Stork'd

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Gina Ballard discusses why she fosters teens instead of young children and the difference that that makes in the lives of those teens and for society as a whole.

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

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Gina Nicole - Website

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In this Stork'd Munchkin, Gina Ballard discusses a time she spoke up about a suspected foster neglect situation and how that situation was a catalyst to shift from mentoring teens to fostering teens.

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

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Gina Nicole - Website

Gine Nicole - Instagram

Gina Ballard approaches everything in life with an open heart, a willingness to stand in truth, deep compassion and a lot of humor and her family journey embodies all of those traits.

Gina is a passionate advocate for fostering. She and her husband focus on providing a safe, welcoming home for teenagers in the foster care system and have most recently adopted a teenage son. Prior to becoming a foster parent, she and her first husband experienced setbacks to their family building due to a PCOS diagnosis. Gina ultimately meets the love of her life and navigates complicated and imperfect family dynamics with her step children. Eventually, Gina finds mentoring and fostering and builds a support community for other foster parents.

In this episode of Stork'd, Gina candidly shares her expert insights on these aspects of family-building, holding nothing back. With authenticity and openness, she delves into various complex topics and situations. When Gina defines her family, she beautifully refers to them as the "Godspot" and "Opulent Threads." Gina's life and stories will inspire you, especially for those considering foster parenting. Don't miss out on this empowering episode.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [2:21] Gina introduces herself, shares all of her roles in life and compares the dark days that she and Julia went through to when Saturn comes back to the point of your birth

• [4:46] Gina walks through the changes that occurred after her divorce and how a disastrous text message led to a positive outcome

• [15:52] Gina discusses foster parenting and how it differs from the parenting or step-parenting roles and how becoming a step-parent evolved to mentoring and then to becoming a foster parent

• [25:45] How do you prepare your home for a foster child, providing respite for foster families and the foster-parenting community

• [36:12] Gina explains why she wanted to become a foster parent and how they decided to adopt their son

• [46:46] Gina discusses the myths of fostering and adopting

• [52:19] Gina expresses what family means to her

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Step-parenting may be one of the most challenging ways to build and define a family. The best approach when step-parenting is to express yourself on what is right and wrong. Don't become a doormat because you may explode after holding your emotions. In some cases, you may not be able to mend the relationship.

• There is an enormous need for foster parents for teens. Babies and younger children are easier to place, and teens are left to age out if not taken into a foster family.

• Foster parents need to be sensitive to the child's environment in their new home. Specifically, their bedrooms should reflect who they are and their interests.

RESOURCE LINKS:

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www.ginanicole.net

Gina Nicole - Website

Gine Nicole - Instagram

BIOGRAPHY:

Gina Nicole Ballard is an Intuitive Copywriter, Subtle Energy Medicine, and Feng Shui Practitioner by day and a Foster Mom by night. She is passionate about connecting with empaths, heart-centered entrepreneurs, and those struggling to embody who they came to be. She works with people to move out of their past and into their future and is devoted to empowering youth to come home to their gifts and live in full alignment.

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Carey Cook discusses the hard decisions she made in her fertility journey and learning how to trust your body's signals. Learning what a "yes" and "no" feel like in your body.

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

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Embodied Pride - Website

Embodied Pride - Instagram

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Carey Cook discusses her personal experience when somebody chose her to be the recipient of their embryos. She explains her thoughts and feelings around the process and trusting her intuition.

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

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Embodied Pride - Website

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Carey Cook, a Fertility Coach and Self-Care Strategist is dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community as they navigate the intricacies of building a family. Carey shares her journey with IUI, Reciprocal IVF and ultimately embryo donation. She shares how she and her wife found their embryo donor, how they each experienced emotional reactions to the experience of sharing or not sharing a genetic relationship with your child, and how the embryo donation experience has shaped their child's half sibling group.

In this episode, Carey shares how to pivot your expectations as your fertility path changes, and how to use your own body and intuition to make decisions that are right for you. This episode of Stork'd is more than just a conversation—it's a valuable opportunity for a free therapeutic experience. You don't want to miss out.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [3:00] Carey shares her family planning journey

• [6:45] Carey talks what the genetic composition of their child would look like based on the provided options

• [10:12] Carey talks about the feelings surrounding being genetically connected.

• [12:08] Carey walks through the decision to do a private embryo donation and the multiple ways of finding a donor

• [21:22] Carey discusses the type of therapy she practices, how your body gives you clues to support your decisions and how she teaches her clients to know the difference between what a yes or a no feels like

• [25:00] The process after the embryo donor decision is made and deciding how much communication you want

• [31:37] Carey discusses the information she can share with her child when the time comes, and she talks about the differences between the LGBTQ+ and straight communities going through this journey

• [34:21] Discussion surrounding society's opinions of what is right and wrong for gays and solo parents and the questions that Carey's clients have for her

• [39:00] Carey talks about her soul family; she defines what family means to her and reminds the listener there are many free sources on the internet and social media

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• When a couple cannot have a child, they sometimes say, "If we don't, it's okay." That statement is more than likely said to protect their emotions." There is a lot of grief associated with failed treatments for having children.

