Chick Chat

Thanksgiving is around the corner! This is the time when we're solidifying our menu, confirming guests, and thinking about all of the ways we can keep our little ones happy and involved during the event. The holidays can bring up a lot of emotions. As moms, we feel the pressure to create the magic around the holidays and have things perfect for our guests and kids. And when you're the one hosting Thanksgiving, it can feel like extra pressure on your shoulders, especially if kids are attending. We want to create a warm and inviting atmosphere but also make it fun and memorable. Well, we had to ask event expert Cameron Forbes for her top tips for hosting a beautiful Thanksgiving for the whole family, including the kids. She shared some excellent advice and also gave us permission to not put so much pressure on ourselves and enjoy the moment.

Cameron Forbes is the visionary founder of Forbes Functions, where exceptional event planning meets the pulse of New York City. At Forbes Functions, Cameron leverages her extensive network of vendors as well as her female team, to curate bespoke experiences for her clients. Her flair for hosting, coupled with an innovative approach, has positioned her as a leading tastemaker in the event planning scene. Under her guidance, Forbes Functions is not just planning events; it’s crafting unforgettable moments and trendsetting celebrations that resonate with elegance and exclusivity. Cameron has planned parties for the likes of Erin Lichy, Serena Kerrigan, Baked by Melissa, and many other notables and tastemakers in NYC.

In this episode, we chat with Cameron about how to host a fabulous, kid-friendly Thanksgiving for your family, including tips and tricks for hosting with the kids. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation:

Cameron gave us practical and creative tips on how to host a memorable and stress-free Thanksgiving with kids. I loved her examples and the special touches she does at her Thanksgiving events with her family and friends. Tune in for some great advice!

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave us a review, and follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat for more content. Cheers to a beautiful and memorable Thanksgiving with your family!

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November is Diabetes Awareness Month. To get involved and help spread awareness, we wanted to learn more about Type 1 diabetes, its signs and symptoms, how common it is, and what we can do to help. I learned a lot during this episode, and one thing that stood out to me was that Type 1 diabetes is most often diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults, but it can develop at any age. I had no idea! Anastasia really broke everything down for us, including what parents really need to know about Type 1 diabetes and what to look for so we can look out for our kids and each other.

Anastasia Albanese-O’Neill, Ph.D., ARNP, CDCES transitioned to a career in diabetes care, education, and research in 2008, and since that time has committed her professional life to improving the lives of people with diabetes. She currently serves as director, community screening and clinical trials education at Breakthrough T1D and is the founder and board chair of a Florida-based diabetes education non-profit, Diabetes Toolkit. Anastasia formerly served as director of diabetes education and clinic operations in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Florida, where she maintained an active research portfolio and clinical practice. Prior to working in diabetes care, Anastasia was the highest-ranking executive for Southwest Airlines in southern California, where she oversaw the company’s local marketing, public affairs, and community and media relations. She plans to retire as soon as a cure for Type 1 diabetes is discovered, but not a moment earlier.

In this episode, we chat with Anastasia all about Type 1 diabetes and what parents need to know — from symptoms to diagnoses and beyond. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation:

90% of people who develop Type 1 diabetes have no family connection with the condition, so it can happen to anyone, even if it doesn't run in your family. This is helpful information for us all to know and be aware of as we grow and raise our babies. Be sure to spread the message!

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave us a review, and follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat for more content. Cheers to making everyday life better for those with Type 1 diabetes and their families!

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Nowadays, it's common for most women to be in the workforce before they embark on motherhood. Once they have decided to expand their families, maternity leave is something that enters their minds. How much time will she have off? How much will be paid or unpaid? What should she prepare for to have a smooth maternity leave? There are a lot of questions, so we had to "chick chat" with Dr. Jessica Madden, a mom of four, a board-certified pediatrician and neonatologist, and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), her recommendations on how to prepare for maternity leave and what to mothers should add to their maternity leave checklist.

Dr. Jessica Madden has been a board-certified pediatrician and neonatologist for over 15 years. She's currently on staff in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, OH. She previously worked in the Boston and Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospitals. In 2018 she started Primrose Newborn Care to provide in-home newborn medicine and lactation support. Dr. Madden is currently the Medical Director at Aeroflow Breastpumps. She also enjoys traveling, yoga, reading, and spending time with her four children.

