Well Worth Watering Podcast • Birth Classes • Postpartum Support

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On this month's episode I'm sharing a rich conversation with Dr. Tiffany M. Smith, a trailblazing functional psychiatric nurse practitioner, founder of Aroma Functional Nutrition Psychiatry and a visionary who sees a world where mental health care is more than just a pill. Dr. Smith aims to help her patients live better lives by identifying the root cause of their conditions and creating a customized treatment plan that incorporates lifestyle changes, counseling, coaching, and natural supplements. She believes that medication should be a last resort and that empowering her clients to take control of their health is the key to lifelong wellness. Her ultimate goal is to help people across the world understand that their lifestyle choices have a significant impact on their health and well-being.

Have you given birth recently and are struggling to feel like yourself again? Visit www.afnpsych.com/PPD to gain clarity on the difference between postpartum depression and baby blues. Looking for more support? Download Dr. Smith's app called Mental Wellness Unlocked at the Apple and Google Play Store. Text "SELFLOVE" to 702-919-4249 and join the FREE 21-day Love Thyself Journey. You can also follow Dr. Smith on Instagram @DrTiffanyMSmith.

Emelda De Coteau—affectionately known as E—is a creative, writer, podcaster and a woman of deep faith. Emelda channels her passions and experiences into deeply meaningful work. When Motherhood Looks Different offers community for mothers raising children with special needs and learning differences as well as mothers facing physical and mental health challenges of their own. The Pray With Our Feet podcast which E co-hosts with her mother, centers progressive Christian faith and social justice. You can follow her work on praywithourfeet.org as well as on Instagram @praywithourfeet. Get the latest news on the When Motherhood Looks Different launch here and join the Instagram community @whenmotherhoodlooksdifferent. Emelda alongside her husband Keston raise their beautiful daughter Naima in the spirit of compassion and gratitude in the Baltimore area.

Dominique helps new mothers achieve pain free living and regain control of their bodies with Alphababe Fitness, which specializes in strength and pain free fitness, pelvic rehabilitation, core muscle strengthening, and prenatal fitness/birth preparation via breathwork coaching. For more information, visit alphababe-fitness.com and be sure to follow Dominique for great tips and exercises on Instagram @alphababefitness.

In part 2 of Cutting the Cord, we pick up where we left off with Seiea Britt—singer/songwriter and mother of 3 beautiful girls. Seiea first joined us on Episode 8 to talk about her second pregnancy and birth, one where she navigated the challenges of new motherhood at the height of the pandemic as well as a cholestasis diagnosis. This time, we take a detailed look back on the relationship challenges she faced during her third pregnancy and the inner light that led her to the decisions she ultimately needed to make for herself and her girls. If you are navigating what you believe to be an unhealthy relationship dynamic, please consider this resource.

While the mental and physical well-being of pregnant parents tends to focus on the maternal health care we receive, how do we take a look at the quality of our relationships? Should our intimate relationship reflect back the love growing inside of us? What does it look like to realize while pregnant that a relationship no longer serves you or your highest good? Seiea Britt—singer/songwriter and mother of 3 beautiful girls—graces the podcast once again. Seiea first joined us on Episode 8 to talk about her second pregnancy and birth, one where she navigated the challenges of new motherhood at the height of the pandemic as well as a cholestasis diagnosis. But for this episode, we take a detailed look back on the relationship challenges she faced during her third pregnancy. If you are navigating what you believe to be an unhealthy relationship dynamic, please consider this resource.

I had the pleasure of chatting with the beautiful Rondette Amoy Smith for this first episode of the year. We dove into her experience of high risk pregnancy, having a baby abroad, how she prepared for birth—which involved both practical preparation and rallying the love, advice and help of her family—and how she chose to witness, honor and take time to shift into this amazing version of herself.

Rondette co-hosts Race2Rise—“the podcast for women everywhere”—which centers empowernment and all-around self-development for women of color. Rondette is also the head of Diversity & Inclusion at an investment bank in the UK, where she currently lives with her daughter and husband. Follow Rondette on Instagram @Race2Rise and @whatdettedoes.

Picking up where we left off in episode 25 with Dr. Amber Thornton of Balanced Working Mama, this episode comes to a grounding, comforting close with a reminder to hold onto what lights us up. Dr. Amber is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Motherhood Wellness Consultant and the Founder of Balanced Working Mama, where the mission is to completely change the narrative of what is possible for working mothers by helping them to better balance work, motherhood, and wellness. Dr. Thornton resides in Washington, DC with her husband and 2 children. She is deeply passionate about helping other working mothers fulfill their goals, passions, and find more joy throughout their motherhood experiences. Get more information about the Balanced Working Mama community at www.balancedworkingmama.com and be sure to follow Dr. Amber's work at @balancedworkingmama and @dramberthornton on Instagram.

