One of our goals here at Expecting and Empowered is for women to feel empowered going into the fourth trimester! We hope this episode helps you pinpoint some spots where you can prepare before the birth of your baby to be set up to heal well and feel more like yourself during your fourth trimester experience! 

We prepare for 9 months for our babies!  We plan the perfect nursery, buy all the cutest clothing, we take baby courses and classes…but have you prepared yourself for postpartum? Today we will go through our suggestions of things to add to your list of considerations that may help you lessen your load during your fourth trimester.

After going through this huge transition from pregnancy to the fourth trimester, it’s important to do something every day that helps you feel a little more like yourself. We asked the members of our Expecting and Empowered community what helped them during their postpartum time and are passing along their suggestions. Whether it’s a big or small thing, you matter and deserve to feel like your best self. 

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their childbirth journey!

Links & Resources

Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout

Expecting and Empowered Website

Expecting and Empowered Instagram


This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

We are so excited to bring back Mackenzie from Mackenzie.On.Motherhood on Instagram. She was with us for episodes 27 and 28 where we talked about what an L&D nurse wants you to know about labor and what actually happens after a hospital birth. So we thought it would be perfect for her to come back and educate us about epidurals! Whether your birth plan will include an epidural or not, this episode will be a great opportunity to educate yourself on the option of an epidural and what that process of having one looks like. It’s better to be over prepared than under prepared!

We start off with defining what exactly an epidural is and Mackenzie walks us through the step-by-step process of how an epidural is placed and who does the procedure. We then go through some of our listeners' most requested questions about epidurals. Can you get out of bed and change positions? Will I still feel pain? What are the risks and benefits? We go through it ALL!

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @mackenzie.on.motherhood and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their childbirth journey!

Follow Mackenzie on Instagram

Mackenzie’s Website

Mackenzie’s Online Courses

Links & Resources

Episode 27 - What a Labor and Delivery Nurse Wants You To Know About Labor

Episode 28 - What Actually Happens After a Hospital Birth

Expecting and Empowered App - Check out our Labor Day Sale and enter code ‘LABORPOD25’ at checkout!

Expecting and Empowered Website

Expecting and Empowered Instagram

Today is a solo episode from one of your hosts, me, Amy! As a trained doula, Registered Nurse, and mom of three, I feel confident we can provide you with some strategies in today’s episode to help you create a positive mindset around your upcoming labor and delivery. Mindset is aways trainable! 

Something we encourage you to do is to learn about the birthing process. We’ve linked some of our previous episodes for you below about the different stages of labor and women’s birth stories. I also share my favorite book and documentaries to watch if that interests you more! By doing this research, you’ll know what is normal and expected during labor but also be prepared to know what options you have as the laboring mama. 

The second tip I wanted to cover with you today is about yourSELF. How do YOU like to be encouraged during times of stress? I share with you some positive feedback quotes I learned in my doula training that you can share with your birthing support person if you feel they resonated with you and can help you during your birth. And also choose a couple key phrases to encourage yourself during the labor process.

My third tip to help you work on your birthing mindset is to write a letter to yourself. As if you were writing this to your best friend, detail what your birth plan is and fill it with loving, positive affirmations to yourself. Encouraging your future self that you can do it and meet your baby! Finally, my last tip is to protect this new positive birth mindset you have created. Everyone will have an opinion about your birth plan, and it may not always be encouraging. Step away from conversations or online content if you feel it isn’t beneficial to your mindset.

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their childbirth journey!

Links & Resources

Expecting and Empowered Episode 24 - Empowering Your Labor and Delivery

Expecting and Empowered birth story episodes: Episode 3, episode 5, episode 10, episode 15, episode 19, and episode 32

The Birth Hour Podcast

The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin

Expecting and Empowered App - Check out our Labor Day Sale and enter code ‘LABORPOD25’ at checkout!

Expecting and Empowered Website

Expecting and Empowered Instagram

We are so excited to have Diane Boden from the Minimalist Moms on the podcast today. After feeling like she wanted to live more intentionally and simply, Diane pursued sharing her experience through Minimalist Moms Podcast, which has become a top rated podcast and resource for women! 

Diane doesn’t want the term “minimalist” to scare you - she really just means living your life more simply, with less clutter taking up space in your mental load and taking time away from really enjoying your life with your kids and your family. She uses a technique where if it can be put away in 1 minute, do it right then so you don’t have to do it later! It really helps the clutter from building up. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in your home, Diane shares what room to start decluttering in and why. And to keep that newly organized space tidy, Diane suggests implementing the “1 in, 1 out” rule. This can be especially helpful for kids' toys!

