Milestone Mama

I am finally back with an EXCITING new update for you! Tune into today’s episode to hear all about launching our baby/toddler/mama boutique, a little sneak peak at my craziest birth story yet (a breech baby, a visit from CPS, + more), and what I have been learning about being a mama of two and a business owner.

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Are you expecting your second baby while your first is a toddler? If so, chances are you are consumed with how physically and emotionally demanding it can be. Today's episode is a candid conversation with my friend, Macy Pruett- a fitness coach out of TN, who is currently pregnant with her second baby and has a two year old boy at home. 

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We're back for a brand new season of Milestone Mama! For this episode, we are reading your best #momfail submissions as well as sharing some of our personal faves. Tune in to feel a little less guilty about your mama mess-ups and to have a good laugh along with us!

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Today I sat down with my friend, Ali Bagley, for her to share about her recent experience with miscarriage. She talks openly and honestly about what the process looked like for her, the biggest challenges, and what helped her get through it. Unfortunately pregnancy loss is all to common, but it doesn't make going through it any easier. We hope you feel supported and less alone by listening today's story, especially if you have experienced miscarriage in the past or are currently going through it. We see you and are here for you!

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Today I am sharing ALL of the things that happen within the body as it prepares for and goes through the labor and delivery process. Many times the only number we focus on/hear about is dilation -- but there is much more at play! My hope for this episode is that you can walk away with the education and knowledge to know about everything happening in your body so you can walk into your labor experience feeling confident, encouraged, and informed!

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I'm finally back with another pregnancy update! Today I am sharing with you a quick recap of how second trimester went this time around. From symptoms to experiences to tips on what to get a head start on! 

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Marisa Grubbs is a wife, mama of 3, doula and educator. She is passionate about providing resources for women and families seeking a natural, physiological birth experience. Marisa shares about her personal birth stories and how they led to her wanting to become a doula herself, as well as how she incorporates her faith into the work that she does.

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Tune in to hear Kim DelFavero tell the birth story of her sweet baby girl, Madison. Kim shares about what it was like to have a breech baby before finally flipping at 37 weeks. Her induction started with a Foley Bulb and Pitocin before eventually needing a c-section. Kim talks about the emotional aspect of having her plans change and not having a provider that made her feel supported. We're so grateful to Kim for sharing her unique story and experiences in such beautiful detail!

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Tune in to hear Lisa Boettcher -- wife, mom of 4, and CEO of Prim & Clove (just to name a few of her roles) -- talk all about time management and "balance" as a mama. Whether you're a fellow entrepreneur, working mama, or stay at home mama, I think you'll be just as encouraged by her words of wisdom as I am!

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In case you missed it...yes, I am pregnant again! Today I am sharing with you a quick recap of what first trimester was like starting from trying to conceive after our miscarriage and finding out we were pregnant again several months later. Now I am well into second trimester and feeling so grateful and blessed with this rainbow baby -- and to be past the first trimester hardships!

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Alex Sobol is here to share the incredible story of the birth of her daughter, Regina "Reggie" for short. She talks all about how she came to the decision of wanting an unmedicated birth, and the unexpected events that happened when she ended up going into labor! Alex gave birth at a hospital alongside her partner, Brennan, under OB care and doula support.

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Welcome to the new season of Milestone Mama! Today we hear from Dr. Amy Newberry, a Physical Therapist specializing in pelvic floor health. Amy breaks down what the heck our pelvic floor even is, what is "normal" when it comes to symptoms, and how to best prepare and/or heal your body during and after pregnancy!

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Join us for another birth story episode with returning guest and L+D nurse, Megan Tolley. Today Megan shared her two birth stories with us, the first with her son, Leo, and the second with her daughter, Magnolia. She talks about what the induction process looked like for her and how it differed from one birth to another! We hope you enjoy tuning in as we give the space for another mama to share her unique experiences.

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Macy is a returning guest and today she is here to share the incredible  story of her son Eli's birth. Fairly early on in her pregnancy, Macy set out to have an unmedicated birth experience. Things took an unexpected turn when she found out she needed to be induced for medical indication. However, she was still able to have the unmedicated, peaceful, and empowering birth experience she had hoped for. Macy gave birth at a hospital alongside her husband under OB care and doula support.

