In today’s episode, I will discuss the important of slowing down as a new mama and the reason I will be taking a short break from the Blooming Mamahood podcast.

Find Blooming Mamahood
www.bloomingmamahood.com
www.instagram.com/bloomingmamahood
www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation

Find Laurie Lo
www.instagram.com/_laurielo
youtube.com/LaurieLo

In today’s mamahood story episode, I interviewed my Mama Glow doula sister, Mieka Estrada, and we talk about her experience having twins.  Mieka and her husband Nathan unexpectedly got pregnant and then found out they were having twins… What a shock!  In the interview, we talk about how Mieka’s pregnancy and birth via cesarean went, and what bringing two babies home was like for her.

In this episode, we will explore:

2:09 A little bit about Mieka and her family

2:34 How she found out she was pregnant and, later on, expecting twins

6:32 Life with 2 babies

8:57 What was it like to bring two babies home

13:04 Her breastfeeding journey with twins

23:11 How she felt during her pregnancy

27:20 Thoughts on her pregnant and postpartum body

30:10 How her birth went

34:56 Having a baby in the NICU

41:25 The blooming mamahood questions

About Mieka

Mieka is the mama to toddler twins, Kai and Aria.  She is a new birth doula.  She also has a podcast with her husband called From Tinder to Twins where they talk about their family life and other things.

Find Mieka

Mieka is taking a break from social medias right now so her personal page isn’t available but here is the page for her podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/tindertotwins/

Find Blooming Mamahood
www.bloomingmamahood.com
www.instagram.com/bloomingmamahood
www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation

Find Laurie Lo
www.instagram.com/_laurielo
www.youtube.com/LaurieLo

In today’s episode we will discuss the early days and weeks with a newborn with our guest birth and postpartum doula Karena Dang from BumpsUponATime.  We will talk about the role of a postpartum doula, then we will explore what life is like with a newborn and what you can do to prepare and adjust to this new reality.

In this episode, we explore:

2:00 Karena’s background

3:38 How she became a doula

5:00 What is a postpartum doula

13:32 What a typical day with a newborn looks like

15:05 Baby sleep and baby feeding the first few weeks

17:16 Top tips for king are of a newborn baby

18:43 Tips for new mamas and their postpartum recovery

20:59 One or a couple things new parents wish they had known before baby came home, retrospectively

24:46 What Karena wishes all new parents would know about the early days with baby

26:00 Book recommendation

Show Notes:

The First Forty Day by Heng Ou

About Karena

Karena Dang is a Labour/Birth & Postpartum Doula, based in Edmonton, Alberta. She provides in-person support to families of all structures in Edmonton and neighbouring counties, and virtually worldwide.

Find Karena

Karena’s Website www.bumpsuponatime.com

Karena’s instagram: www.instagram.com/bumpsuponatime

Karena’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bumpsuponatime

Karena’s Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/bumpsuponatime/

Find Blooming Mamahood
www.bloomingmamahood.com
www.instagram.com/bloomingmamahood
www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation

Find Laurie Lo
www.instagram.com/_laurielo
youtube.com/LaurieLo

In today’s episode we will discuss 15 things that I wish I had known before getting pregnant or wish I could tell my past pregnant self. These things are just pieces of information we are not always aware before embarking on our first pregnancy journey and I hope they can help mamas-to-be out.

In this episode, we explore:
1:53 Morning sickness
2:47 When you meet your provider
3:54 The first ultrasound
5:03 Feeling kicks
6:15 Vaginal discharge
7:08 Getting a midwife
8:43 Learning to speak mommy language
10:37 Switching providers mid-pregnancy
11:06 Childbirth education
12:27 Decision fatigue and information overload
14:59 Staying healthy during pregnancy & pregnancy pains
17:35 Contingency plans for birth
18:54 Newborn clothes
19:33 Sleep
20:14 Being a good mom

Show Note:
BloomingBirthEducation post on Midwives https://www.instagram.com/p/CE495BYA4JH/
BloomingBirthEducation post on Birth Doulas https://www.instagram.com/p/CEBJdc4g2-y/
My TTC Journey https://bloomingmamahood.com/podcast-episodes/018
My Pregnancy Story https://bloomingmamahood.com/podcast-episodes/009
My Birth Story https://bloomingmamahood.com/podcast-episodes/012
Birth plan video https://youtu.be/qI2mIYi6Gz4
FREE Pregnancy Lingo Guide https://bloomingmamahood.com/s/Pregnancy-Lingo.pdf
Evidence Based Birth www.evidencebasedbirth.com
Expecting Better by Emily Oster
Cribsheet by Emily Oster
Like a Mother by Angela Garbes
Babies are Not Pizzas by Rebecca Dekker

Find Blooming Mamahood

www.bloomingmamahood.com

www.instagram.com/bloomingmamahood

www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation

Find Laurie Lo

www.instagram.com/_laurielo

www.youtube.com/LaurieLo

In today’s episode, I have an amazing mama named Asha, coming on to share her truth as part of our weekly Mamahood Stories series.

