Prepared for Parenthood

Summary In the second half of this interview, Dr. Özgür Bolat, Fulbright Scholar, education scientist, and author of The Reward Trap: Why Rewards Backfire and the Real Science of Motivating Kids, shares more helpful advice about how parents can foster genuine motivation in their children, spend more time connecting with them, and also keep their cool in the face of challenges. Keywords motivation,...

Summary In this episode, Dr. Özgür Bolat, Fulbright Scholar, education scientist, and author of The Reward Trap: Why Rewards Backfire and the Real Science of Motivating Kids , discusses the science behind rewards and intrinsic motivation, revealing how rewards can backfire and how parents can foster genuine motivation in children. Keywords motivation, rewards, parenting, intrinsic motivation, chil...

Summary In part two of this interview, Susanna Peace Lovell shares more about her journey supporting her daughter with disabilities, from navigating finding the right schools through the most important things she's learned about herself in her motherhood experience. The co-host of the Brave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving Parents, and a Connection Circle leader for We Ar...

Summary In part one of this interview, Susanna Peace Lovell shares her inspiring journey of motherhood, navigating complex diagnoses, building community, and finding joy and growth in supporting her daughter with disabilities. The co-host of the Brave Together Podcast: Support and Community for Caregiving Parents, and a Connection Circle leader for We Are Brave Together, a supportive community for...

Summary In part 2 of this interview, Dr. Stephanie Dueger speaks with lactation expert Ana Grantham who shares her insights on other common breastfeeding concerns, such as questions around increasing milk supply, how to protect and heal skin on the breast, attachment and bonding, and introducing a bottle. Keywords breastfeeding, lactation, milk supply, bottle feeding, paced feeding, milk supply, p...

Summary In part 1 of this episode, Dr. Stephanie Dueger speaks with lactation expert Ana Grantham who shares her insights on common breastfeeding issues like clogged ducts and mastitis, triple feeding, bottle introduction, pacing feeds, and NICU transitions. Ana offers compassionate, evidence-based advice for families navigating pressure, pain, and uncertainty. Keywords breastfeeding, lactation, c...

Summary In part two of this episode, guest Cherionna Menzam Sills explores how our earliest experiences—beginning before birth—can shape our relationships, attachment patterns, sense of safety, and lifelong potential. Cherionna shares her groundbreaking embryological perspective on human development, explaining how key prenatal milestones such as implantation, connection, and early development may...

Summary In this episode of Prepared for Parenthood , Dr. Stephanie Dueger speaks with internationally respected prenatal and perinatal psychology educator and author Cherionna Menzam Sills about the concept of the “prenatal shadow” — the ways experiences in utero, during birth, and in the earliest postpartum moments can leave lasting implicit imprints on our nervous systems, emotions, relationship...

Summary In part two of this interview, Dr. Jay Warren shares how chiropractic care can help during pregnancy to ease discomfort and help make the birth process smoother for parent and baby. He also discusses how postpartum chiropractic care can help mom recover faster and baby find more ease with breastfeeding and challenges with fussiness. Keywords Prenatal chiropractic care, postpartum chiroprac...

Summary In this engaging conversation, Dr. Jay Warren shares insights on fatherhood and supporting new parents through practical advice and personal stories. Discover how intuition, skills, and slowing down can transform the parenting experience. Keywords fatherhood, new parents, parenting tips, intuition, skills, postpartum recovery, baby care, mental health, family bonding Takeaways ~Most new da...

Summary In part two of this interview, Dr. Stephanie Dueger and Dr. Susan Highsmith both share personal stories about their own pregnancies and circumstances surrounding them. Dr. Highsmith discusses why and how important reading to babies and providing attention to them is in the NICU. She also shares how research demonstrates the lifelong, and sometimes extraordinary, impacts that early interven...

Summary Discover how early communication, specifically reading to babies while still in the womb, can shape their development, consciousness, andfuture. Dr. Susan Highsmith shares insights from her extensive research and writings on prenatal psychology, birth consciousness, and the importance of nurturing connection from conception onward. This episode explores the profound impact of thoughts, fee...

