Becoming Maternal

This week's guest is Lauren Johnson from Choose Joy Nursing. She is a newborn sleep strategist and a breastfeeding-friendly RN, BSN.  Cathie and Lauren talk about preparing for postpartum and how to take care of yourself during the postpartum season. 

https://www.choosejoynursing.com/
https://www.instagram.com/choosejoynursing/

https://www.tennesseereproductivetherapy.com/postpartumcourse
https://www.instagram.com/tennesseereproductivetherapy/

This week on the podcast with have Beth Anne Travis and Bethany Blake from Arkansas Pelvic Health. Bethany and Beth Anne are pelvic floor therapists in Arkansas who are passionate about spreading the word about pelvic floor health. We all know we have a pelvis but are we all taking care of our pelvis and living optimally with it? 

Join us for this weeks podcast to discuss how to pursue pelvic health during fertility, pregnancy and postpartum.

https://www.arkansaspelvichealth.com
https://www.instagram.com/dontkegelchronicles/

https://www.arkansasreproductivetherapy.com
https://www.instagram.com/arkansasreproductivetherapy/

https://www.tennesseereproductivetherapy.com
https://www.instagram.com/tennesseereproductivetherapy/

Andrea (she/her) has been fascinated by all things birth and babies since she was a small child. She began her doula career informally in 1999, and then became a full-time birth doula in 2015. She was motivated by the desire to support all pregnant people as they give birth where they feel most comfortable and safe, surrounded by skillful and compassionate support. Within the first few years of opening her solo practice, she had supported over 80 families as a birth doula, and taught over 100 families as a childbirth educator.

After becoming one of the busiest and most sought-after doulas & childbirth educators in Nashville, Andrea decided that she wanted to support even more families during this transformative time as well as mentor other doulas. She founded her agency, East Nashville Doulas LLC, in 2018 with the same passion to provide expert, evidence-based care & education to Nashville's families. Her agency embodies East Nashville's values--the progressive, community-oriented, inclusive, and diverse neighborhoods that draw so many to this side of the river. Because of these values, East Nashville Doulas is highly respected and recommended by the Nashville birth community, including the top OBs and midwifery practices in town.

East Nashville Doulas are also the trainers for the Vanderbilt Volunteer Doulas Program, a program that pairs student midwives and other graduate students with clients in need of a doula at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

When Andrea is not supporting & teaching expecting families or mentoring other doulas, you can find her walking her two dogs, Moses & Murray, reading a great book, knitting socks, crocheting a blanket, or going on a movie date with her wife, Rachel. 

https://eastnashvilledoula.com
https://www.instagram.com/eastnashvilledoulas/

Friends! Meet Karen Nixon. She is the Tennessee Director of Adoption Assistance (https://www.adoptionassistance.com/). If you need someone to point you in the direction of how to journey through adoption, look no further!

Karen is an adoptee as well as the mother to a daughter who came to her family through international adoption. She has worked in the field of adoption for over 13 years. Prior to her work in adoption, she worked in the school system as a behavior specialist and at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital as a counselor for children. 

She has always had a passion for helping children and is honored to get to do so by working in the field of adoption. 

This week, Kendra Cox, LMSW and Cathie Quillet, LMFT discuss the importance of tending to your mental health during infertility. There are a lot of mental health challenges that we face during infertility, especially during the holidays. Join us to find support, encouragement and tips for your mental health.

www.navigatinginfertility.com
IG @ navigatinginfertilitytogether

www.tennesseereproductivetherapy.com
IG @tennesseereproductivetherapy

www.arkansasreproductivetherapy.com
IG @arkansasreproductivetherapy

On this weeks podcast, Cathie Quillet, LMFT, discusses the weariness and hopelessness  that comes with infertility. Listen for suggestions and tips to help you overcome these in your own journey to pregnancy. 