In our interview, we talk about her two pregnancies and birth stories.  She shares how she handled her grief after having a cesarean birth and dealing with birth trauma with her first, and shares the story of her second pregnancy and attempted VBAC with her daughter, this year.  We talk about the differences between her care with an OB the first time around and the care she received with her midwife the second time, and how her second cesarean birth was completely different experience and so much more empowering.

In this episode, we explore:

4:29 Get to know Asha

8:36 Asha’s first pregnancy and birth experience with her son, Fox

15:56 Her first postpartum experience

18:45 The insurance plan and the importance of listening to good and bad birth stories

22:14 How has this pregnancy and birth with Hazel been different from the first time around?  Trying for VBAC

34:51 The difference between the two cesareans

41:31 Her postpartum experiences  and being postpartum during COVID

53:13 Her favorite thing about being a mama?

Show Notes:

Jennifer Summerfeldt https://www.jennifersummerfeldt.com/

Healing After Birth by Jennifer Summerfeldt

About Asha

Asha Thomas is a mama of two. She is a family doula and yoga teacher in Edmonton, Canada and she just gave birth to her baby girl Hazel during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Find Asha

Asha’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/grow.gentlekind/

Asha’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/grow.gentlekind

Asha’s Website https://www.atyoga.ca/

Find Blooming Mamahood
www.bloomingmamahood.com
www.instagram.com/bloomingmamahood
www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation

Find Laurie Lo
www.instagram.com/_laurielo
youtube.com/LaurieLo

In this episode, we will discuss PMADs or Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders with Registered Provisional Psychologist Sam Copithorne.  We will explore the different PMADs which include postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, bipolar and psychosis, the warning signs, the prevalence of PMADs, some Therapeutic techniques and methodologies that can be used to treat PMADs, and tips on supporting someone struggling with a PMAD.

In this episode we explore:

2:25 Get to know Sam and how she got interested in maternal mental health

6:25 What are PMADs (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders)

7:38 warning signs of PMADs

9:17 PMADs in subsequent pregnancies

10:34 Postpartum Depression vs baby blues

12:42 Post-breastfeeding depression and blues

13:18 How Prevalent are PMADs and who is most susceptible

16:45 PMADs and COVID

17:25 Therapeutic techniques and methods for treating PMADs

22:15 Tips for partners supporting someone struggling with a PMAD

24:31 Book recommendations

Show Notes:

Pine Integrated Health Edmonton https://pinehealth.ca/

Evolution Psychology Sherwood Park https://www.evolutionpsychology.ca/

Dr. Gina Wong https://ginawongsite.wixsite.com/ginawong

PsychologyToday https://www.psychologytoday.com/

Good Mother Have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleiman

Tokens of Affection by Karen Kleiman

Gottman Books https://www.gottman.com/product-category/couples-products/books-couples-products/

Postpartum Support International https://www.postpartum.net/

Postpartum Support International Book Resources https://www.postpartum.net/resources/psi-store/

Momentum Walk-In Counselling in Edmonton https://www.momentumcounselling.org/

Life with a Baby https://www.lifewithababy.com/AlbertaEvents?EventViewMode=1&EventListViewMode=1

Alberta Health Services https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/default.aspx

About Samatha

Sam is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with specialized perinatal training.  Her therapeutic approach is being genuine, non-judgmental and empathetic. She works collaboratively with clients to help and support them through their challenges. She has sought out specialized training in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International and completed the basic and advanced psychotherapy training in perinatal mental health. She has experience supporting parents struggling with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), which includes postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. She has also published a paper on postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder in the Journal of Mother Studies

Find Samantha

Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/samantha-copithorne-edmonton-ab/786295

Postpartum Support International https://psidirectory.com/listing/samantha-copithorne.html

Find Blooming Mamahood
www.bloomingmamahood.com
www.instagram.com/bloomingmamahood
www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation

Find Laurie Lo
www.instagram.com/_laurielo
youtube.com/LaurieLo

In today’s episode, I share the story of my TTC (trying to conceive) journey.  I share how we started considering getting pregnant as well as all the bumps we faced on the road, including hormonal imbalances, a miscarriage, and finally getting pregnant.  I then share a few things I wish I had known before trying to get pregnant and embark on this TTC journey.

