Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat

We hear a lot about self-care during pregnancy, but what about pelvic floor care? This month, we have Mary Sadler on the podcast. Mary has her doctorate in Physical Therapy and works as a pelvic floor therapist in Winston-Salem, NC. Mary talks kegels, strength training, and what your pelvic floor muscles go through during pregnancy, birth and postpartum on Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat. 0:39 - Ma...

Jessica Hatton, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and owner of Christian Mom Counseling, and host Chloe Belk discuss mental health in motherhood, the loneliness epidemic, and healthy relationships.  00:00 - Podcast Starts 00:44  - Jessica's Introduction 04:24 - How Loneliness Plays a Role in Jessica's Counseling Experiences 06:49 - How can women process loneliness and the emotions surrounding an un...

Nurse Lauren is back on the podcast to discuss the abortion pill. The abortion pill is widely available online, so it's crucial to understand the impact of the drugs before taking them. Tune in to hear what the abortion pill does, what to expect if you're considering taking it, and an RN's advice for women considering the abortion pill.    1:03 - Why is the abortion pill the most common type of ab...

This month we have Halle Brickhouse on the podcast. Halle is a mom to one year old and a nursing student. Tune in for all things pregnancy and parenting in college. From prenatal appointments to childcare to pumping, Halle has navigated through all of these things with so much grace while in school. You'll be encouraged and informed through her experience as a student mom. Disclaimer: Funding to t...

This month on  Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat , join host Chloe Belk and author Leah Outten as she shares her story of open adoption from the birth mother's point of view. Leah is the author of The Sixteenth Year, a birth mother in a fully open adoption, and a mother of five whom she parents with her husband. She is a speaker and passionate advocate in the adoption community. Leah shares her story...

Holly Chandler is on staff at The Pregnancy Network and a great friend of Chloe, host of Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat. Join Holly and Chloe as they discuss their breastfeeding journeys, the difficulties they faced, and how to process your breastfeeding journey not going as planned. 00:42: Holly's Introduction 1:27: Holly's Journey with Breastfeeding Both of Her Kids 20:32: Emotions Surrounding B...

Amanda Somers joins host Chloe Belk to discuss the ins and outs of newborn care. Amanda is a faithful volunteer at The Pregnancy Network for our Pregnancy 101 class. Tune in as she tackles topics like must-have baby items, infant illness, car seat safety, and more. In a hurry? Skip to the section that's most relevant to you. 0:30: Amanda's Introduction 1:35: How to Prepare Before Baby Comes 4:08:...

Join host Chloe for a solo episode all about the positive "just wait" experiences of motherhood. It's no secret that new moms get a lot of unsolicited advice, and unfortunately, a lot of it leans negatively. We want to change that. Tune in as Chloe lists and explains some of the best experiences you have to look forward to on your motherhood journey, from one mom to another. Resources Mentioned: L...

Lauren Myers is a NICU nurse and staff nurse at The Pregnancy Network. A Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat veteran, she joins host Chloe Belk to share her story with pregnancy and postpartum mental health. Tune in as she shares her experience with prenatal OCD, seeking healing through counseling and medication, encouragement for parents with babies in the NICU, and more. 00:30: Lauren's Introduction...

Kyndle Connell joins host Chloe Belk to discuss "What to Expect When You're Postpartum". Kyndle is a mother-baby nurse and a faithful volunteer at The Pregnancy Network.  Tune in as she tackles topics like what to expect directly after giving birth, what the hospital provides for postpartum recovery, common misconceptions about postpartum, underutilized resources, and more. 00:41: Kyndle's Introdu...

Sarah Dove is the Executive Director of Arms of Grace Pregnancy Resource Center in Burlington. She shares her inspiring story of finding healing after experiencing unplanned pregnancies and abortion. Her recovery journey set her on a path to serve others and make an impact through volunteering, and later found a new pregnancy resource center she now leads in Burlington, NC.  Sarah encourages that...

In this episode of Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat, we're diving into the essential do's and don'ts of pregnancy to help you navigate this exciting journey with confidence. We'll break down important steps like taking prenatal vitamins, eating protein-rich meals, staying active, and getting enough rest, as well as the importance of finding the right prenatal care. We'll also cover key things to avo...

