Today we dive into the oh-so delightful world of names. The inspiration for this convo came out of our own stories around naming our kiddos and ended up expanding into so many other interesting aspects around names and naming in general. Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: how we chose our children’s names having a different last name as your child the lesser known fact that you DON’T need to name your child immediately after birth (even in a hospital) kids changing and ‘trying on names’ as they get older the sound/frequency of names Resources: ⁠six healing sounds of Chinese medicine Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.speakpipe.com/JustThis⁠⁠⁠⁠ We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show.

Friendly reminder: It's ok to slow down. In this episode we explore the importance of slowing down and the huge impact it has on any phase of life but especially on the motherhood journey. Slowing down is a simple act, yet so hard to do. It's also a super magical practice that can can create huge (often unexpected) differences in our life. Some things we cover in this episode: what slowing down means to us how and why slowing down is important in any phase of your journey (from conception into years after birth) how to transition between slow pace life and slowing down and our modern fast paced world the impacts of slowing down on your own healing, self-care, and connection to baby and others being intentional of what you let INTO your life (from media to people you are around) as a practice to slow down  the pace of babies vs. children vs. adults the weird magic of slowing down to actually speed things up and create MORE in the long run how slowing down can help you conceive/manifest (a baby or anything in life) going slow as a ritual AND the flip side of using small rituals to slow down Resources: ⁠setting intentions is a great practice for slowing down and grounding into the moment. You can grab a guided workbook and meditation for intention setting on our site: www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: ⁠⁠⁠www.speakpipe.com/JustThis⁠⁠⁠ We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show.

Today we expand on our Doulas vs. Midwives episode and do a deep dive into the world of midwives. We talk about the differences between hospital, birth center and home birth midwives as well as why we really encourage all birthing parents to connect with a midwife regardless of birthing location. Some topics we cover in this episode: difference between home birth midwife, hospital midwifes, birth center midwifes and OBs state regulations and midwifery difference between 'high risk' and state regulations how to find the best midwife for your needs why what we are exposed to as far as birth and breastfeed stories, videos, etc. Resources: ⁠EPISODE 14: "Midwifes and Doulas: what's the difference and why we recommend having both" EPISODE 2: "Birth Preferences, Birth Realities and Leaning Into the Mystery" EPISODE 12: "All Things Breastfeeding in First Weeks Post Birth: the realities, struggles, tips and more" Indie Birth and their network Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: ⁠⁠www.speakpipe.com/JustThis⁠⁠ Looking for more? Head over to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where you’ll find additional resources, ways to join the conversation and more goodies. We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show.

Who doesn’t love a good massage? (Don’t be shy - we know we have the non-massage preference listeners out there 😉 ). Whether you love or hate massage there is sooo many reasons why incorporating massage before, during and after pregnancy and birth is beneficial. That could be self massage, massage from your partner or a friend, or a professional massage. AND bonus points for massaging the tender parts that desperately need the touch and attention throughout this journey: our breasts and stomachs.  Some topics we cover in this episode: why baby massage is talked about a lot but not much about massage for mama,  how the giver gets so much out of giving a massage,  the importance of getting massage in pregnancy and postpartum  how to build massage into your day-to-day (tips for 5 min massage moments)  practicing ASKing for massage (without guilt) the many benefits of practicing massages as parters  massage and mastitis  suggestions if you feel resistance to massage and touch  massage after cesarean  energetics of massage and how it can help you somatically process Resources: how organs shift during pregnancy Maya abdominal massage research that shows benefits for GIVING a massage Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: ⁠www.speakpipe.com/JustThis⁠ Looking for more? Head over to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where you’ll find additional resources, ways to join the conversation and more goodies. We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show.

Ever wondered what the difference between a midwife and a doula is? Today we dive into this topic and explain why having a birth doula (even when you have a midwife) can be super helpful. Jen also gives the perspective from a midwifes view on why having a doula is helpful. Some of the topics we touch in on: what the simple difference is between a midwife and doula some of the different kinds of doulas why midwifes really love having a doula present our own experiences with midwifes and doulas how doulas help partners of the birthing parent a quick info on background of midwives   Have more questions about doulas or midwifes? Or anything else? Leave us a voicemail here: www.speakpipe.com/JustThis Looking for more? Head over to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where you’ll find additional resources, ways to join the conversation and more goodies. We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 😉

