This week. Brittany is joined by pediatrician, best-selling author, and medical correspondent, Dr. Tanya Altmann to chat all about infant gut health. To start, Dr. Tanya shares her background and focus in preventative health, nutrition, and sleep. She discusses signs of newborn gut deficiency in babies, what to ask your pediatrician if you see those signs, and steps parents can take to protect their baby's gut microbiome. They get into some practical nutrition tips, common allergies in babies, and how to choose the right probiotic (and what isn't so important when looking for one). Plus, they chat about how to keep children as healthy as possible going into the flu season and whether or not we should expect to see a rise in other illnesses. They wrap with a discussion all about solids, including when to start. weaning from breastfeeding, and what foods are most appropriate when transitioning.

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It's been two weeks since Brittany has officially returned for maternity leave and this week, she is joined once again by Shira Dreksler for this special welcome back episode. To start, Brittany shares how she's feeling and what's been going on now that she's back to work. They also chat about Brittany's difficulty with breastfeeding, parenting without Noah in the house, and getting into that postpartum slump. Shira offers some advice on what she's learned after a year of returning back to work, the realities of the fourth trimester, and how to ignore the need to bounce back after having a baby. Then, it's time for some listener-submitted questions about separating yourself from work while on maternity leave, how much leave you should take, and taking care of a sick toddler around a newborn. Finally, we end with a No Mom Guilt all about balancing parenting, marriage, and personal time alone.

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Aleen is joined by her sister-in-law & Director of Talent and Community at Betches, Shira Dreksler, to answer all your questions on paid family leave. To start, they discuss what working moms should know about maternity leave, what moms are entitled to, and the right questions to ask about during a job interview. Next, they share their thoughts on how f*cked up paid family in the U.S. really is, and even the stigma with men and paternity leave in the workplace. Then, it’s time for listener questions all about re-entering the workforce after having a baby, including how to separate yourself from work, any other benefits moms should be aware of, and how companies can provide support for parents who are coming back from parental leave.

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This week, Brittany is joined by Laura Chambers, CEO of Willow, and Annie Sartor, Senior Director of Business Partnership at PL+US (Paid Leave for the US) to talk all about paid family leave, why it is so critical, and how Willow is helping to empower moms through their advocacy and product. They start off discussing the upcoming vote in the Senate that will decide the future of paid leave in the US, and how we can all get involved to make sure it is passed. They also get into the steps that Willow is taking in advocating for universal paid family leave and how they are using technology to empower mothers to live free and untethered with their hands-free breast pumps. To learn more about this critical issue, visit paidleave.us and check out onewillow.com for more information on their innovative breast pump.

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This week, Aleen is joined by two-time author and first dad on Betches Moms, Jordan Shapiro. To start, they chat about his story as a dad and stepdad, before diving into his newest book Father Figure: How To Be a Feminist Dad. Jordan shares his reason for writing his book, the meaning behind being a “feminist dad”, and why so many books about parenting are about what it’s like to be a mother. Next, they discuss navigating the world of technology with kids, how technology affects parenting, and how to help kids navigate life online. To close, they talk about redefining fatherhood, steps to becoming a better parent, and how to truly make space for your kids.

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Aleen and Brittany are joined by Pregnancy Counselor and Clinical Support Specialist, Sami Albert, to talk all about the adoption process for adoptive parents and birth parents. To kick off, Sami shares how she works with birth parents to make sure they are informed throughout the entire process of adoption. They talk about the first steps to take once you know adoption is the right choice for you, the different pathways to adoption, and some of the disqualifying pieces for adoptive parents. Then, they get into some listeners questions, including the costs associated with adoption and why it actually takes such a long time. To end the episode, they chat about some of the stigmas around adoption, and some helpful resources people can look into to learn more about preparing for adoption.

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Brittany is joined by actors Kristen Bell and Jackie Tohn (screaming!) to talk about parenting, the importance of music in a child’s life, and their new animated series Do, Re & Mi. They start by telling us how they created the show, including why they wanted to give children a new way to learn to love music. They also explain how their friendship and time spent with Kristen’s children impacted the show’s creation. Then Brittany asks whether or not Kristen’s own kids appreciate how cool it is to have Anna from Frozen as a mom (hint: they don’t). Finally, they close the show with a conversation about Kristen’s recent TikTok featuring her kids using foul language (and just how funny it is when your kids curse, let’s be honest).

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Aleen is joined by Betches co-founder Sami Sage to talk about her decision to freeze her embryos. They chat about waiting to have kids, fears around parenting and actually being “ready”, and how much our lives really change after starting a family. They also discuss when she started thinking about her fertility options, and the actual costs of embryo freezing. Sami shares more on the process so far, including her first consultation, genetic testing, and ultimately choosing embryo freezing over egg freezing. Then it’s time for some listener DMs, including one from a listener asks how much insurance is actually covering for the whole procedure. Finally, Sami talks about when she’ll know it’s the “right” time to have kids and whether her family was supportive of her decision.

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Today, Aleen and Brittany are joined by parent & child educator and play expert Jennie Monness (aka Mo’Mommies). They start off with a conversation about why Mo’Mommies was created, how Jennie helps educate new parents on play, and the real struggles of being a new mom of two. They chat about the importance of promoting healthy child development, why it really matters, and where parents can start. Plus, they discuss ways to encourage independent play and why you might want to start teaching your kids to play on their own. Finally, they close with some screen-free activities for your kids, including tips to help your child manage frustration during play.

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Aleen and Brittany are back together once again, and with only a few days to go before Aleen’s due date they’re talking all about the third trimester. First, Aleen shares the things she never expected to experience during her third trimester, including some of the biggest challenges along the way. Plus, she explains what it’s like dealing with the overwhelming anxiety of not feeling like herself and taking steps to enjoy the rest of her pregnancy. Finally, it’s time for a No Mom Guilt, where Brittany talks all about overcoming and working through new mom guilt with her as a second-time mom.

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