Finding Your Village

Today’s episode will wrap up the end of season 2 of the Finding Your Village podcast. I am taking a vacation from the show as I prepare to launch by birth classes on July 7th! Season 3 of the podcast starts on July 18th! 

In today’s episode we are talking all about cloth diapers!  I had the pleasure of talking to Gigi Vera Vincent, who is a postpartum doula, mother to three toddlers, including twins, and a wife to her high school sweetheart. As a former teacher, her love languages are planning and handouts; she brings realistic, evidence-based, and actionable advice. She founded A Simple Home to help parents find their way to raise babies, so they can thrive in the fourth trimester and beyond.

Cloth Diapering 101:

Pushbacks: 

1. Partner / Caregiver / Daycare doesn't want to

• Find what will convince them 
• Make a routine and give direction
• Walk the walk 
• Let them do it their way, even if it means disposables. 

2. Gross

• They aren't much better or worse than disposables.
• Solids in disposables should be placed in the toilet as well. 
• Use a diaper sprayer and save clean up for once or twice a day.

Benefits:

1. Save money

• Cloth diapers are around $500 and can be resold or used for multiple children. 

2. Help the Environment

• Over 20 billion diapers are thrown away in the US every year.
•  With cloth diapers, you'll save disposables from entering landfills, sewers, and waterways.

3. Improve your baby's health

• Disposable diapers have harmful chemicals like bleach, dioxins, phthalates, and fragrances. 
• If your baby has sensitive skin, natural fibers in cloth diapers are much better. 

4. Are more practical 

• You'll never run out. 
• You'll have fewer blowouts. 
• You won't need to deal with size changes. 

Types:

1. Diaper + Cover 

• This diaper has two parts: an absorbent diaper and a waterproof cover. 
• They're called flats, prefolds, and fitteds. 
• These are great for people who want a small, minimal, easy-to-wash diaper. 

2. Diaper + Insert

• This diaper has two parts as well: a waterproof cover with fabric inside and an insert that absorbs liquid. 
• They're called pockets, all-in-twos, and hybrids. 
• These are best for people who want to customize their diaper. 

3. Complete System

• This is one piece with the cover and absorbency all sewn together. 
• They're called all-in-ones. 
• These are a good choice for someone who has others caring for their baby or wants a diaper most similar to disposable.

Freebie: Step-by-Step Cloth Diaper Routine

How to get in touch with Gigi

• Follow her on Instagram
• Website

How to get in touch with me: 

• Birth Class!
• Follow me on Instagram
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
• Email me at [email protected] 

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

In today’s episode we are discussing Postpartum Hormone imbalances. This is a very cool episode for me because I had the chance to opportunity to interview a friend and the wife of my husband’s cousin, Erica Hull! Erica is a board certified Physician Assistant, mother of 2 and lives with her husband and sons in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is so knowledgeable about conventional and integrative medicine, how the body responds to stress and what we can do to get back in balance. 

In this episode we discuss:

The difference between conventional medicine and integrative health

• Integrative medicine focuses on getting to the root cause rather than just fixing the symptoms

Hormones impact on a postpartum person’s overall health

• Many women have hormone imbalances postpartum due to underlying conditions or deficiencies

Stress impacts the body at the cellular level and it can be created by deficiencies

• Supplements, nutrition and functional medicine practitioners can help
• You can get functional medicine tests or sub-clinical tests to find imbalances or deficiencies.

You can do this testing with a local functional medicine provider or with online testing companies like:

• Everlywell
• Equalife
• Thorne

The core supplements that most people, especially postpartum people, should consider taking as a foundational approach are:

• Multivitamin
• B Complex (in methylated formulation)
• Magnesium (Magnesium Glycinate or Magnesium Oxide if you struggle with constipation)
• Vitamin D3
• Vitamin C (in the form of ascorbic acid)

The quality of the supplements that you take is very important, you want to look for a company that does third party testing of their products

• Pure Encapsulations
• iHerb

Give it at least 9-12 weeks to start taking a supplement before you decide if it is helping or not

How to get in touch with Erica:

• Follow her on Instagram
• Website

How to get in touch with me:

Sign up for a 4 week online birth class with me

Follow me on Instagram

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

Email me at [email protected]

Monthly Newsletter

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

I have been working toward and waiting for the right time to share this episode with you. 

