In this episode of The Mommy Mentor, I sit down with Dr. Phindile Chowa, a Harvard-trained emergency physician and expert in compassionate, personalized postpartum care. 🌟 Dr. Chowa shares her "superpower"—guiding new mothers through the fourth trimester with individualized support to enhance their recovery and overall well-being. 🤱

We dive into some of the most pressing challenges new moms face, from mental health struggles to the difficulty of balancing self-care while caring for a family. Dr. Chowa highlights common obstacles mothers encounter when trying to prioritize their own health and offers advice on fostering a culture of self-care among mothers. 💪💖

The conversation also addresses the maternal health crisis in the U.S., particularly the disparities Black women face with higher rates of complications and mortality. While Dr. Chowa acknowledges that systemic changes are important, she notes that these improvements can be slow. Instead, she emphasizes the faster, positive impact that support at the individual and community levels can provide. Dr. Chowa shares practical strategies for empowering mothers and building supportive networks to ensure every mother feels valued and cared for during the postpartum period. 🏠💞

For information on this podcast and more, visit www.mommymentorpodcast.com, or my Instagram @mymommymentor. My name is Erinn Kennedy-Heldt & I am a registered nurse and a Mom of three.  I have professional experience with moms & babies as a post-partum nurse, which keeps the newborn & post partum transition fresh in my mind.  I have 18 years of parenting experience as well.

Episode Resources: 

EMCare2U Instagram

Dr. Chowa's Instagram 

Dr. Chowa's Facebook Group

EMCare2U Facebook page 

Dr. Chowa's Book, What to Expect Next

Dr. Chowa's Podcast

In this engaging episode of the Mommy Mentor podcast, I dive into the whirlwind of early infant feeding! 🌟 I explore the challenges and joys that new parents face during those crucial first days. From the frantic "cluster feeding" nights where babies seem to want to eat all the time 🍽️ to the natural hormones at play that help milk production, I break it down in a relatable way. You'll hear about the realities of breastfeeding, including the struggles some parents encounter and the importance of seeking help when needed. 🤱💬 Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or a mix of both, this episode is all about reassurance and support. I encourage you to embrace the journey, remember that perfection isn’t the goal, and that every feeding choice is valid. ❤️ Join me for tips, personal stories, and resources to help you navigate this beautiful, yet sometimes overwhelming, experience of feeding your baby! 🌈✨

For information on this podcast and more, visit www.mommymentorpodcast.com, or my Instagram @mymommymentor. My name is Erinn Kennedy-Heldt & I am a registered nurse and a Mom of three.  I have professional experience with moms & babies as a post-partum nurse, which keeps the newborn & post partum transition fresh in my mind.  I have 18 years of parenting experience as well.

Stanford University Breastfeeding Resources

Key Topics and Corresponding Citations

Cluster Feeding:

Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (n.d.). Newborn Care and Feeding. Retrieved from HealthyChildren.org.

Role of Oxytocin in Milk Production:

Lentz, A. J., & Brown, C. C. (2017). The Role of Oxytocin in Breastfeeding. Journal of Human Lactation, 33(3), 529-532.

Kevern, J. (2017). The role of oxytocin in lactation. Midwifery, 54, 36-40. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2017.06.002.

Supplementation Options:

Kair, L. R., & Ritchie, A. (2021). Breastfeeding: The Essential Guide. Healthline.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Breastfeeding: Supplementation Options. Retrieved from CDC

Lactation Support Resources:

United States Lactation Consultant Association. (n.d.). Find a Lactation Consultant. Retrieved from USLCA

International Lactation Consultant Association. (n.d.). Retrieved from ILCA

Peer Support Groups:

La Leche League International. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from La Leche League

Chocolate Milk Cafe. (n.d.). Support and Resources. Retrieved from Chocolate Milk Cafe

Breastfeeding Challenges:

Odom, E. C., Li, R., & Scanlon, K. S. (2019). Reasons for Not Meeting Breastfeeding Recommendations – United States, 2011-2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 68(3), 24-28.

Vickers, K. S., et al. (2018). Barriers to Breastfeeding: A Qualitative Study of Women’s Perspectives. Journal of Human Lactation, 34(1), 65-75. doi:10.1177/0890334417728951.

Emotional Well-being and Feeding Choices:

Sweeney, L. E., & McKechnie, M. (2019). Maternal mental health and infant feeding: A systematic review. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 15(2), e12646.

Thulier, D., & Mercer, J. (2009). Variables Associated with Breastfeeding Success. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 38(2), 209-220. doi:10.1111/j.1552-6909.2009.01007.x.

Breastfeeding Benefits:

World Health Organization. (2023). Breastfeeding. Retrieved from WHO.