We spoke with registered nurse and lactation consultant, MaryAnn, about breastfeeding. Did you know breastfeeding provides a long list of benefits for both mom and baby? Just a few benefits for babies are:  Reduced chance of childhood obesity Reduces risk of childhood cancer Building a healthy immune system For mom: Reduces the risk of uterine and breast cancers Helps mom get back to her pre-pregn...

The  Her Story Project  offers a place of inclusion and solidarity among women who have walked through an unplanned pregnancy. Sometimes when we go through tough times in our lives, it's easy to feel isolated. The Her Story Project is one avenue to remind women that they are not alone.  Kari came to The Pregnancy Network unsure about her future and her next steps, but found, "Hope for me, for the...

Lauren Myers is a licensed registered nurse on staff at The Pregnancy Network and has experience specializing as a NICU nurse. She joins host Emily Greene to share her expertise, encouragement, and what women need to know about navigating the first trimester of pregnancy. In a hurry? Skip to the section that's most relevant to you. 00:00: Podcast Starts 00:33: Lauren's Intro 03:50: When is the Fir...

The Her Story Project is a safe space to share stories and create solidarity among women who have walked through an unplanned pregnancy. At The Pregnancy Network, one of the most common things we hear from women is that they feel alone. But nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned—that means no woman walking this path is truly alone. You may have chosen to parent, had an abortion, made an adop...

Hannah Booker is a staff Registered Nurse at The Pregnancy Network. She's been with us for four years and previously worked as a labor and delivery nurse. This month, she joins host Chloe Belk on Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat to discuss Preparing for Your Hospital Birth.  Hannah's compassion for women and desire to serve translates into her passion for nursing. With her experience working in labo...

Olivia Charnetzky is the Case Manager and Client Services Coordinator at The Pregnancy Network. She's been with us for two years and recently piloted our case management services. This month, she joins host Chloe Belk on Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat to discuss Navigating Community Resource Together. Olivia's passion for serving women translates into providing practical resources and support. She...

Leslie Wright first came to The Pregnancy Network during her pregnancy. Today she serves as a volunteer, teaching our free classes. This month, she joins host Chloe Belk on Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat to discuss Becoming Empowered in Your Parenting. Because she's been on both sides of our services, she has a unique and invaluable perspective on what it means to be empowered for your pregnancy a...

Beth Appiah joins host Chloe Belk to discuss "Fertility Awareness Methods".  Beth is a Registered Nurse at The Pregnancy Network. She is currently working on her Family Nurse Practitioner degree and hopes to specialize in Women's Health. Whether you're curious about different methods of birth control or you're hoping to grow your family, fertility awareness is a powerful tool to help you know your...

Catherine Riley joins host Chloe Boyle to discuss "Pregnancy on the College Campus". Catherine is the lead author of Title IX and the Protection of Pregnant and Parenting College Students , is a former Part-Time Assistant Professor at Wake Forest University, and is the owner and consultant of Supportive Spaces Consulting, LLC .  Whether we realize it or not, pregnancy happens on every college camp...

Christie Smith is the Interim President and CEO of Acclaim Federal Credit Union and faithful volunteer and Peer Advocate at The Pregnancy Network. Discover how to shift your mindset, create an accurate budget, access practical resources to inform yourself on financial health, and be empowered in your finances in Christie's episode.   0:23 - Christie's Introduction   1:33 - The Biggest Challenge Wo...

Grace Johnson is a doula, lactation consultant, and faithful volunteer at The Pregnancy Network. Her empowering first birth experience inspired her to equip women to "have the birth they want". She received free services and information that eased her struggle with breastfeeding. She wanted to share that same support with other women, and now serves as a lactation consultant.   0:56 - Grace's Intr...

Ida Shaw has a background in nutrition and works with expectant and new mothers. Listen as Ida shares the nutritional basics for pregnancy and resources to access healthy foods.   0:43 Ida's Introduction 1:30 Ida's Preface to Our Conversation 3:43 What do people struggle with the most when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet? 5:29 Weight-gain Goals for Each Trimester 7:03 Nutritional Goals for...

Jessica Hatton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and owns her own practice, Christian Mom Counseling. Jessica provides professional counseling via virtual teletherapy for women located in the state of North Carolina.   0.44 - Jessica's Introduction 4.24 - How Loneliness Plays a Role in Jessica's Counseling Experiences 6.49 - How can women process through loneliness and the emotions surrounding...