Laura Asks About Motherhood

Danita shared about having postpartum depression, and the lack of support she had in those early days. She spoke about the importance of support throughout the interview. If you, or anyone you know, is experiencing a post-partum mood disorder, there are resources to help! One is the Postpartum Support International, at postpartum.net. You can call their helpline at 1-800-944-4773 or text "HELP" to that same number, 800-944-4773. If you are in the United States, you can also call the National Helpline any day, any time of day, at 1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-662-4357.

Danita shared about the relationship she had and has with her child's father, and the journey that has taken. She shared a little about her spiritual path that led her to A Course in Miracles. You can learn more at acim.org. She shared that her spirituality affects her parenting greatly, and gave the examples of doing yoga and meditation with her son.

Danita shared about being a Black mom to her mixed son. She talked about being a Sagittarius surrounded by Pisces family members. She talked about being exhausted and the importance of making parenting fun. She also talked about how parenting influenced her choice to get a master's in Applied Behavior Analysis and Gifted Education. Danita also talked about the Arizona Birth Network, a non-profit organization that she has been the president of since March 2020. You can learn more at arizonabirthnetwork.org.

If you would like to come on the podcast to share your experiences of being a mom, send me a message! Or if you know someone who would be interested in being on the podcast, send them my way! I'd love to chat. You can reach out to me on the Laura Asks About Motherhood Facebook page or Instagram account. Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and thanks for listening!

Suzanne shares openly about being shell shocked after having her first child. She talked about developing postpartum depression and anxiety, an experience she writes about in her book, Post Pardon Me, which you can purchase here.

If you, or anyone you know, is experiencing a post-partum mood disorder, there are resources to help! One is the Postpartum Support International, at postpartum.net. You can call their helpline at 1-800-944-4773 or text "HELP" to that same number, 800-944-4773. If you are in the United States, you can also call the National Helpline any day, any time of day, at 1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-662-4357.

Suzanne talked about her Middle Eastern culture, and being a child of immigrants from Bethlehem. She talked about her family's religious roots are Greek Orthodox, but she was raised as Pentecostal, and her spiritual journey since becoming an adult. Suzanne talked about exploring what she and her husband want to pass down to their mixed race kids, and how religion and culture are very intertwined. She talked about a lot of other things as well, enjoy the episode!

If you would like to come on the podcast to share your experiences of being a mom, send me a message! Or if you know someone who would be interested in being on the podcast, send them my way! I'd love to chat. You can reach out to me on the Laura Asks About Motherhood Facebook page or Instagram account. Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and thanks for listening!

Kari talked about growing up in the German Baptist religion, and how her spiritual journey has changed and evolved over the years. She is queer identifying, and talked about how important it is to her to have a supportive community, where she can give and receive support to those around her. Kari talked about how being in, and then leaving, an abusive relationship led to placing her son in an open adoption with a lesbian couple. If you are in an abusive relationship, you can call 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 for help and resources.

Kari shared she was able to give birth in the adoptive parents' home, and how that helped the transition for placing him with his new family. She shared she had postpartum depression but had her placenta encapsulated, which helped ease her symptoms. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing postpartum mental health issues, there are resources to help. One is the Postpartum Support International, at postpartum.net. You can call their helpline at 1-800-944-4773 or text "HELP" to 800-944-4773. Text en español to 971-203-7773. If you are in the United States, you can also call the National Helpline any day, any time of day, at 1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-662-4357. Happy Mental Health Awareness Month!

If you would like to come on the podcast to share your experiences of being a mom, send me a message! Or if you know someone who would be interested in being on the podcast, send them my way! I'd love to chat. You can reach out to me on the Laura Asks About Motherhood Facebook page or Instagram account. Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and thanks for listening!

Vanessa talked about being a young mom. People expected her life to stop, or for her to put her dreams and goals on hold because of having kids at a young age. But with the help of her husband and family, she made it through school, work and raising young children. She also talked about continually finding a balance between her career and raising her kids. She talked about how important it is to receive help when offered, and to ask for help when you need it. She talked about the importance of community, especially as a first time mom with a young baby. Vanessa talked about soaking in the joyful, bonding, good times with her kids to help her get through the hard times. She shared that long road trips with even young kids is not only doable, but fun! She peppered in words of advice throughout, including the idea to stash diapers and an extra outfit anywhere and everywhere just in case.

