Join us on this special episode of Moms in the Middle as Elly celebrates the 2-year anniversary of her second “birth”day with her daughter Brenley’s birth story. From the shock of discovering a natural pregnancy after IVF with her first born, to the dramatic entrance of her daughter into the world, Elly’s story is one of resilience and advocacy.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to share, follow and leave a review so we can reach more moms in the middle!

If you're interested in taking Heidi's Course - "Build Your Hospital Birth Skills - For Doulas" use the code "MOMSINTHEMIDDLE" for $100 off!

Interested in hearing more from us? Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠us on Instagram!

⁠⁠⁠Heidi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠@whatadoulado⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -⁠⁠⁠ @your.hometown.doula

Settle in for some casual mom (and doula) talk on this week's episode of Moms in the Middle!

Heidi & Elly catch up on the past week discussing the woes (or lack thereof) of Daylight Savings time, a recent birth they attended with great examples of how collaborative care is so important to improving birth outcomes, and a killer prenatal yoga class with Jenny from Full Circle Yoga KC!

Check out Full Circle Yoga KC here!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to share, follow and leave a review so we can reach more moms in the middle! 

Interested in hearing more from us? Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠us on Instagram!

⁠⁠Heidi⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠@whatadoulado⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Elly⁠⁠⁠⁠ -⁠⁠ @your.hometown.doula

We're at it again! Drawing inspiration from candid discussions on Reddit threads, we're giving our unsolicited advice to two topics that many parents can relate to: parenting pet peeves and coping with postpartum anxiety.

We share our experiences as well as our own struggles with postpartum anxiety and our tips for navigating your first time away from baby.

If you have situations or topics you want us to weigh in on, send them our way @ [email protected]!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to share, follow and leave a review so we can reach more moms in the middle! 

Interested in hearing more from us? Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠us on Instagram!

⁠Heidi⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠@whatadoulado⁠

⁠⁠⁠Elly⁠⁠⁠ -⁠ @your.hometown.doula

In this episode of Moms in the Middle, we discuss the crucial topic of birth advocacy and informed decision-making. Drawing from our experiences both as mothers and birth professionals, we explore the pivotal role that advocacy plays in ensuring a positive birth experience for both parents and babies.

We emphasize the importance of trusting one's intuition and feeling empowered to make informed choices throughout the birthing process and discuss the integral roles of partners and support persons in advocating for the birthing person's preferences and desires. This topic is one that we feel very passionate about in our profession therefore we're also highlighting the invaluable support provided by doulas in navigating the complexities of the healthcare system.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into effective communication strategies when interacting with healthcare providers, including tips for fostering collaborative relationships and advocating for personalized care. From discussing birth plans to addressing unexpected challenges, we're offering practical advice for maintaining autonomy during childbirth.

Tune in to Moms in the Middle for a thoughtful conversation on advocating for your birth preferences with confidence and grace. Whether you're expecting your first child or navigating the journey of parenthood, this episode will leave you feeling empowered to embrace the birthing experience with clarity and conviction.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to share, follow and leave a review so we can reach more moms in the middle!

Interested in hearing more from us? Follow ⁠⁠us on Instagram!

Heidi⁠⁠ - @whatadoulado

⁠⁠Elly⁠⁠ - @your.hometown.doula

Join us on this enlightening episode of Moms in the Middle as we delve into the often overlooked realm of sexual health during pregnancy and postpartum. Our guest, Bethany Peterson, an amazing pelvic floor physical therapist, shares her journey into this specialized field and sheds light on the importance of normalizing body conversations, especially within the context of motherhood.

From tackling the infamous "sex talk" with our kids to addressing common issues like pain during intercourse, hormonal shifts, perineal tears, and scar tissue, Bethany provides valuable insights into the experiences of pre-pregnancy, pregnant, and postpartum women. We explore strategies for navigating the six-week wait postpartum, understanding the impact of c-sections on sexual health, and creating space for a positive sexual relationship amidst the challenges of motherhood.

