As a Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner and Certified Fertility Awareness Educator, Carly Hartwig provides expert advice and clean living tips to support the female reproductive system to get pregnant, avoid pregnancy, improve body literacy, and your overall health with natural and holistic strategies. 

Her mission is to empower women with the knowledge and tools for optimal reproductive health.  She is dedicated to enhancing ladies' reproductive health through clean living and education, especially when it comes down to their own menstrual cycle. 

In this episode, Carly and I discuss all things FAM (Fertility Awareness Method) and how she empowers her clients to utilize this method to get pregnant, avoid pregnancy and truly get a sense of their overall health through tracking their fifth vital sign. 

Time stamps:

• 00:00 - Carly's Bio & Story 
• 07:00 - What is Fertility Awareness Method (FAM)?
• 11:00 - When do we ovulate?
• 13:00 - Can't I just go on birth control?
• 19:00 - What about painful periods or acne?
• 26:00 - Endometrios & PCOS
• 27:00 - What are the main misconceptions about FAM? 
• 32:00 - What are fertility signs we can track?
• 39:00 - How do we know if we are ovulating?
• 40:00 - How would I avoid pregnancy if I am breastfeeding & not getting my period?
• 43:00 - What is an "optimal" cycle and what are some red flags?
• 47:00 - Our period as our fifth vital sign and indicator of our overall health
• 50:00 - What every woman should know about her cycle 
• 51:00 - Transitioning to perimenopause 
• 53:00 - Can cycle tracking help identify hormonal or reproductive health issues?
• 55:00 - Top tips for couples trying to conceive 
• 59:00 - What is couples are struggling to conceive?
• 62:00 - Top tips for couples trying to avoid pregnancy 
• 65:00 - The future of FAM

Contact and Resources from Carly: 

• Follow Carly on IG @cleanlivingwithcarly
• Carly's Website: Request a free 30 min consult
• Carly's FAM 101 Webinar
• Read Your Body app
• The Fifth Vital Sign book

Connect with Kristine:

• Email - [email protected]
• Instagram - @birth.injury.coach
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://mamaproject.myflodesk.com/mailinglist

Pregnancy is hard. Pregnancy after loss, well, feels like a new level of hard. In this episode I talk all about how I've navigated an *unexpected* pregnancy after loss, first trimester symptoms, combating worry & anxiety and more. If you've struggled with loss or are worried about a future pregnancy after loss, I hope this episode offers you the hope and encouragement you need! 

Does early screen time use cause Autism? How much screen time is too much? What actually is high quality programming? Why is early brain development so sensitive to screen exposure?

In this episode I dive into ALL these questions and so much more with my guest, Andreina Rosales. She is currently working towards her pHd and is a researcher of screen time and autism. When her son was born prematurely at 28 weeks, Andreina was motivated to set her son up for success, even if he was behind on certain milestones. This led her into researching screen time and its affects on child development if introduced too early. 

If you are a mom with littles, you do not want to miss out on this episode! 

Time stamps:

• 00:00 - Andreina's Bio & Story 
• 05:00 - Opinion of screen time in babies & toddlers before researching
• 08:00 - The type of research she does
• 10:00 - What constitutes screen time?
• 11:00 - AAP guidelines on screen time
• 14:00 - What is high quality programming vs high stimulation?
• 18:00 - Why early brain development is sensitive to screen exposure
• 20:00 - "Virtual autism" & red flags parents should look for
• 24:00 - Language development delays
• 29:00 - What screen time has the most negative impact?
• 32:00 - Educational apps/games for older children
• 34:00 - Real Autism vs Screen Induced Neuro Environmental Attachment Disorder
• 39:00 - Screen time limits for toddlers 
• 42:00 - Replacing screen time with healthier activities 
• 45:00 - When people say screen are the "new normal"
• 46:00 - How can parents balance screen time with older kiddos vs younger babies/toddlers that need limits 
• 50:00 - How parents screen use affects their children 
• 53:00 - How can we set boundaries with our own screen use?
• 56:00 - Advice for parents who might need to limit or detox their kiddos from screen time? 

Contact and Resources from Andreina: 

• Follow Andreina on IG @toddlertvtrap
• Request 1:1 Screen Detox Support

Connect with Kristine:

• Email - [email protected]
• Instagram - @birth.injury.coach
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://mamaproject.myflodesk.com/mailinglist

October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. In this episode, I'm talking to all the moms who have experienced loss and are apart of this awful "club." Losing a baby is one of the most painful things we can experience, but I promise you that you do not have to go through it alone. 

Download the Bible App - Miscarriage/Loss Plans available 

Ladywell was born out of frustration, resilience, and a drive to do better. After years of being dismissed by doctors and struggling with hormone imbalances, painful periods, and fertility challenges, founder Ashley Rocha realized something was missing in women’s health. The solutions were either ineffective, outdated, or created by people who didn’t truly understand what women go through.

In this episode, we talk all about her personal experience that ultimately led to her creating her own company Ladywell, a supplement company who supports women during every life cycle from trying to conceive, to pregnancy, to postpartum, to menopause and beyond. 

