Today’s episode comes with a bit of a warning. Deb talks to us about her fertility journey and the birth of her two beautiful children, but she also discusses the large number of first and second trimester losses she experienced, and the challenges, struggles, and grief that went alongside them. She shares it all with us with such generosity and positivity that her story is undeniably inspirational, and we hope it helps anyone listening who may be going through their own grief to feel a bit less alone, or reach out for help.

If you’d like to check-out Deb’s business Sass & Smalls, a podcast and parenting & childhood oriented lifestyle brand, click the links below!

Instagram: @SassAndSmalls

Podcast: on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Amazon Music and more @sassandsmalltalk

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

The Canadian and American healthcare systems are frequently compared, from either side of the border, with Canada’s often lauded as superior largely due to its publicly funded nature. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot to learn from other healthcare models around the world. One area where the US can be considered a leader in comparison is the increasing growth of Birth Centers accessible around the states. But you may be wondering - what even is a Birth Center and who is it for?

Join us on today’s episode as Dr. Sarah chats with certified nurse midwife Sarah Stetina, and Director of Midwifery at the Burr Ridge Birth Center in Burr Ridge, Illinois. They discuss the different practices that have led to the emergence of Birth Centers and philosophies around providing the best maternity care, for patients such as yourself!

To see an example of a Birth Center, check out the Burr Ridge Birth Center in Illinois or give them a follow on Instagram @brbirthcenter or on Facebook: Burr Ridge Birth Center. 

Today’s podcast features one of our favourite guests and collaborators, Mommy Berries founder & mom of two, Melissa Dessaulles (BScPT, BScKin, Pelvic Health). Dr. Alicia and Melissa discuss what pelvic physio is really all about, demystifying common assumptions, and giving you a glimpse into how practitioners approach their pregnant and postpartum patients. Have a listen - it’s not as scary as you may think!

Check-out the below offerings from Mel Dessaulles - there is a special discount for our valued listeners.

• Listen to Mel’s Podcast: The Pelvic Floor Project
• Check-out Mel’s Course: From the Inside Out: Postpartum Recovery
• Get 15% off using the code: shefoundmotherhood
• Follow Mel’s IG: MommyBerriesHealth
• MommyBerries.com

Taking you from anxious and overwhelmed to confident during your childbirth experience:

Pregnancy to Parenthood Online Prenatal Masterclass

Pregnancy is a stress test. What does that mean!? Think of pregnancy as an early warning system. Some conditions that come up during pregnancy might mean you are at higher risk down the road of being affected by chronic disease. But this doesn’t mean there isn’t anything you can do about it. Join Drs. Sarah & Alicia as they outline the two most common conditions in pregnancy that can be an indicator of your future health, and what you can do to prevent or reduce the risk!

Check out these related episodes for a deeper dive:

• Hypertenisve Disorders of Pregnancy
• Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy
• GDM Tips and Tricks from a Dietician | Be sure to also check out Your Nourished Pregnancy Bootcamp from Nourished Beginnings and use the code SFH20 to get 20% off!
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk. Get the hard copy or check out the ebook on audible!

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 is a topic Drs. Sarah & Alicia frequently get asked about, and today they outline the four most common changes you may expect to see in your skin during pregnancy, why they happen, and what you can do about it!

Check out our podcast on Skincare in Pregnancy with Dr. Bri!

Taking you from anxious and overwhelmed to confident during your childbirth experience:

Pregnancy to Parenthood Online Prenatal Masterclass 

Today’s episode talks about returning to running after a Cesarean birth - but don’t be fooled by this seemingly narrow focus. The episode is chock-full of essential information about pelvic floors, scar tissue, and exercise that is useful for those pregnant, not pregnant, non-runners, and several years postpartum alike! Dr. Sarah herself learns a lot from Diane Rizzardo, a registered physiotherapist and founder of Elevate Pilates & Physio, about the essential steps to returning to activity after pregnancy and birth to lower the risk of injury, and ensure maximum benefit from exercise both mentally and physically, as your body recovers from the musculoskeletal injury of giving birth. Diane also shares with us the essential checklist of functional exercises you should be able to perform before returning to running - tune in and try them out for yourself!

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!

Laura M summed up her own birth experience in one word - dreamy. Despite waiting a while to get pregnant and anticipating things to go wrong, sometimes everything goes right. She leaned into the great strength and mental fortitude of all birthing people, found community among other moms, and support from perinatal professionals near and far, including the She Found Motherhood community, and encourages you to do so as well. Tune in to Laura’s uplifting, moving, and inspirational story.

Use this link to start a 30-day free trial of Audible and listen to Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy for free!

The poem referenced by Laura and Dr. Sarah is On Air by matrescentmuse.

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!

Let’s cut right to the chase - Drs. Alicia and Sarah have compiled a list of 6 things no one tells you about postpartum! Tune in to learn more about what to expect from the unexpected (yet all perfectly normal)! And follow the links they reference below for more related resources, guides, and tips.

For more information on some of the topics touched above, check out our podcast on Diastasis Recti in Pregnancy with Kim Vopni - The Vagina Coach and Postpartum Pelvic Floor Recovery with Mel Desaulles from MommyBerries. Or sign-up for her course From the Inside Out: Postpartum Recovery using this coupon for 15% off: shefoundmotherhood! 

Download our FREE Postpartum Checklist with our recommendations of products and very handy things to have for the postpartum period. While you’re at it, check-out our She Found Motherhood Amazon Store with links to some of these great products! Many of them are also found in our Nesting Boxes - a trimester specific subscription box filled with our favourite pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn items! 

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

Mag’s birth story is truly an inspiration. Overcoming one obstacle after another, her fortitude and perseverance through several tough diagnoses is a reminder of the incredible resilience of the human spirit and body, and her own ability to face each challenge as it came. It is also a story about the importance of empathy and compassion for someone’s experience, and knowing that it is okay to advocate for your needs, even though it can be a difficult process. We hope you enjoy this moving episode, as a newly pregnant / parenting person or healthcare provider.

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’s podcast starts and ends with a BANG! It’s a topic that implicates neuroscience, hormones, human relationships, the physical body, the societal body - and yet sex and libido in pregnancy and postpartum is so rarely spoken about and so many couples struggle with in silence. But Dr. Kelly Casperson is here to the rescue! Originally a urologist with advanced training in pelvic medicine and surgery, Dr. Casperson shifted her practice toward sexual health and initimacy when she discovered so many women struggled with it, especially postpartum, and felt lost and helpless. Data shows that 70% of people struggle with sex after having a baby. But there IS something you can do about it, starting with listening to this extremely  illuminating and interesting episode. You are not broken.

www.kellycaspersonmd.com

• Rekindling Desire by Barry & Emily McCarthy
• Magnificent Sex: Lessons from Extraordinary Lovers by Peggy Kleinplatz
• Better Sex through Mindfulness by Lori A. Brotto