025

This week, my baby Archer turns one—and to celebrate, I’m sharing his wild, beautiful home birth story. From contractions starting during a Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Final game, to laboring with my toddler awake, to birthing my second baby in just 90 minutes (with my midwife barely making it in time)—this birth was fast, intense, and deeply instinctual. As a second-time mom, I had learned so mu...

Slow Down, Mama: Your Summer Doesn’t Need a Packed Calendar to Be Magical 03.06.2025

Summer with young kids can feel like a chaotic sprint—playdates, activities, travel, and pressure to make every moment magical. In this episode, I’m sharing how to slow down and create a more intentional summer rhythm that protects your peace. Whether you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, or navigating toddler life, you’ll learn how to ditch the hustle and build a slower, more joyful season for your...

How to Find Your Way in Motherhood—Without Guilt, Shame, or Second-Guessing 19.05.2025

Are you tired of feeling like every decision you make as a mom is under a microscope? From birth and feeding to sleep and childcare, it seems like everyone has an opinion on what the “right” way is. But here’s the truth: there’s no one right way to mother—there’s your way. In this can't miss episode of Instinctual Motherhood, we’re cutting through the noise and dismantling the myth that you have t...

Unlearning the ‘Terrible Twos’: Seeing Your Toddler with New Eyes 05.05.2025

Tired of hearing “just wait for the terrible twos”? Same. In this episode, we’re breaking down toddler development, emotional regulation, and the real reason your two-year-old seems like a rollercoaster of feelings. You’ll walk away with empowering mindset shifts, practical tools for tough moments, and a whole new appreciation for this wildly important stage. Because two isn’t terrible—it’s transf...

Why I’m Not Worried About “Bad Habits” in Motherhood: Focusing on Connection Over Convenience 28.04.2025

Are you stressing about “bad habits” like rocking your baby to sleep, nursing them to sleep, co-sleeping, or not having a strict schedule? You’re not alone—and you’re not doing it wrong. In this episode of Instinctual Motherhood, I’m breaking down where the fear around these so-called "bad habits" comes from and why I let it go completely. Motherhood isn’t about forcing independence or following a...

Breastmilk vs. Formula: The Spectrum of Infant Feeding Options 21.04.2025

The statement "Fed is Best" is doing moms a huge disservice. In today's episode, we dive deep into the truth behind infant feeding—beyond the oversimplified “Fed is Best” narrative. Jordyn explores the full spectrum of feeding options, from exclusive breastfeeding to formula feeding and everything in between, including pumping, combo feeding, and donor milk. You’ll learn what makes breastmilk biol...

How to Survive 2 Babies Under 2: My Honest Experience 14.04.2025

The Real Talk on Juggling Two Very Young Babies and What I’d Do Differently Two babies. One tired mama. Zero sugarcoating. In this episode, I’m sharing what it’s really like to have two kids under two—from the chaos of survival mode to the sweet moments that make it all worth it. I’m breaking down what I’d do differently, how I managed (barely), and why you should take the help, wear the baby, and...

Why Every First-Time Mom Needs a Doula 07.04.2025

What if you could have someone on your birth team who’s been there, knows how to guide you and your partner through labor, and helps you stay grounded in your birth plan when it matters most? Enter: the doula. In today’s episode of Instinctual Motherhood, we’re diving into why hiring a doula is one of the smartest decisions a first-time mom can make. Whether you’re planning a home birth, birth cen...

When Your Village Isn’t There: Navigating Motherhood Without the Support You Expected 31.03.2025

So many moms feel this but don’t say it out loud: postpartum can be lonely. When the friends you thought would check in don’t, when no one shows up with meals, when you feel like you have to beg people to come meet your baby—it’s heartbreaking. Today, we’re normalizing this experience, unpacking why it happens, and giving you tangible steps to build the village and support system you deserve. Beca...

Theodore’s Home Birth Story: An Unforgettable First Birth Experience 24.03.2025

I had my first baby at home. No hospital, no epidural, just me, my instincts, and one wild ride into motherhood. This is Theodore’s birth story—the real, raw, unfiltered version. I’m talking about: Finding out I was pregnant while drinking a margarita The intensity of back labor with a baby that had a nuchal hand (hello the worst back pain of my life) Giving birth en caul (this means my water didn...

The Gender Reveal No One Talks About: Grief, Guilt & Growth 17.03.2025

Gender reveals are exciting, but what if the result isn’t what you expected? In this episode of Instinctual Motherhood, I open up about my own experience with gender disappointment—the grief, guilt, and growth that followed. If you’ve ever felt conflicted about your baby’s gender, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about the emotions no one prepares us for and how to find peace in your journey.

Building Your Dream Birth Team : Who You Need and Who to Ditch 10.03.2025

Your birth team can make or break your experience—so how do you choose the right support? In this episode, we cover how to build a team that aligns with your vision, from choosing an OB or midwife to doulas, birth photographers, and setting boundaries. Plus, I’m sharing must-ask questions and my own experiences to help you feel confident. Grab my free Birth Plan Research Guide to get started plann...

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