Sage Motherhood

I am a firm believer that we all have trustworthy intuition. You might be more or less skilled at using and trusting your intuition. I believe it's some part gift and some part skill. In this episode, I share some working definitions of intuition different ways intuitive information comes in to your awareness several stories of my journey with trusting and following my intuition practical advice f...

If you are someone who is pumping, nursing and your baby is getting a bit older, they are likely going longer stretches of sleep at night.    That first night baby sleeps longer, and so do you. . .is  glorious   Consistently missing that feeding time or pumping time will cause most people to lower the milk supply.    Dive into the info on maintaining milk supply and navigating your unique path.  ...

Prenatal Nutrition isn't about fat or calories.   It's about balanced blood sugar, macronutrients, fiber and micronutrients necessary for fetal development and reducing maternal risks.   Learn more about reducing these risks in The Secrets of Healthy Pregnancy Birth & Postpartum . This is a free three part on-demand video series to help you optimize fetal development, reduce birth and pregnancy ri...

The Doors Open Soon for Sage Mama Maternity! Be the first to know when the doors open, get exclusive bonuses and discounts by joining me in The Secrets of Healthy Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum. It's free and going to give you information that you likely don't know about how to reduce risks for you in pregnancy and birth, improve fetal development and support your postpartum mood. It's free, but...

Obstetricians aren't the only option, in fact they aren't even the best option for all women.    In this episode we talk about  Different care providers, education, certification and practices Different models of care Summary of a Cochrane Review on different Care Models 10 Questions to Ask Yourself as you choose your provider.   Join the waitlist! Doors Open in November for Sage Mama Maternity To...

First Trimester Ultrasounds are Iconic.   It's exciting, maybe nerve-wracking depending on your history, they can be really helpful tools and in some cases harmful.   In this episode we'll talk about  the best timing of a first trimester ultrasound,  what your practitioner is looking for  what you're looking at if you get to see the screen and  different indications for use.       Join the Worksho...

It's the first question everyone has for you, "When is Your Due Date"? Pregnancy is 40 weeks, right? Maybe your partner is confused that you are 4 weeks pregnant on the day you missed your period. What if your periods are irregular?  Let's talk about all things Due Dates   You can purchase the products I mentioned at this link Vitamins  Be sure to use coupon code  SHAREYL  for 10% off your first o...

You're a go-getter, excited about you're suddenly hit by First Trimester Fatigue. In this episode we talk about the  Three Causes of First Trimester Fatigue Four Products to Help with First Trimester Fatigue Six Tips to Make First Trimester Fatigue more manageable You can purchase the products I mentioned at this link Prenatal Energy Boosters Be sure to use coupon code  SHAREYL for 10% off your fi...

There is so much data on the benefits of doula support in labor.  It truly is powerful .   However, even families who hire doulas miss out on the holistic long term benefits of doula support for the first, second, third and fourth trimester.    Navigating pregnancy and postpartum in our current system with only prenatal care is a major factor in increased birth risks.     It's disheartening as a d...

This is the primary mistake that I see expecting families make when seeking care and support for pregnancy and birth.  You can avoid this mistake when you understand what Evidence Based Care looks like, and as a result you'll improve your chances of personalized, safe care for you and baby.    Obstetric Care has practiced on women in the US for around 200 years and in that time we have learned tha...

Interview with former clients Devin and Katie   This episode is full of wisdom from first time parents Devin and Katie.  I was honored to be their newborn care specialist for five months.  Devin and Katie are an incredible couple who allowed me to serve them and guide them through common and not-as-comon challenges with a newborn including newborn sleep patterns oral tethers strong let-down reflex...

On this episdoe I am honored to interview Sheetal on her experience working with me as a Newborn Care Specialist. Sheetal experienced a pregnancy complicated by gestational hypertension, placental insufficiency, IUGR, a 6 week hospital stay, premature delivery and a NICU stay for her son. I had the honor of working with Sheetal, her husband, newborn son from the time he came home from the NICU thr...

