Blooming in Motherhood

By Molly Vasa Bertolucci, LCSW, PMH-C

Becoming a mother is life-changing in nearly every way. Some days are magical, some days are survival. You have new priorities, hopes, worries, perspectives, and identities - your world is all new. A... more

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FAQs about Blooming in Motherhood:

How many episodes does Blooming in Motherhood have?

The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.

Blooming in Motherhood episodes:

October 02, 2023Pelvic Floor Health in the First Year: Expert Interview with Dr. Carri Dominick | Episode 15
We are joined today for an expert interview with Dr. Carri Dominick!
Carri is a pelvic floor physical therapist and the owner of Recharge Therapy in Long Beach, California, where she supports people during pregnancy and postpartum recovery as well as helping people with pelvic floor dysfunction live their best lives.
In this podcast episode, Carri talks about:
Common reasons birthing people seek out pelvic floor therapy in the first year of parenthood
How pelvic floor physical therapy can help in recovery after birth
What an initial assessment, sessions, and course of treatment might look like for a pregnant or postpartum person seeking out physical therapy for pelvic floor symptoms
Signs and symptoms to watch for in pregnancy and postpartum and how to prepare your pelvic floor for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum
Returning to fitness after having a baby
That it's never too late to seek out help and support - common does not mean normal!
Join us!
Resources:
What Kind of Support Do You Need in Motherhood? Take this quiz for a personalized list of free resources!
From Dr. Carri Dominick:
Recharge Therapy Website
Recharge Therapy on Instagram
Recharge Therapy on TikTok
Recharge Therapy on Facebook
...more
37min
September 25, 2023Valerie: A first year of amazement, vigilance, and control | Episode 14
Today's guest is Valerie Probstfeld, MSN, FNP-BC.
Valerie is a nurse practitioner and mother of three. Valerie shares in this episode about the amazement she found in her first year, along with the vigilance and control she felt she needed to hold on to during and after her baby's NICU stay - "within the first 10 minutes of my child’s birth, the illusion of control was ripped away from me."
Valerie talks about:
Studying for the "motherhood exam like I was going to get an A+"
Learning to cope with fear and anxiety to be present in the moment
The unique challenges of navigating a NICU stay as a mother AND a medical provider
Building new ways of thinking and reacting
Advice to mothers to take photos to preserve memories
Cultivating and practicing self-compassion
Shifting ambition in motherhood and following her passion for supporting moms
"At the end of the day, I’m an imperfect mom who loves - and that’s really all that matters."

About Valerie:
Valerie Probstfeld, MSN, FNP-BC is a nurse practitioner who received her bachelor's degrees from Bradley University in nursing and music. Valerie also holds a master's degree from Yale University. Valerie has experience in pediatric neurology as well as primary care.

Valerie encourages moms to love as an action while living life more authentically. You can check her out at her website: tomomistolove.com and social media: @valerie_probstfeld.
Valerie also has a podcast available on Spotify, Apple, and Google called "To Mom with Valerie Probstfeld, NP"

Resources:
Therapy for NICU Moms

How We Get Thru Course : Having a Baby in the NICU
(Get a free month of How We Get Thru with this link!)
Photographing the First Year: Expert Interview with Miranda Hayek
...more
44min
September 11, 2023Speech and Language Development in the First Year and Beyond: Expert Interview with Mika Storey | Episode 13
I'm so excited to share this expert interview with Mika Storey!
Mika is a licensed pediatric speech-language pathologist and a mother of two young boys. She is the owner of A Speech Storey – a pediatric private practice specializing in early intervention and speech sound disorders in Southern California. Mika values play-based therapy, parent education, and family-centered care.
In this episode, Mika talks about:
Speech and language milestones in the first year of life
How she became interested in speech and language development
Empowering caregivers in therapy
How play aids in speech and language development
What to do if you have concerns about your child's speech and language development
Details about her language focused play group, Storeytime Tots, and her debut children's book - Nixon's Engine Words
Join us!
Resources:
How We Get Thru App
What Kind of Support Do You Need in Motherhood? Take this quiz for a personalized list of free resources!