I referenced The Badass Breastfeeding Podcast, specifically episode 82 when they interview Tracy Cassels, PhD. You can find that episode here.

As a mental health professional herself, Vanessa also encouraged talking to a mental health professional and/or your doctor if you are experiencing postpartum depression, or any postpartum mental health issue. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing postpartum mental health issues, there are resources to help. One is the Postpartum Support International, at postpartum.net. You can call their helpline at 1-800-944-4773 or text "HELP" to 800-944-4773. Text en español to 971-203-7773. If you are in the United States, you can also call the National Helpline any day, any time of day, at 1-800-662-HELP or 1-800-662-4357. Happy Mental Health Awareness Month!

If you would like to come on the podcast to share your experiences of being a mom, send me a message! Or if you know someone who would be interested in being on the podcast, send them my way! I'd love to chat. You can reach out to me on the Laura Asks About Motherhood Facebook page or Instagram account. Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and thanks for listening!

Ann shared about raising her young kids in Japan and Germany while her husband was in the military. She shared about how she always wanted to be a mom, so the transition to motherhood was fairly easy for her. She shared about how she had to adapt to each kid to know how to best discipline and help them. She shared about the difficulties of finding mental health help for one of her children, especially as he went through puberty. She shared how being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was like having a built in family, no matter where in the world they lived. She talked about the importance of play and being silly with her kids, and having a sense of humor. She talks about how quickly time has gone by with her five kids now grown, and how grandkids are the reward for parenting.

If you would like to come on the podcast to share your experiences of being a mom, send me a message! Or if you know someone who would be interested in being on the podcast, send them my way! I'd love to chat. You can reach out to me on the Laura Asks About Motherhood Facebook page or Instagram account. Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and thanks for listening!

My good friend, Gina, interviews ME about my pregnancy! I talk about my health journey, the differences between 1st and 2nd trimesters, the prep I did before pregnancy and now during pregnancy, and a bunch of other stuff.

If you would like to come on the podcast to share your experiences of being a mom, send me a message! Or if you know someone who would be interested in being on the podcast, send them my way! I'd love to chat. You can reach out to me on the Laura Asks About Motherhood Facebook page or Instagram account. Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and thanks for listening!

I am taking a month off, listen to find out the reason why. I am still collecting interviews, so if any of you want to share your experiences of being a mom, let me know! Or if you know someone who wants to come on the podcast, send them my way! I'd love to chat. You can reach out to me on the Laura Asks About Motherhood Facebook page or Instagram account. Episodes will resume in a month, on March 2, 2022. In the meantime, Happy Black History month! Happy Lunar New Year! Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and thanks for listening!

Melissa shared about being a young mom having postpartum depression and anxiety with both of her children, but much more intensely with her first child. She shared about how having her second child has helped her grow as a mom, and shared that her Christian faith has helped her through many days and nights. Melissa talked about moving from California to South Carolina recently, partly because she and her husband wanted their family to grow up in a slower paced culture. Melissa shared the joys of motherhood, and the things she can laugh about now, even though they were hard in the moment. She shares how much she loves spending time with her children, especially when reading aloud to them and mentioned Read Aloud Revival, a podcast to which she listens. You can learn more at readaloudrevival.com.

If you would like to come on the podcast to share your experiences of being a mom, send me a message! Or if you know someone who would be interested in being on the podcast, send them my way! I'd love to chat. You can reach out to me on the Laura Asks About Motherhood Facebook page or Instagram account. Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and thanks for listening!

Amy talked about being a teen mom and a single mom. She shared that being spiritual, and eventually finding her way to Catholicism, has shaped a lot of her life and mothering. She talked about how living in a trailer park in North Carolina, then moving to California with her family, affected her and her mothering. She talked about being Korean and white, and how her daughter is mixed, Korean and Filipinx, has shaped their experiences in life. Amy talks about her siblings, and how her youngest sister affected their whole family before her passing. Amy talks about how she grew as a person through and with her daughter, and gushes about her daughter so much, it's really sweet.

If you would like to come on the podcast to share your experiences of being a mom, send me a message! Or if you know someone who would be interested in being on the podcast, send them my way! I'd love to chat. You can reach out to me on the Laura Asks About Motherhood Facebook page or Instagram account. Please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and thanks for listening!