Spotlight on Single Motherhood

In this episode, Lola Light speaks to the components of perinatal obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) including common presentations, examples of scary and intrusive thoughts,  and evidence-based treatments. **Trigger warning*** some examples described in this podcast episode may be disturbing to some listeners. Please proceed with caution. 

In this episode, Lola Light describes how choosing to consciously focus on yourself once you become a parent creates space for vulnerability and also some unexpected wins. 

In this episode, Lola Light reviews the baby blues versus postpartum depression, and discusses how asking for help is vital to any parent who may be experiencing a perinatal mood disorder. 

In this episode, Lola Light describes why it's best to choose your battles as a parent while raising a toddler. 

In this episode, Lola Light shares her honest and hilarious experiences and tips of getting back into the dating world as a single parent. 

Thank you for Listening to the Spotlight on Motherhood The Podcast!

From one mother to another, please help spread the word by telling another mom or mama to be and help promote further growth of the podcast.

Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or on your favorite podcast platform.

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Because infertility is fairly common, most mothers and couples accept this and visit fertility clinics to know their options.

But what most couples aren’t aware of is that there are natural methods that can help boost their chances of conception.

Our guest in this episode is Sarah Clark. She’s a health coach with training from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a Certified Life Coach with accreditation from the Internation Coaches Federation. She is also the author of Fabulously Fertile: Supercharge Your Fertility Naturally.

We talk about her personal experience with infertility, natural methods for conception, how gut health affects fertility and hormones, and many more.

Sarah is the founder of  Fab Fertile which is a fertility coaching program that utilizes functional lab testing, mindset shifts, and diet/lifestyle changes to support couples and dramatically improve their chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby. She also offers a free three-day fertility diet challenge for couples. Click here for more info.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Her own experience with pregnancy issues
• How she was able to overcome infertility
• Age of oldest couple and individual she’s helped conceive
• The questionable long-term implications of fertility medications
• Importance of diet and lifestyle changes
• The common causes of infertility
• The crucial role of probiotics to gut health and hormone balance
• Other immune-based supplements to enhance fertility
• Immune system-boosting supplements
• Specific diet for couples to increases chances of conception
• Relationship of alcohol and cannabis with pregnancy
• Why both couples need to undergo counselling and lifestyle changes
• Natural methods and supplements for low sperm count
• Natural fertility solutions to reverse infertility
• Impact of exercise and mindset in conception
• The value of reducing stress levels 
• When couples should seek medical assistance for pregnancy
• Effect of birth control and IUD to fertility
• How to prepare the body for a baby

Get in Touch with Sarah:

• Website Fab Fertile
• Podcast Get Pregnant Naturally
• Facebook @sesacoaching
• Instagram @fabfertile
• Twitter @fabfertile

Thank you for Listening to the Spotlight on Motherhood The Podcast!

From one mother to another, please help spread the word by telling another mom or mama to be and help promote further growth of the podcast.

Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or on your favorite podcast platform.

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Instagram @spotlightonmothers

Facebook @spotlightonmothers

Twitter @spotlightonmoms

The pain of unexpectedly losing an unborn child is unimaginable. 

For women and parents who’ve experienced a miscarriage, navigating their feelings and lives through this can a be journey that they have no road map on. 

In this episode, our guest Alison Pena joins us and shares her valuable insight on the subject. She is also known as “bad widow”. She’s a speaker, consultant, and an author who resides in New York City. When her husband suffered from cancer, she became his caregiver. In 2016, after 11 months of battling his illness, he passed away. Since then, she’s learned how to live fearlessly in the face of death.

Alison does consulting work with her clients. She helps women regain their innate resilience by supporting them to re-engage, reinvent themselves, and to rebuild their communities. Appointments can be made through her website - badwidow.com.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The first step in dealing with grief
• Going back to work after the loss of a loved one
• How parents can heal after a miscarriage
• Handling overwhelming feelings of pain
• Healthy self-care and self-expression 
• How to let your emotions out of your body
• The importance of seeing a counsellor
• Self-blame and shame experienced by mothers
• The value of writing down through and feelings
• The danger of brushing feelings under the carpet
• Self-isolation and hiding during this period
• How to start openly talking about your pain
• How to reclaim your purpose and rebuild your life again
• Her advice to parents experiencing loss

Get in Touch with Alison:

• Website badwidow.com
• Facebook @alison.pena
• Twitter @badwidowonline
• Instagram @badwidowonline

Thank you for Listening to the Spotlight on Motherhood The Podcast!

From one mother to another, please help spread the word by telling another mom or mama to be and help promote further growth of the podcast.

Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or on your favorite podcast platform. 

Follow us on

Instagram @spotlightonmothers

Facebook @spotlightonmothers

Twitter @spotlightonmoms

The presence and support of spouses or partners are essential for mothers undergoing labor and after giving birth.

In this episode, our guest Stuart Macintyre joins us once again to share what it’s like being a new father. He also imparts his first-hand experience supporting his wife during labor and after birth.