In this episode of The Mommy Mentor, I sit down with parenting expert and author Darla Noble to discuss the emotional and practical challenges parents face when their children transition from high school to adulthood 🎓. With four adult children and nine grandchildren, Darla shares her wisdom on how to give your kids independence while staying connected, the evolving role of a parent, and why raising children is the most important job we’ll ever do ❤️. Whether you're a parent of a teen, college student, or beyond, this episode is packed with advice and support for navigating this pivotal stage of life 👩‍👧‍👦. Don’t miss it!

For information on this podcast and more, visit www.mommymentorpodcast.com, or my Instagram @mymommymentor. My name is Erinn Kennedy-Heldt & I am a registered nurse and a Mom of three.  I have professional experience with moms & babies as a post-partum nurse, which keeps the newborn & post partum transition fresh in my mind.  I have 18 years of parenting experience as well.

𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒚 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒂𝒔 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝑾𝒆𝒊𝒔𝒔, 𝑪𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑵𝒖𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕, 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇-𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆. 🌱✨ 𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 8 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒚 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒐𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕, 𝑰 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒔, 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒅, 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍. 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒏𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅. 𝑻𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇-𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆.

🎙️ 𝑨𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒋𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒐𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒔!

𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒘𝒘.𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒚𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕.𝒄𝒐𝒎, 𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎 @𝒎𝒚𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒚𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓. 𝑴𝒚 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝑬𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒏 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒅𝒚-𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒕 & 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝑴𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆.  𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒔 & 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕-𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏 & 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅.  𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 18 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍.

Hello, wonderful Mommy Mentor listeners! 🎙️ This month's episode is a special one, filled with laughter, tears, and a whole lot of heart. Join me as I dive into the bittersweet emotional rollercoaster of watching my firstborns—yes, my TWINS—graduate from high school! 🎓👩‍🎓👨‍🎓

Can you believe it? It feels like just yesterday I was knee-deep in diapers and midnight feedings, and now I'm preparing to send these incredible young adults off into the world. 😭💫 These twins were born 12 weeks early, after I spent a month on hospital bed rest, so their journey has been extraordinary from the very start. It's been a journey filled with every emotion under the sun.

We'll reminisce about those whirlwind years that seemed to fly by at warp speed 🚀, laugh about the chaos that only twins can bring, and share those proud mama moments that make it all worthwhile. And yes, there will be at least one embarrassing mom story—because what's a celebration without a little mortification, right? 😜

Tune in for a heartfelt episode that celebrates milestones, growth, and the indescribable joy of parenthood. Don't forget the tissues—you'll need them! ❤️

Listen now and join the conversation!

Catch you in the episode! 🌟

For information on this podcast and more, visit www.mommymentorpodcast.com, or my Instagram @mymommymentor. My name is Erinn Kennedy-Heldt & I am a registered nurse and a Mom of three.  I have professional experience with moms & babies as a post-partum nurse, which keeps the newborn & post partum transition fresh in my mind.  I have 17 years of parenting experience as well.

🎙️ Get ready for an enlightening episode of the Mommy Mentor podcast! Join me, Erinn Kennedy-Heldt, as I sit down with the remarkable Tabatha Thorell to explore the art of teaching children about money management. 💰 From instilling positive money habits to fostering a strong work ethic, Tabatha shares practical tips and techniques for empowering kids to make sound financial decisions. As an entrepreneur and real estate investor, Tabatha's insights on working smarter, not harder, offer valuable lessons for parents looking to cultivate financial literacy in their children. Tune in as they discuss creative ways to engage kids in activities promoting entrepreneurship and financial responsibility. 🏠✨ Don't miss this inspiring conversation packed with actionable advice from Tabatha Thorell on raising money-smart kids!

For information on this podcast and more, visit www.mommymentorpodcast.com, or my Instagram @mymommymentor. My name is Erinn Kennedy-Heldt & I am a registered nurse and a Mom of three.  I have professional experience with moms & babies as a post-partum nurse, which keeps the newborn & post partum transition fresh in my mind.  And I have 17 years of parenting experience as well.

Tabatha's personal Facebook

Tabatha's Youtube 

Tabatha's Instagram 

Tabatha's TikTok 

Tabatha's podcast 

Tabatha's Linked In

Tabatha's Freebies

Tabatha's Website

Keep Legacy Wealth

Welcome to the Mommy Mentor podcast! 🎙️ I'm your host, Erinn Kennedy-Heldt. In today's episode, I'm thrilled to be joined by the incredibly talented Tabatha Thorell. With a diverse array of roles including speaker, author, coach, podcaster, and real estate investor, Tabatha's journey from rural Nebraska is nothing short of inspiring. 🌟 As a devoted wife and mother to five amazing girls, Tabatha's commitment to family is evident in everything she does. With over 16 years of experience as a fitness coach, her motivational approach has made a lasting impact on the industry. 💪 Join us for an enlightening conversation as Tabatha shares her insights on the unique challenges of raising children across significant age gaps. From fostering unity among siblings of different ages to balancing attention and resources among children with diverse needs, Tabatha offers practical advice and strategies to empower parents on their journey through parenthood. 🌱 Together, we'll explore the delicate balance of integrating personal and professional pursuits while ensuring each aspect of life receives the attention it deserves, especially amidst the joys and demands of parenting children in various life stages. Get ready for a captivating discussion filled with valuable insights and actionable tips from Tabatha Thorell on navigating the beautiful chaos of parenthood. 🌈