Also, visit www.wellworthwatering.com for information about childbirth classes or postpartum support.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking to Dr. Amber Thornton of Balanced Working Mama. Dr. Amber is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Motherhood Wellness Consultant and the Founder of Balanced Working Mama, where the mission is to completely change the narrative of what is possible for working mothers by helping them to better balance work, motherhood, and wellness. During part 1 of our conversation—stay tuned for part 2!—we talked about the origin of a mothering mindset and the importance of knowing oneself before embarking on the journey of parenthood. Dr. Thornton resides in Washington, DC with her husband and 2 children. She is deeply passionate about helping other working mothers fulfill their goals, passions, and find more joy throughout their motherhood experiences. Get more information about the Balanced Working Mama community at www.balancedworkingmama.com and be sure to follow Dr. Amber's work at @balancedworkingmama and @dramberthornton on Instagram.

Also, visit www.wellworthwatering.com for information about childbirth classes or postpartum support.

The growing, shifting, pulling and stretching of the birthing body can be a heavy concept for folks to acknowledge. In this episode, we talk about some common changes that the pregnant and postpartum body undergoes. What would it look like to unpack the loss of what was and uncover the gem of what IS?

Looking for small doses of birth preparation before you baby arrives? Come on through to a Birth Prep Drop In Session! They’re held (virtually) on the last Wednesday of every month at 7PM EST. Visit wellworthwatering.com/drop-in-sessions for session topics and to register for free.

If you’re approaching your last trimester, now is the perfect time to take a birth class! Whether you have a weekend or a month to commit, I offer classes in group and private settings, virtually and in-person in the comfort of your home (for local clients only). Visit wellworthwatering.com/birthclass for more information.

This episode gets a little personal. I’m talking about a period of ebb that I recently came through, and the urge I felt—if I’m being honest, STILL feel—to get back to “it.” An ebb is defined as “a state or period of weakness, lack of vigour, or decline.” But what do we do with that? That feeling of identifying with what we do as opposed to who we are? I’m talking about it in this episode. Have you heard about my Birth Ed Drop In Sessions? They’re held on the last Wednesday of every month at 7PM EST. Visit wellworthwatering.com/drop-in-sessions for session topics and to register for free. Tell a friend to tell a pregnant friend!

I’m delighted to share this interview with Darcel Being, a life purpose guide, celebrated author of Dear Mamas, along with three children’s books and founder of the ReinventHER™ process and Being Well Community. She is also a wife of over a decade and mother to three children. Darcel is on a mission to be a guiding light for women. She utilizes warm hearted joy to inspire women to make spiritual meaning of life changes, trade chaos for creative inspiration, and discover how the art of transformation turns fear into faith. Our conversation centered postpartum life, one of the most transformative times in a parents’ life. We talked about the valuable lessons new motherhood, breastfeeding and the 4th trimester has gifted her. Support Darcel's work and connect with her here.

This is the third and last in the Let’s Talk About It mini-series, that walks expectant parents through the first stage of labor. We are at the end of Stage 1 once we hit transition, the shortest but most intense part of stage 1. We’ll cover signs and expectations in this episode. Want more? Join me for my monthly drop in sessions. They’re held on the last Wednesday of every month. Visit wellworthwatering.com/calendar for session topics and to register for free. Tell a friend to tell a pregnant friend!

This is the second of a mini-series (Let's Talk About It) that walks expectant parents through the first stage of labor. When you've reach active labor, the waves hit stronger, closer together and with definitive intensity. You are far more likely to have those "this is it!" thoughts. We’ll cover signs and expectations of this second phase of the first stage of labor in this episode. Want more? Join me for my monthly drop in sessions. They’re held on the last Wednesday of every month. Visit wellworthwatering.com/calendar for session topics and to register for free. Tell a friend to tell a pregnant friend!

This is the first of a mini-series (Let's Talk About It) that walks expectant parents through the first stage of labor. “Will my water break? What should I do?” We’ll cover signs and expectations of early labor in this episode. Want more? Join me for my monthly drop in sessions. They’re held on the last Wednesday of every month. Visit wellworthwatering.com/calendar for session topics and to register for free. Tell a friend to tell a pregnant friend!

Picture yourself prepared with knowledge from a birth class, supported, loved on, laboring how you want, where you want, with whom you desire. Imagine laboring in a low-stress environment that has been designed with the comfort of all 5 senses in mind. A low-stress environment is foundational to normal physiological labor and birth. We’re unpacking that a bit in this episode. Want more? Join me for my monthly drop in sessions. They’re held on the last Wednesday of every month. Visit wellworthwatering.com/calendar for session topics and to register for free. Looking for a childbirth class? Check out my birth class class—Overflow: In Depth Childbirth Preparation here.

I’m back at it with a topic on the mind of dare I say it, most pregnant folks? Pain. How much of it, how we’ll handle or better yet, eliminate it. It's a natural thing to worry about the sensations that come along with one of the most incredible processes of life. Let’s get into the what, where and why behind labor pain on this episode. Want more? Join me for this month’s drop in session hour. They’re held on the last Wednesday of every month. Visit wellworthwatering.com/calendar for session topics and to register for free.

