There are no two ways about it: Being a new parent is hard. And that is exacerbated if a new mom has pregnancy-related or postpartum depression and anxiety. Today we're talking to a mom named Andrea who has suffered from anxiety since early childhood. Just about every parent has either gone through PPD or knows someone who has. We are going to delve into Andrea's story in the hopes that it might help you relate it to your own experience or to that of a friend or relative.

Some of the highlights of the show include:

• Andrea's first experience with panic and anxiety and how she remembers it decades later.
• How and why Andrea hid her depression and anxiety, and why mental health screening forms weren't helpful.
• How depression and anxiety affected Andrea during her pregnancy, including physical manifestations of anxiety.
• How an outpatient program for anxiety helped Andrea cope during the last month of her pregnancy.
• The importance of having a support system and how Andrea found a supportive friend through her program.
• How parenthood changes friendships.
• The quote that has become Andrea's mantra: "It's not forever; it's just for right now."
• Coping mechanisms and how Andrea manages her depression and anxiety.
• Andrea's best advice on self-care for moms who are struggling with pregnancy-related or postpartum depression and anxiety.

Today's episode is a bit different than the last several, because it's going to focus on gDiapers, the most eco-friendly diaper out there. If you haven't heard about them, they're disposable diaper liners that go into super-cute pants. We're going to chat with Marta Long and Shelly Yoast, two moms who know a thing or two about fashion. They're going to talk about style and how gDiapers fits into it. 

• How style changes from trendy to mom-in-her-sweatpants once a baby comes along, even in a very trendy and style-conscious mom. 
• Why a mom might feel just fine about leaving the house not dressed to the nines, and how wearing comfortable clothing can actually be a confidence boost. 
• Some thoughts on how priorities change when a child comes along. 
• How a mom can translate her sense of style to her child's style with gDiapers. 
• The transition for moms to one child and to two children when it comes to getting dressed and wearing makeup.  
• The mom-bob: What it is and why some moms want it. 
• How Shelley used LuLaRoe leggings to satisfy her sense of style. 

Miscarriage and pregnancy loss is very common, but it's not talked about very much. If you have been through a miscarriage, you might feel very alone. We're going to talk about that today. 

Our guest is Krista Parry. She will be sharing her story of her loss, from early-stage to later-stage miscarriage. She talks about how sharing her feelings and her journey on social media has helped her and her family come to terms with the loss and the grief. She's also impacted others who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy, as they now know that they're not alone.  

Some of the highlights of the show include: 

• Krista's plans for her family, as well as medical issues that caused her to have difficulty conceiving. 
• How Krista was surprised by her second and subsequent pregnancies after struggling with infertility. 
• The differences between a very early loss and a later loss. 
• Why Krista made the choice to share about her miscarriage on social media. 
• How Krista grieved and coped after her second miscarriage while also mothering her two little boys. 
• The difference between her grief and that of her husband. 
• Why Krista urges women who have had miscarriages to share their stories with others. 
• How Krista's beliefs helped her and her children to find comfort after the loss. 

Artist. Massage Therapist. Mother of 3 "high energy" boys. Angie Smith is busy, yet somehow maintains calm — and balance — through it all. 

Angie first identified herself as an artist when she was 10 years old. She launched her career before having her first child; however, once she had her first son (now 10 years old) her art career "went on pause." 

We discussed the balance between art and motherhood; between chaos and art. 

Notable Quotes by Angie: 

"I was fully-emerged in being a mother. I did not really create in the time he was born until he was 18 months."

"I was so wrapped up in being the best mother I could be to him, that I put everything for me on hold for a bit … including art."

"I felt it all come back to me. It made me happy. It made me calm. When he woke up, I felt like I was a better mother."

"Easier to balance now that I have 3 children. They are their own little tribe now."

"100%. Having children has made me a better artist."

Links:

Angie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AngieMae14/

Angie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngieSmithArt/

Guilt.

It's something that we all experience, but it could be more prevalent once you become a parent. Mom guilt, dad guilt, working parent guilt -- there are more types of guilt than can be named, and most parents feel it at some point! Left unchecked, guilt can build upon itself. The good news is that while you might always experience it to some extent, guilt is a manageable feeling.

Kim Graham-Nye, one of the co-founders of GDiapers, talks to us today about the guilt she has as a parent. She still struggles with it, but she's found ways to deal with it. If you experience guilt, and you probably do, be sure to tune in to learn some strategies for handling it.

