She Found Motherhood Podcast

In this must-listen episode, Drs. Sarah and Alicia tackle the all-too-common challenge of morning sickness during pregnancy. Drawing on their experience as maternity doctors—and as moms who’ve been through it themselves—they dive into the numbers: how many women experience it and how long it usually sticks around.

They’ll guide you through the causes of morning sickness, why treatment is so important, and share a range of effective remedies, from simple lifestyle and diet adjustments to medication options. Whether you're in the thick of it or just preparing, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you manage nausea and vomiting with confidence!

Follow the these links for some recommended products to help you through:

• Sea-Band Anti-Nausea Acupressure Wristband
• Gravol Ginger - Nausea and Upset Stomach Relief
• B6 by Natural Factors - 90 tablets, 50 mg

You've likley heard the term "informed consent," but what does that mean in terms of navigating decisions in childbirth? In this episode, Drs. Sarah and Alicia dive deep into this crucial topic. They emphasize the power of being well-prepared through prenatal education, helping you feel confident and in control as you approach labor and delivery.

With real-world case studies on epidurals, postpartum hemorrhage, Cesarean sections, and the use of forceps and vacuum during delivery, they shed light on the complexities and potential conflicts that can arise between what's best for the pregnant person and the baby. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate childbirth with clarity and confidence!

To help you on this journey be sure to check out our online Pregnacy to Parenthood Masterclass and our free Birth Preferences guide.

Back to school is around the corner, and in that spirit we are revisiting some of our most listened to She Found Motherhood podcast episodes! Starting with this episode which originally aired in September of 2020, Drs. Sarah and Alicia answer your top 10 questions about early pregnancy, such as what bloodwork is needed, what does spotting mean, when to expect ultrasounds, and why you might be so gosh darn bloated!

Be sure to download our free Preparing for Pregnancy Guide, and check out these other episdes that dive a bit deeper into specific early pregnancy topics:

• Morning Sickness: The Low Down on Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy!
• Constipation & Hemorrhoids in Pregnancy | How to Manage at Home
• The Sad Truth about Miscarriage

You asked - we answered all of your burning questions about Cesarean Sections! Our discussion includes optimal time between pregnancies after a C-section, factors affecting type of wound closure post-C-section, and reasons why some people might choose an elective C-section even when not medically necessary. 

Consider downloading our Birth Preferences Guide or signing up for our free Birth Preferences Mini Course! For a deeper dive into all things pregnancy, birth & labor, postpartum and those first few weeks with your newborn, consider signing-up for our Pregnancy to Parenthood Masterclass, which includes 5 modules, bonus materials with subject matter experts, inside looks into birthing spaces, and so much more! 

And for bonus credit, here are the several other super informative episodes and guides we reference in relation to C-Sections!

• To TOLAC or not to TOLAC… That is the question!!!

• Twin Pregnancies! Double the fun and double the trouble!

• C-Section Scar Recovery with Janette Yee

• Top 5 Reasons for Cesarean Birth

• Silicone Scar Sheets

• Download our FREE Perineal Massage Guide!

Today’s birth story comes from Heather in Victoria, British Columbia and long-time She Found Motherhood Podcast listener!

Heather’s birth story starts off with a bit of a rocky pregnancy which lead to the preterm birth of her daughter and a rather long stay in the NICU. She describes the many challenges, and the small pieces of joy, she discovered on that journey. 

Part of the challenges she experienced included a significant amount of nausea in pregnancy. If you or anyone you know is suffering from nausea, DM us on Instagram or shoot us an email asking for our free Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy download!

And just as a reminder, if you love listening to these birth stories, share the link or screenshot the episode and spread the word! We’d so appreciate it.

Today’s topic might be something that many of us haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about - what kind of changes can occur within our eyes during pregnancy? If you have a pre-existing condition, either physical or specifically ocular, are the eyes particularly susceptible to damage during pregnancy and should specific precautions be taken? Could your eyesight worsen? Or can it improve? What effects does breastfeeding have?

Ophthalmologist Dr. Amaka Eneh joins Dr. Alicia to answer the above questions and much more on today’s episode! Today’s episode may also encourage you to optimize your preconception health. Luckily, we've put together a clear, easy to read guide to help ensure your physical and mental health as you begin your journey through motherhood. Download our Preparing for Pregnancy guide here!

Looking for more? Check out our Pregnancy to Parenthood Online Prenatal Masterclass, taking you from anxious and overwhelmed to confident during your childbirth experience!

Sometimes it might seem like restricting certain foods in pregnancy is overkill, but once you listen to this episode, you’ll understand why! Keep in mind these two diseases are quite rare in pregnancy, but if you do contract them and pass them onto your baby, they can have dire consequences.

There is no need to overly worry, but we think it’s important to be aware and just exercise a little bit more caution - as always, knowledge is power!

As always, we’d love to hear from you if you have any thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future topics. Just shoot us an email or DM! Looking for more? Check out our Pregnancy to Parenthood Online Prenatal Masterclass, taking you from anxious and overwhelmed to confident during your childbirth experience. Let’s dive in!

Today Kelsey shares with us her birth story with an admirable openness and generosity of spirit, despite having to navigate a pregnancy and birth with more than one unexpected twist and turn. She speaks to Dr. Sarah about how her Birth Plan and birth education equipped her to anticipate various decisions she might encounter - and how she also had to embrace the unpredictable nature of childbirth when the “right” path became unclear. 

Tune in to hear her full story, including how therapy aided her in processing her experience in pregnancy and postpartum, and navigating any undue feelings of guilt when things didn’t go as planned.

We must acknowledge that birth is unpredictable, but having a plan can help. Drs. Sarah and Alicia have created a free mini Birth Plan course for you to work through with your partner and care provider! Sign up here to receive it and keep an eye out for our 4-part video series in your email on how to fill out your Birth Plan Template!

In this episode of the She Found Motherhood podcast, Drs. Sarah and Alicia dive into a topic that resonates with up to 80% of pregnant individuals – nausea and vomiting! Between simple lifestyle adjustments and lesser-known tricks, our top 10 tips to help manage these challenging symptoms cover everything from staying hydrated, to how modifying your vitamin intake, and even your dental routine, might help! Don't let nausea overshadow your pregnancy journey – empower yourself with these practical tips!

And for a deeper dive, check out these helpful links:

• Check out our companion episode on ​​Nutrition and Preparing for Pregnancy!

• Pick up a Sea-Band Anti-Nausea Acupressure Wristband for Motion or Morning Sickness

• Download our free Sleep Tips Guide for more tips on how to optimise sleep in pregnancy

• Download our free guide to Managing Nausea and Vomiting in your Pregnancy!

Subscribe to The Pregnancy to Parenthood Podcast Series! For the low, one-time cost of $47, get full access to over 40 informative episodes supporting you week by week, focused on the trimester and stage of pregnancy you are in. Tune in every week, or binge listen all at once and come back to the episodes you found most helpful as you move through pregnancy to parenthood!

Jen shares with us her two birth stories, the first a planned Cesarean section and the second, a very empowering Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). Though Jen is a labor and delivery nurse professionally, going through childbirth herself has given her a multitude of valuable insights on both the process and the systems in place that support birthing people.

Despite being intimately familiar with labor and delivery, she was surprised about what worked and what didn’t for her, and we’re so grateful she is sharing that empowering insight with us today and you, our listeners!

“If there's one family that listens and takes away something that maybe resonates with them, or even one maternity care provider that listens and thinks, ‘I never thought about it that way that,’ I'll feel it was worth it.” - Jen