Chick Chat: The Baby Chick Podcast

Debunking Baby Sleep Myths

As parents, we all hear sleep tips and rules from friends, family, and of course, the internet. But is everything we hear accurate? We're going to find out. Today I'm chatting with Janey Reilly about baby sleep myths.

Janey Reilly, the CEO and founder of WeeSleep, is an expert infant and toddler sleep consultant who works with families around the globe to help solve sleep challenges in a positive and personal way so that babies can rest and thrive and parents can rejoice. Janey is a single mother who launched WeeSleep after realizing how important infant and toddler sleep is while struggling with her own child's sleep issues. She knew that many other parents were experiencing similar problems, and it inspired her mission to provide babies and families with healthy sleep.

Having worked with families for over a decade, Janey has seen and heard it all in the sleep world. This is why she is a perfect person to bust the big baby sleep myths. Thankfully she is also sharing her tips for parents and their babies to get better sleep!

How to be More Mindful in Motherhood: Tips & Exercises to Stay Present

Being a mother is the most wonderful and powerful role a woman can have. It's a momentous, life-changing role. And while it is the best thing that has ever happened to us, it is also demanding and can be overwhelming at times. Our to-do lists seem neverending, and we are (usually) the primary caretaker of our children. With so many responsibilities, it's only natural that we feel "touched out," exhausted, and out of control at times. This is when mindfulness can help. And being more mindful in motherhood has incredible benefits for the mother and her family.

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Josephine Atluri, a mindfulness coach and ​​author of the new book, "Mindfulness Journal for Parents." I have read it and have used it as a journal and have loved it. I even gifted it to a friend after she had her baby.

Josephine is an expert in meditation and mindfulness. She has helped thousands of people overcome adversity to find joy. Her personal experience creating her modern-day family of seven children via In Vitro fertilization, international adoption, and surrogacy inspires her work as a highly sought-after fertility and parenting mindfulness coach.

With seven children, she knows the pressures of motherhood. She also knows that life can get chaotic. It's unavoidable, especially with children. But with mindfulness, you can practice simple ways to stay calm and work through moments of stress. Josephine encourages parents to build mindfulness into their habits and routines with their kids. And on this episode, she shares some of her incredible tips and exercises for parents to stay present.

* This episode is brought to you by our friends at Binto! First time customers can receive 20% off their first month of a Binto subscription or any of their products by using our code babychick20. (Excludes gift cards.) Stay healthy, mamas!

Natural Postpartum Healing with Momotaro

So much happens to our bodies after childbirth—whether we’ve had a vaginal birth or cesarean birth. And caring for our bodies before giving birth and after is vital. Thankfully there are gentle products that can help us with natural healing like Momotaro Apotheca, a certified organic and cruelty-free vulvovaginal care line that supports your body’s natural ability to heal. We always want to be kind to our bodies especially during this vulnerable time. That's why we're chatting with Lindsay Wynn, Co-Founder and CEO of Momotaro Apotheca.

Lindsay founded Momotaro out of a necessity in her own life. (You can learn more about her story in this episode.) Along with her business partner, Taylor, they built the brand with the hope that we all can rethink how we talk about our sexual health issues, how we support each other in wellness, and how we understand our bodies. They've developed some groundbreaking proactive plant-based products that work gently yet effectively. They systemically address symptoms associated with common vulvovaginal issues stemming from infection and general irritation without interfering with pH balance, hormones, pheromones, or medication. It's all pretty amazing and we're so glad that they're helping people care for their bodies in places that might night be getting the love or attention they deserve.

I had the best time chatting with Lindsay on this episode. She really is making what some may consider being a "taboo topic" normal and comfortable—as it should be! She has shared some of her experiences and wonderful knowledge with us and tips on how we all can better love and take care of our bodies naturally. I love that and her products. That's why we're uncovering these topics and sharing all of this with you.

To learn more about natural postpartum healing, listen to this episode. You'll learn some valuable tips as well as how each of their Momotaro products can be used to help you before, during, and after the postpartum period.

• Momotaro website
• Momotaro Instagram: @lovemomotaro
• Momotaro blog
• Build your sexual wellness & self-care routine by taking their quiz

Birth Trauma and How to Overcome a Difficult Birthing Experience

Birth trauma. It's a real thing, and everyone's trauma is valid. According to research, up to 34% of women report their birth being traumatic. That's 1 in 3 women. And that is heartbreaking. Not enough people have heard about birth trauma, so today, we are so grateful to chat with Teela Tomassetti, a psychologist from Alberta Canada, and the name and face behind the Instagram account @theteaonbirthtrauma.