Summary Perinatal mood disorders (PMADs) are common, varied, and treatable with the right support. Here we discuss the different PMADs, their symptoms, potential contributing factors, and treatment options. Our hope is to give you an overview of what to look for, in an effort to help more expectant and new parents get the support they need so that that the whole family can thrive. Keywords perinat...

Keywords motherhood, postpartum, working moms, maternal health, parenting challenges, women's health, maternity leave, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, relationships, motherhood experience, postpartum, mental health, paternity leave, postpartum depression, parenting, motherhood, support, community Summary In part two of this conversation, Katie O'Toole shares her own experience o...

Keywords postpartum rage, postpartum mental health, postpartum mood disorders, hormonal changes after birth, hormone sensitivity in women, maternal mental health, emotional changes after having a baby Summary In this episode, we talk about postpartum rage as a real, distressing, and often underrecognized part of postpartum mental health. We explore what current research says about the dramatic hor...

Keywords motherhood, postpartum depression, working moms, parenting challenges, maternal health, communication in relationships, modern motherhood, support systems, mental health, parenting advice Summary In this conversation, mother and author, Katie O'Toole shares her experiences as a working mother and the challenges she faced during pregnancy and postpartum. She discusses her research for...

Welcome to Season 3 of Prepared for Parenthood!

Keywords parenting, newborn care, postpartum, emergency medicine, breastfeeding, sleep training, parental advice, baby health, parenting myths, Dr. Kailey Buller Summary In this episode of Prepared for Parenthood, Dr. Kailey Buller, a double-board-certified physician in emergency and family medicine, shares her insights on postpartum and newborn care. She discusses common parental concerns, the im...

Keywords parenthood, parenting, relationship expert, couplehood, mental health, support systems, emotional growth, nesting, bonding, preparation for parenthood Summary In part two of this conversation, Dr. Stephanie Dueger speaks with Australian parenthood and relationship expert, bestselling author, and founder of Becoming Us, the whole-family approach to parenthood, Elly Taylor. Elly shares how...

Keywords parenthood, parenting, relationship expert, couplehood, mental health, support systems, emotional growth, nesting, bonding, preparation for parenthood Summary In this conversation, Dr. Stephanie Dueger speaks with Australian parenthood and relationship expert, bestselling author, and founder of Becoming Us, the whole-family approach to parenthood, Elly Taylor. Elly shares the critical dis...

Keywords mindfulness, birth education, non-attachment, prenatal psychology, parenting, birth trauma, holistic health, intelligent birthing, maternal health, emotional well-being Summary In part two of this interview with Holly Lammer, a registered nurse with over 25 years of experience in obstetric nursing, Holly sharesher insights on how mindful birthing and early repair can be healing for both t...

Keywords mindfulness, birth education, non-attachment, prenatal psychology, parenting, birth trauma, holistic health, intelligent birthing, maternal health, emotional well-being Summary In part one of this episode of Prepared for Parenthood, Holly Lammer, a registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in obstetric nursing, shares her insights on mindful birthing and the importance of non...

Keywords music education, early childhood, neuroplasticity, child development, Mini Maestros, parenting tips, sensory sensitivity, brain development, musical learning, online music classes Summary In this episode of Prepared for Parenthood, Dr. Stephanie Dueger speaks with Esther Bertram, Chief Marketing Officer at Mini Maestros, about the importance of music education for children under the age o...

Keywords pelvic health, postpartum care, birth healing, pregnancy issues, pelvic floor therapy, C-section recovery, pain during sex, C-sectionscar, labor preparation, women's health, physical therapy Summary In this episode of Prepared for Parenthood, part two of a two-part series, we interview Lynn Schulte, a pelvic health physical therapist, who discusses the importance of supporting the pel...

Keywords pelvic health, postpartum care, birth healing, pregnancy issues, pelvic floor therapy, baby positioning, labor preparation, women's health, physical therapy Summary In this episode of Prepared for Parenthood, part one of a two-part series, we interview Lynn Schulte, a pelvic health physical therapist, who discusses the importance of pelvic health during pregnancy and in the postpartum...