On today’s episode, Cassie Young from The Bert Show gets open & honest about her struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety. She also shares her birth story and new mother experience including a failed epidural multiple times, breastfeeding, going back to work after maternity leave, and mental health struggles & seeking professional health.

Cassie lives with her husband and 8 month old baby. Although they live away from many of their family members, they are taking life day by day while raising their child. Working for such a small company, Cassie is grateful to be employed at a firm that believes in a paid maternity leave.

Main points:

2:46 Maternity leave and employers

7:15 Birth experience: induced labor, 4 x local anesthetic, failed epidurals, silent baby after birth, bleeding heavily, breakthrough cry

12:51 Physical recovery

14:52 Natural practices

16:37 Bringing her home: fear of hurting baby, nightmares

23:08 Mental health: postpartum depression, anxiety

27:20 Working through mental health

29:58 Relationships in life

Tips and Resources:

Sleep training

Moms on Call swaddling technique

Taking Cara Babies

Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.

On today's episode, Savannah shares about her experience as a single, young mom to her beautiful baby girl, Charlotte. After an unplanned pregnancy with an unsupportive partner, Savannah impressively decided to move forward with raising her daughter all on her own. Her birth story started at 32 weeks when she went into pre-term labor which required her to be on bed rest for the remaining 8 weeks of her pregnancy.

After coming home, Savannah noticed that her daughter had a tongue tie and a dairy intolerance that made breastfeeding very difficult. They also faced some sleep challenges and are still working through them now that Charlotte is 1-year-old. Savannah's family initially had some negative feelings towards her pregnancy but eventually came around and are now a very strong support system for her and her daughter.

Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions. 

Today’s Guest is TV Host & Entertainment Reporter, Stuart Brazell. Stuart is currently 38 weeks pregnant with her second baby and shares about how her first birth experience didn’t go as planned, requiring a vacuum and an episiotomy, leading to a very challenging physical recovery. Although she didn’t feel like herself for months after her son was born, she was able to successfully breastfeed for 18 months.

Stuart lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband Robbie and 2 year old son.

Main points:

3:45 First Birth Experience: pitocin, membrane-swipe, epidural, vacuum, high-blood pressure

8:50 Physical Recovery

10:06 Breastfeeding: 18 months, good experience, working while breastfeeding

10:40 Sleeping: night nurse, abroad trip

Methods: bath and book routine, patience

14:24 Balancing Work and Mom life

16:58 Being Pregnant while Parenting Another

19:55 Acid Reflux: gripe water, diet, breastfeeding

22:57 Travelling with a Newborn

24:23 Having a Child and Relationships

Tips and Resources:

Take advantage of the online communities of moms

Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.

Colleen and her husband were planning on an unmedicated hospital birth, but were shocked when their son flipped into a breech position at 37 weeks gestation. While this resulted in an unplanned C-section, Colleen still had a very positive birth experience.

Colleen, her husband Patrick and soon to be one year old Rory are an animal loving family as owners to their dog Scout and horse Matt

Main points:

Birth Story (1:53)

Positive C-section experience (4:15)

Preeclampsia post C-section (5:16)

C-section advice (7:38)

Going home from hospital (9:17)

Breastfeeding jaundice and switching to formula(11:22)

Sleeping (14:33)

Going back to work (16:14)

Nightime routine (18:31)

New baby and relationships in life (22:48)

Tips and Resources:

Find time for yourself

Love to dream swaddle

Mayen Abdominal massage post c-section

Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.

After meeting her husband in high school, Samantha and her husband live in Pompano Beach, Florida with their 19 month old son. Samantha started the hysterical and relatable blog & Instagram account @mommy.realist to serve as a venting platform for new moms.

On today’s episode, Samantha  shares about her positive birth experience, challenges with breastfeeding success with sleep training, traveling internationally with a newborn, and how she and her husband navigated changes in their relationship after having a baby.

Main Points:

2:28 Birth Story at 4 weeks early

5:22 Bringing newborn home

6:14 Latching struggles, sleeping with recliner and co-sleeping

7:47 Feeding methods: breastfeeding and using formula

10:07 Sleep training and taking care of babies, weaning

12:37 Travelling with an infant

14:08Sstopping co-sleeping and breastfeeding for better mental health

15:20 Taking the year off of work

15:50 Starting @mommy.realest

16:25 Baby impacting marriage, relationships and social life

21:02 Self care practices

Tips and Resources:

What to Expect App

Prioritize self-care

Giving up control for a less stressful lifestyle

Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions. You can purchase the Postpartum Thrive Guide at www.thesleepsessions.co/get-the-guide. 

On today's episode, Candace shares about struggling with the idea of becoming a mother of two, coping with anxiety during pregnancy, and staying true to what felt right for her and her family throughout her motherhood journey. She also talks about her experience during a surprise unmedicated, success with feeding on demand, and choosing not to sleep train either of her babies.

“If it works for you that’s really all that matters” (17:07)

After going to the same high school, Candace and her husband Mike met later in life, settled down in Athens, and had two very different pregnancies. To learn more about her story, listen in!

Main points:

Overview (2:04)

First Pregnancy - Boy (2:05)

Second Pregnancy - Girl (3:56)

Dealing with Anxiety (4:12)

Bringing Babies Home (10:36)

Bringing First Born Home (10:51)

First Born and Sleep (11:20)

Breastfeeding First Born (12:45)

Breastfeeding Second Born (14:22)

Second Born and Sleep (15:09)

Anxiety as a Mother of Two (18:02)

Son’s Sleep at Age 3 (20:25)

Tips and Resources:

Find what works for you

Use Facebook and Youtube, Listen to Podcasts

The Baby Center

What to Expect

Kelly Mom

Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.

As a fitness icon and mother of two, Miranda Alcaraz has had to learn how to navigate major changes to her body & mind all while growing her business and community, Street Parking.

On today’s episode, Stephanie shares about her daughter’s premature birth at 32 weeks via emergency C-section, challenges they faced with feeding & acid reflux, transitioning back to work after maternity leave, and ultimately deciding to leave her career when her daughter was 18 months old.

“I always felt like I wasn’t doing enough at work, I wasn’t doing enough at home, and I was just failing at both” (21:42)

Stephanie lives in Minneapolis with her husband, daughter Clara and dog, Lucy. Her first year as a mother came with struggles she never imagined, but ultimately they made her realize what was most important to her.

Main points:

Stephanie’s Birth Story (1:25)

Aftermath: Special Care Nursery for 5 Weeks (3:01)

Transition: Bringing Clara Home (6:34)

Feeding Struggles (7:11)

Acid Reflux and Eating Habits (10:05)

Clara’s Sleep Cycles (12:41)

Going Back to Work (16:25)

Frequent Sickness and Guilt (22:48)

Leaving Work (27:06)

Tips, Advice and Resources (30:16)

Resources:

Taking Cara Babies: Online Sleep Classes and Resources for Newborn to Two-Year Olds

Follow on Instagram @takingcarababies

Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.