I am a recovering marijuana addict. I am sharing my story today for two main reasons: first is to not keep this a secret anymore. Second, I would like to share my story of recovery, redemption and freedom in hopes of encouraging others.

I started smoking weed in college, I liked it better than drinking. I have a lot of anxiety and it calmed me down. By the time I was 22 I was smoking everyday from morning to night. I didn’t think I had a problem since I was still so productive, was a hard worker and accomplished a lot

After I graduated college I met my husband, Chris and weed was part of our entire dating relationship. When we got married, we decided to stop smoking, it took me longer than Chris, but I eventually did. I am a Christ follower and my experience was that I started going to church again, started praying again and I heard quite clearly from God that if I wanted to be mother one day I had to stop smoking weed. So I listened. I stopped smoking for a year before I got pregnant with my daughter and stayed sober from weed for 3 years until after I was done breastfeeding. 

I started smoking again after I stopped breastfeeding and I looked at it as a substitution for my nightly glass of wine. Then I quit again so that I could get pregnant again and I did. 

When our second was eleven months old, we invited our favorite distraction back in. We had every intention of indulging for a few months and then quitting again. But then the global pandemic happened and that was all the excuse I needed to keep smoking. Life became survival. My old habits had snuck back up on me, but this time the stakes were so much higher, no pun intended. I was a mother and had two little kids to take care of. 

Most people who smoke weed do not become addicted to it, but 9% of us do. I am one of those 9%ers. Just like most people can handle having a drink now and then, but some people cannot and are alcoholics. 

When things started to get out of control in my life I realized there were three things that I had to do to heal and put my life back together. 

1. I had to decide to finally like myself and chase after self-compassion
2. I needed to invite curiosity back into my life
3. I had to get sober and stop my toxic habit with marijuana

Quitting was really hard, because I was numbing myself to all of my feelings, so when I got sober, all of the feelings that I had been suppressing came bubbling up and I had a tremendously hard time. Thankfully, I found Marijuana Anonymous online meetings and went to a treatment facility to heal. Being away from my children for 18 days was the hardest thing I have ever done. It broke me. But I needed to be broken in order to start repairing. 

The healing that I have experienced has been more incredible than I can put into words. I still have hard times, but now I have tools to cope with those difficult moments.

I celebrated 8 months of sobriety on June 4th and am now at a place of doing all this work that I am ready to share my story.  I am sharing my story because I am proud of myself and all of the work that I have done and if I can do it, anyone can. So my final reason for sharing is in case just one person out there were to hear my story and is positively influenced in their own addiction or healing journey...that is worth it to me to be vulnerable and dare greatly. 

How to get in touch with me: 

• Follow me on Instagram
• Email me at [email protected] 

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

In this week’s episode we round out our series on birth preparation classes and discuss Hypnobabies. I was honored to interview the Founder and Director of Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis, Kerry Tuschhoff last week. 

Kerry is a nationally renowned speaker and writer on a wide range of women's pregnancy and childbirth concerns.  Her subjects include prenatal and childbirth choices,  informed consent issues, health and low-risk status concerns, comfort in childbirth, the power of birth language and midwifery advocacy. 

I hope you have enjoyed this series on the different philosophies on childbirth preparation methods and I think you are going to love this episode with Kerry. 

Thank you for listening!

In this episode we discuss: 

• How and why did you create Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis?
• What is Hypnobabies?
• What is the class structure like?
  • Class 1: Hypnosis basics, demonstration and introduction to "Light Switch Technique"
  • Class 2: Introduction to Stages of Labor, hypno-anesthesia
  • Class 3: Information about birthing choices and Doulas 
  • Class 4: How labor starts and Peace Cue
  • Class 5: Transformation and birth of baby
  • Class 6: Birth rehearsal and newborn and maternal care
• Who would be a good fit for Hynobabies?

Kerry is offering a  discount code for Finding Your Village podcast listeners to those that are interested in the Hypnobabies Home Study Courses!