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Madden about the ideal maternity leave checklist for expectant mothers, such as what to discuss with employers and insurance companies, what resources are available during and post-delivery, including lactation support, and more. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation:

Dr. Jessica Madden gave us some incredible insights in this episode, and we are including all of them in our maternity leave checklist, which you can find and download in our SHOW NOTES. Be sure to download it to prepare for your maternity leave successfully!

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave us a review, and follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat for more content. Cheers to preparing for an amazing maternity leave!

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Thinking about birth when you are currently pregnant can bring up a lot of emotions. The main ones are excitement and impatience to meet your new baby, as well as anxiety and fear about the unknown of childbirth. With more people (in the United States) choosing to give birth in a hospital, families wonder what they can do to have a great hospital birth. There are a lot of things you can do during pregnancy to prepare for a positive experience, and we are chatting all about it with our guest Adriana Lozada.

Adriana Lozada is a certified advanced birth doula, childbirth & postpartum educator, engaging international speaker, bestselling author, and host of the acclaimed Birthful podcast. Venezuelan-born, Adriana’s background is a multi-layered and multi-cultural bundle of experiences from her time living around various continents and the Caribbean. A former co-founder and CCO of Spanish language youth media companies, the birth of her daughter sparked her passion for perinatal work. As a speaker and birth advocate, Adriana is passionate about helping people understand and support the physiological processes happening in their bodies, so they can confidently show up for their births.

In this episode, we chat with Adriana about how to prepare for a great hospital birth. We discuss everything from supporting your physiology to how to better plan for a wonderful labor and birth. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation:

Adriana has been in the perinatal and birthing space for almost 20 years. We are so grateful she joined us today and shared her wealth of knowledge with us on this episode. If you are currently expecting, be sure to tune in!

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When we're pregnant, I feel like we hear so much information about what we should and shouldn't eat. We need more folate, more choline, more iron, etc. All of this is important for us to know so that we can be proactive and have a healthy pregnancy and grow a healthy baby. But have you heard much about your nutritional needs when you are postpartum? I haven't. And this is one of the times in life when you need even more vitamins and nutrients for your body to aid in your recovery and nourish your baby. This is why I had to talk to the incredible dieticians, Ashley and Diana, who focus on postpartum nutrition. They're answering our questions and sharing details on what new moms need to know!

Ashley and Diana are registered dietitians, and as new moms themselves, they know firsthand the importance of nourishing your body after baby. They are the authors of the Postpartum Nutrition Cookbook, a comprehensive guide to nutrition during the postpartum period, and they are on a mission to help women prioritize their health after they have a baby.

In this episode, we chat with Diana and Ashley about the importance of postpartum nutrition and what new mothers need in their diets. We’re excited to learn more about this delicious and essential topic to be better prepared for postpartum. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation:

Taking the time to prioritize your health during postpartum is essential. As we know, food is medicine. Food is mood. It can help our bodies recover, nourish our minds and bodies, and help us as we breastfeed our babies and more. If you're pregnant or newly postpartum, I highly recommend listening to this episode to set yourself up for success in nourishing yourself postpartum.

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As parents, we want to set our children up for success in every area of life, and one crucial skill that often gets overlooked is financial literacy. In a world where financial decisions play such a big and vital role in our lives, teaching kids how to be smart with money is one of the most valuable gifts we can give them. Our guest today, money mindfulness expert David Delisle, agrees and is on a mission to change how we teach our kids about money. He says, "As a society, we need to eliminate all of the shame and judgment around money . . . which may even be trickling into our parenting methods."

David Delisle, founder of The Awesome Stuff™, is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, real estate investor, speaker, and most importantly, a Dad. He is a contributor to Entrepreneur, Yahoo! News, Thrive Global, and more. At age 11, David made his first investment, and by age 20, he began investing in real estate and was retired by age 40. So inspiring! His book, The Golden Quest, is a Calvin & Hobbes-style graphic novel that teaches potent lessons about money, focusing on breaking the cycle of always chasing more. David’s goal is to change how our kids think about money and create more freedom for what’s most important to them . . . the Awesome Stuff™. David has been featured on Good Day LA, Good Day DC, Yahoo Wealth, Be Well, NTD TV, ScaryMommy, GoBankingRates, MindBodyGreen, Credit Sesame, and more.