Teela has spent the last 15 years specializing in various forms of trauma therapy such as domestic violence, childhood sexual abuse, tragic losses, and sexual assault. A few years ago, Teela decided to pursue her Doctorate with a specialty in birth trauma. Since then, Teela has made it her mission to create a safe space to explore birth trauma survivors' experiences, support them in discovering their healing, and shed light on this topic.

Today's episode is all about birth trauma and how to overcome a difficult birthing experience. I am honored to chat with Teela about this. She shares some incredible insight and research, as well as her own traumatic childbirth experience. You will leave this episode so much more knowledgeable, compassionate, and empathic to all birthing trauma survivors.

Cognitive Changes in Motherhood and the Real Scoop on Mommy Brain

Throughout pregnancy, many of us realize that we aren't remembering as much as we used to. We're not as quick-witted and are more forgetful. This is why the term "pregnancy brain" has come about. But did you know that there is also "mommy brain"? It's true! Our brains change once we become mothers, even if we're not the birthing mother, and we were fascinated by why this happens to mothers or the main caretaker.

That's why we are thrilled to be chatting with Dr. Mona Amin today about cognitive changes in motherhood. She's dishing out the real scoop on mommy brain! Dr. Mona is a pediatrician, mom, and Enfamil’s Infant Development Expert. Her mission is to share balanced, well-researched parenting advice to lessen those big worries and help moms find more joy in motherhood.

During this episode, we discussed how to support your own cognitive changes (aka mommy brain) as a mother while also fueling your baby’s cognitive changes. Dr. Mona shared some really insightful points and tips for us parents. I know this topic is relatable for so many of us (myself included) and I am excited for you to dive in with us and learn more with Dr. Mona!

Nutrition in Pregnancy: How DNA Affects Our Nutritional Needs & What We Can Do

When you discover you're pregnant, it's such an exciting and overwhelming time. There's so much to do and to think about! It's normal for women to begin questioning their lifestyle choices and the products they use. Maybe you want to start getting more active. Maybe you want to lower the stress in your life. And maybe you want to rethink what you have been eating in your diet.

We all know that nutrition in pregnancy is important but it can be confusing. Many women aren't sure exactly what they should be eating throughout each trimester. And what one woman should eat during their pregnancy is oftentimes different from another, especially when we look at our DNA.

In today's episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Nicole Avena, an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and a Visiting Professor of Health Psychology at Princeton University. Dr. Avena is a research neuroscientist and expert in the fields of nutrition, diet, and addiction, with a special focus on nutrition during early life and pregnancy, and women’s health. She has written several books and frequently appears as a science expert in the media. This includes regular appearances on the Dr. Oz Show, Good Day NY, and The Doctors, as well as many other news programs. Her work has been featured in Time Magazine, Bloomberg Business Week, Time Magazine for Kids, The New York Times, and many other periodicals. We are thrilled to have her as a guest on our show to discuss nutrition in pregnancy.

Every pregnancy is so different and the nutrition we need from each pregnancy can vary. Thankfully there is a resource that can help us that is called 9Moons. 9Moons is a personalized prenatal nutrition program shaped by your DNA and lifestyle. Dr. Avena is sharing her expert advice and telling us all about it. We are excited to learn more!

This episode is brought to you by our friends at 9Moons.

Good Habits to Implement Now to Prevent Toddler Tantrums During the Holidays

The holiday season can spark a lot of emotions in the family—excitement, joy, anxiety, dread . . . And that's not including all of the emotions from our toddlers! We know that big events can bring up big emotions. Now that the holidays are upon us, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Leanne about how to prevent toddler tantrums during the holiday season.

Leanne Sherred is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist as well as the President of Expressable, an online speech therapy company that envisions a modern, affordable, and convenient way for anyone who needs speech therapy to access these vital services. Leanne spent her career working in a variety of speech therapy settings before starting Expressable. She worked in pediatric outpatient clinics, schools, early intervention, and home health. She studied Speech and Hearing Sciences at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and gained her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Today Leanne calls Austin, Texas home.

We know that the holidays can be stressful enough without meltdowns. Luckily, our friend Leanne has some useful tools to help us as parents stay ahead of a toddler tantrum by using communication strategies. We’re excited to explore them together with you in this episode. Cheers to preventing toddler tantrums during the holidays!