www.navigatinginfertility.com
IG @ navigatinginfertilitytogether

www.tennesseereproductivetherapy.com
IG @tennesseereproductivetherapy

www.arkansasreproductivetherapy.com
IG @arkansasreproductivetherapy

"I've been through a lot of stuff, taken a lot of tests, been through a lot of stressful situations. This (infertility) was the most stressful situation I've ever been in in my life."
- Dr. Paul Brezina

Dr. Paul Brezina is a partner and Director of Reproductive Genetics at Fertility Associates of Memphis. He is board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility as well as Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He and his wife Jennifer have been married for 23 years. They struggled with infertility for nearly two years before having IVF twins in 2008. The Brezinas have called Memphis home since 2012.

In this weeks episode, they discuss their personal story through male factor infertility, IVF and their path to healing. 

https://www.fertilitymemphis.com
https://www.instagram.com/fertilitymemphis/

Meet Nicolle Fletcher! Nicolle is a powerhouse doula & midwife in Arkansas who we are proud to collaborate with. She is a force to be reckoned with, seeking to advocate for the maternal health crisis in Arkansas. 

If you are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant soon and considering a midwife or doula and don't know where to start, give this podcast a listen.

Nicolle Sherrie Fletcher is married to Dr. Phillip D. Fletcher and is the proud mother of adult children Nicollus, Najee and Nichelle. Nicolle is a native of San Diego, California and has been a resident of Conway, Arkansas since April 2007.

She is the owner of Nurturing Arrows Doula Coaching Services, a business dedicated to training doulas and providing full maternal education and support during the childbearing years. She is the co-founder, visionary, and executive director of Ujima Maternity Network, Inc. (UMN)  a 501 (c) 3 non-profit in Arkansas. The mission of UMN is to work collectively to reduce the gross maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rates amongst Black mothers in the state of Arkansas through community outreach events, ethnically congregant doula support, lactation support, local resources and midwifery care.

She seeks to address the maternal health crisis that plagues the birthing community namely Black mothers and provides solutions to empower instead of victimize our community. Nicolle has dedicated her life to the advancement of maternal healthcare and advocacy as an Certified Birth Doula for the past 14 years. Her professional portfolio includes becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor, Certified Health Coach, Regenerative Health Coach, Childbirth Educator, Trained Postpartum Doula, Doula Trainer and Mentor, Public Speaker, Co-founder of City of Hope Outreach, and Apprentice Midwife. Nicolle will be the first Black Certified Professional Midwife since the grand midwives in Arkansas. In her years of service she had trained and certified over 30 women as birth & postpartum doulas in Arkansas. 

Meet Dr. Ambra Brown, a Certified Health Coach specializing in Preconception and Pregnancy. With a unique background in psychology and physical therapy, she offers a holistic approach to women's health.

With 17 years as a physical therapist, Dr. Ambra empowers individuals to improve well-being and mobility. As a single mom by choice, her personal journey ignited her passion for women's health.

With over 2 years as a Health Coach, Dr. Ambra supports women on their fertility journeys with personalized care, advocating for empowerment throughout the process.

Dr. Ambra, a nature enthusiast, finds balance by spending quality time with her son and connecting to the serenity of the natural world. Clients describe her as a knowledgeable confidante, instilling hope and resilience as she guides women in preparing their minds and bodies for fertility treatment.

Free Resources:

Prepare Right Now Preconception/Pregnancy Checklist

https://drambrabrown.com/preconception_pregnancy_checklist
Links:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Meet Cameron Mashburn, LMSW. Cameron is a member of the Tennessee Reproductive Therapy team and at the time of recording was 35 weeks pregnant. In this episode, Cameron and Cathie Quillet discuss how she is preparing for the postpartum season as a postpartum specialist.

Cameron is an LMSW using an integrated approach to provide support and hope to those experiencing infertility, pregnancy loss, and/or postpartum depression, anxiety or anger. With a graduate certificate in Trauma Treatment, Cameron also specializes in helping clients address traumatic experiences and create healthy thought patterns and attachments.