Drawing from her expertise, Bethany references essential reads like "Come as You Are" and "The Great Sex Rescue" to further empower our listeners in their journey towards reclaiming sexual wellness. Tune in for an episode filled with wisdom, compassion, and practical advice for moms navigating this vital aspect of their well-being.

[Amazon Links] 

“Come As You Are” 

“The Great Sex Rescue” 

As always, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rate and review so we can reach new moms in the middle!

Follow ⁠Heidi⁠ and ⁠Elly⁠ on social media for more day to day mom content!

This week, Elly and Heidi sit down to hear all about Heidi's second birth! Heidi opens up about her early pregnancy loss before this pregnancy and the perinatal mental health issues she dealt with; ending in a culmination of what she would consider her "ideal" low-intervention, unmedicated, hospital birth.

Join us for an episode that hilariously enough, is as long as Heidi's entire birth! We laugh, we cry, and we commiserate about the ups and downs of welcoming a new baby into your family.

As always, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rate and review so we can reach new moms in the middle!

Follow Heidi and Elly on social media for more day to day mom content!

Heidi hosts the podcast this week with her husband, Joe, and they have a raw discussion about how they have divided household labor over the years.

Want to check out the book for yourself? Find the book "Fair Play" and the related playing cards on Heidi's Amazon Book Recommendations!

And for more day-to-day content make sure to follow Heidi and Elly on Instagram!

This week we recap Heidi’s 30th birthday festivities and then dive in to a discussion about setting boundaries as parents and the enduring impact of generational influences on modern parenting. Whether you're a seasoned parent seeking validation or a newcomer navigating the joys and challenges of raising children alongside us, this episode offers valuable insights and relatable anecdotes to inspire and empower you on your journey.

Did you find this episode relatable? Don't forget to follow the show and leave a review to help us reach more Mom's in the Middle!

Interested in following along on social? Find us on IG!

Heidi - @whatadoulado

Elly - @your.hometown.doula

This week on Moms in the Middle, we jump into the highs and lows of our breastfeeding journeys with each of our kids. From tongue ties, colic, and cracked nipples to oversupplies and reflux... you'll see that even "successful" breastfeeding journeys are never seamless.

We both chat about our confidence in nursing our second babies, including the support we wish we knew about sooner.

Included are a few doula rants on the most common hang-ups we see with our clients (pssst, we are talking to YOU sleep-trainers without lactation credentials), and some resources we wish more people knew about!

If we didn't say it enough, we are supportive of every person's feeding journey. There is so much that goes into the decision as to what is the best way for your family to feed your baby, and no decision is the "right" one (just the one right for you!). This episode is a personal one where we share what our journeys looked like when it came to feeding our kids the first few years of life, and the advice is geared towards other parents who would like to prioritize breastfeeding and need resources and community guidance to do so.

Some resources mentioned in this episode:

Check your insurance coverage with The Lactation Network.

The local, Kansas City, Lactation Consultant we both used.

Gentle sleep guidance account, Hey Sleep Baby.

Gentle sleep training book, The No Cry Sleep Solution.

Thanks for tuning in!

Join us on this week's episode of Moms in the Middle as Elly dives deep into the world of pelvic floor health with the highly knowledgeable Dr. Meg Schwartz, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach.

Pregnancy is a transformative journey, and understanding the crucial role the pelvic floor plays in this process is essential for the well-being of expectant and new parents. In this candid conversation, Dr. Meg shares insights into the changes the pelvic floor undergoes during pregnancy and through postpartum, offering practical advice and guidance on navigating this often overlooked aspect of healing in addition to debunking the common misconceptions.

Whether you're an expectant parent, a new mom, or someone planning for the future, this episode is packed with practical tips and resources to support you on your pelvic floor journey. Join Elly and Dr. Meg for an informative and empowering conversation that aims to empower parents to prioritize their pelvic floor health and overall well-being.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to leave us a review and hit the follow button so we can reach more moms in the middle!

Instagram Links:

Heidi - @whatadoulado

Elly - @your.hometown.doula

Evlo Fitness

Empower Your Pelvis