Get 20% off with code: FindingYourVillage20

How to get in touch with Kerry/Hypnobabies: 

• Website

How to get in touch with me: 

• Follow me on Instagram
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
• Email me at [email protected] 
• Monthly Newsletter 

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

In today’s episode I had the pleasure of speaking with a husband and wife childbirth instructor team! I had the chance to interview Brent Caldwell and Michelle Gabrielle-Caldwell about their experience teaching the Bradley Method childbirth class. 

Michelle and Brent have been married since 1997, they always knew they wanted children. Blessed with two great kids, they didn't realize how impactful the birthing experiences were until sharing theirs with friends and family. Michelle's first pregnancy was normal and perfect, she wanted the same for the labor and birth...normal, natural. She took Bradley Method Classes, hired a doula and had a low intervention, natural hospital birth. Second time around she was older and wiser, birth two would be at home on Christmas night...same birth team! 

Both of them were inspired to teach The Bradley Method and they have been doing so since 2006.

Michelle is also a Certified Labor Doula, Evidence Based Birth Instructor and National Black Doula Association Doula Trainer & Mentor. In her spare time she loves supporting The Birth Center of NJ as their Doula Coordinator and Childbirth Instructor. 

In today’s episode we discuss: 

• Michelle and Brent’s background and  how they started teaching birth classes
• History of the Bradley Method 
• What is the the Bradley Method Childbirth education philosophy? 
• The role of a childbirth coach and a doula
• What the 12 week class structure is like
  • Class 1: History of/Intro to Bradley Method and Get to Know your Instructors
  • Class 2: Nutrition
  • Class 3: Gestation
  • Class 4: Coaching class for partners
  • Class 5: Introduction to 1st Stage of Labor
  • Class 6: Introduction to 2nd Stage of Labor
  • Class 7: Birth Plans
  • Class 8: Variations and Complications
  • Class 9: Advanced 1st Stage
  • Class 10: Advanced 2nd Stage
  • Class 11: Advanced Coaching
  • Class 12: Newborn care, Breastfeeding and Postpartum  
• Who would be a good fit for a Bradley class?

How to get in touch with/follow Michelle/Brent:

• Website
• Follow her on Instagram

How to get in touch with me: 

• Follow me on Instagram
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
• Email me at [email protected] 
• Monthly Newsletter 

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

In today’s episode, I am focusing on a newer childbirth preparation program from  Evidence Based Birth. I had a chance to sit down with Cat LaPlante, who is the Director of the Instructor Program at Evidence Based Birth®. She is a certified childbirth educator, certified doula, and an Evidence Based Birth Instructor.  Cat's passion is empowering birthing people and their partners through evidence based education and supporting their informed choices.  

In this episode we discuss: 

The history of Evidence Based Birth

How Cat got involved with EBB and became the Director of the Evidence Based Birth® Instructor Program

What the EBB Childbirth Education Class is like:

• Three pillars are: comfort, evidence and advocacy
• Starts with an online orientation, there are two models now depending on where you are: in person and online
• Teach about birth statistics and how to look them up for their care provider
• Online class is comprised of videos for parents to watch and then are followed with online calls with instructors
• The class goes over: comfort measures, interventions and the evidence on both and how to advocate for yourself or your partern
• There is also a postpartum section that goes over: delayed cord clamping, skin to skin, circumcision, diaper and washing baby and postpartum care plan

Who would be a good fit for EBB Childbirth Class:

• For the parent who wants to know it all
• Those who want to know the evidence and practice comfort and relaxation techniques

Don't forget to see the special cohorts and other classes being offered by EBB Instructors both virtually and in person in your area at www.evidencebasedbirth.com/parentclasses/

How to get in touch with Cat:

• Website
• Follow her on Instagram

How to get in touch with me: 

• Follow me on Instagram
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
• Email me at [email protected] 
• Monthly Newsletter 

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

In today’s episode, I continue this month’s podcast series on childbirth preparation programs. I had the opportunity to interview Sara Rossi, who is a Hynobirthing Instructor. Sara started as a prenatal yoga instructor and In 2007 she got certified in Hypnobirthing, the Marie Mongan Method  and as an Infant Massage Instructor by the International Association of Infant massage. 

Drawing on her experience as a mother, a prenatal yoga teacher, childbirth and infant massage educator, Sara looks to establish a safe and effective journey for pregnancy and beyond.