Besides the physical items cluttering up our home, there can also be a lot of mental clutter when it comes to being a mom. If thoughts keep you up at bedtime, have a pen and paper handy to use as a “brain dump”. You can write all your ideas down and tackle the to-do list the next day without worrying you’ll forget something. And don’t forget to quiet your mind once in a while and relax in a way you enjoy most! 

Diane also covers what to do in our closets…we know it can seem daunting, but Diane’s tips about how to handle your pre-baby clothes and maternity clothes can help this task seem less overwhelming.

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @minimalistmoms and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their motherhood journey!

Follow Diane and Minimalist Moms Podcast on Instagram

Diane’s Minimalist Moms Website

Diane’s Podcast, Minimalist Moms Podcast

Grab a copy of Diane’s book, Minimalist Moms: Living and Parenting with Simplicity

Links & Resources

Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout

Expecting and Empowered Website

Expecting and Empowered Instagram

As you already know, here at Expecting and Empowered, we don’t mind covering topics people are scared or shy to talk about. And today is no different! Today’s episode is all about sex during pregnancy. Some women love sex while pregnant and some want nothing to do with it! Either is okay. We are going to dive into this topic through the lens of a physical therapist and mamas of three. 

First of all, is sex during pregnancy safe? Unless your provider specifically tells you to abstain, YES, it’s safe! There can even be some benefits of sex during pregnancy, especially during the 3rd trimester. This episode will dive into all the ways we can make it not just safe and comfortable, but actually ENJOYABLE.

We recognize that a lot of body changes happen during pregnancy and that may affect the way you feel towards sex. It may be out of your comfort zone, but this episode will cover ways you can better communicate with your partner about how you’re feeling, and your wants and needs in the bedroom to help both of you reach the “finish line” and have fun while doing it! We also discuss some positions you and your partner can try that leave some extra space for your growing belly.

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their pregnancy journey!

Links & Resources:


Pregnancy Sex Positions Freebie

Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout

Expecting and Empowered Website

Expecting and Empowered Instagram

The creator behind the Instagram account @babysettler, Hillary Sadler is a labor and delivery nurse, feeding specialist, and mom of 4. She also is the author of the book “Babies Made Simple”, a roadmap to the baby stage! Hillary fills the information gap between your OB’s office and baby’s pediatrician. She gives evidence-based guidance to new moms, as she would to any friend, without the high cost burden you’d incur in a traditional healthcare setting.

Well fed babies sleep better, so Hillary is on a mission to make sure all new mamas understand the connection between feedings and sleep. There is evidence showing that if mom can get at least one REM cycle of sleep during the night, it can positively impact maternal mental health. In order to get that sleep, Hillary tells us how we can identify if our babies are getting an effective and full feeding.

Following a routine can help babies and parents. Every baby is different though, so Hillary emphasizes the difference between a strict schedule versus a routine. She dives into example routines, ways to set the environment up for quality sleep, and a new perspective of splitting your 24 hour day into different time chunks. If your baby goes to daycare, sometimes your child’s daytime routine is out of your control, which can lead to an overtired baby in the evening. Hillary explains how to use the “5 S’s” to console that sweet little one. Lots of families are using the Snoo bassinet because of its built-in soothing capabilities, but does Hillary approve of this coveted baby item? Listen and find out her opinion!

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @babysettler and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their postpartum journey!

Follow Hillary on Instagram

Hillary’s Website

Hillary’s New App, coming soon!

Order Hillary’s book, “Babies Made Simple”

Links & Resources

Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout

Expecting and Empowered Website

Expecting and Empowered Instagram

Today on the podcast we are happy to host Chelsea Swopes. Chelsea is a baby and toddler speech language expert (SLP) with over 15 years of experience. Chelsea is known on her Instagram page as @playtalklove and is a mama herself! Chelsea’s goal is to help families build strong connections in order for those kiddos to grow into functional communicators. 

Reading to your baby isn’t just a sweet thing to do as part of a bedtime routine, it’s also a great way to build a strong bond and expose them to hundreds of words. Including your baby and toddler in your everyday routines also helps support their language development too! 

Lots of parents experience anxiety over whether or not their child is meeting the appropriate milestones, including speech. Know that if you are helping your child grow and develop, you are doing a great job. And if you feel there may be cause for concern, Chelsea encourages you to familiarize yourself with the age related milestones we’ve linked for you below and also shares how to seek help from a professional. 

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @playtalklove and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their motherhood journey!

