Hello Postpartum

Women are more career driven than ever.

The pandemic effected a lot of families. With lay-offs, furloughs, and thousands of workers going remote, the landscape of career-driven women has changed dramatically. With companies pushing for employees to return to the office, many women are feeling the pressure.

But the pandemic is far from over and flexibility is more important than ever when it comes to taking care of our families.

Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LMSW, JD, PMH-C, former attorney and founder of LAT Counseling, dives into the power of women in the workplace. In this episode, we talk about the pressures women are feeling from their employees to work like your not a parent. it's so important to, not only advocate for equality in the workplace, but also to know your rights and be confident that your employers understand that we don't stop being parents in the workspace.

I hope this episode inspires you to make a change for yourself and for for every working parent out there.

Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LMSW, JD, PMH-C is an advocate and therapist specializing in life transitions affecting millennial and young women.

A licensed social worker, and former attorney with a decade of experience in the legal industry including as a coach to working parents, she is also the proud mama of two young kids. Intensively trained in perinatal mental health, Lauren currently uses her experience, empathy, and emotional intelligence to empower others through psychoeducational parent support groups and counseling and consulting services.

She is actively involved in numerous efforts benefitting at-risk families in her native New York and abroad, including as a Postpartum Support International helpline volunteer, 2020 Mom Ambassador, and mentor with The Mom Project.

Learn more about her mission to support working, new, and aspiring parents at www.LATCounseling.com or on Instagram @thecounselaur.

2:35 | Setting mothers up to fail in the workplace 6:04 | Navigating tough parenting decisions 12:44 | Parenting out loud 17:20 | Know your rights 19:32 | FMLA 29:17 | Working like you're not a parent 32:37 | Ask for what you deserve 34:38 | Wish you knew about postpartum

Expecting comes with more than just a baby.

As a new or multi-mama, you may have fallen victim to societal pressures surrounding both pregnancy and motherhood. How to eat, how to sleep, how to change a diaper, how to encourage crawling or eating solid foods, how to breastfeed...the list is endless.

While the intentions behind them may be good, falling short of these expectations can put a lot of unwanted stress on us as mothers. We may think we are doing things wrong or aren't good mothers because we are falling short.

Take a breath. You're doing fantastic.

Meghan Van Metre, the voice behind The Stressfree Mama, is here to put those pressures put on us by society to bed. In this episode, we dive into the natural person you should be listening to on your motherhood journey, yourself.

Getting clear of the fluff will help you listen to that inner voice and help remind us that there are no two mothers on the same journey. Meghan is a great advocate in tapping into our motherly intuition regarding parenting, self-care, and trusting ourselves.

I'm Meghan Van Metre, and my passion for helping mamas was sparked by my own experience of having a baby. I vividly remember that dreaded two-week wait, saying goodbye to the body and identity I once knew while pregnant, and my-oh-my, those postpartum hormones were REAL!

1:39 | Moving into the postpartum space 3:03 | FInding your intuition 5:50 | Listening to your intuition 9:28 | Mothering in masculine vs. feminine energy 15:58 | question one thing 19:19 | Essential work 22:29 | Advice for postpartum moms 29:28 | Isolation 37:00 | Changing your style 40:55 | What you wish someone told you about postpartum

While I was going through the usual ups and downs of motherhood, I realized how little support there is for a mama's mental health and how much pressure there is to do things a certain way. Stress shouldn't rob a mom of the most beautiful time in her life, which is why I am here.

I'm based in California and work with women across the world. I live with my baby girl Mylo, husband Matt, and mini Goldendoodle Cody. Outside of life coaching, I love to send snail mail and spend time in Lake Tahoe.

You can connect with Meghan Van Metre on her website thestressfreemama.com where you can find additional information and resources.

As a new parent, knowing what you need can be challenging to figure out. As much as it is hard to ask for the help we need from our loved ones, it is also hard to know when to say enough is enough.

Setting boundaries are so important in more ways than one.

Women's health expert and Motherhood advocate Alissa Alter helps set the tone in how new mothers everywhere can find their voice in setting boundaries and keeping them.

Alissa uses her own life experiences to grab the boundary bull by the horns, giving us her best tips and advice on the importance of setting limits with your family members and supporters when it comes to your first steps into motherhood.

