M.O.M. Files - Moments of Motherhood | Podcast for moms

Have questions about labor, postpartum, newborn life, or motherhood in general? In our season 3 finale, we’re sitting down and answering all your listener questions!

We chat about:

• Tips for managing newborn care

• The emotional side of postpartum and what it felt like trying to feel like ourselves again after birth

• Favorite shows, books, and activities for young children

• Essential baby gear that actually helped us

• Ways to meet and connect with other moms during motherhood

Listen in for our personal experiences, honest opinions, and the reminder that every family is different, take what works for yours and leave the rest.

RESOURCES

• Episodes mentioned:

  • Make first 6 weeks postpartum easier: https://bit.ly/MOMFilesEp29

  • Postpartum reality meets play: https://bit.ly/MOMFilesEp30

• A study on a million words when reading to your child

• Mom resources

  • Karrie Locher on IG

  • Our affiliate link for her cool mom merch

  • Hey Sleepy Baby

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Season finale + postpartum Q&A

01:33 Labor fears + birth prep

05:09 Real postpartum recovery

08:57 Newborn care overwhelm

14:46 Feeling like yourself after baby

17:18 Favorite toddler TV shows

22:30 Baby products we loved

25:55 Developmental toys we recommend

33:20 Books for toddlers we love

37:23 Connecting with other moms

“I’m scared to have a baby.” If you’ve ever thought that quietly to yourself, you are far from alone. We’re chatting all about the very real fears and anxieties that can come with preparing for a newborn and stepping into parenthood.

We chat about:

• Our personal experiences with newborn fears, postpartum emotions, and the overwhelming transition into parenthood

• Worries around breastfeeding, soothing a crying baby, sleep deprivation, and feeling like you don’t know what you’re doing

• Why acknowledging these fears matters instead of pushing them away

• Practical ways to manage stress and feel more grounded during the newborn stage

Listen in for a reminder to give yourself grace as you navigate one of the biggest transitions of your life.

CONNECT WITH US

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CHAPTERS

00:00 The common fears before having a baby

02:58 What newborn anxiety actually felt like for us

05:49 Common first-time mom fears

09:05 Breastfeeding fears, stress & pressure

11:59 How we managed newborn overwhelm

14:47 Giving yourself grace

Are you preparing your toddler for a new baby and wondering how everyone is going to adjust? We’re discussing the emotional transition of growing your family and preparing siblings for a new baby.

We chat about:

• Hav’s personal experience preparing for baby #2

• The emotions, guilt, excitement, and fears that can come with the transition from one child to two

• Simple, realistic ways to help older siblings feel included and supported

• Why patience, flexibility, and connection matter more than “perfect” preparation

Listen in if you’re pregnant, preparing for another baby, or navigating the shift of growing your family and helping everyone adjust to this new season together.

CONNECT WITH US

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Bringing home a new baby with a toddler

02:58 Preparing your older child for a sibling

06:07 Managing big emotions after baby arrives

10:04 Creating a calm home during the transition

13:54 Simple ways to ease sibling adjustment

19:56 Honest reflections on growing your family

Are you in that quiet in-between — waiting for baby to arrive while trying to soak in these final moments exactly as they are? In today’s episode, we’re exploring the emotional and mental landscape of the last weeks of pregnancy.

We talk about:

• The push and pull of preparing for a new baby while cherishing the final moments with your current child (or your current season of life)

• Balancing family time, rest, self-care, and the emotional weight of knowing everything is about to change

• The mental and emotional side of preparing for motherhood (or motherhood again)

• Finding softness and presence in a season full of mixed emotions

Listen in if you’re in the waiting season and need a reminder to slow down, process, and care for yourself, too.

RESOURCES:

• Dr. Kim’s episode: ⁠https://bit.ly/MOMFilesEp30⁠

CONNECT WITH US

• Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @goldengoosecreative
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CHAPTERS

00:00 Waiting for baby while soaking in the last moments

08:13 Preparing mentally for life with two kids

12:58 The emotional shift into motherhood again

16:47 Finding balance in the overwhelm of motherhood

Feeling isolated after having a baby? In this episode, we talk honestly about the lonely side of postpartum — the identity shifts, mom guilt, emotional overwhelm, and feeling disconnected even when you’re constantly needed.

We discuss…

• Why postpartum can feel so isolating

• Staying connected to friends, your partner, and yourself as best you can

• Finding joy in small moments during survival mode

• Simple coping strategies for overwhelmed moms

• Getting outside, self-care, and celebrating small wins

If early motherhood has felt heavier or lonelier than you expected, this conversation is for you.

RESOURCES:

• COLORS: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Qw1dzXDBAZPwS7zm37g8g

  Dr. Kim’s episode: https://bit.ly/MOMFilesEp30

  Her book, Parenting through Play: https://theparentologist.com/book/

  Making the first 6 weeks easier episode: https://bit.ly/MOMFilesEp29

CONNECT WITH US

• Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @goldengoosecreative
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CHAPTERS

00:00 Why postpartum feels so lonely

02:56 Losing yourself in motherhood

05:58 Staying connected when you feel isolated

09:10 Coping with postpartum overwhelm

12:01 Finding joy during survival mode

15:02 Self-care that actually feels doable

18:04 Why getting outside helps postpartum

20:48 Celebrating tiny wins as a new mom

Feeling exhausted postpartum but still want to connect with your older kids without burning yourself out even more? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kim Van Dusen to talk about realistic ways to connect through play during postpartum and overwhelming seasons of motherhood — without adding more pressure.

