STRONG MAMA PODCAST - Health and fitness for a stronger pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery

Does pregnancy exercise feel overwhelming to you? Are you unsure what TO DO, and therefore you’re not doing anything? Or maybe you’re just winging it but know you could be more intentional. Whatever the case, I’m here to give you some clarity! In this episode, I outline the 4 pillars of exercise I recommend including in your routine if you want to prepare your body for a more comfortable, strong,...

Time for some myth busting! I have been in the prenatal fitness space for over 5 years now and, just when I think these myths are on their way out, I find out they still exist. Providers and people in general are still sharing poor, outdated advice and many people just trust it… but it’s not evidence-based. As a result this causes fear that can hold many women back from truly serving and supportin...

A common instinct in pregnancy and birth is to trust anything our provider says we should do, with little extra thought. However, while there are MANY trustworthy providers, not all advice or practice is evidence-based — which is why it’s important to be educated and comfortable advocating for yourself in order to have the pregnancy and birth experience you desire (and deserve!). Our guest today,...

It’s inevitable that you’ll have some guilt about your choices as a mom whether it’s about the choice to work vs homeschool, the feeding method you choose for your child, or taking time for your own self care. In this day and age of being bombarded with media and information, guilt can be a common underlying feeling. And guilt often informs our thoughts and behavior patterns. In this episode Alexi...

If you had a cesarean delivery with a previous birth, you will be faced with the decision to schedule a repeat c-section or try for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) in a subsequent birth. This can be a tough decision for many moms, and one I've been faced with as well. Enter, this episode! Today, I welcome on a guest, and fellow pre/postnatal fitness specialist, who has had a successful V...

A lot goes into preparing for a new baby in your life! And often, some of the most important things get overlooked… like preparing your mind and relationship for the transition. Today we get a chance to dive into this topic with Jess Hull, founder of The Mother Me Method — a support framework for successful women who want to do more than just survive their postpartum. We’ll talk about the unspoken...

Dealing with pregnancy nausea? Want actionable ways to manage it and feel better? This is THE episode for you. Kaslyn Rezac, a prenatal Registered Dietitian, joins me to fully dive into this topic. Kaslyn shares why nausea happens and for how long, things that don't work to manage nausea, and realistic strategies that DO work. This episode is super actionable and I know that even applying some...

If you feel like your motivation to exercise is low in this season of life, you are not alone, my friend. Reality is, many variables are at play demanding us in different directions, that can really make it hard to get (and stay) motivated. We are diving into all things motivation in this episode including what to strive for if motivation is not there, common causes of low motivation, and actionab...

So you want to return to exercise postpartum, but you also want to keep your milk supply strong for your baby? We got you! In this episode I dispel a common myth about how exercise affects milk supply while giving you plenty of tangible tips on how to ensure your milk supply doesn’t change, along with the logistics of feeding around your workouts and staying comfortable during them. I also share s...

Thinking about having a natural, unmedicated delivery? Perhaps you're nervous about it and knowing more would help you make the best decision for you? Either way, this episode is for you. I'm speaking with Hilary Valentine, a holistic perinatal women's health coach, pelvic floor therapist, and doula. We talk about everything from the risks and benefits of natural birth all the way to t...

Help me celebrate 100 episodes with a $100 GIVEAWAY and a Q&A episode loaded with hot topics and questions directly from you! Giveaway details can be found below. Join me as I answer the following: Are there any preconception recommended exercises? How can working out in pregnancy help first time moms? What should be my focus for building strength in pregnancy? Can I start strength training ev...

People LOVE to comment on pregnant and postpartum people's bodies for some reason. And these (often well-meaning) comments can sometimes rub you the wrong way or make you self-conscious. In this episode, I'll walk you through how I personally separate from these comments so they don't sink too deep. I encourage you to do this mindset exercise as well! Links and Resources: [FREE GUIDE]...

If you’re a mom and you’re on social media, chances are that you’ve seen a celebrity post “perfect-looking” pictures of themselves 1 month after having a baby. Meanwhile, you have dirty hair and spit-up on the shirt you’ve been wearing for 2 days and still wearing maternity sweats. The idea that we need to bounce back after baby is known as ‘bounce back culture.' It's everywhere, and it ca...