From Mika
A Speech Storey Website
Instagram: @a_speech_storey
Storeytime Tots
Nixon's Engine Words
...more
32min
August 28, 2023Marci: An emotional, transformative, humbling first year | Episode 12
A very special guest on the podcast today - my sister, Marci!
Marci is a first time mom to baby Marek and shares in this episode about how this emotional first year of motherhood has transformed and humbled her. Marci thought life would be “pretty much the same, but with less sleep”. The reality? “Everything about my life changed”.
Marci talks about:
Unexpected feeding challenges when starting her baby on solid foods
Comparison in motherhood that brought on feelings of fear and shame
Navigating changes in her career and the decision to leave paid work for a time
The importance of improving communication with her husband and finding connection and common ground outside of their roles as parents
Asking for support with the mental load around feeding her baby and baby sleep
The pride she feels in learning, growing in patience, and letting go of control
I’m so thrilled to share parts of Marci’s story with you - I’m glad you’ve joined us!
Resources:
Communication Habits of Successful Couples
Eight Ways to Keep Your Relationship Healthy During Postpartum and Early Parenting
Returning to Work After Maternity Leave: 3 Ways to Feel Less Overwhelmed
What Kind of Support Do You Need in Motherhood? Take this quiz for a personalized list of free resources!
Lovevery Playkits

From Marci:
Taking Cara Babies
Marci’s instagram: @marcellaruth

See the transcript and show notes on the website.
...more
42min
August 14, 2023Megan: A wonderful, exhausting, chaotic first year | Episode 11
We’re joined today by Megan Walsh. Megan is a licensed creative arts therapist and board-certified music therapist - AND a new mom! In this episode, Megan talks about what her first year as a mother has been like and how her training and work as a creative arts psychotherapist has set her up to bond and connect with her son. Megan talks about getting to establish a playful, fun, loving, and openly affectionate family culture with her son, how communication has strengthened her relationship with her husband, and navigating adjusting ambition and work-life balance as a mother and business owner.
Megan talks about:
Communication is 🔑 even when it’s hard - sharing feelings around resentment and the unequal load in postpartum
Shifting feelings about work and ambition in postpartum and early parenting
How routines and schedules have supported her family in being connected and being flexible
How her training and work as a creative arts psychotherapist has impacted her parenting, especially in the early days
Using music for co-regulation, connection, and bonding (some golden tools in this one!)
Embracing the duality of the hard and the good in the first year of parenting
Join us and get ready to be inspired to sing to your baby 🎤

Megan Walsh, LCAT, LPMT, MT-BC
Megan graduated with her master’s degree in music psychotherapy from New York University in 2014. She worked as a licensed creative arts therapist and board-certified music therapist with adults, teenagers, and children in prominent teaching hospitals for six years before moving full time into private practice for the last three years. She is currently completing an advanced clinical training as an analytical music therapy practitioner. Her work has been presented nationally, and Megan has served as a guest lecturer at New York University and St. Mary College of the Woods. When she is not working, you can find Megan harmonizing to her Spotify playlist, listening to her favorite podcasts, and spending time outdoors with her husband, son, and pups.
Resources:
Managing Sleep Deprivation as a New Parent
Communication Habits of Successful Couples
Eight Ways to Keep Your Relationship Healthy During Postpartum and Early Parenting
Returning to Work After Maternity Leave: 3 Ways to Feel Less Overwhelmed
What Kind of Support Do You Need in Motherhood? Take this quiz for a personalized list of free resources!
Ollie Swaddle (use discount code 9NWURUWCHW for 10% off 💰)

From Megan:
Megan’s website
Instagram: @connectwithmegan
...more
37min
August 07, 2023Anne: An overwhelming first year of letting go and becoming | Episode 10
We’re joined today by Dr. Anne Welsh, a mother of four and a clinical psychologist, executive coach, and consultant. In this episode, she talks about learning how to let go and grow through her motherhood journey - in her career, relationships, and in self-compassion. She gives wonderful insight into some of the deep struggles new moms face with all of the shifts that come with becoming a parent.
Dr. Welsh began her career at Harvard before opening her own practice with a focus on perinatal mental health and wellness, to support working parents in growing their careers and families. She is a mother of 4 and draws on her own experience as a mother, her research career in the transition to motherhood, and her over 15 years in practice, to help parents feel less alone, more connected to themselves and their values, and more empowered to make their own choices.
In this episode, Anne talks about:
The process of learning to let go in motherhood - easier said than done for us type A personalities!
Scary medical challenges in the first year
How so many things - baby temperament, breastfeeding challenges, changes in work and ambition - can challenge your expectations of motherhood (and how that’s okay)
How stepping back and allowing chaos to unfold allowed her enjoyment, closeness in relationships, and self-compassion.
Wise, wise words for mothers who are in the thick of it right now.
Resources:
Managing Sleep Deprivation as a New Parent
Returning to Work after Maternity Leave: 3 Ways to Feel Less Overwhelmed
How We Get Thru App
What Kind of Support Do You Need in Motherhood? Take this quiz for a personalized list of free resources!