We chat about…

• Easy low-energy play ideas for tired moms

• Couch play and simple connection moments

• Working through mom guilt and unrealistic expectations

• How playful parenting can reduce tantrums and power struggles

• Tiny ways to stay intentional when you’re touched out

Play doesn’t have to mean hours of entertaining your kids. Listen in for practical, doable ideas for real life!

Grab your copy of Parenting through Play here: https://theparentologist.com/book/

RESOURCES:

• 
  
• • Her website: https://theparentologist.com/
  • The Parentologist Podcast: https://pod.link/1568620347
  • IG: https://www.instagram.com/theparentologist/
  • Parenting through Play Book: https://theparentologist.com/book/

CONNECT WITH US

• Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @goldengoosecreative
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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introducing Dr. Kim and why play matters more than you think

01:04 The parenting play myth hurting moms

04:00 Easy couch play ideas for exhausted parents

07:31 Creative parenting when nothing is working

09:21 Mom guilt, burnout, and self-care pressure

15:51 Emotional regulation tips that actually help

18:28 Micro self-care habits for overwhelmed moms

25:10 Playful parenting vs constant power struggles

30:33 Inside Dr. Kim’s Book Parenting through Play

Are you preparing for postpartum or just preparing for the baby? In this episode, Aleea and Hav talk about the small things that quietly make postpartum harder—or easier. The real-life systems that matter once the visitors leave, and survival mode kicks in.

From nighttime setups and “drop zones” to freezer meals, mental load, and lowering expectations, they share the things they didn’t realize would matter so much during the 4th trimester, until they were in it.

Because postpartum isn’t usually made harder by one big thing. It’s the tiny frictions you don’t notice until you’re exhausted. Listen in for the realistic side of preparing for life after birth.

RESOURCES:

• Link to (not affiliates)…

  • Burp cloths

  • Egg nightlight

  • Flip over nightlight

CHAPTERS

00:00 The postpartum mindset shift no one talks about

03:21 How to set up your home for postpartum + newborn life

08:50 Drop zones that make postpartum less chaotic

12:57 Simplifying middle-of-the-night baby routines

15:54 Postpartum meal prep and easy snack ideas

20:34 Laundry and household task systems for surviving the newborn stage

How are you supposed to heal, function, and care for a newborn at the same time? This week, Aleea and Hav get honest about the part no one really prepares you for: postpartum.

From the physical recovery and mental load to the guilt, anxiety, and pressure that hit in those early weeks, they share what caught them off guard—and what actually helped.

They also talk through the practical things they wish they had done ahead of time, the support systems that made the biggest difference, and how to make postpartum feel just a little less overwhelming.

Listen in for practical ways to prepare for postpartum recovery.

RESOURCES:

• Karrie Locher on IG

• Our affiliate link for her cool mom merch (she has a drop coming soon!)

• Last episode link

• Unsolicited advice episode link

• Setting boundaries episode link

  Want all to watch all the pregnancy episodes? Watch season 2 here on YouTube!

CHAPTERS

00:00 Preparing for postpartum, what no one warns you about

02:38 The real postpartum recovery nobody talks about

06:07 Physical healing and emotional recovery after birth

10:44 Postpartum supplies that actually make a difference

14:12 How new parents cope in the early weeks

16:16 The mental side of postpartum no one prepares for

22:28 Postpartum guilt anxiety and the pressure of motherhood

28:01 Why support systems matter so much after baby

35:16 How to realistically prepare for postpartum life

Feeling the nesting urge kick in? In this episode, Hav and Aleea dive into what nesting actually looks like during pregnancy—beyond the perfectly styled nursery.

They share practical tips and real-life experiences to help you prepare for life with a newborn, from cleaning and organizing to freezer meals and partner support—focusing on what truly makes postpartum easier.

Listen in if you’re ready to nest with intention and figure out what actually helps.

CONNECT WITH US

• Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @goldengoosecreative
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CHAPTERS

00:00 Nesting instinct: what actually matters before baby arrives

03:11 Organizing your home for postpartum

06:05 Meal prep for new moms

08:53 Asking for help postpartum like cooking parties and support

12:42 Freezer meals and self care that actually help postpartum

18:36 Setting up your home for easier postpartum recovery

24:37 Talking with your partner before baby roles and expectations

28:42 Letting go of perfection in early motherhood

What do you actually need in your hospital bag? We’re back with Season 3! In today’s episode, Aleea and Hav get real about preparing for labor—both physically and mentally. They share what they packed, what they actually used, and what they’d skip next time.

From comfort items and snacks to prioritizing what truly matters, this conversation leans into practicality over perfection. They also touch on nutrition (like dates and raspberry leaf tea) and how things like hospital tours and birth classes can help ease anxiety leading up to labor.

Tune in for an honest, down-to-earth take on preparing for the hospital—so you can feel more supported, confident, and ready for what’s ahead.

RESOURCES

• Birth plan episode: https://bit.ly/MOMFilesEp25
• ⁠Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth Book⁠

• The date study and the effects on labor: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12045585/

• Huckleberry app: https://huckleberrycare.com/

CONNECT WITH US

• Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @goldengoosecreative
• Need podcast support? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our services!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Want to be a guest or have a topic in mind? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send us a message!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and personal experience purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for guidance specific to you.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Preparing for labor

02:52 How to prepare mentally and physically for labor

06:09 Are hospital tours and birth classes worth it

09:09 Partner support during labor

11:58 Dates, raspberry leaf tea, and natural labor prep

14:58 What to pack in your hospital bag, realistically

19:57 Preparing for your hospital stay postpartum

22:31 Comfort essentials you will actually use in labor

25:25 Postpartum recovery what to expect and prepare

29:20 Birth plans boundaries and managing visitors

30:27 Tracking feeds and newborn care without overwhelm