In this episode we discuss: 

Sara’s background as a prenatal yoga instructor and how that led her to become a Hypnobirthing educator after the birth of her daughter

What Hypnobirthing is

• A philosophy and method created by Marie Mongan
• Dedicated to providing birthing women and their partners a proven method of birth education that not only guides and prepares women for birth, but also is a program that considers the psychological, spiritual and physiological well being of mother, partner and baby 
• Built on a framework of breathing, relaxation, visualization, meditation techniques and positive body toning

Tools

• Allow you to enter an altered state of consciousness
• Enables you to access the beta, alpha, delta and theta waves that allows you be in a deep relaxation between surges 

Class Structure: 5 units that are 2.5 hours each

• Unit 1: history of birth, physiology, the language of birth and how to use breathing techniques, visualizations and affirmations 
• Unit 2: bonding with baby, hypnosis techniques, how to communicate with care providers, and how to harness the power of the mind to reframe fear in birth
• Unit 3: Deepening visualization and hypnosis techniques, how to prevent inductions, birth preferences, how to prepare body for birth through nutrition and movement and emphasize your body’s design for birth
• Unit 4: How birth companion can support the birthing person, and how they can assist and advocate for the birthing person
• Unit 5: optimal positions for baby during labor and birthing positions, bonding after birth and they touch on breastfeeding and the 4th trimester

The difference between a birth plan and birth preferences

• You cannot plan birth
• You can learn what your options are, what procedures are and then you can decide what your priorities are and write them down for you, your partner and birth team to be able to read

Who would be a good fit for Hypnobirthing:

• It is for anybody
• Those who want to eradicate their fears and doubts about birth
• Anyone who wants to have a conscious, empowered and educated birth
• Those who really want to include and bond with their partner through birth
• Anyone who think of birth as a celebration and a huge transformation

How to get in touch with Sara: 

• Website
• Follow her on Instagram

How to get in touch with me: 

• Follow me on Instagram
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
• Email me at [email protected] 
• Monthly Newsletter

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

In today’s episode I am kicking off the series about childbirth preparation classes. I am featuring a different type of birth education program each week in the month of May. 

I had the privilege of interviewing Nikki Shaheed and she is a certified Trainer, Mentor, and Doula for Birthing from Within, as well as the author of Heart Centered Pregnancy Journal. Nikki is passionate about bringing balance and self-compassion to the childbearing year. She lives in San Antonio, TX with her husband and three amazing children. 

In this episode we discuss: 

Background of Birthing From Within

• Created by Pam England, who is the author of Birthing From Within
• Her birth experience led her to ask herself: what did I need to know as a mother that I didn’t know as a midwife? 
• That question inspired her quest to find self compassion and a way to help people to have more realistic and holistic expectations before they give birth

What is the BFW "unmethod"? 

• There is no way to get it wrong with Birthing From Within, it is not outcome based
• It is all about developing self love, self acceptance and doing what the moment calls for without being held back by conditioning or judgment

Words we use in birth

• The words we use are powerful and create imagery
• The term “natural childbirth” makes Cesarean or medicated birth seem “unnatural”

You cannot plan out your birth

• You can prepare for birth, but you cannot control birth outcomes
• Center preparation around the foundational concept that you are stepping into the unknown
• Nikki likes to call Birthing From Within the “self compassion buffet” 
• Self compassion is the most important thing to pack in your birth bag

What will parents learn about childbirth, as well as themselves? 

• Parents will learn the “nuts and bolts” of birth
• Stages of labor
• Common procedures that can occur during birth
• How to prepare the for the unknown

Birth Art

• Embodied experience that allows parents to practice figuring out what to do when they don’t know what to do
• Wise and compassionate mentor is there to encourage them to keep going

Emphasis on the postpartum journey is a big differentiator between Birthing From Within and other birth preparation programs

Find a Birthing From Within Birth Education Mentor


How to get in touch with/follow Nikki

• Heart Centered Pregnancy Journal
• Follow on Instagram
• Website

How to get in touch with me: 

• Follow me on Instagram
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
• Email me at [email protected] 
• Monthly Newsletter 

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

 Thank you so much for listening to the Finding Your Village podcast, before I get into the details about today’s episode. I wanted to let you all know that in the month of May, I will be publishing a series of podcast episodes all about childbirth preparation classes. As I finish the last steps of getting certified to become a childbirth educator myself, I wanted to feature different preparation philosophies and some popular classes. 