In the episode, we explore: 

2:24 My TTC Story

10:50 What I wish I would’ve Known Before Getting Pregnant and Tips I Would Give my Past Self

Show Notes:

002: How Hard It Is To Be Trying To Conceive - My Mamahood Journey #1 https://bloomingmamahood.com/podcast-episodes/002

003: Hormonal IUD + Hormonal Imbalances & Ways To Rebalance Your Hormones Naturally https://bloomingmamahood.com/podcast-episodes/003

005: I Had a Miscarriage - Dealing with Pregnancy Loss & Grief - My Mamahood Journey #2 https://bloomingmamahood.com/podcast-episodes/005

009: My Pregnancy Journey - Hyperemisis Gravidarum, Chronic Pain, SI Joint Pain https://bloomingmamahood.com/podcast-episodes/009

012: My Birth Story - 22-hour Labor, Emergency C-Section, Home Birth Transferred to Hospital with Epidural https://bloomingmamahood.com/podcast-episodes/012

Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler

Femme Head on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/FemmeHead

Find Blooming Mamahood
www.bloomingmamahood.com
www.instagram.com/bloomingmamahood
www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation

Find Laurie Lo
www.instagram.com/_laurielo
youtube.com/LaurieLo

In today’s episode, Ayla opens up and share her story of infertility.  She shares how she felt through her attempts with IVF and IUI, and then starting the process  of adoption.  She then shares the incredible story of how a family found her and chose her and her husband to adopt their remaining embryos.  Ayla then shares the story of their embryo adoption, and how one of these embryo became their daughter Nova.  She also shares how she navigates the relationship with the donor family and her hopes for future siblings for Nova.

In the episode, we explore:

2:22 A little bit about Ayla and her family

4:10 Why she started her YouTube channel

6:15 Her infertility story

14:55 Dealing with endometriosis

21:15 Looking into local adoption

21:26 Chemical pregnancy

27:38 Choosing embryo adoption

31:00 The embryo adoption process

34:00 Becoming pregnant and giving birth to Nova

35:42 Future siblings

36:41 The relationship her family has with the donor family

39:02 Her favourite thing about being a mama

40:13 The one experience that she has had that has help her bloom into the unique mama she is today

About Ayla

Ayla is a mama from Calgary, with an incredible and unique journey.   She had always dreamed of being a mama, and after 5 years of infertility, she welcomed her daughter Nova through embryo adoption.  Ayla shared her fertility journey with her online community, and continues to document her family’s life on YouTube and instagram.

Find Ayla

https://www.instagram.com/aylasophia/

https://www.youtube.com/aylaandcaleb

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYi1-2WtCt8PgdEkB1Z-Mog

Find Blooming Mamahood
www.bloomingmamahood.com
www.instagram.com/bloomingmamahood
www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation

Find Laurie Lo
www.instagram.com/_laurielo
youtube.com/LaurieLo

In today’s episode, we will discuss the racial disparities is US healthcare and the continual marginalization and disenfranchisement of black women and their health.  We will talk about the transgenerational effects of epigenetic of black women and how they affect their risks and childbirth outcomes.  We will also look at the implicit biases of birth professionals and the effects they can have on black women’s childbirth outcomes.

In this episode, we explore:

0:38 Black Maternal Health statistics

4:34 Mitsuzi’s background

5:58 Exploring the relationship between healthcare workers and doulas

8:12 Birthing Noire childbirth education course, Mindfulness program & doula services

11:04 Black maternal health and the black maternity mortality crisis in the United States

14:04 The transgenerational effects of racism and the epigenetics of black women

16:41 The effects of implicit biases of birth professionals on black women’s childbirth outcomes

20:33 What can Black mothers do to advocate and protect themselves when giving birth

23:07 What can we do to change the state of black maternal health and the staggering rates of mortality of black mothers in America as a society

24:09 Book recommendations

About Mit

Mitsuzi Stone is a labor and delivery nurse, birth doula and birth mindset coach. Her passion for birth and coaching expecting families comes from her background as a Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse with a love for education. She believes every family should have the birth experience they desire, and her goal is to get you to that place through mindfulness practice. She is here to serve your family with a heart of compassion and loving kindness.

