In today’s episode, we are talking about the phases and stages of labor.

What do I mean by phases and stages? There are four main stages of labor, these are the big catagories. Then within the first STAGE of labor, there are 3 phases within that.

So I’ll start with an overview of the four main stages, then I’ll go into detail for each one.

• The first stage of labor is what most people think of when they of a person being in labor. It’s when a birthing person’s cervix dilates to 10 centimeters. 
• The second stage of labor is the pushing phase. 
• The third stage of labor is the delivery of the placenta, or what I call the most forgotten part of labor. 
• The fourth and final stage of labor is called involution. This is when the uterus contracts back down to its pre-pregnancy size and this is the longest stage of labor as it takes about 6 weeks.
• Three phases of the first stage of labor: 
  • Phase 1: early labor
  • Phase 2: active labor
  • Phase 3: transition

Here is the Four Day Birth Class I talked about in the episode

How to get in touch with me: 

• Take the 4 Day Birth Class
• Get the Postpartum Online Class!
• Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillage.com/podcast

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

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In today’s short episode, we are kicking off season 6 of the podcast. 

I am planning on getting more intentional about the podcast moving forward and trying to align my content into more of a topic based focus. 

One thing I am thinking of incorporating is sharing birth stories. If this is something that interests you, I would love to hear from you. I have created a 60 second survey to go along with this episode, and it will be available in the show notes of this episode and on my website. If you like the idea of hearing birth stories on the podcast or if you would like to share your birth story on the show, please click the link below and take 1 minute to fill out the survey letting me know if you would like to hear birth stories and whether or not you would like to share yours!

Click here to take the 1 minute survey!

Another thing I am considering adding to the podcast episode repertoire is guided meditations for birth and postpartum. If that is something that interests you as well, please let me know in that survey.

I really love hearing from you. Its challenging to do that with podcasts because they are so disparate in how people listen to them, unlike social media where I can say “leave a comment” so I would absolutely love to hear from you in the survey. I will leave an area in it too for open input on topics that you’d like to hear about. 

What I have in store for this season is: 

• Understanding where we learn about birth at a young age and how that impacts us in preparing to give birth to our own babies in adulthood
• What starts labor, what our body is doing during the process and what baby’s experience is like
• Fetal positioning and physiology
• Pain coping practices and relaxation techniques during labor
• The phases and stages of labor
• All about pushing and all about cesarean births
• A partners role during labor and birth
• What happens right after baby is born
• How to advocate for yourself and baby
• Lots of postpartum topics, like getting into a routine with baby, caring for yourself in the days after delivery, newborn care and making a postpartum plan

I am also going to change up this season by having a mix of both solo episodes and guest episodes annnnd I am hoping to hear some of you on here too share your birth stories!

I’m looking forward to this season and for making this change that is more aligned with my overall vision for finding your village. Thank you so much for listening and if you have one minute to take the survey, it would help me out a lot. Thank you!

How to get in touch with me: 

• Get the Postpartum Online Class!
• Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillage.com/podcast

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking about communication between couples in the early days of parenting. Our guests to talk about this are Meagan and Jeremiah Conley. They are married with three kids and host a podcast, called The Minivan Years, that focuses on improving family relationships.

This will be the last episode of Season 6! We are taking a short break for the holidays and will kick off Season 7 in early January. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

In this episode we discussed:

• The Conley’s background and history of their communication as a couple
• The difficulty of communication when you have babies and toddlers
• The difference between having a baby in your early twenties and early thirties
• Episode 7 of the Minivan Years
• The Conley’s tips and communication advice for new parents

How to get in touch with Meagan and Jeremiah:

• Podcast
• Facebook
• Instagram

How to get in touch with me: 

• Get the Postpartum Online Class!
• Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillage.com/podcast

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking about baby wearing and our guest is Carly Flemming, who is one of the founders of the Fourth Trimester Foundations. They are registered nurses who found their passion working in the postpartum & newborn speciality. They met working at work and identified that most of their patients, especially the first time moms, were completely uninformed about what would happen to their own healing bodies after birth. They decided to change that narrative together by founding Fourth Trimester Foundations.

They’re also moms of many littles, so they’ve been right there on the other side of the bed too! (They’ve got 5 children between them) They know the transition to motherhood, even if it’s not your first baby, is beautiful, messy, transformative, and full of growing pains.

