You’ve probably had plenty of people give you advice on what to pack in your hospital bag - or maybe you haven’t even started thinking about it yet. Either way, this episode is for you! Drs. Sarah and Alicia have supported thousands of pregnant people through labour and delivery, and with five hospital births of their own, they’re sharing their Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know You Needed in Your Hospital Bag, all based on real, first-hand experience both as doctors and labouring mothers!

Tune in to today’s episode and grab our FREE Essential Packing List! For any other must-have items mentioned - like an extra-long charging cable for Apple or Android - head over to our She Found Motherhood Amazon Store.

Newborn Sleep 101 Online Course: Newborns are sweet little packages who tend to not like their parents to sleep! But we can help them sleep better and as a result parents can sleep better as well!

*This episode is a re-release. Original release date: March 8, 2023.

You asked, and we answered all of your burning questions about Cesarean Sections! In this episode, Dr. Sarah and Alicia cover the ideal spacing between pregnancies after a C-section, what determines the type of wound closure used, and why some people might choose an elective C-section even when it isn’t medically required.

Be sure to download our Birth Preferences Guide or sign up for our Birth Preferences Mini Course! For a deeper dive into everything from pregnancy and labor to postpartum and newborn care, check out our Pregnancy to Parenthood Masterclass, which includes five modules, expert interviews, a look inside birthing spaces, and so much more.

And if you’re looking for more, here are some of the helpful episodes and resources we reference throughout the conversation:

• To TOLAC or not to TOLAC… That is the question!
• Twin Pregnancies
• C-Section Scar Recovery with Janette Yee
• Top 5 Reasons for Cesarean Birth
• Silicone Scar Sheets
• Download our FREE Perineal Massage Guide

*This episode is a re-release. Original release date: February 22, 2023.

If you're a regular listener and follower of our Instagram account @She.Found.Motherhood, you know that every Sunday we do a Q&A with our community where we try to answer as many of your burning questions as we can—but we often don’t have the capacity to get through all of them! So we decided to answer your most frequently asked, crucial questions here on the podcast in what is part one of many in the series over the coming months. Enjoy!

Check out the following for a bit of extra knowledge:

• Morning Sickness: The low down on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
• Constipation & hemorrhoids in pregnancy | How to Treat Naturally at Home
• Download our Free Guide on Perineal Massage!

Sign up for our FREE Birth Preferences Mini-Course to ensure you are as prepared as possible for your big day!

*This episode is a re-release. Original release date: October 5, 2022.

Today on the She Found Motherhood podcast, we’re joined by one of our favourite returning guests - Melissa Dessaulles (BScPT, BScKin), pelvic physiotherapist, founder of The Pelvic Floor Project Space, and mom of two!

Dr. Alicia and Mel dive into what pelvic physio actually is, breaking down common misconceptions and shedding light on what happens during both prenatal and postpartum care. From back pain and hemorrhoids to the role of rest and early intervention, they explore why you don’t have to wait until six weeks postpartum to start healing - and how virtual sessions can make recovery more accessible than ever.

Whether you're expecting, newly postpartum, or supporting someone who is, this episode is a must-listen. It’s not as scary (or invasive!) as you might think.

Listen now and explore Mel’s work:

• Podcast: The Pelvic Floor Project
• Website: pelvicfloorprojectspace.com

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!

*This episode is a re-release. Original release date: August 24, 2022.

Let’s get straight to it - Drs. Alicia and Sarah have put together a list of 6 things nobody tells you about postpartum! Tune in to discover what to expect from the unexpected (yet completely normal). Be sure to check out the links they mention below for more helpful resources, guides, and tips.

For more on some of the topics discussed, listen to our podcast episodes on Diastasis Recti in Pregnancy with Kim Vopni (The Vagina Coach) and Postpartum Pelvic Floor Recovery with Mel Desaulles from MommyBerries.

And don’t miss our FREE Postpartum Checklist - packed with must-have products and practical essentials for the postpartum period. Plus, visit our She Found Motherhood Amazon Store for links to many of these great items!

Ready to go from feeling anxious and overwhelmed to confident and prepared for your childbirth experience? Join our Pregnancy to Parenthood Online Prenatal Masterclass.

*This episode is a re-release. Original release date: June 15, 2022.