To open season 2, I sat down with the amazing Shannon Beacham of Pregnancy With Mrs. B. Shannon has been supporting families in the DC Metro area as a doula, birth educator and breastfeeding counselor since 2013. August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, so much of our conversation centers breastfeeding, finding the right fit when you are building your birth village and why rest is an essential piece of the parenthood journey. You can find Shannon on Instagram @pregnancy_with_mrs_b and sign up for her services through her website, pregnancywithmrsb.com

I’m taking an appreciative walk back to my 1st guest for this last episode of season 1. Yanikie (pronounced YAHN-EEK) Tucker, is a fellow Caribbean-American who is an educator, Howard University alumnus, creator of JamDown Foodie, a blog that centers Jamaican cuisine, wife and mother of 2 boys who were born 10 years apart. She shared her birth stories on episode 3.

This was the second part of our conversation, where Yanikie shares her experience with her first born’s educational journey. Often we become so overwhelmed thinking about the enormity of a challenge, like educational challenges, challenging labor or breastfeeding relationship; I know I certainly have been there.

As you listen, I encourage you to think about what the next best thing looks like for you in your pregnancy, labor and parenting journey.

In honor of World Doula Day, I was honored to hold an in-depth conversation with Imani Byers. Imani is a full spectrum doula, which means that she provides services that support the fertility, birth and postpartum journeys. Her connection and calling to birth work started at a very young age. She explores this deep connection in a short story created & directed by Cydney Tucker and featured in “Stories in Place,” a storytelling partnership between Vimeo and MailChimp. You can view it here. She is currently serving the Atlanta & Savannah, Georgia area and offers some services virtually. You can learn more about Imani at www.rebyrthwellness.com, on Facebook and Instagram at Rebyrth Wellness, and on Twitter @Doula Imani.

"In April of 2018, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance published a paper that addressed the casual dismissal that too many black women face during prenatal care. 'In order to provide holistic care, providers and medical staff must unlearn and self-correct implicit and unconscious bias. They must also continue to push back against a productivity model that does not give them enough time to build strong relationships with their patients.'"

In this episode, I revisit a moment—the unannounced stripping of my membranes—from my first pregnancy as a way to talk about consent in the context of prenatal and gynecological care. Considering the history and origins of modern day gynecology, this an especially important conversation.

Information source from Healthline.

Follow and support Sierra's work and check her out @Sierrathebbdoula. 

Image source: Barbara Alcada on Unsplash

You can find her on the Sista Midwife Directory here, and listen to her via her podcast—Ignorant Wisdom—that discusses her life parenting 7 kids and being married for 19 years. You can find it on Spotify and other podcasts directories.

Learn more about the racial disparities in breastfeeding here.

 Diagnostic tests are a part of many pregnancies today. They help us ensure the children we are growing are healthy and strong. But when your provider suggests that a test to rule out genetic conditions such as sickle cell disease, does the recommendation also come with a call to protect your mental health? In this episode, I share my experience with having an amniocentesis—a common diagnostic test done during pregnancy. I first talked about my experience in a blog published last year on my blog. You can read that here. In this episode, I talk about how the procedure affected my anxiety and why I decided to forgo this exam for my second pregnancy. There is a sweet audio surprise on this episode; a mini-cameo with my daughter playing “I’ve Got Music” on the piano.

Information sources for this episode include articles from the University of Michigan Medical School and EverydayHealth.com.

Seiea Britt is the mother of 2 beautiful girls, a singer/songwriter and Washington DC area native. She joins me on this episode to talk about her experience of not only birthing during the coronavirus pandemic—oddly enough, her second time becoming a mother during a global pandemic— but facing a diagnosis of cholestasis late in her 2nd pregnancy. She talked about the power of affirming positivity everyday and leaning on (and providing) support within a group of expectant mothers who all shared the experience of new motherhood post-COVID.

Here are some resources if you’d like to learn more about external cephalic versions and cholestasis.

Who is at the center of care if a pregnant mother is advocating for herself, by herself? It’s a question far too many of us have to answer. My 1st guest is Yanikie (pronounced YAHN-EEK) Tucker, a fellow Caribbean-American who is an educator, Howard University alumnus, creator of JamDown Foodie, a blog that centers Jamaican cuisine, wife and mother of 2 boys who were born 10 years apart. She joined me to revisit both of her birthing experiences. Yanikie shared her navigation of the bias and willful neglect she encountered in the hospital setting during her postpartum recovery, how her own mother’s traumatic birthing experience colored her mindset around birth, and her hope for what well-informed, empowered black birthing experiences can be.

Learn more about what a parent-centered care relationship looks like here: The Black Paper: Setting the Standard for Holistic Care of and for Black Women

Welcome! My name is Lou-Ann and I’m the creator of Well Worth Watering, a blog and online community that uses education, empowerment and transformative storytelling in order to nourish the maternal health experiences of black birthing people. I opened this episode with a reading of my first blog. In so many ways, this new beginning—expanding my work into a podcast— stirs up many of the feelings and conviction I had back then. As we work to dismantle the disparities that exist in black maternal health, we can't ignore the narrative. We have to uplift as many stories of success as we do stories of sorrow. Lou-Ann's goal is to fearlessly hold space for both. You can read the piece heard in this episode here.