Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat

Lauren Myers is a NICU nurse and staff nurse at The Pregnancy Network. A Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat veteran, she joins host Chloe Belk to share her story with pregnancy and postpartum mental health.

Tune in as she shares her experience with prenatal OCD, seeking healing through counseling and medication, encouragement for parents with babies in the NICU, and more.

• 00:30: Lauren's Introduction and Trigger Warning

• 1:22: What Lauren was Experiencing that Led to Her Diagnosis

• 11:57: A Note on the Postpartum Mental Health Screening

• 14:31: Lauren's Process in Seeking Help

• 22:38: How Long it Took for Lauren to Start Feeling Better

• 24:28: A Quick Tip to Prepare for Postpartum

• 25:49: Symptoms of Postpartum Depression vs. Baby Blues

• 28:47: Lauren's Advice for Someone Struggling During Pregnancy or Postpartum

• 31:01: Lauren's Wisdom for NICU Parents

• 35:56: Closing Thoughts on Mental Health

• 36:45: Lauren's "Why"

Kyndle Connell joins host Chloe Belk to discuss "What to Expect When You're Postpartum". Kyndle is a mother-baby nurse and a faithful volunteer at The Pregnancy Network.

Tune in as she tackles topics like what to expect directly after giving birth, what the hospital provides for postpartum recovery, common misconceptions about postpartum, underutilized resources, and more.

• 00:41: Kyndle's Introduction

• 1:08: How Kyndle Got into Mother-Baby Nursing

• 2:17: Her Favorite Part of Her Job

• 3:36: What Happens Right After Birth

• 6:22: How Long You Can Expect to Be in The Hospital After Delivery

• 8:27: What The Hospital Provides for Postpartum Recovery

• 10:21: Misconceptions about Postpartum Recovery

• 15:46: How Her Work as a Nurse Impacts Her Work at The Pregnancy Network

• 19:48: Kyndle's Advice for Women Who are Scared to Give Birth

• 23:06: Underutilized Resources for Postpartum Women

• 24:12: Kyndle's "Why"

Resources Mentioned:

WIC Episode: https://youtu.be/62hazv43izo?si=wRZBG638Bo-2OaWj

Sarah Dove is the Executive Director of Arms of Grace Pregnancy Resource Center in Burlington. She shares her inspiring story of finding healing after experiencing unplanned pregnancies and abortion. Her recovery journey set her on a path to serve others and make an impact through volunteering, and later found a new pregnancy resource center she now leads in Burlington, NC.

Sarah encourages that God can redeem in beautiful ways: "You may think you're fine. You can be fine, or you can be out of this world amazing. God's abundance is for all of us."

In a hurry? Skip to the section that's most relevant to you.

00:00 Podcast Begins

2:20: When Sarah first shared her story publicly

2:55 Sarah shares her story and the circumstances that led to her unplanned pregnancies

5:33: "'No one can know' - that's the overwhelming voice that I heard."

8:45: Encouragement from her partner, "It's okay we can do this."

10:05: First encouragment to start a pregnancy resource center

10:30: Began volunteering at The Pregnancy Network and began attending recovery program

11:30: Encouragement that if the Holy Spirit guides you to share your story, pray into that

12:15 - Recovery experience "Catapulted me into even understanding that I had a testimony.

12:49 - Forgiving herself

14:04 - What her healing journey looked like; "healing kickstarted with abortion recovery."

15:16 - Sharing her story with her mom, "God is a God of redemption, and he will be in every detail of that redemption."

16:31: "Now you're free."

18:13: "My volunteer journey was my healing journey."

19:39: Sidewalk advocacy

21:10 "Healing doesn't end, it just keeps going."

21:52 - Process of opening new pregnancy resource center in Burlington, NC

26:49 - If you have experienced abortion, there is help.

27:45 - "Life brings upon life…you will find freedom and life."

28:35 - "You may think you're fine. You can be fine, or you can be out of this world amazing. God's abundance is for all of us."

In this episode of Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat, we're diving into the essential do's and don'ts of pregnancy to help you navigate this exciting journey with confidence. We'll break down important steps like taking prenatal vitamins, eating protein-rich meals, staying active, and getting enough rest, as well as the importance of finding the right prenatal care. We'll also cover key things to avoid, such as alcohol, raw meats, and excessive caffeine, to ensure both you and your baby stay healthy. Tune in for practical tips and expert advice on how to have a safe and successful pregnancy!

We spoke with registered nurse and lactation consultant, MaryAnn, about breastfeeding. Did you know breastfeeding provides a long list of benefits for both mom and baby?

Just a few benefits for babies are:

1. Reduced chance of childhood obesity
2. Reduces risk of childhood cancer
3. Building a healthy immune system

For mom:

1. Reduces the risk of uterine and breast cancers
2. Helps mom get back to her pre-pregnancy weight more quickly
3. Protects against heart disease

About Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat Meet the podcast that's here to equip you for what's next now that Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat. Hear from The Pregnancy Network staff and guest experts in their fields on topics like mental health and loneliness, what to do when you don't know what to do, caring for yourself holistically, and making empowered choices.

The Her Story Project offers a place of inclusion and solidarity among women who have walked through an unplanned pregnancy. Sometimes when we go through tough times in our lives, it's easy to feel isolated. The Her Story Project is one avenue to remind women that they are not alone.