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Today's episode could be one of my all time favorites! Lahana Vigliano is a board certified clinical nutritionist who is passionate about helping mothers balance their hormones and restore their gut health. Today we unpack what is really happening to our body when we take hormonal birth control, some of the ways we can reduce toxins in our everyday lifestyle, how to prepare the body for pregnancy, nutrition in pregnancy, and so much more! Trust me when I say this is not an episode you will want to skip!

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Today Rachel Latson shares the birth story of her daughter, Dahlia, born in April 2021. Rachel ended up switching to a midwife group during her pregnancy, and opted to have an unmedicated delivery with doula support. She had a very positive, empowered, and peaceful experience delivering her baby with her husband by her side. 

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Today's episode is the start of a brand new episode format -- community calls! In this debut community call, Chelsea, Laura, + Megan share their personal stories of miscarriage. Our hope is that those listening who have walked this painful road before feel less alone. 

And to those that tune in and have not experienced loss, we are so appreciative for your support in listening. Hopefully you can walk away, too, feeling more equipped to support any loved ones in your life who have or may experience miscarriage.

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Today Laura Wilson shares the birth story of her son, Wilder, born in January 2021. She had a very peaceful, positive home birth under midwife care. Laura shares many of the details of her pregnancy from how she made the decision to have a home birth to how she kept her body feeling well, and much more!

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First and foremost I want to say -- I am 100% an advocate for breastfeeding! There is NO denying the incredible benefits of breastmilk/breastfeeding in general. Today I am sharing my personal experience with breastfeeding and how I ultimately made the decision to switch to formula when my son was 8 weeks old. I do wish our story was different, but this decision ended up being what was best for myself, my baby, and my family. My hope is for you to feel less alone by hearing this experience because mom guilt is REAL. You are not alone if you have been met with challenges in breastfeeding, mama. You deserve the support, resources, and encouragement you need to have a successful experience in feeding your baby!

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If you are a first time mama, it can be really hard to picture what will happen when you go into labor. When should you head to the hospital? What will it look like when you get there? What should you back in your hospital bag? Labor and delivery nurse, Megan Tolley, is on the show today to answer all of those questions for you and more!

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Sia had her first baby boy in June of 2020. She came on to tell her story and how her actual labor and birth experience was so much different than what she expected. Sia opted for a hospital birth with an epidural. Tune in as she shares the details from early labor all the way through pushing + delivery, and what her biggest takeaways were from the whole experience! 

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Kayleigh Dittmer is a new mama to a baby girl, and her nursing journey didn't quite go how she may have expected. But she has figured out a way to make exclusively pumping work for her lifestyle! She feels very passionate about educating moms on this subject to let them know that it CAN be an option. We also acknowledge that mamas should do what works best for them and their families, and to be able to maintain their mental health. This is a super fun conversation we can't wait for you to join in on! 

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This is another special episode as my husband, Jordan, and I sat down to talk about our first YEAR of being parents! We recap it all from our biggest "struggles" to the most special moments. It was so much fun to reflect back on all the things we learned together and how much joy our little boy has brought us!

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This is a VERY special episode as my husband, Jordan, and I sat down to tell OUR birth story! Our little boy turns ONE this week and we felt like it was the perfect time to reflect back on our whole experience. We had an unmedicated hospital induction with doula support -- during a hurricane! It was so much fun to recap this journey as husband and wife -- and to hear Jordan's perspective too (especially on working with a doula).

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This episode is a candid conversation with licensed trauma therapist, Kobe Campbell all about mental health in motherhood and our own personal experiences. I love how Kobe elaborates on the term "post traumatic growth" and how so much beauty and potential lives on the other side of the transformational events in our lives. We talk all about how motherhood has changed both our relationships, why we understand mommy forums now, and so much more. This is a safe place for you to join us mama, you are never alone in this journey.

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Today's birth story is the birth of Calvin Joseph with returning guest, Becky Reiss -- aka my bestie! I had the honor of supporting Becky and her husband, Tyler during labor + birth, so this recording was extra special as we both got to reflect on this experience together. She was induced at 39 weeks for her Gestational Diabetes, opted for an epidural, and ended up giving birth to her baby boy via an unplanned c-section. Despite things not going according to plan, both Becky + Tyler handled it with so much grace and the way she told this story was one of the most beautiful I have ever heard! I hope you enjoy hearing her recall the details of her experience in all their beauty.