• Being genetically connected to your child is an emotion that some people need to have. It troubles them when they think about it. Other people are happy to have a child and don't emotionally deal with genetics.

• There are multiple ways of finding donated embryos. Each has different caveats that the recipient needs to research before deciding.

RESOURCE LINKS:

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Embodied Pride - Website

Embodied Pride - Instagram

BIOGRAPHY:

Carey Cook, Fertility Coach and Self-Care Strategist, is passionate about helping people who are spiraling into the anxious abyss of expanding their families. I have a MA in Counseling Psychology and 13+ years helping people move through trauma and transform their lives. I help people get out of their heads and into their bodies so they feel more connected to their fertility process in a trusting, confident way. During my own fertility process, I witnessed how wildly hetero the whole process is. That's why I started Embodied Pride. This is a dedicated space for LGBTQ+ to explore our unique needs around growing their families.

I believe that the entire fertility journey goes beyond the person who wants to grow a baby in their uterus. The fertility journey is happening for all persons who are creating and welcoming a new baby. You are on a whole fertility journey if you are a partner or using a surrogate. You are on this journey whether you are using your own sperm, egg or womb or using donors. Embodied Pride is for all persons who are a part of the whole fertility journey.

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Deb Flashenberg discusses the big internal change that happens after becoming a parent and how to navigate your new identity. How you can match your authenticity from the old you to the new you.

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

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Prenatal Yoga Center - Website

Prenatal Yoga Center - Instagram

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Deb Flashenberg delves into the topic of pelvic floor health, indicating when it is time to see a Pelvic Floor Therapist and highlighting the common issue of postpartum loss of bladder control and dispelling the notion that it is unavoidable.

Resources:

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Prenatal Yoga Center - Website

Prenatal Yoga Center - Instagram

Deb Flashenberg, the founder of the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC and host of the Yoga Birth Babies Podcast, brings valuable insights to the discussion on childbirth. Together we discuss the dramatic identity shift that happens when you cross the threshold into parenthood. We also discuss the prenatal and birth experience. Emphasizing the importance of a mother's right to choose her birthing experience, she underscores the need for thorough preparation and the significance of having a well-prepared birthing team and advocate who is familiar with the mother's preferences. Additionally, she delves into the topic of pelvic floor health, highlighting the common issue of postpartum loss of bladder control and dispelling the notion that it is unavoidable.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [3:13] Deb introduces herself and shares her professional background and training and how yoga inspires her life

• [7:30] Explains her roles as a doula and describes how the pelvic floor and the misconceptions surrounding this critical function

• [12:39] Deb discusses deciding what type of birthing experience you want and selecting a provider and team

• [16:16] Deb talks about what she would like to see in the future regarding birthing and things that need to change

• [22:42] Deb shares how the transition to a parent is a lifestyle, emotional and physical change

• [28:14] Deb discusses her decision to have home birthing, and she outlines how socio-economics can affect the ability to choose your birthing vision

• [37:01] The different fears associated with the birthing experience are discussed

• [42:05] Deb defines what the family unit means to her

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• You should never feel guilty about taking time for yoga. It isn't just exercise. It's a way to clear your mind so that you are present for the rest of the day.

• Women who have problems with peeing when they laugh or sneeze have a weak pelvic floor, and it is false to think it's normal, and they have to live with it. Seek a pelvic therapist.

• Medical staff need education about informed consent. Being in a hospital setting does not give someone a license to touch a patient without asking and being given permission.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

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Prenatal Yoga Center - Website

Prenatal Yoga Center - Instagram

BIOGRAPHY:

Deb Flashenberg is the founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center in NYC. Along with being a prenatal yoga teacher, she is also a labor support doula, Lamaze childbirth educator, mother of two and self-proclaimed "birth and anatomy geek." For the past seven years, Deb has also greatly enjoyed hosting the podcast Yoga | Birth | Babies, where she speaks with some of the world's leading experts in pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenthood. Currently, Deb is knee-deep in Dr. Sarah Duvall's Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist program, pursuing the Spinning Babies Parent Educator certification and loving every minute of it!

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Jenna Hermans shares the questions to ask yourself when facing your fears. Jenna also shares the experiences she is having being a step-mom and the experiences she faces with her own step-parents.

Resources:

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Jenna Hermans - Website

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