Some of the highlights of the show include:

● How Kim ended up being a working parent, including her background and early career history and how she got into having her own company. ● When Kim's mother-guilt took hold and why it became overwhelming. She talks about what she felt guilty about, but as a mom and as a business-owner. ● How leaving her company for a few months gave her needed perspective as far as guilt and family life was concerned. ● Why guilt is universal, particularly among moms and how it does not discriminate between working and stay-at-home parents. ● Kim's thoughts on work-life balance and why it's so elusive. ● Why unrealistic expectations can lead to guilt. ● Thoughts on the differences between mommy-guilt and daddy-guilt.

Being a CEO is tough. Being a parent is even tougher. Today we are going to be talking to Rhea Drysdale, the CEO of Outspoken Media. Rhea is also the parent of a four-year-old and a one-year-old. As you can imagine, she has a lot on her plate! She is going to share her experiences of being pregnant, breastfeeding, recovering from a difficult delivery, finding her groove as a new mom, and then transitioning from one child to two, all while also remaining CEO of her company.

Some of the highlights of today's show include:

• How Rhea's experience finding out that she couldn't control everything changed her as a mom and as a CEO.
• How the kindness of strangers helped Rhea survive the first year as a new mom and a CEO.
• Some lessons that Rhea has learned about being a CEO while pregnant, a mom of one, and a mom of two.
• Why Rhea found it easy to bond with moms who had been through traumatic experiences.
• What she would do differently the third time around, if she decides to have another baby.
• How Rhea handled communication with her team members while on maternity leave.
• How parenting helped Rhea appreciate the wisdom of moms who have gone before her.
• Questions Rhea has asked herself to help find balance between work and parenting.
• How Rhea handles working-parent guilt and how she depends on her support system to help her keep it under control.

Sleep: It's something we all need, and something we probably don't get enough of.

As parents, we tend not to get enough sleep. If we want to function well and be better parents, however, we need to make this a priority. While it's important for us to make sure that our little ones get enough sleep, it's just as important that parents get the sleep that they need. Today we're going to get some great tips on doing just that. 

We're talking to two sleep experts. The first is Dr. Krishna Sundar, who is the medical director of the Sleep/Wake Center at the University of Utah. The second is Natalie Willes, who is a sleep consultant at babysleeptrainer.com and is an expert on baby and toddler sleep.

Some of the topics we'll discuss today include: 

• What sleep medicine is and how it pertains to getting better sleep, particularly when there are sleep disorders and issues with how the body responds to sleep.
• Why sleep is so critical to who we are as human beings and as parents, as well as why sleep is one of the three main pillars of health.
• The cumulative health effects of sleep deprivation.
• How screens (smartphones, tablets) impact our sleep.
• Sundar's best tips for new parents who need to get more or better sleep.
• The importance of getting your kids to sleep better so you, as a parent, can sleep better.
• Natalie's tips for parents to help them get more sleep.
• Natalie's thoughts on naps.

The moment that you get home with your newborn, you're hit with the feeling that you have no idea what you're doing. Today we're going to talk to a panel of seasoned moms about what to expect that first night and how to prepare yourself for the reality of being in charge of a brand new baby, especially if it's your first time. No one really prepares you for how you will feel, and of course it's different for everyone. So if you're going to be bringing home a baby soon, you won't want to listen to this informative and entertaining discussion!

Our speakers today are Christine, a PICU nurse and mom of four boys ages five and under; Ashley, who is the community manager at GDiapers and the mom of a nine-year-old and a toddler; and Rachel, a new mom to a baby girl.

Some of the topics you'll hear about include:

• Advice on how to prepare for the big day when you bring home your baby.
• The moment that Christine felt like she could really handle having a baby.
• How moms and dads might prepare the second time around and how bringing home a second baby differs from bringing home the first baby.
• Ashley describes the first day after bringing her first baby home, when reality set in.
• How Rachel's premature delivery and post-birth complications made the transition to home a bit less settled than it would have been if the baby had waited until her due date.
• What worked for each of the moms when it came to those first days at home.

Welcome to It Takes a Village to Raise a Parent, the podcast by Kim and Jason, the same people behind gDiapers, the diaper that's different by design. You'll hear from other parents, get actionable tips, and learn to be a better parent. Up to now, most parenting podcasts are about children, but there aren't a lot of resources centered around nurturing parents.

On today's episode, you'll meet DJ, the host of the new podcast. He'll talk a bit about his family and his philosophy on parenting. He will also share his hopes for the podcast how he hopes to achieve them.

We're glad you're here, and we hope you stop back regularly for more episodes!

Links:

The gDiapers Podcast

The Minimalists Podcast