This last spring we said a fond farewell to our incredible host Clair Larson and have been working since then to continue sharing the stories of moms, birthing people and their families to help people know they are not alone in their struggles and to inspire asking for help when they need it. 

Coming this winter, HMHB will be releasing a multi-episode series to relaunch our Mother Love Podcast. The series tells the story of Cass Weber, a mom of two in Butte, America and examines the differences between her experience of two pregnancies. As a cohost, alongside Emily Freeman, Cass interviews providers who cared for her and her family, focusing on how their professional practice changes made a difference to her and her family. We hope you find and follow the MotherLove podcast in your feeds to listen to the teaser and to get those episodes as soon as they come out. 

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

Join us as we share a bittersweet episode as we wrap up this season of Mother Love and say farewell to our dear friend and host, Claire. Claire shares with us her experience of crafting and hosting the Mother Love podcast over the past three seasons. As we bid adieu to Claire, let's fill the digital airwaves with gratitude for her dedication, warmth, and the moments of inspiration she has shared with us. Join in as we celebrate her journey and send her off with love and well wishes for the adventures ahead.

[email protected]

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this episode, Stephanie Hackman, LCPC, joins us to share her experiences and how they've made her the mom she is today. She is both present and attuned, not only to the needs of her family and those she works with, but also to her own needs. Stephanie's stories describe what it was like for her to suffer in silence during the time she and her family belonged to an oppressive religious organization/cult. She recounts the loss of her son, Johnathan, her journey back to her true self, and the unfolding of a beautifully uncommon love story. Stephanie shares her words in hopes that other voiceless and nameless mothers might have a chance to heal from the telling of their own stories.
 
 Show Notes:
 
 Robert J. Lifton - Cult expert and researcher mentioned by Stephanie

Modern Love Clip- Ann Hathaway (portrayal of life with bi-polar disorder)

Mary Oliver: poet, author

Jamie Anesi, LCPC, transpersonal and somatic therapist

Joan Didion: author- books mentioned: The Year of Magical Thinking, Blue Nights

Matt Haig: author and mental health advocate - books mentioned: Reasons to Stay Alive, The Comfort Book

Stephanie's writing (still waiting on link for this one)
For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

Prairie Wolfe is passionate about healing, and, in this episode, it shows. Anytime an experienced therapist can speak about their own personal challenges in mothering and caregiving and offer tips, tools, and wisdom to help other parents overcome their struggles, we're all in. During our conversation, Prairie helps listeners understand their nervous systems, the under-resourced circumstances of modern-day parenting, and common caregiving woes that leave us feeling defeated and ashamed. How do we address and repair these wounds in order to show up more presently as parents and humans in general? Find out as Prairie weaves it all together to help us gather our scattered pieces and live with a sense of wholeness.

Books:


The Myth of Normal by Gabor Mate


Website:
https://www.somaticconnections.org/

Facebook:  

https://www.facebook.com/SomaticConnections

Instagram:
@prairie.somaticconnections




LIFTS Online Resource Guide:

https://hmhb-lifts.org

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

Even though Flora McCormick spent years studying child developmental and psychology and ultimately became a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, her early years of parenting were very challenging. She remembers feeling frustrated and disoriented, and this business of mothering felt, well, unsustainable. So, she set out to find new tools, ones that fostered connection and encouraged healthy boundaries. Soon, balance and joy began to emerge. Today, she is the Lead Mentor and Owner of Sustainable Parenting and she's joined us to share her personal story and offer simple and effective tools that actually work! Tune in to learn about how firmness supports kindness and begin to shift from resentful exhaustion to predictable peace.
 
 Website: sustainableparenting.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SustainableParenting

Instagram: @sustainable_parent_coach

Free sustainable parenting workshop: https://sustainableparenting.com/calm-confident-rsvp-2/

LIFTS Online Resource Guide: 

 https://hmhb-lifts.org

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
 https://hmhb-lifts.org/

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

When preparation only takes you part of the way, support and a good care team can make all the difference. 

Cass Weber, a mom of 2, and an active member of the Butte community, describes how support and a good care team can make all the difference when things do not go as expected. Her resilient and positive attitude is refreshing and she has very useful advice for parents. 

After she had a caesarean section birth with her first child, Cass made sure to prepare for it all the second time around. Even though her second birth ended with a c-section as well, she says she did it on her terms, including having a favorite song playing in the OR when her daughter was born. 

Cass talks pregnancy and birth during covid as well as making the decision to be a stay at home mom after serving in various roles in early childhood development and care in Butte.