Kari came to The Pregnancy Network unsure about her future and her next steps, but found, "Hope for me, for the future, for my son, for myself and for my daughter."

Kari found hope knowing that she wasn't alone. We hope that hearing her story gives you some encouragement that you too, have the power to walk fearlessly through an unplanned pregnancy.

No matter what you've been through, we want to hear and share your story. By sharing your story with others, you can help empower women to face their unplanned pregnancies without fear and grow toward healing. Sharing your story could help another woman facing the same season feel seen and understood.

If you're interested in sharing your story, click here to fill out a submission form.

Lauren Myers is a licensed registered nurse on staff at The Pregnancy Network and has experience specializing as a NICU nurse. She joins host Emily Greene to share her expertise, encouragement, and what women need to know about navigating the first trimester of pregnancy.

In a hurry? Skip to the section that's most relevant to you.

00:00: Podcast Starts

00:33: Lauren's Intro

03:50: When is the First Trimester

04:25: Baby's Growth and Why The First Trimester is So Critical

06:44: What is the Earliest I Can Get an Ultrasound

08:36: First Trimester Challenges and How Long They Last

09:22: Relief for Naseau and Morning Sickness

10:02: What Causes First Trimester Symptoms

11:20: Benefits of Prenatal Vitamins and When to Take Them

15:02: What to Do if You Don't Have Health Insurance, Qualifying for Medicaid

16:04: When to Schedule Your First Prenatal Appointment

16:51: Adopt-A-Mom, Resources in the Triad for Prenatal Care

17:38: Importance of Prenatal Care

19:45: Announcing Your Pregnancy

22:03: Lauren's 'Why' For Serving

About Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat

Meet the podcast that's here to equip you for what's next now that Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat. Hear from The Pregnancy Network staff and guest experts in their fields on topics like mental health and loneliness, what to do when you don't know what to do, caring for yourself holistically, and making empowered choices.

The Her Story Project is a safe space to share stories and create solidarity among women who have walked through an unplanned pregnancy. At The Pregnancy Network, one of the most common things we hear from women is that they feel alone. But nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned—that means no woman walking this path is truly alone.

You may have chosen to parent, had an abortion, made an adoption plan, or suffered a miscarriage. No matter what you've been through, we want to hear and share your story. By sharing your story with others, you can help empower women to face their unplanned pregnancies without fear, or grow toward healing.

In a hurry? Skip to the section that's most relevant to you.

0:10 - What is the Her Story Project?

0:20 - You're Not Alone

0:32 - We Want To Hear and Share Your Story

0:47 - Ariel's Story

1:36 - Making the Decision to Parent

2:05 - Judgement Free Zone

2:59 - Telemedicine Appointments Available

Meet the podcast that's here to equip you for what's next now that Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat. Hear from The Pregnancy Network staff and guest experts in their fields on topics like mental health and loneliness, what to do when you don't know what to do, caring for yourself holistically, and making empowered choices.

Visit Here for More Episodes

Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat is available across streaming platforms on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

Hannah Booker is a staff Registered Nurse at The Pregnancy Network. She's been with us for four years and previously worked as a labor and delivery nurse. This month, she joins host Chloe Belk on Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat to discuss Preparing for Your Hospital Birth.

Hannah's compassion for women and desire to serve translates into her passion for nursing. With her experience working in labor and delivery, she provides an invaluable perspective to the women we serve on equipping themselves for their hospital births.

Discover Hannah's insights on what to bring in your hospital bag, when to go to the hospital, and how to communicate your birth plan to your provider by listening to Hannah's episode below.

In a hurry? Skip to the section that's most relevant to you.

• 1:33: What Should You Pack & What You Shouldn't
• 5:14: Breast Milk Pump; To Bring Or Not To Bring
• 7:33: Heading To The Hospital
• 9:16: Must-Know Hospital Pre-Registration Info
• 11:33: Sharing Your Birth Plan
• 14:40 Resources Available To You
• 17:30: Valuable Encouragement

Meet the podcast that's here to equip you for what's next now that Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat. Hear from The Pregnancy Network staff and guest experts in their fields on topics like mental health and loneliness, what to do when you don't know what to do, caring for yourself holistically, and making empowered choices

Olivia Charnetzky is the Case Manager and Client Services Coordinator at The Pregnancy Network. She's been with us for two years and recently piloted our case management services. This month, she joins host Chloe Belk on Pregnancy Has Entered the Chat to discuss Navigating Community Resource Together.

Olivia's passion for serving women translates into providing practical resources and support. She's an expert on community and national resources available to empower you in your situation, whether that be an unplanned pregnancy or something else.

In a hurry? Skip to the section that's most relevant to you.

1:03 - Olivia's Education and Background

4:04 - The Pregnancy Network's Case Management Services

5:30 - The Most Common Challenges Women Face

8:00 - National Resources for Women

9:09 - One Actionable Step You Can Take

11:54 - Success Stories at The Pregnancy Network

13:43 - Olivia's Why and Most Rewarding Moments

Resources Mentioned:

Her PLAN - https://herplan.org/

Wheels 4 Hope - https://wheels4hope.org/

My Sister Susan's House - https://www.youthfocus.org/maternity-housing/

Room At The Inn - https://www.roominn.org/