In this episode we discussed:

• Baby wearing 101
• Safety
• Types of carriers
• Video of Carly putting on a carrier

How to get in touch with Carly

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok

How to get in touch with me: 

• Get the Postpartum Online Class!
• Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillage.com/podcast

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking about alternatives to screen time for toddlers and preschoolers. Our guest to talk about this today is Bradley Morris. Bradley is the founder of Majik Kids (alongside his son, Sauryn). His mission is to raise the Spiritometer on Planet Earth by spreading joy to the world via Majik Kids' magical audio stories, illustrated books, imagination meditations & music (the first ever Fair Trade Publishing company). To date, Bradley has written and published 12 children's books and incredible audio stories . As a homeschooling dad, he believes in fostering imagination, creativity & curiosity in kids, so they grow up to be empowered, confident, caring grown-ups. For fun, he plays professional golf.

In this episode we discussed:

• Screen time recommendations
• Alternative options for screen time
• Audio stories and activities for kids to spark their imagination and creativity

How to get in touch with Bradley: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Blog
• Spotify

How to get in touch with me: 

• Get the Postpartum Online Class!
• Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok

Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillage.com/podcast

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking about healing trauma with Holographic Memory Resolution. Our guest to discuss this is Lenora Edwards, who was on the show a couple weeks ago. Our guest to talk about this Lenora Edwards and she is an ASHA Board Certified Speech Language Pathologist

Resources for healing trauma:

• Holographic Memory Resolution
• EMDR
• Books mentioned in the episode
  • The Body Keeps the Score
  • Waking the Tiger

How to get in touch with me: 

• Get the Postpartum Online Class!
• Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillage.com/podcast

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening. Our guest today is Lou-Ann Wattley Belk. As the creator of Well Worth Watering, Lou-Ann's goal is to empower parents with soulfully-curated childbirth education classes and postpartum services that honor each unique birth journey. At the core of Well Worth Watering’s mission is the belief that the birthing year offers seeds of self-discovery that bloom for the rest of our parenting lives. She also believes in creating space for the telling and holding of powerful stories, specifically those of black birthing people as heard on her podcast.

How to follow Lou-Ann:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Podcast

How to get in touch with me: 

• Get the Postpartum Online Class!
• Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillage.com/podcast

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about making speech therapy more affordable and accessible. Our guest to talk about this Lenora Edwards and she is an ASHA Board Certified Speech Language Pathologist working with Better Speech. She works with individuals of all ages from little toddlers and children who are learning to understand and express themselves.

In this episode we discuss: 

• What speech pathology is and what a speech pathologist does
• Why early intervention is so important
• Guidelines on screen time for toddlers
• How Better Speech makes speech therapy more affordable and accessible

How to follow Lenora:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube

How to get in touch with me: 

• NEW: $29 Birth Class
• Get the Postpartum Online Class!
• Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillage.com/podcast

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about why it is so important to vote in the midterm elections in the US, and how  you can do it even if you are a postpartum mom. Our guest to talk about this is Emily Tisch Sussman is a podcast host, women’s empowerment and family policy advocate, leading democratic political strategist, contributor to Marie Claire and Parents,  and mother of three. She  has made over 250 appearances on MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, HLN, and CBS. Season 2 of her podcast She Pivots is set to release in Spring of 2023.

In this episode we discuss: 

• Emily’s story of having 3 kids, close together and how it impacted her career as a political strategist
• Why it is so important to vote in this midterm election
• The decisions about women’s healthcare that are on the ballot
• How difficult it is for a parent, especially a mom, to vote while they are postpartum or have little kids
• Resources to help you get out and vote:
  • Vote.org 
  • Swingleft.org
  • Runforsomething.net 
  • Emilyslist.org 

How to follow Emily: 

• She Pivots the Podcast
• Instagram

How to get in touch with me: 

• NEW: $29 Birth Class
• Get the Postpartum Online Class!
• Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok

Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillage.com/podcast

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about a lesser discussed topic, which is Postpartum Psychosis. Our guest to discuss this is Megan MacCutcheon. Megan is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Perinatal Mental Health practitioner who helps overwhelmed moms find a sense of balance while raising young children. As a busy mom of three, Megan knows that motherhood is a juggling act. She loves teaching tools and strategies to help moms de-stress and embrace self-care so they can better navigate challenges associated with parenting.

She is passionate about spreading awareness regarding the various and very common perinatal mood and anxiety disorders women can experience, and enjoys supporting moms through healing and finding fulfillment in their journeys. She is the co-founder of Perinatal Place, a resource to help women in her community get access to all the resources they may need during pregnancy and postpartum.

In this episode we discuss: 

• What Postpartum/Perinatal Psychosis is
• How it differs from Postpartum OCD
• Resources that are available for help and support
  • Megan’s blog about the topic
  • Megan’s training video

How to get in touch with Megan:

• Website
• Instagram

How to get in touch with me: 

• NEW: $29 Birth Class
• Get the Postpartum Online Class!
• Follow me on Instagram and on TikTok

Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillage.com/podcast

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show