On this week's episode of Mother Love, meet Paige Reddan, a Registered Dietitian, Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian Specialist, Licensed Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator and co-founder of the Eating Disorder Center of MT. Paige shares with us what it was like for her to heal and recover from her own severe and long-lasting eating disorder during a time when quality treatment did not yet exist. Decades later, she works hard to help patients discover ways to live free from preoccupation with food, and work with the guilt, shame, confusion and fear that can accompany the basic need to eat and we have the chance to talk about some powerful tools that can help, new moms and others with young children reconnect and honor their needs in order to heal and nourish their minds, bodies, spirits and relationships.

Show notes:

Eating Disorder Center of Montana:
https://edcmt.com/

Follow on social:
Instagram: 
@eatingdisordercentermt

Facebook: @eatingdisordercenterofmontana

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

Want to know what true community-based support looks like? Give this episode a listen and meet three incredible people who spend their days going to bat for families in so many ways at the individual, local and state levels. Chelsea Solberg, RN, CLC, perinatal education leader and mom of three (I could go on) joins Ty LaFountain, Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist (who's also training to become a Certified Recovery Doula), and Pam Ponich, LCPC and Clinical Supervisor of Montana's Peer Support Specialist Program. As you can imagine from their title's alone, these three are changing the ways we support moms and families, especially those facing mental illness and substance use disorders. Their stories and insights will bolster your faith in humanity and give you hope for Montana's future generations. Raise your hand if you could use a little of that right about now? 🙋‍♀️

Meadowlark Initiative

MOMS (Montana Obstetrics & Maternal Support)

One Health

• One Health Lewistown

New Baby & Me app (powered by YoMingo)

Montana Healthcare Foundation

• Heather Bear Cloud: Care Coordinator/Peer Support Specialist Relationship

Reach out to Pam at [email protected]  if you're interested in learning more or would like to donate to help fund the work of Peer Support Specialists in Montana!

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

As you can imagine, being pregnant, giving birth, and mothering/parenting while incarcerated can be extremely challenging. For many women, it is the one of the most shared experiences with their fellow inmates and a huge motivator when it comes to recovery and rehabilitation. Several programs have been developed to equip these women with the tools they need re-claim their lives and heal their families. In this episode, we talk with the Warden of the Montana Women's Prison (MWP), Jennie Hansen. She is joined by Kendra Miller, the Director of Parenting at MWP. You won't believe how much heart goes into their work and how far things have come in recent years  to support incarcerated parents in Montana.

Show notes/resources:



The Family Tree Nurturing Center

• Parenting Classes
• Facebook: @thefamilytreenurturingcenter

Babies Beyond Bars

• Donate today!

More about Warden Hansen's Mission: (article)

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this episode, Tess Carlson joins us to share her story of becoming a parent. We talk about PMADS, working in the service industry, drastically shifting identity pieces and the ever-unfolding healing journey that is parenting. When it comes to her work and research, Tess harnesses her hard-won wisdom while interviewing moms and birth givers in communities throughout Montana. The hope is that collecting these stories (specifically around screening practices) and sharing findings will help raise awareness of perinatal mental health issues and help build better systems of support to truly serve families in Montana.

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this special episode Claire's mom, Carrie, sits down to have an honest conversation about learning from the past, cultivating self-compassion for our former selves, and explains her experience of parenting through some really tough times. We talk about Claire's eating disorder and mental health struggles as a teen, intergenerational post partum depression and what support looks like in the face of crisis. Carrie is a counselor and mental health advocate (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree), and one heck of a grandma. Carrie also shares tips and tidbits that have helped her understand how to show up as a supportive (but not overbearing) grandparent in today's crazy world

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

 In this episode, Patrick Duganz shares his own personal experiences of his rough and abrupt entry into fatherhood. He is walking proof that Perinatal Mood Disorders can affect dads too and that, when they do, they're often compounded by layers of misinformation and feelings of helplessness. As Patrick's son grew, so did he and Patrick discovered his passion for helping other dads find their way too. Now, Patrick is the Father Engagement Specialist for Gallatin County Public Health and his story is enlightening and vital to understanding a less talked about topic when it comes to supporting new moms and dads.

Gallatin County Public Health- Dads Matter

Gallatin County Public Health- Home Visiting

The Good Men Project article by Patrick Duganz: "100 Words on Love After Divorce"

Lori Newman - Bozeman Health

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this episode Suzanne Bendick of Roots Family Collaborative in Bozeman, joins us to discuss, among other things, her work as the Executive Director of an organization that has revolutionized family support in Gallatin County. Suzanne has gathered and harvested the wisdom of many women and family experts and is dedicated to helping mothers and families heal and get the support they deserve during one of the most crucial times in their lives. Suzanne was originally motivated to dive into her work after navigating her own overwhelmingly challenging initiation to motherhood. Along the way, she's formally trained as a Postpartum Doula and Certified Lactation Counselor. She is a Volunteer Coordinator with Postpartum Support International, hold a B.A. in Anthropology and is currently working on her education and training as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. All that to say, she showed up for this interview with her whole heart that will inspire you in countless ways.

Roots Family Collaborative

Roots Resource Guide

Moms Like Me 2023

Birth Arts International

Montana Healthcare Foundation

Playing Monopoly with God - Melissa Bangs

Molly Caro May- Writer - Storyteller - Somatic Writing Workshops

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

 In this episode, we welcome our newest Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies team member Amy Stiffarm, cPhD, MPH. As HMHB's Program Manager for Native American Initiatives, Amy brings a unique perspective and shares her knowledge specific to Indigenous Maternal Health. But that's not all. Amy also speaks honestly about her personal experience in having survived and grown from her journey through postpartum depression and anxiety. This conversation holds so much hope and celebrates the resiliency achieved through hardship.

Camie Jae Goldhammer: Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services

Abigail Echo-Hawk, "Decolonizing Data: Restoring Culture, Building Beauty"

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( 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)

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this episode, Greg Daly takes the mic to share the wisdom he's acquired over his many years as the Home Visiting Coordinator for Lewis and Clark Public Health. Greg is a trusted and well-known advocate who supports and educates families in the community. In typical Greg fashion, we cover a wide range of topics like Circle of Security, attachment theory, addiction and substance use disorders and how trauma has multi-generational impacts. Greg holds more hope than ever that parents can heal their own wounds and, in doing so, their children have the chance to thrive.

Healthy Montana Families:

https://dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/homevisiting/

Attachment and Bonding Support:

https://hmhb-lifts.org/services?service_type=Attachment+and+Bonding

Health Outcomes of Positive Experience (HOPE) Report (The Montana Institute):

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51c386a4e4b0c275d0a5bbf2/t/591b191ecd0f68438d8b913d/1494948133553/Balancing+ACEs+with+HOPE+WEB+v.5.pdf

Adverse Childhood Expieriences (ACEs) information and quiz:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean

Montana Nurse Family Partnership:

https://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/locations/montana/

Gabor Mate:

https://drgabormate.com

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

• Website
• Facebook
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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/