We discuss the adjustments that they had to make due to the pandemic, what every support partner needs to have with them in the hospital, and what to expect if you’re a first-time parent.

After an intense three and a half hour of labor and almost opting for a C-section, Stu’s wife Courtney finally gave birth to Crew, their baby boy who is now eight weeks old.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Stu’s preparation for his wife’s labor with the coronavirus
• His biggest worry when the pandemic hit
• A checklist of things to bring to the hospital for support partners
• Why it’s crucial for spouses/partner to have the number of birthing units
• His tips for expectant fathers and support persons during labor
• Why bringing food and water in the hospital is essential for support partners
• Interventions to help with comfort during labor
• The uncertainty of first-time parents 
• After-birth activities for new parents
• The most challenging aspect of being a new parent
• The importance of taking turns with baby duties and chores
• Bringing in family and friends to help with the infant
• Postnatal checkups during COVID 19
• How postnatal depression happens to both moms and dads

Get in Touch with Stu:

• Instagram @stuartmacintyre

Resources mentioned:

• The Push Revolution - Hospital packing list
• The Push Revolution - Postpartum blues 

Thank you for Listening to the Spotlight on Motherhood The Podcast!

From one mother to another, please help spread the word by telling another mom or mama to be and help promote further growth of the podcast.

Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on

Instagram @spotlightonmothers

Facebook @spotlightonmothers

Twitter @spotlightonmoms

Infertility is something that isn’t really talked about. As a result, parents going through it aren’t educated enough to understand that this is something that a lot of people go through and that there are a lot of options available for them out there.

In this episode, our guest, Stuart Macintyre shares his perspective as a spouse and a father with regards to infertility. Stu and I talk about the ups and downs of the fertility journey that he and his wife went through.

We also tackle the different kinds of treatments they tried, why getting into government funding waitlist can significantly reduce the cost of treatments, and why you need to open up to others about what you’re going through since you never know who’s gone through it.

He and his wife Courtney are now proud parents of a baby boy who was born a few months ago.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Stu and Courtney’s first steps in discovering fertility issues
• How high school Sex Ed makes fertility seem easy
• The waiting period for sperm testing
• The importance of having a support system
• Lifestyle advice given by health professionals
• Different kinds of fertility treatments available
• Years frozen embryos can be kept in storage
• How long till you can try again after a miscarriage
• Seeing the positive light of a miscarriage
• Total costs of fertility treatments Courtney and Stu took
• Why age does not matter with infertility
• The upsides of sharing fertility issues with family and friends
• How long it took for Courtney to successfully conceive
• Why support groups for essential for those who don’t have a strong network 
• The expectation for a man to “keep it together” 
• Other ways to support your partner during this time
• Stu’s advice for other parents going through infertility

Get in Touch with Stu:

• Instagram @stuartmacintyre

Thank you for Listening to the Spotlight on Motherhood The Podcast!

From one mother to another, please help spread the word by telling another mom or mama to be and help promote further growth of the podcast.

Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on

Instagram @spotlightonmothers

Facebook @spotlightonmothers

Twitter @spotlightonmoms

One of the most difficult parts of returning to work is worrying about the kids. Not only do moms have to deal with the guilt of temporarily leaving their children, but they also have to make sure that they are well taken cared for when they do so.

Our guest for today, Claire Gavin - transitional life coach and founder of Antares Lifestyle and Wellness Coaching, challenges this mindset! She shares live-saving advice and tips for mothers going back to work.

We also discuss how going back to work gives the little ones the opportunity to be with others like them which is necessary for their development, how it shows that them it's totally normal for mothers, or females in general, to strive career-wise, and why returning to work empowers not only you but the future generation.

Claire is available for international coaching. She uses Zoom to give advice for women who struggle with their motherhood transition. She's also created a three-step problem designed to guide mothers to live more fulfilling lives!

In this episode, we talk about:

• How moms often feel guilty returning to work
• The struggle of balancing career and taking care of kids
• The challenges of transitioning back to work
• Why acceptance is the key to finding a blend with work and family
• Tips on ensuring your child is staying in a good daycare facility
• How being organized is necessary for this life transition
• Juggling work, household chores, and taking care of children
• Meal preparation advice for back-to-work moms
• How to return back to work confidently
• Tips on how to bring out your inner goddess
• How to be assertive and become your best self 
• Taking a pause and owning your power
• The importance of looking good even through challenges

Get in Touch with Claire:

www.antareslifestylecoaching.com

Facebook @Claire-Gavin-Transitional-Life-Coach

Instagram @clairegavin_

YouTube @marg&claireTV

Thank you for Listening to the Spotlight on Motherhood The Podcast!

From one mother to another, please help spread the word by telling another mom or mama to be and help promote further growth of the podcast.

Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on

Instagram @spotlightonmothers

Facebook @spotlightonmothers

Twitter @spotlightonmoms

Note: This audio was initially published in episode 14.