My opinion about birth preparation is that it is important, but it is also not one size fits all. I compare it to exercise programs. Exercise is important for everyone, however, not everyone likes the same kind of exercise class. Some may prefer yoga, another person might like Crossfit and another may be a pilates gal. Similarly, I believe that birth preparation is important, no matter how you are giving birth and that some people may resonate with one philosophy over another. So I will be featuring an interview with a birth education from Birthing From Within, Evidence Based Birth, Hypnobirthing, The Bradley Method and Hypnobabies. So tune in for that series in May!

In today’s episode, I speak with Kathryn Courtoy of 3 Hearts Doula. Kathryn has 3 children that she calls her 3 hearts and named her business after, a son, a daughter and an "angel daughter". She is a Cappa Certified Labor Doula offering Childbirth Support in the North Metro Atlanta area. Kathryn believes there is no great transformational time in a person's life than bringing another human in the world and that every birth has a story. Kathryn and I discuss what labor doulas do and how they support all birthing people. 

In this episode we discuss: 

• Labor Doulas are for every birthing person who would like support
• You do not have to be planning an unmedicated birth or a vaginal birth to have support from a Labor Doula
• What a Labor Doula does before and during birth
• “Doulas catch the mom and Midwives catch the baby”
• I think of Labor Doulas as “birth consultants”
• Doulas don’t just get paid for being present during labor, but for all the support and expertise that they provide before labor starts
• The difference in roles between the support Partner and Labor Doula
• What holding space means

How to get in touch with Kathryn: 

• Website: www.3heartsdoula.com 
• Follow her on Instagram

How to get in touch with me: 

• Follow me on Instagram
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
• Email me at [email protected] 
• Monthly Newsletter 

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show

In today’s episode, I am doing another Podcast swap! That means that this episode is also airing in the near future on my guest’s show, which is called  Inside Out Podcast Today Eden Hyder and I are discussing attachment theory and EMDR. 

Eden Hyder is a licensed therapist, psychology teacher and mother of two who is passionate about helping others understand themselves, their relationships and their kids from the inside out. She does this through her counseling practice Inside Out Collaborative, her 5-star podcast Inside Out, and her online psychology courses - all of which you can find through her website edenhyder.com 

In this episode, Eden and I discuss attachment theory and talk about how EMDR therapy can help people with insecure attachments heal from their wounds and trauma. I share part of my story and get vulnerable in hopes of encouraging others to know that healing is possible. I hope you enjoy the episode and maybe even find encouragement and hope. 

In this episode we discuss: 

What is Attachment Theory? 

• A way of understanding people’s behavior and motivations through our relational patterns. 
• Those patterns develop from day one between the primary caregiver and infant. This core relationship gives us the rules that we apply to all relationships
• Attachment is essentially a bond that we create for the purpose of safety

The four Attachment Styles: 

• Secure
• Anxious
• Avoidant
• Fearful-Disorganized

What is EMDR?

• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprograming: a way of reconnecting to a memory that creates stress or a traumatic experience
• EMDR allows you to access those memories and allows you to process it and get “unstuck” from that experience 

How EMDR can help an insecurely attached parent?

• We have core attachment needs. Those with insecure attachments didn’t get some of those core needs met and that can result in distorted beliefs about ourselves
• EMDR can help resolve those unhelpful beliefs and integrate a helpful resource to help us develop more secure attachments with others

I can discuss a little bit of my own story, having a disorganized attachment, what it has been like to parent while healing my own stuff with EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Recommended books: 

• Happiest Baby on the Block
• The Whole Brain Child

How to get in touch with Eden:

• Website: edenhyder.com 
• Follow her on Instagram

How to get in touch with me: 

• Follow me on Instagram
• Find other episodes at: www.findingyourvillagepod.com
• Email me at [email protected] 
• Monthly Newsletter 

Visit www.keepsakecastle.com today!

Support the show