Helpful Tips to Help Boost Your Postpartum Recovery

We know how important it is to take care of ourselves, especially after giving birth—whether that’s C-section or vaginal. However, it can be tough for us new moms to take the time for our health and recovery. We tend to prioritize our baby and family before ourselves. But taking care of ourselves is not saying, "me first," it's saying, "me too." Because we are also important and we matter. On today's podcast, I'm talking with Katherine Baquie, the founder of FitNest Mama. Kath is sharing with us all of her tips on how to help boost your postpartum recovery.

Kath is a proud mama of three, a perinatal physiotherapist, and host of her own podcast, The FitNest Mama Podcast. On her podcast, Kath dives into all things pregnancy care, childbirth, and postnatal recovery, helping mothers to have a better pregnancy and postpartum experience. Kath has over 16 years of professional experience guiding mamas through their pregnancy fitness journeys and postnatal rehab, and she specializes in pelvic floor rehabilitation. With these credentials, it’s not hard to see why mamas are flocking to Kath for pre and postnatal fitness help!

As I mentioned, Kath is sharing her advice with us on how to best recover from childbirth as well as our pelvic floor. She's explaining what exercises moms can do and can’t do after giving birth, and her tips to new moms just beginning their postpartum journeys. We're so grateful to have her as our guest and to listen to her words of wisdom. Cheers to boosting our postpartum recovery!

How to Design Your Perfect Nursery

An exciting part of planning for a baby’s arrival is preparing their room! It can be so much fun pinning beautiful pictures that inspire you on Pinterest for your little one's nursery. However, designing your perfect nursery can also be overwhelming. Where should you start? What do you need? And what can you skip? Parents can feel rattled (no pun intended) when trying to make the room perfect for themselves and their little one. That's why we have a special guest and interior designer, Naomi Coe, breaking it all down for us on today's podcast episode.

Naomi Coe is the award-winning founder of Little Crown Interiors, which is an interior design studio specializing in nursery and child design. She is also the author of the nursery design book, Your Perfect Nursery. Naomi founded Little Crown Interiors in 2008, focusing her design studio on nurseries and child spaces after seeing this specialized skill missing from other firms. Bringing together beauty, functionality, and safety, Naomi believes in creating spaces for her clients that are unique, intentional, and curated.

Naomi has designed nurseries, kids rooms, and playrooms for clients all across the country with a keen eye for style, function, and safety. As one of the first designers in the country with a specialty in these spaces, Naomi is known as the go-to expert in her field. Her work has been featured in countless magazines, periodicals, and on television including People, The Wall Street Journal, Access Hollywood, Project Nursery, and Entertainment Tonight. It's obvious that she's incredibly talented and she has the portfolio to prove it!

We are thrilled to have Naomi with us today to share her expert knowledge and tips on how to create a stylish, functional, and safe nursery for our babies.

Frequently Asked Questions About Babywearing Answered

Babywearing has been a practice that mothers have used for many, many generations. It's something that I love and recommend to every new parent because it makes things easier on you and better for your baby. Babies want to be close to their parents, and with babywearing, parents can do that while still getting everything they need done.

As a new parent or caregiver, babywearing can be intimidating to start, and there are often a lot of questions. That's why I'm talking to two mamas, Skye and Mallory, who are both extremely well-versed and so passionate about babywearing that they even started their very own ring sling company. They're answering frequently asked questions about babywearing and are sharing their advice.

Skye and Mallory are the Co-Founders of hope&plum, a ring sling company that offers modern, stylish, and size-inclusive designs. Most importantly, they're a welcoming environment where caregivers of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds can come together while exploring the incredible benefits of babywearing. 

Mallory is a mother of two, Selah Plum and Shepherd Keane. She lives in Minnesota with her parents, husband, and children. At hope&plum's, Mallory manages the entire production from start to finish. Not only does she handle production, but she is a babywearing educator! She helps their customers get the perfect fit with their ring slings!

Skye is a mother of three, Eleanor Hope, Madelynn Mae, and Kieran Rhys. She works as an attorney in the Washington, DC area and manages the logistical side of hope&plum. Their company has allowed her to pursue her entrepreneurial spirit while also feeding her passion for babywearing. Babywearing is close to her heart. Her first daughter, Eleanor Hope, was in the NICU for several weeks and Skye was unable to hold her until days after she was born. Babywearing allowed Skye and Eleanor to develop the bond that they initially missed out on. It has been an integral part of Skye's journey through motherhood ever since. 

We're so happy to have them here answering the most frequently asked questions about babywearing and more. We hope you enjoy this episode too!