Interview with my first client as a Newborn Care Specialist   Pilar is a mom of 5 who hired me to take care of her triplets for the first several months.    In this episode we talk about:    How every baby is different and every child is different. The challenges for older children welcoming new babies. Why sleep training wasn't for Pilar. Creating helpful rhythms. How things are different with mu...

Top tips for holidays and travel, as these are major temporary upheavals to routines. Make sure you're on the the waitlist for my new program for working moms...the doors are opening soon.  Link to TSA information Link to La Leche League information for storing milk during travel Link to La Leche League Safe Sleep 7    

The doors are opening in December to my new program for working, expecting moms.  Get on the waitlist NOW so that you are first to know all the details.  A a member of the waitlist, you'll not only get exclusive bonuses you also get a once-in-a-lifetime discount! Head to www.stefaniemelo.com/waitlist   In Episode 30 Annie Roo, wraparound doula, and I discuss the most common myths we encounter with...

Cloth Diapering isn't as complicated as you might think it is. It's also not as gross as you might imagine. Learn in this episode  3 Major Motivations for Cloth Diapering 3 Main Styles of Cloth Diapers How to Wash Cloth Diapers What to do about Diaper Rash How to Handle Hard Water What other accessories you need for cloth diapers Make sure you head to the episode notes on my website for all my fav...

In this episode, I talk about the importance of responding to baby's cues in terms of Biological development Fostering secure attachment Cultivating mental well-being We also discuss the importance of being aware of your own attachment styles and emotional triggers.  You can learn more about attachment styles from Robyn Gobbel A human baby's design is GOOD and its capacity for adaptation is incred...

I recently attended a birth that was vastly longer than any other I supported.  Throughout the 57 hours of support I offered to mom; I observed, remembered and learned important lessons that I think can help an expecting a parent. In this episode I talk about: The value of well-rounded childbirth education. Ways a doula can make for a positive birth experience. The value of rest in early labor. Wh...

In this episode you'll get to hear from Ashley Goddard, the Yogi Birth Doula.   We discuss how yoga saved her life when she discovered it decades ago.  How yoga supported not only her pregnancy, but also her birth and postpartum.     We discuss the myths and realities of the pelvic floor and how yoga can support pelvic floor health.    Ashley shares tips on getting started with yoga even if you're...

In this episode, I share with you all about working with a Newborn Care Specialist is like.  From what a NCS is trained in, what our our role is, what types of tasks we do.   I also dive into what it's like choosing an NCS and why this is such an incredible resource for families. I also talk about the difference between a Night Nanny and Newborn Care Specialist. What an NCS does for baby, for mom,...

"I was completely unprepared, blind to the other birth that was happening; the birth of myself as a mother." - Kimberly Ann Johnson In this episode we discuss the time, energy and financial investment that goes into preparing for the birth of your baby, but generally little attention, time and investment is given to support the (re)birth of the expectant woman as a mother. This episode is full of...

Let's talk about the pressures of society that make moms think they need to start fresh with eating, exercise, habit and self discipline goals just because it's January. This Episode is brought to you by Sage Motherhood Mentorship Instead of looking at the Gregorian calendar to determine where our intentions and energy go, instead let's look at the ebbs and flows reflected in the seasons, lunar cy...

DHA is a crucial nutrient for pregnancy health, infant brain development, maternal mental health and reducing the risk of preterm birth.   DHA is easily obtained by consuming 2-3 servings per week of cold-water, fatty fish.     Vegan, Vegetarian and Low-seafood diets are ineffective to provide mom and baby with enough DHA for optimal fetal and maternal health.     One of the best things you can do...

You're Pregnant!  Now What?   In Episode 21, I've got five first-trimester tips to help set you on a path of evidence-based wholistic prenatal care.   In this episode we talk about making peace with your emotions during pregnancy, and my favorite tool for supporting emotional well-being in motherhoood Guided Journals   We discuss the importance or prenatal nutrition and I share my favorite multivi...

In this episode I share 20 things I am grateful for as a Sage Mama   Episode 9 with Shannon Smith The Road Not Taken Masterclass Lactation Support Infant Massage Postpartum Planning Sage Motherhood Mentorship Head over to the episode page for a list of the many resources I mentioned in the episode: Episode 20