This episode was so fun, and I hope Alissa's witty banter will help you create those boundaries - and stick to them - that much more inspiring.

Alissa Alter is a Women's Health Expert & Motherhood Advocate and the author of Unstuck: From Understudy To The Study Of Your Undercarriage.

She uses movement, mindfulness, and good ol' fashioned education to help mamas and mamas-to-be stop suffering in silence so that pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum can be healing and empowering stages of life.

She received her Pilates certification through Romana's Pilates at True Pilates New York and founded Pilates For Your Privates in 2017. She also holds certifications in ELDOA, workshops with The Hospital For Special Surgeries, Physical Therapists, OBGYNs, Pediatricians, Yoga, Reiki, and ballet.

Alissa has taught workshops in NYC, New Jersey, and internationally and remains committed to being a lifelong student of the human experience.

She graduated from Skidmore College with a dual degree in Spanish Language & Literature and Dance Performance & Choreography and has been touring the United States with musicals since she was three years old.

2:05 | Importance of boundaries 5:47 | Navigating your family of origin 19:20 | Did you masturbate today? 21:00 | Baby steps 29:17 | Burn out 36:21 | Weighing your options 39:38 | Postpartum experience

On her website, you can learn more, explore resources, and connect with Alissa Alter. Visit now.

• New Baby? Six Tips for Setting Boundaries with Family
• How to Set Boundaries After Your Baby is Born

Losing a child, no matter what stage of pregnancy or motherhood, is something we cannot begin to understand how to navigate. 1 in 5 women will experience pregnancy loss.

That is one too many.

Certified Perinatal Mental Health practitioner Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, PMH-C, helps explain the stages of grief and what mothers experiencing loss can do to help heal and navigate the challenges loss can bring.

Megan is an avid supporter of women during pregnancy and postpartum. She uses her insight and guidance to help mothers struggling with these difficult times find the light amongst what can feel like endless darkness.

While we cannot prevent pregnancy loss, let's give it a voice and help women worldwide find their voice.

Megan MacCutcheon 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 common perinatal mood and anxiety disorders women can experience and enjoys supporting moms through healing and finding fulfillment in their journeys.

Megan also specializes in helping women and young adults build self-esteem and has published four books on the topic.

3:10 | Physical effects after loss 14:18 | Advice for women experiencing loss 2:17 | Postpartum after loss 5:15 | Stages of grief 11:15 | How to open up 14:30 | Getting pregnant after a loss 22:23 | Support 31:13 | Tidal wave 32:35 | Unprocessed grief 37:07 | What can you do with grief? 43:04 | About Postpartum

On her website, you can learn more, explore resources, and connect with Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, PMH-C. Visit now.

• Perinatal Mood or Anxiety Disorder (PMAD) Guide
• Mom's Toolkit for Stress Management
• Stress Stoppers to Keep You Sane
• Pregnancy Loss Statistics + Resources for Support

• Navigating the Physical Recovery of Late-Term Pregnancy Loss
• Healing from Pregnancy Loss During COVID-19
• A List of Supportive Pregnancy and Infant Loss Resources

It's a subject that so many understand and yet, aren't sure how to navigate. One in four pregnancies results in loss, and while this statistic seems glaring when you first encounter it, we never think it will happen to us. But there's a chance. And if that chance does happen, how do we get through it? What physical and emotional toll will it take? Will it be impossible to overcome?

Take a breath because nothing is impossible.

Ashley Derderian Sousa, RN, IBCLC, shares her experiences being right alongside mothers during such a difficult, and for some, unexpected time. Ashley truly believes that a loss is a loss, and no one should undermine the impact it has, nor the time it takes to heal from it. Her insight and personal attachment to this subject expose the anxiety, isolation, and physical toll losing a child can have.

No one should tell you how to mourn, and Ashley is here to remind everyone who has or is currently experiencing a loss that you are not alone.

Ashley Derderian Sousa, RN, IBCLC, is a registered nurse and a board-certified lactation consultant with 12 years of experience, spending the past 8 of those years providing care as a labor, delivery, and postpartum nurse and lactation consultant.

