Is A Mother

Healthcare for pregnant and postpartum mothers is so baby-centered that the mother often gets forgotten. One of the most important, yet least talked about, healthcare needs for mothers specifically is strengthening the pelvic floor. And frankly, every human has a pelvic floor, so why are we not talking about it more often!? 

Dr. Chris is generously offering the promo code "firstfree" to our listeners to receive complimentary access to her Roadmap to returning to exercise postpartum: CLEARED to CONFIDENT online course for 30 days. 

In episode 4 of ___ is a Mother, we’re joined by Dr. Christine Pieton (known as “Dr. Chris”) to discuss the lack of education and resources mothers (and anyone, for that matter) receive around pelvic floor health and why it is so important to seek out a pelvic floor therapist. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• The structure of your pelvic floor and how a team of muscles work together to support some of the body’s most important functions. Did someone say sex?
• The truth behind kegels and why they aren’t the answer to all of our problems, at least not alone.
• Walking you through what an internal pelvic floor exam entails.  
• Why low back, hip, and pelvic pain are so prevalent beyond pregnancy and into motherhood. 
• What happens to your pelvic floor during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. 
• Navigating the hormonal challenges women face as we age, and its interface with pelvic floor health. 

It is never too late to focus on your pelvic floor health because it is never too late to get stronger. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us! And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell us your key takeaways! If there are topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know. Thanks for being part of our inner circle, we’re thrilled to have you part of this community. Go call your best friend!

CONNECT WITH DR. CHRISTINE PIETON:

Pieton PT

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@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie! 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Pelvic Guru- a directory by zip code for finding a pelvic floor PT

Discrimination in the workplace after giving birth is a mother, especially when your job isn’t guaranteed and to no one’s surprise, mothers, especially new mothers, are undervalued and often taken advantage of in the workplace. 

In episode 3 of ___ Is a Mother, we’re sharing our experiences returning to work after giving birth and the challenges we had to face as the strong-willed, career-driven women we naturally are. Our hope is that the more we open this conversation and encourage others to share their stories, we can work towards better treatment not just for mothers, but for women, People of Color, and other minority groups. 

Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• Our (unfavorable) experiences returning to work after the birth of our children. 
• The unfair undervalue placed on women, moms, and minorities in the workplace.
• The importance of opening up, sharing your story, and speaking up when you or someone you know is not being treated equitably in the workplace.  
• Embracing the discomfort that comes with change when you take control of your path forward. 

Regardless of your experience returning to work, be it positive or negative, you must remember that you are so much more than your job, and your life is so much more meaningful than what you do to pay your bills.  

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell us your key takeaways! If there are topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know. Thanks for being part of our inner circle, we’re thrilled to have you part of this community. Go call your best friend!

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie! 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Startup Parent Podcast Episode 23: Overthrowing the Patriarchy with Sarah Lacy of Chairman Mom

Our Uterus Is a Feature, Not a Bug by Sarah Lacy

Your Black Employees Are Exhausted [Article]

There is no question that becoming a first-time parent or adding a child to your family can be a difficult adjustment. The 4th trimester is a mother and the only way you’re going to get through it is with support.

In episode 2 of ___ Is a Mother, we’re sharing the unique adjustments that come with becoming a new parent and reminding you to be patient with yourself. When a child is born, so is a mother. Also do your best to make time for yourself and your partner as a couple, even when it feels out of reach. Give yourself grace and remember it is OK to both ask for and receive help. 

Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• Finding the balance between letting people in and accepting their support while maintaining boundaries as new parents. 
• Building a support group of trusted family and friends to help you navigate the adjustments to parenthood. 
• Some books, blogs, journals, and resources we found helpful during our pregnancies and into our 4th trimester. 
• Giving yourself grace and debunking society’s expectations of how you should ‘bounce back’ after pregnancy. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell us your key takeaways! If there are topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know. Thanks for being part of our inner circle, we’re thrilled to have you part of this community. Go call your best friend!

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie! 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool 

What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

Grateful For You: A gratitude journal for parents to preserve memories and special moments / korieherold.com, also @korieherold on IG 

Motherkind Podcast - Postpartum Doctor: why a hustle mindset will break you in motherhood and what to do instead

Age is a mother, especially when it comes to the challenges of finding your life partner, building a career, starting a family, and ensuring all of those elements align. It’s easy to focus on the drawbacks and worries of creating a family later in life, but there is also so much beauty that comes with aging and the realization that you are in control of your own path.

In episode 1 of ___ Is a Mother, we discuss the paths that led us to start our families a bit later than expected, and how regardless of what we may have thought our timing should look like, everything worked out just as it was meant to. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

• Why “dating ourselves” was the best thing to set us up for future relationships, especially meeting our life partners.
• Our different experiences planning for pregnancy, getting pregnant, and giving birth. 
• The importance of advocating for women, especially black women, to get the treatment and care they need during pregnancy and the birthing process.   
• Finding your ‘people’ and building a support network that you can lean on. 
• Our (differing) hot takes on repurposing your placenta after birth. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell us your key takeaways! If there are topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know. Thanks for being part of our inner circle, we’re thrilled to have you as part of this community. Go call your best friend!

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie!  

Two toddler boy Moms that have been best friends since college are here to share their unique motherhood journeys through a comparative lens. We aren’t supposed to compare, right? Well, that is not realistic. The first few years of motherhood shook their lives and friendship like no other experience has, and by comparing and contrasting their journeys, they have discovered the strongest threads of sisterhood yet. They don’t have all the answers and they sure have made some missteps. Follow along as they do their best to nurture their friendship while making one thousand tiny mama decisions in an unfair world.