Disclaimer: this is not a "lose the pooch" episode. But, having seen questions about it come up in my community more lately, I wanted to shed some light on this topic from a functional perspective to unveil what could truly be going on with your postpartum core. At the end of the day, you do not need "fixing" and whether or not you have this appearance has no impact on your wor...

Fun times ahead as we prepare to add a third baby to our crew later this year! I share how things are going in the pregnancy, baby's gender, my thoughts on transitioning from 2-3 kids, and 3 things I'm prioritizing in my health and fitness this time around. Thanks for sharing in our excitement and listening to my story :) Links and Resources: [FREE GUIDE] ⁠Pregnancy Exercise Modifications...

Stretch marks, itchy belly, hemorrhoids, oh my. We're diving into all things skincare in this episode! Kyra Venable, mom of 2 and Founder of Lavender Meadows Co, shares about the most common pregnancy and postpartum skin concerns and how to combat them with natural skincare. She also tells us some popular products and ingredients that we should be avoiding while pregnant and breastfeeding. I l...

To kegel or not to kegel? Many of us have received mixed messages on the topic of doing kegels for pelvic floor strength. And, to be honest, the answer is not one-size-fits-all. But one thing is TRUE for everyone listening: you need to be supporting your pelvic floor. In this episode I share the downfalls of kegels, who should (and shouldn't) be doing them, along with 3 things your pelvic floo...

Summer can be so fun, yet SO busy! But, let's face it, we're not 18 anymore and pregnancy and postpartum are demanding on the body. We can't "afford" to take several months off of movement. We also can't expect the same of ourselves as we do in lighter seasons. In this episode I share my framework that will help you create a purposeful summer workout routine that you can...

Body change can bring up a lot of thoughts and emotions. As your body transforms through pregnancy and postpartum, it can often be uncharted territory, not to mention overwhelming. Join me and special guest, Laura Lindahl of True Strength Collective, as we unravel body image in this special season of life so you can focus on supporting your body. Laura is a Certified Exercise Physiologist and Pre/...

In this episode I'm answering questions that I've received recently from my clients as well as Instagram community related to pregnancy. It's easy to not ask a question because it feels silly, like you should already know the answer, or perhaps you didn't even think to ask it! I know that at least one of these questions has been on your mind lately. We cover topics like fatigue, pr...

This is a special community episode where 5 women and I share what we WISH we knew about c-sections prior to having our own. In my experience and many others, a cesarean delivery and recovery can really catch us off guard and we often aren't prepared for it. This episode is geared for the mom who is planning a c-section, recovering from one, or just wants to be prepared for anything. I hope yo...

If you’re preparing for childbirth in the near future, this episode is a must-listen! I’m chatting with Childbirth Attorney, Author and Mom of 3, Gina Mundy. Gina has specialized in examining childbirth cases for over 2 decades. Gina wrote her book to help expecting parents become informed and prepared for the safest delivery possible. Trust me, she does not withhold information from us in this ep...

If you've ever been curious on what types of exercise are good to do at certain points in pregnancy, this is for you! In this episode, I'll walk you through the 3 phases of fitness I recommend on your prenatal journey. Having this flexible structure in place will ensure that you're supporting your body best through all the changes! Links and Resources: [FREE GUIDE] ⁠Pregnancy Exercise...

Oh the things I wish I knew at the beginning of my first pregnancy! This episode is a little flashback to almost 5 years ago when I started my prenatal fitness journey and some things I would do differently. But, you really don't know what you don't know. And, the truth is, all of these inspired the work I do today as a Pre and Postnatal Fitness Coach. Join me as I share some different min...

Today we are talking all about your cycle and, more specifically, eating to optimize your cycle and get pregnant. Nutrition plays a HUGE role in your ovulation and how you feel at each phase of your cycle. And, because this is something that I’ve wanted to learn more about for a very long time, I’ve brought on a special guest who knows this topic inside and out. I’m joined by Nora DeBora, who is a...