The first four years of her career were spent in the Medical Intensive Care Unit, which provides Ashley with a wide range of medical experience. Her compassionate and caring personality offers the ability to foster connection with the women, men, and families she works with.

She has a passion for learning and sharing her knowledge with others and is the proud owner of gansettgal. The Gansett Gal is a business catered towards educating and empowering mamas everywhere by providing fun education, private nurse consultations, postpartum support, lactation services, and more.

Raised and now living in Rhode Island, Ashley is a world traveler and previously lived and worked in New York City. She is also an avid runner, lover of the beach, and foodie! Most importantly, she is the lucky momma to a perfect little lady, Grace.

3:10 | Physical effects after loss 14:18 | Advice for women experiencing loss 19:19 | Impact of delivery during covid 21:55 | Suggestions around labor/delivery 26:08 | Questions to ask 30:39 | The effect on your partner 40:26 | Personable loss 46:57 | About postpartum

With those challenges comes obstacles we never thought we would face alone. Infant loss doesn't take a back seat to troubling times. For mothers who have experienced this during the pandemic, the feelings and emotions have never been more substantial and more isolating.

Between postpartum depression, anxiety, PTSD, and a looming sense of isolation, this episode talks about the power of being acknowledged and seen in your experience.

Trust that you're not alone.

Dr. Veronica Eyo, LCSW, talks about how to navigate these chapters of your life. Every person grieves differently, and Dr. Veronica's knowledge of finding support and healing on your terms can help break down the walls of singularity that infant loss can build around us.

Acknowledgment and support are something mothers don't always receive. Understanding the impact that this could carry for mothers is something Dr. Veronica understands, and her strategies to help those heal from it are the first step toward acceptance.

As a licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Veronica is honored to be a part of that outside help for you. She has years of experience treating adults and couples that struggle with trauma, depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship conflicts, parenting skills, social skills, and grief and loss.

She specializes in working with mothers (new and seasoned) as they navigate their motherhood journey and managing symptoms of perinatal mental health. Her approach to therapy is a collaborative, client-centered approach using various evidence-based interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy.

She obtained her Master's and a doctoral degree from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Veronica strongly believes the client/therapist relationship is the most critical part of therapy. Therefore, she offers a free 15-minute phone consultation to help determine if she is the right fit. Learn more about her work.

You can expect her sessions to be an empathetic, non-judgmental space that allows you to be vulnerable as she provides support, guidance, and structure. Her goal for your sessions is to work collaboratively to facilitate change in your life and accomplish your personal growth goals.

3:36 | Navigating loss in isolation 6:48 | What you're up against 14:15 | If you think about it, it's valid 17:23 | How to support 20:06 | Boundaries during covid 25:42 | One small step 29:24 | Re-integrating life after loss 38:24 | No one way to grieve 41:25 | It's okay to ask for the help you need

But postpartum doesn't end at 6-weeks. What's left behind runs deeper than the scars from a c-section or an episiotomy. Your body is recovering from some of the most intense trauma it has ever faced, and that comes with so many changes to your physical wellbeing.

This is why listening to your body is important because sometimes the issue isn't just a lack of sleep or not eating right. Sometimes it's something else.

Dr. Alissia Zenhausern of NMD Wellness of Scottsdale focuses on the importance of trusting your instincts in postpartum recovery. Only you can advocate for your wellness, and Dr. Zen gives her expert advice on hormone health, what questions to ask your healthcare physician and how to make sure you are in the know with your health.

Dr. Zen is a firm believer in healthy moms raising healthy and happy babies. Educating yourself in hormone health and knowing your body inside and out is the first step in changing the perspective around postpartum health.

Dr. Alissia Zenhausern, NMD (Dr. Zen), is a leader in naturopathic medicine. She is the founder of NMD Wellness of Scottsdale, a premier naturopathic clinic focused on your fertility journey.

Whether you want a family now or don't want to miss your chance in the future, Dr. Zen and her team provide a comprehensive approach to your health to optimize your preconception, fertility, and postpartum experience.

Dr. Zen provides integrative care options that put you back into the driver's seat of your health.