In this episode, we chat with David Delisle about how to teach our kids about money and boosting their financial literacy. Conversations around money are the foundation of increasing our kids’ financial literacy. Parents can demonstrate money mindfulness with their kids by simply talking about money, letting them know what you’re saving for, and your priorities. 

Whether you have a toddler just learning about counting or a teen getting their first paycheck, this is an episode that all parents should listen to. So grab a notebook, and let’s start building the foundation for your child’s financial future!

Thank you for listening to this episode! Go to the SHOW NOTES for more details and be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave us a review, and follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat for more content! Cheers to financial literacy and financial freedom!

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I grew up in the late 80s and 90s. Back then, things were a lot simpler. There weren't any smartphones, and the internet was nonexistent. It didn't feel as fast-paced and loud as it is today. Thinking back to childhood, I remember playing outside a lot and having sleepovers at my girlfriends' houses on the weekends after we picked out a movie at the local Blockbuster store. Life was pretty sweet. I hope that's how everyone feels about their childhood. But maybe I was young, naive, and oblivious to the worries that adults face. Or maybe I was just really lucky that nothing scary had happened to me at that point in my life.

Today, I feel like we have so much more information available at our fingertips. We can know what's going on in every part of the world instantly on our phones. While this technology is amazing, it can also be overwhelming. There is no denying that we all know so much more about the world and what can and does happen to people (good and bad) daily. It has shed light on many things we may have never known. For instance, how we've lately seen headlines about terrible things happening to children during sleepovers. It's upsetting and disturbing and causing parents to debate their kids having sleepovers entirely.

Today's guest, Kristin Andrus, is extremely passionate about this topic. Her family has one big rule: They don't allow their children to have sleepovers. Some people disagree wholeheartedly with this rule, while others agree with her stance because they, too, know of scary stories that can happen and have happened during sleepovers. We had Kristin share her thoughts and experiences advocating for children on the show.

Kristin Andrus is a philanthropist and community champion who advocates for women, children, and refugees within and beyond Utah. Kristin is the driving force behind the impactful Building Bridges non-profit/philanthropy partnership. She also serves as a board member for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Intermountain Area and for UnDEfeated, an organization serving underprivileged youth and single mothers in Uganda. In addition, she holds advisory roles with the First Lady of Utah, Neighborhood House, the Younique Foundation, Utah Valley University, and Women Who Succeed. She is a community activator who believes in building bridges and bringing people together to help communities thrive! Nonprofits count on Kristin for her social media and marketing savvy and supernatural ability to get stuff done. She is also the Chief Culture Officer of her husband and six children and an incredible cook!

In this episode, we chat with Kristin Andrus about the great sleepover debate — should you or should you not allow your kids to do sleepovers — and how to make the best decision for your family when it comes to sleepovers.

This is a very big and passionate conversation. While some of my favorite childhood memories were sleepovers at my girlfriends' houses, hearing Kristin's stories and the stats made me rethink how I might approach this topic with my kids when they reach the age of being invited to sleepovers. This episode really gives us parents information that we need to know and new things to consider. I wonder, where do you stand on this great sleepover debate? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you'd like us to cover. Cheers to informed parenting and advocating for your family!

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One topic that I don't think is talked about enough with expecting and new mothers (or people in general) is pelvic floor health. In my opinion, pelvic floor health should be considered as a form of self-care and a part of us taking care of our overall health. I can't even tell you the number of people I have met who weren't totally sure what their pelvic floor is, what it does, how it affects them, and that everyone has one. And when a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to her baby, these are the times when she might experience some problems with her pelvic floor and wishes she had known more about her changing body and had support.

Whether you had a vaginal birth or cesarean birth, your body has done some hard, amazing work. Our guest today, Liz Miracle, knows all about this since she has supported hundreds of women as a pelvic floor physical therapist. Today, she is sharing her tips on how to best take care of our bodies after childbirth, including our pelvic floors.