Find Mit

https://www.birthingnoire.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/birthing_noire/ 

Show Notes:

Resources

• Black Women’s Blueprint https://www.blackwomensblueprint.org/ 
• Black Women’s Health Imperative https://bwhi.org/ 
• National Birth Equity Collaborative https://birthequity.org/ 
• Black Mamas Matter https://blackmamasmatter.org/ 
• Moms Rising https://www.momsrising.org/ 
• The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) https://icea.org/ 
• Pregnant Patient’s Bill of Rights https://www.ccbirthcenter.com/direct/files/First%20Trimester%20Education/Pregnant_Patient_Bill_of_Rights.pdf 
• Pregnant Patient’s Responsibilities https://www.tcfmedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/The_Pregnant_Patients_Responsibilities.pdf 
• Evidence-Based Birth Birth Justice Page https://evidencebasedbirth.com/birth-justice/ 

Articles

• https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/america-is-failing-its-black-mothers/ 
• https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pregnancy-relatedmortality.htm 
• https://bwhi.org/2018/01/11/major-change-medicaid-threatens-healthcare-access-low-income-black-women/ 
• https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/black-maternal-health-canada_ca_5ed90ae3c5b685164f2eab93 
• https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a33417738/black-maternal-mortality-interview-latham-thomas/
  

Books

• Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty, Dorothy Roberts
• Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, Harriet A Washington
• Black Milk: Maternal Bodies, Wet Nursing, and Black Women’s Invisible Labor in the Antebellum Slave Market, Stephanie Jones-Rogers (essay)
• Medical Bondage: Race, Gender and The Origins of American Gynecology, Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens
• Battling Over Birth: Black Women and the Maternal Health Care Crisis, Julia Chinyere Oparah, Helen Arega, Dantia Hudson, Linda Jones, Talita Oseguera
• Reproductive Justice: A New Vision for the 21st Century, Loretta Ross
• Deadly Delivery: The Maternal Healthcare Crisis in the USA, Amnesty International (report)
• The Politics of Trauma, Staci K. Haines

Mit’s Book Recommendation

• Mindful Birthing by Nancy Bardacke

Statistics Sources:

• https://www.propublica.org/article/nothing-protects-black-women-from-dying-in-pregnancy-and-childbirth
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5744583/
• https://www.marchofdimes.org/materials/March-of-Dimes-Racial-and-Ethnic-Disparities_feb-27-2015.pdf
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2594154/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK32818/
• https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/ms/pregnancy-associated-mortality-report.pdf
• https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-49607727/black-women-five-times-more-likely-to-die-in-childbirth
• https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/black-women-canada-higher-risk-preterm-births-256639

Find Blooming Mamahood
www.bloomingmamahood.com
www.instagram.com/bloomingmamahood
www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation

Find Laurie Lo
www.instagram.com/_laurielo
www.youtube.com/LaurieLo

In today's episode, I will talk about 15 things you didn't know about me including being bisexual, straight edge, having my first boyfriend at 20 and not shaving my legs. I also share some updates about the podcast schedule and my new instagram account @bloomingbirtheducation.

This episode was first release on March 3rd, 2019 on the Plantiful Mama Podcast.

In this episode we explore:
1:33 My Sexuality : Bisexual
3:18 Being Demi Sexual
4:24 Being Straight Edge
5:33 Moving out at 14
5:57 First Kiss at 18
7:07 I married my first boyfriend
7:25 I was in the military
8:00 I struggled with suicidal depression and anxiety
8:23 I am an introvert
8:53 My parents struggled with addiction
9:33 Eating Disorders: ARFID and Binge Eating
10:40 I don't shave my legs and armpits
13:00 I don't wear a bra
14:24 I don't wear make up
15:25 I am vegan
16:01 I have very progressive political opinions

(Timestamps are from the old episode so not perfectly accurate)

Show Notes:
New instagram account www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation
My Depression Story youtu.be/0TJSS1q_7lw
Anxiety Story youtu.be/O6dpXkfXEL8 ; youtu.be/KEu5EdlHDp0
ARFID Eating Disorder youtu.be/d9-elXi36lI
Article on How Women Started Shaving Their Legs www.bustle.com/articles/196747-t…n-started-shaving

Find Blooming Mamahood

www.bloomingmamahood.com

www.instagram.com/bloomingmamahood
www.instagram.com/bloomingbirtheducation

Find Laurie Lo

www.instagram.com/_laurielo

www.youtube.com/LaurieLo