From Anne:
Dr. Anne Welsh’s website
Group Coaching Info
Instagram: @dr.welsh.coaching
...more
42min
July 31, 2023 Hearing in the First Year: Expert Interview with Dr. Kelsey Kerkhove | Episode 9
We have an amazing expert interview today with Dr. Kelsey Kerkhove.
Dr. Kelsey is a pediatric audiologist with a passion for connecting and supporting families of children with hearing loss. With a background in diagnosis, treatment, and intervention, she has worked with hundreds of children and their families. She has seen first-hand the roller coaster of emotions that parents feel when they find out their child has been diagnosed with hearing loss. From sadness, to fear, and ultimately acceptance. Her goal is to support you every step of the way.
In this episode, she talks about how she helps parents and their babies in the first year, how she became interested in audiology, hearing development and milestones in the first year, and what to do if you have concerns about your baby's hearing.
Dr. Kelsey also answers some listener questions about sound machines and noise-cancelling or reducing headphones for babies.
Join us!

Resources:
How to Support a New (or New Again) Mom
Ollie Swaddle (use discount code 9NWURUWCHW for 10% off 💰)
What Kind of Support Do You Need in Motherhood? Take this quiz for a personalized list of free resources!

From Dr. Kelsey
Dr. Kelsey’s website
Instagram: @kelseykerkhove_aud
...more
38min
July 24, 2023 Berenice: An overwhelming, vulnerable, miraculous first year | Episode 8
Berenice is a mother of three and a social worker in California who shares about an overwhelming, vulnerable, and miraculous first year.
She talks about all of the adjustment that she and her family went through in that first year, how her relationship with her partner was tested, and how they learned the importance of co-regulation and extending grace to each other to strengthen their relationship.
Berenice shares about her experience with postpartum depression and anxiety and what it looked like to get help - eventually - and some of the grief she experienced with an unexpected pregnancy that threw off her timeline and expectations of motherhood, along with the fun and joy of a full household.

Resources:
Postpartum Depression: What You Need to Know
How to Manage Postpartum Anxiety and Scary Thoughts
Communication Habits of Successful Couples
Postpartum Support International
Solly Baby Wrap (use code POPPY.THERAPY10 for a 10% off Solly Baby discount code)

What Kind of Support Do You Need in Motherhood? Take this quiz for a personalized list of free resources!
...more
42min
July 10, 2023 Chelsy: Persevering in a transformative, overwhelming first year | Episode 7
Chelsy is a social worker and mother of two in southern California.
From an emergency c-section the weekend the world shut down, to breastfeeding challenges and the decision to have another baby, Chelsy shares the story of her rollercoaster first year of motherhood.
She talks about gaining a new role, feeling overwhelmed by the newborn days, and describes becoming a mother as a resilient process full of emotion and adjustment.
Resources:
Managing Sleep Deprivation as a New Parent
Postpartum Depression: What You Need to Know
Communication Habits of Successful Couples
Returning to Work after Maternity Leave: 3 Ways to Feel Less Overwhelmed
Kindred Bravely Bras (use MollyV15 for your 15% Kindred Bravely discount code)

What Kind of Support Do You Need in Motherhood? Take this quiz for a personalized list of free resources!

From Chelsy:
Big Little Feelings
Looma New Mom Circle (Long Beach, CA)

...more
34min
July 03, 2023 Photographing the First Year: Expert Interview with Miranda Hayek | Episode 6
9,585. That's how many photos are on my phone right now - and counting!

Mothers tend to be the documenters and memory makers in families. With a camera in your back pocket, it's both easier and harder than ever to document family life. I asked Miranda Hayek of Blossom Blue Photography and Blossom Blue Studios to be our first expert guest on the podcast and to talk about photographing the first year.

Miranda gives tips on how to best photograph your baby, when to hire a photographer, creating systems for organizing and storing photos to reduce overwhelm. She beautifully shares about how photos and videos aid in preserving memories and building legacy and connection, as well as the importance of embracing the messy beauty of postpartum and early parenthood as part of your family's story.

About Miranda:

Miranda Hayek, MA, is the artist behind Blossom Blue Photography and the creative director of Blossom Blue Studios, a team of creative artists offering fine art products and visual storytelling services throughout Long Beach and worldwide. She is known for her warm personality, engaging editorial approach and sought out for her captivating imagery and nostalgic films.

Her focus is to document everyday connection and movement from an organic perspective in order to produce archival fine art pieces and digital content that hold a visual story of your legacy to hold and share today and for generations to come.

Resources:
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
Instagram: @blossombluephoto
Editorial Fine Art Website
Workbook for Telling Your Birth Story
...more
36min

FAQs about Blooming in Motherhood:

How many episodes does Blooming in Motherhood have?

The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.