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this episode Lisa shares her survival story and teaches us about the subtle and overt forms of domestic abuse and interpersonal violence. There are multiple ways this can manifest (lovebombing, gaslighting, sexual violence, physical violence, emotional abuse, reproductive control, financial control, stalking) and many victims have difficulty recognizing that may be experiencing abuse due to the secret and pervasive nature of the issue. Lisa's story helps us to better understand some of the cycles and patterns that may exist behind closed doors even in, sometimes especially in the lives of those we may consider to be "perfect couples". What she shares is so important to understand.

And, she leaves us with so much hope. The strength and courage that survivors like Lisa embody is awe-inspiring, to say the least. Lisa describes what it's taken to find some semblance of peace, soothe her mind, body and spirit, and repair her relationships with her children. Hearing her speak with tenderness and tenacity is an honor and helps us to understand that sometimes, the issues we don't think we can bear to look at are the ones that need our attention the most. This is that.

Show Notes:

Lisa's Coaching Business, Helvick Coaching

Follow on Instagram 

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

This episode on domestic and interpersonal violence is so rich and helpful. We are joined by Jaime Gabrielli and Gina Boesdorfer, two incredible women who are passionate about bringing hope to those experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. They take turns eloquently explaining the many different forms of abuse, debunking myths that often surround the this taboo topic. As the host of this episode, I (Claire) will just come right out and say that I learned so much and walked away feeling humbled by my long-held assumptions and how little I knew about this issue. I will be more able to discern red flags in my relationships as well as those of the people I love.  The amount of respect that Jaime and Gina feel towards those they have the chance to work with is remarkable. Few people want to look at this issue, especially when pregnancy and small children are involved but staying silent is not the answer. The Friendship Center exists to help us understand the complexity of these relationships and they give us the language and tools needed to transform crisis and trauma to hope and resilience beyond belief. This is part 1 of a 2 part series; next week we get to hear from Lisa Croke, who credits The Friendship Center with saving her life and now helps others move from surviving to thriving.

Show Notes:

The Friendship Center's 24/7 confidential help line: 406-442-6800 (you do not need to identify yourself or be in crisis to call)

The Friendship Center Website

Blog post by Jaime: Stalking: Homicide in Slow Motion

Email Jaime directly: [email protected]

Email Gina directly: [email protected]

Lundy Bancroft (author and advocate recommended by Jaime)

The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC)

14 ways to support a domestic violence survivor

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this episode, we hear from Sarah Crowley, IBCLC and owner of Wee Bumble, a home visiting lactation consulting business in Helena, MT. Not only is Sarah an absolute expert in breastfeeding, she is also one of the most kind and compassionate humans we've ever met. We talk about her crash course introduction to breastfeeding after the birth of her first son, Amos and how the pain and suffering she experienced during that time motivated her to pursue a career in breastfeeding support. Since that time, Sarah has become a certified International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and has, for the past 16 years, been helping women and families with babies, navigate their own journeys. We cover a lot in this conversation: healing from birth trauma, "hamburger nipples", pumping recommendations, medication concerns during pregnancy and breastfeeding, baby friendly hospital initiatives, the beauty of holding space for new moms, questions around "pumping and dumping", and caring for moms who are struggling with addiction, including tobacco and nicotine use. Sarah shares so many resources she takes the cake for longest list of show notes to date! Plus, her voice is like honey and her presence feels like a warm hug from a trusted friend.

Wee Bumble Lactation Consulting Website
Wee Bumble Lactation Consulting Instagram
The Lactation Network (help with breastfeeding support insurance coverage)
Prepared Parenting Classes (free) St. Peter's Health
Find birth and parenting classes in your local MT community
St. Peter's Healthcare Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative
Melissa Zimmerman, Family Nurse Practictioner - St. Peter's Health
MT La Leche League List of Groups
Partners in Pediatrics (Helena)
Find pediatric clinics/care in your local MT community
Dr. Hale's Book: Medications and Mothers Milk
Lactmed (list of medications for safety concerns while breastfeeding)

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this episode, Rachael Watters, postpartum psychosis survivor and mother of four joins us to talk about her frightening and healing journey through severe mental illness as a new mom. Many factors contributed to Rachael's experience and as her children have grown and she has continued to heal and recover, she has become a passionate advocate and educator for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders which are often largely misunderstood. As you'll hear in this conversation, Rachael has found a great senses of purpose in everything she and her family have gone through together. It's a part of their story and now that story is changing hearts and minds and has probably even saved lives. Her message is clear- no matter how terrible things may get, you're never alone and with help you can get better.

Show Notes:

Rachael Watters Ted Talk

Playing Monopoly with God (Melissa Bangs, Storyteller and Advocate)

St. Peter's Health Adult Behavioral Unit

Postpartum Support International (PSI)

For statewide resources please visit the Linking Infants and Families to Supports at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/