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Today's conversation with birth doula, Shawni McCoggle, is all about the importance of having birth preferences verses birth PLANS. Because we all know that labor and birth is so unpredictable and ultimately our bodies and our babies are going to do what they are going to do! However, at the core of this topic we really believe in the power of education when it comes to what your options are for your birth experience, and how that alone can help you feel more in control. The end of the episode even includes Shawni's birth story. It is a perfect example of how even though it went completely different from her original plan, she still felt so comfortable and thinks positively of her birth experience because of the knowledge and power she had.

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If you are intrigued by unmedicated birth or know you would like to experience it yourself, this episode is for you! Chelsea breaks down 4 quick tips for how you can best prepare for an unmedicated birth experience -- from establishing your mindset to the importance of the people in the room. 

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Carie Elliot joins us to share her beautiful birth story of her twins, Sloan + Cole, who were born in November of 2020. She covers some of her journey toward pregnancy, how surprised they were to end up with twins, and the entire process of her birth from arriving at the hospital to recovery. Carie says she wouldn't change a thing about her birth experience and wants to encourage any other mamas who may opt for a c-section birth! 

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So you took the dreaded 28 week glucose test, and you got the news you were hoping you wouldn't get. Gestational Diabetes is certainly not something we would choose to experience during pregnancy. However, it doesn't have to be an awful experience if you get your mindset right! Becky Reiss is on the show today to chat all about her experience with GD from how she handled the news of the diagnosis, how it changed her lifestyle day to day, to ultimately how she maintained her and baby's health for the remainder of her pregnancy!

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Lauren Jolly is an INCREDIBLE birth photographer + doula in Winston Salem, NC. She has had two home births of her own, so this topic is very near and dear to her heart! Today Lauren and I chat all about what a home birth experience looks like, how to prepare for it, what to expect, and some reasons why it may be a good option for you and your family. We also talk a lot about education going into your birth, why we think there should be more emphasis on how women perceive + process their own birth experiences, and much more! 

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*TRIGGER WARNING*: This birth story was very traumatic for Sarah and her husband, so it could also be traumatic to listen to for those who may be sensitive to this type of story. However, the outcome is still very positive and both Sarah and baby are healthy.

Sarah Reaves shares her most recent birth story of her son, Edward. Tune in to hear all about how EXTREMELY different her birth stories were from her first to second baby even though she chose an induction birth with an epidural for both. Sarah shares the many thoughts that went through her head, what she felt physically, and what she plans to do differently next time around. Edward's birth was very hard for her to process, but it is still a beautiful story and she believes sharing it is important!

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You're not crazy. Postpartum is a STRUGGLE. Especially the first time around when you are experiencing a total life transformation and figuring everything out as you go. Even though you may feel high highs of being so in love with your baby, it can also be paired with low lows. Pair the sleep deprivation with plummeting hormones and there are some days when you may feel like you're totally losing it. Today my friend Molly and I are here to tell you that you are NOT alone, mama. Tune in as we share our experiences with postpartum, breastfeeding, friendships after becoming a mom, and much more!

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It's no secret that sleep becomes one of the biggest struggles when having a baby. This can be such a frustrating topic because there is SO much information out there. But sleep is so incredibly important for both parents AND baby. Today's guest is Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, Michele DiSpirito! She will teach you how to set foundations for good sleep starting at the newborn stage through the appropriate time to "sleep train." Michele also breaks down the facts vs myths when it comes to sleep training -- and how you can make it work however feels best for YOUR family!

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Macy Pruett is a wife, new boy mama, and fitness professional out of Nashville, TN. She runs her business called Fittest Core from home while taking care of her baby boy, Eli, full time. Macy and I chat all about the overwhelming information that is thrown at you around exercise during pregnancy and after baby. We also touch on what Diastasis Recti is, how it isn't talked about by our medical providers, and ways we can avoid severe cases as well as rehabilitation. Macy gives some great, tangible tips on how to maintain a positive body image both during pregnancy and in the postpartum season + beyond. Tune in for an honest, candid conversation and walk away feeling empowered and encouraged!

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Welcome to the Milestone Mama podcast! I am SO glad you're here, my friend. I'm your host, Chelsea Hollis, and this is our debut episode where I will tell you all about who I am and what inspired me to create this community. Hear a little bit of my story and a quick intro on what you can expect from future episodes!

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