Time stamps:

• 00:00 - Ashley's Bio & story
• 03:00 - PMS & PMDD
• 06:00 - Where do moms begin in their hormonal journey?
• 09:00 - Tracking your cycles  
• 10:00 Mom rage & our hormones
• 12:00 - How can we manage stress & regulate our emotions?
• 14:00 - Signs of PMDD or Perimenopause
• 19:00 - The role of herbs & functional supplements in supporting hormone balance
• 24:00 - Protecting our fertility 
• 28:00 - How stress affects our fertility 
• 31:00 - What is Ladywell? 

Contact and Resources from Ashley/Ladywell:

• Follow Ladywell on IG @getladywell
• Ladywell's Website
• Discount Code: mamaproject20

Connect with Kristine:

• Email - [email protected]
• Instagram - @birth.injury.coach
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://mamaproject.myflodesk.com/mailinglist

In this episode, I discuss my spiritual journey from going to Catholic grade school and high school, to getting married outside of the Church and now finding our Church home. 

Kris and I met in the Summer of 2020. She was looking to make some serious changes to her health and fitness journey. Little did I know that this would evolve into a beautiful friendship and that I would play a role in her finding faith. 

In this episode, we talk all about Kris' journey; how she went from using drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms, to now praying every single day and surrendering her life to be a follower of Jesus. 

Time Stamps: 

0:00 - Bio & childhood upbringing

6:00 - Thoughts about religion growing up

10:00 - Coping with obstacles & getting involved in drugs/addictive 

13:00 - Starting her fitness journey 

16:00 - Why she kept going back to drugs & alcohol 

18:00 - When she made the decision to sell her franchise 

22:00 - How motherhood changed her faith 

25:00 - Hesitations & expectations of the Alpha course 

29:00 - When her heart started to change 

30:00 - Baptism & Going Public 

35:00 - How her life has been impacted by finding faith 

What is the Alpha course? And who is it for? 

"Alpha helps create a space for honest conversation around some of life’s biggest questions. It is designed to provide guests an opportunity to connect with one another while providing the opportunity to share thoughts, ideas, and opinions in a safe and caring environment. Alpha helps bring people together while providing the chance to encounter Jesus."

In this episode, I talk about my personal experience with Alpha as well as the key takeaways from several others who have also attended. 

Alpha Resources:

• Find an Alpha course in your area
• Sign up for Alpha at Mission Church (Bloomingdale, IL)
• The People of God Sermon (watch the last 10 minutes to hear more about how I encouraged my friend Kris to attend Alpha and how it changed her life)

Connect with Kristine:

• Email - [email protected]
• Instagram - @birth.injury.coach
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://mamaproject.myflodesk.com/mailinglist

Stefanie McMillin is a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist and Doula who is certified in Visceral Manipulation (VM). She is the owner of Full Circle Birth & Pelvic Health, Naperville’s trusted pelvic floor therapy and doula service provider. They uniquely support women through the full circle of women’s health, including conception, fertility, pregnancy, labor, recovery, and beyond.

The technique of visceral manipulation works to restore the normal motion that happens around the organs and tissues around it. Simply put, with this therapy Stefanie has healed countless postpartum issues like prolapse, diastasis and incontinence in a matter of a few sessions. 

Intrigued to learn more? You have to give this episode a listen! 

Time stamps:

• 00:00 - Stefanie's Bio
• 07:00 - What is VM?
• 14:00 - Traditional Pelvic Floor PT vs VM
• 20:00 - Postpartum prolapse prevalence 
• 28:00 - Recurrent birth injuries with subsequent pregnancies 
• 35:00 - Getting "cleared" at 6 weeks shouldn't be by your OB
• 41:00 - What if my PT isn't certified in VM?
• 45:00 - Tummy tucks and healing diastasis recti
• 47:00 - Is it possible to reverse prolapse?
• 49:00 - How VM can help the menstrual cycle (heavy bleeding, endo, PCOS
• 51:00 - Unexplained fertility 
• 55:00 - Physiological birth & why she became a Doula
• 1:00 - VM for Pelvic Floor PTs
• 1:03 - Finding a VM provider

Contact and Resources from Stefanie:

• Follow Stefanie on IG @doctor_stefanie
• Learn About Stefanie's Services
• Find a VM Provider

Connect with Kristine:

• Email - [email protected]
• Instagram - @birth.injury.coach
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://mamaproject.myflodesk.com/mailinglist

Grief isn't a linear process. There are still days/moments where I cry and feel really sad about no longer being pregnant. At the time of this episode being released, I should be 18 weeks pregnant. Experiencing a pregnancy loss has been one of the hardest things I have been through, and at the same time I believe I am being transformed through my pain. I believe that God wastes nothing and although He never wants to see his children hurting, He will use our pain for a purpose. Part of that purpose is talking about my experience in this podcast. I hope and pray that different methods of coping I discuss in this episode help you along in your journey as well. If you have experienced a pregnancy loss, I am so sorry and I am praying that God comforts and heals your grieving heart. 

Connect with Kristine:

• Email - [email protected]
• Instagram - @birth.injury.coach
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://mamaproject.myflodesk.com/mailinglist