Follow Chelsea Swopes on Instagram

Chelsea’s Website

Links & Resources

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s website

Chelsea’s Free Communication Milestone Checklist 

Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout

Expecting and Empowered Website

Expecting and Empowered Instagram

No two births are alike. Just as no two mother’s perception of her birth experience is alike. Trauma related to birth is in the eye of the beholder as Kayleigh Summers, licensed clinical social worker and birth trauma therapist, shares with us today. Kayleigh experienced a traumatic birth which she details in today’s episode. This experience is what led her to helping other moms process and work through their birth traumas and change the trajectory of their healing. Society leads us to believe that if we end up with a healthy baby, we should be grateful. 

As we discuss with Kayleigh in today’s episode, your feelings of being traumatized are valid. Yes, you may have a healthy baby, but your experience and feelings matter. Those two emotions, grief and thankfulness, can coexist. Your thankfulness for your baby does not diminish your sadness around your traumatic experience. Kayleigh explains that early intervention with a therapist can drastically change the outcome of the feelings towards the birth. Processing the trauma properly with a professional can help make the triggers less triggering, especially if you plan on having more children, and therefore more birthing experiences, in the future.  Kayleigh’s last encouragement is that no matter how long ago your trauma occurred, whether it was 20-30 years ago or more, it is never too late to seek help. 

If you found today’s episode helpful, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @thebirthtrauma_mama and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their postpartum journey!

Follow Kayleigh Summers on Instagram

Kayleigh’s Website

Kayleigh’s Podcast

Schedule a consultation with Kayleigh (and you live in PA or FL) at Holding Hope Perinatal 

Links & Resources

Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout

Expecting and Empowered Website

Expecting and Empowered Instagram

Social media seems to be flooded with the new fad diet of “counting macros”...or is it a fad? And is it even a diet? Dani Patton, nutritionist, macro coach, and face of Mindin’ My Macros on Instagram, is on the podcast today to discuss this phenomenon. Dani wants all of you to know that macros are a tool, not a restricting fad diet, used to help you achieve your health goals and enjoy a well lived life. The idea is to fuel your body with the macronutrients it needs, not restrict it!

After graduating college, Dani was looking for something that wasn’t another yo-yo diet to help her find a sustainable lifestyle to help her look and feel her best.  Dani researched and concluded that macros were the answer! Macros are the simple makeup of the food we all eat; protein, carbs, and fat. Manipulating these three main macro categories is the key to sustainable eating habits that will help you reach your health goals. 

Through her work with over 1,000 women, Dani has found that protein is the macro the majority are lacking the most. Logging your daily macros in a free macro counting app is a great way to check in on your current eating habits. If macro counting seems daunting for you, Dani suggests focusing on simply upping your daily protein intake. Currently pregnant or soon to be? Dani is pregnant currently too and knows it can be difficult when morning sickness kicks in. Her suggestion is to find what food works for you while sick and try to focus on that protein intake! 

If you loved today’s episode, don’t forget to share it and tag @mindinmymacros and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their motherhood journey!

Follow Dani on Instagram

Dani’s Podcast, Mindin’ My Wellness

Download MyFitnessPal on AppStore and GooglePlay Store

Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout

Expecting and Empowered Website

Expecting and Empowered Instagram

Having a baby is one of the most exciting times of our lives. We prepare months in advance for the baby's arrival. We take labor and delivery classes, parenting classes, and read all the books…but do we prepare enough for how we are going to feed our baby? Jessica McKee, a seasoned NICU RN, mom, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), is on the podcast today to discuss everything breastfeeding and pumping.

From our own experiences with breastfeeding, it isn’t always easy. Taking the time during your pregnancy to study up on what “normal” looks like can help you know if there is an issue to address. And while in-person appointments with an IBCLC are great, online services from someone like Jess can be exceptionally helpful too! Jess has a number of tips for us today including proper body mechanics while breastfeeding, things the non-feeding parent can do to bond with baby, and how to utilize the InfantRisk Center Hotline and MommyMeds App if you have questions about medications or supplements you want to take while breastfeeding.

If you are going back to work and will need to pump, you’ll want to listen to this episode. Jess talks with us about when the right time to order your pump is, knowing your rights as a pumping mama, and what to keep with you to have a successful pumping session at work. We also run through some popular baby products and Jess gives us her opinion on if they’re worth using or not! We know being a new mom is hard, but feeding your baby shouldn’t have to be. By preparing before birth, you too can enjoy the newborn stage!

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @goodbabylactation and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their childbirth and parenting journey!

Follow Jessica on Instagram 

Jessica’s Website

Links & Resources

InfantRisk Center Website

MommyMeds App on Apple Store and Google Play

Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout

Expecting and Empowered Website

Expecting and Empowered Instagram