As promised we are back with our Part 2 of reflections that unfolded after going to Burning Man in 2023 without our children. Joining us for this convo we've got a special (and very first) guest on the podcast, Teny. She is a mama and business owner (and friend) that joined us on the adventure. The conversation goes in so many good directions. Some of the things we explore: the importance of engaging with your inner child as a mother (on your own without having your own children around) finding opportunities and spaces to connect with nature and the dark mother communal living and sharing of resources - how to bring this back into motherhood surrender as a parent vs. control co-creating vs. directing in parenthood attachment styles, inter-dependancy and codependency  disassociation (it’s not a bad thing)  Additional Resources: Episode #10 - Taking Extended Solo Time and Separation from Our Babies (Part 1 of Our Burning Man Reflections) Luis Mojica - Holistic Life Navigation Briana MacWilliams (for attachment styles) Looking for more? Head over to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where you’ll find additional resources, ways to join the conversation and more goodies. We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 😉

Let's talk about boobies! And all the amazing and hard things they go through in those first weeks with a new baby. Breastfeeding struggles are a REAL thing - just like birth it's not always as magical as we hope it to be. But we promise it does get easier and you are NOT alone. In this episode we talk about: why the perception around 'easy breastfeeding' in the first weeks exists why stress matters with breastfeeding how you actually need to intake more food and water for breastfeeding than pregnancy (always a shocker to people) how every baby is different (and the struggle can still exist with baby 2, 3, 4...) reasons breastfeeding in the early weeks can be hard our tips for making the breastfeeding journey easier We hope you enjoy this episode and please share with us your breastfeeding tips or share this episode with a friend that would benefit from it. Additional Resources: ‘the baby crawl’ - youtube video (also note this is not always how it goes - it's good to release expectations around this like we talk about in the podcast) La Leche League nipple shields and SNS systems (links just give examples but search these for more options) the Breastfriend and Boppy pillows (links just give examples but search these for more options) Rachel Yellen's breastfeeding meditations hormone chart in first weeks postpartum (coming soon!) Episode #11 - Exploring and Reframing Your Relationship to Pain for Birth and Life Episode #1 - Week #1 Post Birth Looking for more? Head over to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where you’ll find additional resources, ways to join the conversation and more goodies. We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 😉

Today we dive into PAIN (both in birth and in life). Jen wanted to explore this topic because she is tired of people shying away from using the word in relation to the experience of giving birth. Amanda had a slightly different take on it, where she actually finds it helpful to use different languaging. The topic sparked a beautiful conversation that unfolded around the word 'pain' and our relationship with the word, the sensations and more. We talk about the difference between pain and suffering as well as the benefits of going on a little date with 'pain' and getting to know it better, before birth or after or really anytime in your life (even without birth as part of the experience). Additional Resources: orgasmic birth Existential Kink (about it + link to the book) The Whole Brain Child Hypno-Birthing Peri Massage Rachel Yellen’s Audios  Looking for more? Head over to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where you’ll find additional resources, ways to join the conversation and more goodies. We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 😉

Leaving our babies and children often is an emotional roller coaster. The solo and away time is a key part of emotional balance and refilling our own energy cups but the separation tug on your heartstrings is a very real feeling. Whether it's your first time leaving your baby/kiddo or if you are a seasoned pro on taking 'you time' it's important to know that all emotions are valid and you are NOT alone in any of your feels. This is a special episode recorded leaving playa from Burning Man 2023 (filled with lots of magic and love). We give insight on our own unique experience of being away from our kiddos with little communication at Burning Man as well as tips and advice for taking steps to build in your own away time as needed. Additional Resources: postpartum belly womb massage and yoni steaming - postpartum package with Radiant Moon Medicine Jen’s childbirth classes (contact her directly for info: [email protected]) Struggling with separation from your baby or kiddo? We have a great intention setting workbook and meditation that can help with this - you can opt-in and find it at www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Looking for more? Head over to⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠ where you’ll find additional resources, ways to join the conversation and more goodies. We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 😉

Jen and I are both huge fans of co-sleeping. BUT as birth workers we also know that ultimately what is 'best' is going to be what works best for you as a parent. We discuss how co-sleeping is actually a very common practice in most cultures around the world, about the recent changes the AAP made with regards to baby sleeping in the same room, how most people end up doing some form of co-sleeping at some point postpartum, how co-sleeping doesn't always mean baby in bed next to you (there are so many ways to co-sleep) and Jen even spices things but with diving into the questions around 'how to you have sex if you kid is in your bed'. Additional Resources: The 4th Trimester podcast episode #4 (on Apple, Google, Spotify) change in AAP suggestions for co-sleeping co-sleeping in other cultures around the world travel sleeper (Amanda used ON the bed between parents) Montessori floor mattress  some photos of Amanda's co-sleeping she discussed with travel sleeper and with child teepee moses baskets for sleeping (example of one here) Looking for more? Head over to⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠ where you’ll find additional resources, ways to join the conversation and more goodies. We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠⁠⁠www.justthis.site⁠⁠⁠. If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 😉