Pregnancy can sometimes feel like a long nine months - but the arrival of baby (and all the planning that comes with it) often sneaks up faster than expected! One area that can catch many off guard is preparing for maternity leave. It’s a major pause in a person’s career, often at a pivotal moment, and transitioning into - and out of - it can be more complex than it appears.

That’s exactly why today’s guest, Sonja Baikogli Foley, co-founded Maturn, Canada’s first comprehensive program designed to support self-identifying women through the full arc of maternity leave. Born from a desire to help women make this time intentional and empowering, Maturn offers guidance, tools, and community for a smoother transition.

Join Sonja and Dr. Alicia as they explore how to prepare for maternity leave and reclaim this significant chapter with confidence and clarity.

Consider becoming a Maturn Member! Canada’s first comprehensive program supporting mothers throughout their entire maternity leave with the *exact* tools, connections and compassionate resources required so you can transition back to work with greater ease and less self-doubt.

Newborn Sleep 101: Newborns are sweet little packages who tend to not like their parents to sleep! But we can help them sleep better and as a result parents can sleep better as well! 

*This episode is a re-release. Original release date: March 2, 2022.

Maintaining some movement and exercise during pregnancy can help decrease aches & pains, prepares you for the physical act of labour, and can aid in postpartum recovery. But what about more intense work-out regimens or strength training? Dr. Alicia chats with Rebecca Tranter, registered massage therapist, Level 1 certified CrossFit trainer, and expectant mama-to-be about her pregnancy journey in strength training as well as an unexpected diagnosis in her 1st trimester.  If you have any questions for Rebecca, feel free to reach out at | IG: @rebeccatranter 

E-Mail: [email protected] | Gyms Rebecca coaches at: CrossFit Zone & Forge Victoria

Other resources:

• Robyn Rayner, RMT and Pregnancy and Postpartum Coach: @taranis.mom.strong
• Brianna Battles: @pregnant.postpartum.athlete
• Mobility Movement: Great momma bear pregnancy series with a list of modifications for the gym.

Taking you from anxious and overwhelmed to confident during your childbirth experience: Pregnancy to Parenthood Online Prenatal Masterclass.

*This episode is a re-release. Original release date: February 2, 2022.

Feeling frazzled, overwhelmed, or just plain anxious all the time? You’re not alone - and this brand new She Found Motherhood Podcast episode is for you.

Dr. Sarah Lea sits down with the incredible Rachel Mark - Registered Acupuncturist, Integrative Health Coach, and self-proclaimed body-nerd with degrees in Kinesiology, Acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

What do these fields all have in common? They have formed Rachel's journey to deepening her understanding of the nervous system and the body's incredible interconnectedness in its ability to heal.

Dr. Lea and Rachel unpack the trickle-down effect of constant stress and overwhelm, especially in motherhood, and share relatable, real-life insights alongside practical tools to help you shift from “always on” to more ease and balance between your sympathetic and parasympathetic states.

For a deeper dive, be sure to check out Radiant Effect, an online somatic coaching community, and Rachel's Instagram, at RachelMark.ca and website!

As we've often said, education is a form of healthcare. When it comes to your pelvic health, the more you understand about the physiology of the area and the changes that occur during pregnancy and childbirth, the more empowered you’ll feel.

Today, we’re speaking with Aliya Dhalla, a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, about the basic structure of the pelvic floor, how it changes during pregnancy, and how and when a physiotherapist can be helpful - even through remote consultations that equip you with the tools and knowledge to understand and heal your own body. You can learn more about Aliya’s work at boxwellness.co and follow her on Instagram at @boxwellnessco.

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!

Today Dr. Alicia and Dr. Pip Houghton discuss a topic that is near and dear to their hearts - how to babyproof your relationship. The arrival of a newborn will undoubtedly create a new dynamic within your family unit, and while it brings great joy, we also run the risk of being blindsided by the challenges of this shift while also experiencing heightened stress due to increased responsibilities and lack of sleep. The best remedy is to have a discussion with your partner and lay out a plan before the arrival of baby - but it’s never too late! Listen to this podcast for four tips on how to go about it and what to address!

Fair Play by Eve Rodsky

• Audiobook on Audible
• Buy on Amazon

Newborn Sleep 101

• Newborns are sweet little packages who tend to not like their parents to sleep! But we can help them sleep better and as a result parents can sleep better as well!