First Time Mum's Chat

I've spoken with a number of wonderful women on First Time Mum's Chat who help women during their fourth trimester including lactation consultants and doulas and this week's guest, Dr. Cindy Rubin is a general pediatrician, international board certified lactation consultant and breastfeeding medicine specialist.

Dr. Cindy has taken the step to operate her practice outside the US insurance system so that she can provide quality care without the clock constantly ticking!

During our chat you'll hear Dr. Cindy talk about:-

• The many benefits of having a pediatrician who visits your home during the 4th trimester which for many moms is a particularly challenging time.
• An explanation on the causes of biting during breastfeeding and ways to help ease this.
• What she offers parents in the Chicagoland area during the first 6 weeks after your little one is born.

And much more...

In this week's episode of First Time Mum's Chat, I'm chatting with motherhood coach and mum of 3, Jenna Hodge. The commencement of Jenna's journey into parenthood wasn't an easy one and Jenna also discovered that child number 2 was on the way when her first was just 7 months old, adding to an already stressed household!

During our chat, you'll find hearing her approach to what she was faced with and how she dealt with it, very honest, open and inspiring.

This week on First Time Mum's Chat I'm chatting with Amanda de la Madriz who is a certified life & mindset coach. Amanda focuses on helping make motherhood easier for moms by helping them to create awareness around their thoughts.

During our chat you'll hear Amanda talk about:-

• How to increase your awareness of your thought process and learn how to let beliefs go that do not serve you in your life.
• Why you need to be gentle on yourself and get into the mindset of identifying that you're a good parent who like everyone else does have some bad days, instead of constantly focusing on the negatives.
• The importance of not letting overwhelm get on top of you and to always take care of yourself so you can be 100% present for your little one.

And much more...

Pediatricians and other professionals emphasize the importance of talking and communicating with your baby and the amazing benefits that result from these interactions, including brain development, social skills, and improved cognitive development. However, what is often lacking is actually instructing parents how to do it and explaining to them why it is so important.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of my baby massage courses is showing parents how to read their baby's cues and get an understanding of their non-verbal communication and in this week's episode, I'm explaining why talking, communication and touch are so important and valuable for both you and your baby.

During this episode, you'll hear me talk about:-

• How you can encourage your child towards developing literacy and communication as soon as they are born.
• Why baby babbling is the key to early speech skills and how you can help encourage it more.
• Why you should avoid using baby talk and communicate with your baby in a similar way to how you do with other adults and friends,

And much more...

In this week's episode I'm exploring the importance of taking steps to restore your body's flexibility and normal range of movement as you go through your postpartum recovery period with mum of 2, yoga and flexibility teacher, Devin Garcia.

During our chat you'll hear Devin:-

* Talk about her online library of classes which is ideal for mums who are often time poor and unable to attend classes at a specific time.

* Share a number of yoga moves that you can use to help you begin to regain your flexibility after giving birth.

* Talk about the importance of improving your hip mobility to assist your overall body flexibility.

And much more...

I'm a big believer in complementary/alternative therapies which are about treating the whole person and not just symptoms or diseases. Earlier this year I interviewed midwife Beau Wilson who mentioned how she is beginning to help mums through their whole birth process education using homeopathy.

In this week's episode I'm exploring homeopathy and how it can help both mums and babies further with homeopath, Eugénie Krüger. Here's a couple of highlights of what you'll hear Eugénie talk about during our chat:-

• How homeopathy has no contraindications so can be used to help babies from the second they are born!
• How homeopathic remedies can help mums following a traumatic birth, such as a c-section.
• Details of homeopathic remedies that will help with issues including teething, sleep issues, colic and constipation.

And much more...

Many of the parents I speak with find the time when they are expecting their little one to begin speaking a highly anxious time. Of course, the medicos and other childhood experts will give you rough timeframes of when this should happen, leaving you to work out your own child's developmental timeframe.

For many, if that timeframe has past and they are still not starting their speech, they begin to worry wondering whether there are any developmental problems or issues such as autism in the mix!

This week's guest, Jill Urbane, who is an early childhood interventionist has been helping families for decades understand language and development and shows them ways to get their little ones on the path to words.

During our chat you'll hear Jill talk about:-

• The 5 pre-language skills that need to be in place before words are really going to start coming.
• Why it's advisable to avoid exposing your little one to noisy toys and why they often lead to laziness and speech delays.
• The main cause of speech delays in early childhood observed over her 25 years of experience.

And much more....

I'm sure you'll agree that there's no shortage of educational resources to help mums during their pregnancy. However, these are sadly lacking after your little one is born and you're beginning your parenting journey. Studies show that many mums will face the challenges of baby blues, postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression and I feel it is extremely valuable for mums to have a better understanding of their causes.

In this week's episode, I'm speaking with mum of 2, Michelle Solger, who is a certified mental wellness coach and postpartum educator. You'll hear Michelle share some excellent tips and insights to help you understand these better including:-

• An explanation of what is going on in your body after giving birth with regards to your hormones and their role in your body.
• Some tips to help you recognise whether you are suffering those baby blues or whether it has reached the point of being postpartum depression.
• Why you must not be shy and ask for help when you need it.
• Tips on how to how to ensure you take care of yourself including dietary suggestions, probiotics and supplements that can help improve your mental health.

And much more....

I often highlight and discuss on First Time Mum's Chat the importance of having the right mix of people ready to support you when you've given birth and adapting to your new life with that additional member of your family that demands so much of your time!

Doulas provide invaluable support and assistance and in this week's episode I'm chatting with postpartum doula, Heather Magill. Heather brings calm, confidence and connection into the lives of families with new babies and you'll hear her talk about the wonderful support she provides to the families she works with.

You'll hear Heather talk about how doulas:-

• Help your entire family unit by taking care of your whole family's physical and emotional needs.
• Draw on their wealth of experience from supporting numerous families to help you, highlighting what they feel needs to be acted upon.
• Are great listeners and take the time to build meaningful relationships with the families they work with, instead of simply offering brief 10 - 15 minute appointments and then leaving them to their own vices.

And much more...

Over the years I've often heard of craniosacral therapy and what it does and how it works has always intrigued me! I knew that it could do a lot for adults but also wondered whether parents could use it to help their little ones. I was unsure whether it was sufficiently gentle for that purpose when they are so tiny and fragile.

In this week's episode I'm chatting with mum of 2, Meaghan Beames, who is an Infant Craniosacral Therapist, specialising in providing gentle care to newborns, infants and young children.

During our chat you'll hear Meaghan talk about:-

• How incredibly gentle the craniosacral therapy techniques are and how safe they are even for infants to receive.
• How craniosacral therapy can help ease muscle and tissue tensions that cause babies to experience symptoms including colic, a shallow latch and a preference to turn their head to one side only.
• How craniosacral therapy works directly with the nervous system to give your baby fast relief of their troublesome symptoms.
• How craniosacral therapy can help with tongue tie tension.

And much more...