For information on this podcast and more, visit www.mommymentorpodcast.com, or my Instagram @mymommymentor [ https://www.instagram.com/mymommymentor/ ].

My name is Erinn Kennedy-Heldt & I am a registered nurse and a Mom of three.  I have professional experience with moms & babies as a post-partum nurse, which keeps the newborn & post partum transition fresh in my mind.  And I have 17 years of parenting experience as well.

Tabatha's personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Tabatha-Thorell/61552574051672/

Tabatha's business Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552710406464

Tabatha's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWOvhabmLnR4b5bnGfX9T0w

Tabatha's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabthorell/

Tabatha's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coachtabathathorell?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Tabatha's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-went-wrong-the-untold-stories-of-bouncing-back/id1721047249

Tabatha's Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabatha-thorell-008a9b6a/

Tabatha's Freebies: www.tabstrainings.com

Tabatha's Website: www.tabthorell.com

Keep Legacy Wealth:  Www.keeplegacywealth.com

In this episode of the Mommy Mentor podcast, join me, Erinn, your host, as I sit down with renowned psychologist Dr. Lauren Pasqua to explore the critical topic of building emotional resilience in children and supporting parental well-being.  Dr. Pasqua shares invaluable insights, practical tips, and personal anecdotes, guiding listeners through the art of validation, the power of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and the importance of prioritizing parents’ mental health.  Discover how to cultivate a validating home environment, equip children with essential coping skills, and empower parents to navigate the challenges of parenthood with confidence.  Tune in for an enlightening discussion that promises to inspire and uplift parents at every stage of their journey. 

For information on this podcast and more, visit mommymentorpodcast.com, or my Instagram mymommymentor.

My name is Erinn Kennedy-Heldt & I am a registered nurse and a Mom of three.  I have professional experience with moms & babies as a post-partum nurse, which keeps the newborn & post partum transition fresh in my mind.  And I have 17 years of parenting experience as well.

Dr. Pasqua's website: connectionsfamilycenter.com  |   Dr. Pasqua's Instagram:  @connectionSCFC

In this episode of the Mommy Mentor podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Diane Speier, a seasoned expert in birth and postpartum support. Dr. Speier shared invaluable insights from her decades of experience as a certified childbirth educator, doula, therapist, celebrant, and energy medicine practitioner. We delved into her comprehensive approach to helping parents navigate the fourth trimester and beyond. 🎙️ Dr. Speier highlighted the importance of preparing for the postpartum period, emphasizing key insights from her workshops on avoiding birth trauma and promoting postpartum wellness. She discussed the synergies between her book, “Life After Birth: A Parent’s Holistic Guide for Thriving in the Fourth Trimester,” and her groundbreaking Digital Doula® 2.0 app, offering a wealth of resources and support for new parents. 📚💡 We explored Dr. Speier’s online course, “8 Keys for Thriving in the Fourth Trimester,” and learned about the essential elements that parents often overlook but profoundly impact their transition to parenthood. From nurturing relationships to prioritizing self-care, Dr. Speier provided practical tips for making the postpartum period a fulfilling and empowering experience. 💖✨ Join us as we uncover Dr. Speier’s wealth of expertise and discover how to navigate the fourth trimester with confidence and resilience. Don’t forget to check out the episode for more insights and support! 🤰👶🌟

For information on this podcast and more, visit mommymentorpodcast.com, or my Instagram mymommymentor.

My name is Erinn Kennedy-Heldt & I am a registered nurse and a Mom of three.  I have professional experience with moms & babies as a post-partum nurse, which keeps the newborn & post partum transition fresh in my mind.  And I have 17 years of parenting experience as well.

Dr. Speier's website: dianespeier.com   |   Dr. Speier's Instagram: DrDianeSpeier

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Mommy Mentor podcast! 🎙️ In this month's episode, we have a special guest, Casey Weiss, a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, who is dedicated to helping women improve their relationship with food. 🥦🍎

Tune in to this episode of the Mommy Mentor podcast to gain valuable wisdom from Casey Weiss, a Certified Holistic Nutritionist. Together, let's embark on a journey towards a healthier relationship with food and discover how it can enhance our lives as mothers. 🎧✨