Liz Miracle, PT, MPT, WCS is the Head of Clinical Quality and Education at Origin, the leading provider of physical therapy for maternity, menopause, and sexual health, with deep expertise in the pelvic floor and full body. Liz is a Texas native and graduate of Texas Woman's University School of Physical Therapy. She began practicing pelvic floor physical therapy in 2006 and has since received her Clinical Specialization in Women’s Health from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. After running her own practice for a decade, she was excited to join Origin Physical Therapy, where she works to implement the highest standards of evidence-based care and help train the next generation of pelvic floor therapists. When not exploring innovative ways to help her patients, she is at home hiking the hills in the North Bay of San Francisco with her husband and daughter.

Check out our SHOW NOTES for details on our discussion and my thoughts!

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you'd like us to cover. Cheers to taking care of yourself postpartum!

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I don't know about you, but I always knew, even as a child, that I wanted to be a mom. My dream was to grow up and have kids, create special family traditions, and be a very involved and loving mother. I had hoped that my journey to motherhood would be a smooth one. I knew that my mother experienced some difficulty conceiving my twin brother and me, but I was hopeful.

As an adult, when I entered into the career side of the mom-and-baby world, I quickly learned how much more common it is for people not to have the smoothest start to becoming a parent — getting pregnant and having a child. I've heard thousands of stories over the years from women about "becoming a mother." Each one, like a fingerprint, has her own unique story. Today's guest, Irina Reeves, is no exception. During our chat, I was inspired by her outlook on life and how she took her journey of becoming a mom and turned it into something beautiful.

Irina Reeves is a wife, mother to a beautiful baby girl, and the founder of OliviaR, a jewelry company that celebrates one-of-a-kind connections between loved ones.

Growing up in Russia, Irina was raised in a culture that encouraged very traditional family values: men went to work, and women became mothers and stayed home. But as a teenager in Moscow, Irina quickly recognized that her ambitions and interests often differed from those around her. She felt called to explore the world, travel, go to school, get a degree, have a career of her own, and one day become a mother. She knew she could do both – have a career and be a mom.

Irina first went to university in Moscow, then received her second master's degree in London, and then pursued a third master’s degree in New York. It was in New York when she met her now husband, and her life’s direction became clear and began to unfold. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their 15-month-old daughter, Olivia.

See the SHOW NOTES to learn more about Irina's company, OliviaR, our discussion, and my final thoughts.

*This episode is sponsored by our friends at OliviaR. Visit their website to order your jewelry piece today!*

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We all know that children are the greatest blessings in life. They truly are. Raising them, however, can be quite a challenge for us parents. We want to protect them, mold them, and encourage them to be the best people they can be. But how do we do that without being too permissive or too authoritarian? Many parents struggle to find parenting methods that work for them and their children, especially when generations before us parented so differently. Maybe you're trying to break family cycles that you learned and want to do things differently with your kids. Maybe you want to parent with better boundaries and with more respect. If this is you and you're looking for ways to connect more with your children and parent with compassion, you're going to love today's guest, Janet Lansbury.

Janet Lansbury is a former actress and model, and her passion for parent education began when she became a mother and sought guidance from infant expert Magda Gerber. Deeply inspired and grateful for her wisdom, Janet began training with Magda professionally. For the last 20 years, she has taught RIE parenting classes in Los Angeles and has served on the Board of Directors of Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) since 1995. Janet is privileged to support hundreds of thousands of parents across the globe, sharing insights gained through her parenting classes and personal experiences as a mother of three. 

In 2009, Janet created her parent education blog, JanetLansbury.com, and she later published two best-selling books, Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting and No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame. In 2015, Janet launched her podcast, Unruffled, which is the top-ranking parenting podcast about respectful parenting from Wondery.

Janet encourages parents and childcare professionals to perceive babies as unique, capable human beings with natural abilities to learn without being taught, develop motor and cognitive skills, communicate, face age-appropriate struggles, initiate and direct independent play for extended periods, and much more.

Janet Lansbury is someone that I have admired in the baby and parenting industry for years. Her work has impacted me and so many others (including many of my clients) with our parenting and how we think about our children, boundaries, discipline, and more. Hearing her share her personal story and her overall thoughts on respectful parenting was inspiring. I have been interested for a while in learning more about RIE and the work that Janet does, but after this episode, I may just take a course myself. Stay tuned!

If you would like a healthier relationship with your child and want to discover a different way of parenting that can blossom your own parenting skills, I highly recommend listening to this episode and learning more about Janet's work. I believe you will leave inspired, too.

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you'd like us to cover. Cheers to parenting with respect!

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