Initially from Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. Zen believes in the power of naturopathic medicine and has helped hundreds of women get pregnant naturally. She also works in conjunction with your other fertility team members, including your gynecologist, OBGYN, REI, and endocrinologist, to provide a custom approach to your health.

Dr. Zen emphasizes the importance of getting to the root cause of your hormonal imbalance, whether you suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Endometriosis, Luteal Phase Defect, or recurrent miscarriages.

2:04 | Hormone support 5:22 | Getting your levels checked 11:20 | What to advocate for while breastfeeding 19:38 | Broken system 25:12 | Baby #2 infertility 31:15 | Adrenal fatigue 39:42 | Providers want to help 4203 | Connect with Dr. Zen

This sounds like a heavy question. Traumatic birth isn't always just labor and delivery gone wrong. It can be anything a mother experiences that leaves a long-lasting impression on their mental and/or physical state during and after birth.

So many mothers experience this and, for most of them, the trauma is disregarded and left untreated.

Talking with Sharmon Reddington of Mum Well, this episode focuses on the societal stigma surrounding birth trauma. She shares her personal story and how she overcame the pressures of putting her trauma aside to embrace and heal from it.

In our mission to change the perspective around postpartum health, birth trauma plays a significant part. Taking care of our mental health and actively seeking help in our recovery is the first step to becoming better parents and moms.

1:54 | The definition of traumatic birth 7:55 | Sharmon's birth trauma experience 14:05 | Downplaying our emotions 17:51 | A message to mothers 21:21 | Postpartum support with birth trauma 30:50 | What for you is good? 35:33 | What you wish you knew about postpartum

You can learn more, explore resources, and connect with Sharmon at mumwell.com.

• What Is a Traumatic Birth? Here Are The Steps to Heal
• Struggling to Adjust to Motherhood? It's Okay to Not Be Okay
• A Free Mental Health Checklist for New Moms

It is pushed on new mothers before, during, and after pregnancy. But what if breastfeeding isn't an option for you? What if it's too painful or having a severe effect on your mental health? Or you just don't want to.

Despite popular belief, it's okay not to breastfeed.

Talking with Mallory Whitmore of The Formula Mom, we're here to move that stigma to the sidelines and give mom's the confidence and support in their decision to formula feed their little ones. This episode is all about self-advocating and helping those mothers struggling with their decision to find some peace of mind.

Topics Covered

1:43 | Her experience with breastfeeding 5:30 | Mom's health 6:57 | "I don't want to breastfeed" 12:50 | Formula feeding challenges 16:30 | Baby-friendly hospitals 22:45 | Baby-friendly advice 33:05 | Everything is allowed 34:21 | What she wishes someone told her about postpartum

Mallory is offering 10% off her formula feeding resources such as the Formula 101 Handbook, the Fast Track Formula Finder, the All-Access Formula Index, and my consult bundle with code HELLO at checkout.

Head to theformulamom.com for more details.

Join over 10,000 parents who have claimed their Free Formula Guide to help make more informed, confident feeding decisions.

• The Must-Know Basics of Preparing Formula for Your Baby
• Breast Reductions and Its Affect on Breastfeeding: One Mom's Story
• Difficulty Bottle-Feeding Baby? These Tips Will Help

Having a baby is a huge, life-changing experience. If you were anything like me, you read all the baby books, researched all the best clothes, best bottles, best toys, the best everything to welcome the new life you are preparing to bring into the world. Becoming a mother is exciting and nerve-racking all at the same time.

But things don't always go as planned, right? And no matter how many books I'd read or research I'd done, no one could have prepared me for what would happen after birth. Postpartum is not what you read in the baby books; it is rarely discussed and barely recognized. But this time is everything.

I created this podcast to shine a light on postpartum. For women to share their stories, advice, and experiences and for moms struggling or who have struggled during postpartum never to feel alone or unsupported.

By sharing my experience and others, I hope to give a voice to those who feel like they don't have one. To recognize, embrace and support mothers throughout their life after delivery.

0:53 | The Hello Postpartum journey

1:42 | My little breech baby

6:07 | Moments leading up to delivery

8:29 | My postpartum period

10:13 | New mothers in postpartum

11:09 | Postpartum never truly ends

12:31 | What to expect on this show

14:40 | My ask for you, listener