48. Epidurals, Inductions & Other Spicy Labor Topics with Kim Gordon, CRNA
Release Date: 03/03/2025
72. Parenthood Is Basically Burning Man
Parenthood Prep
If you’re listening to this episode now, it’s a little throwback, but the lessons still hit just as hard. I’m revisiting one of my favorite analogies from Parenthood Prep: how having a baby is a lot like going to Burning Man. Yep, you read that right. At first, it sounds absurd, but hear me out. Both come with mountains of advice (some useful, some ridiculous), and both will leave you questioning why you even signed up… but also laughing, amazed, and totally in awe of the little victories along the way. In this replay, I share the story of my first Burning Man experience...
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71. “Can I Sleep Train My Baby If?”: The Reflux Edition
Parenthood Prep
Reflux. Just hearing the word makes parents brace for months of sleepless nights, endless feedings, and a life spent holding your baby upright. It feels like exhaustion is just part of the package. But here’s the thing: a lot of the conventional wisdom about reflux is actually making it harder for both you and your baby. This week, I’m breaking down why reflux doesn’t have to derail your baby's sleep, and surprisingly, how better sleep can actually reduce reflux symptoms. And spoiler alert: that “reflux meltdown” might actually be a baby who’s overtired, not just...
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70. Sleep Training: Separating Fact from Fiction and Why You Can Start Now
Parenthood Prep
Sleep training. It's probably one of the most misunderstood topics in parenting, right? You get bombarded with conflicting advice on when to start, what methods to use, and whether it’s even okay to sleep train at all. Parents end up exhausted, waiting months longer than they need to, all because of the myths and confusion surrounding the topic. This week, I’m here to set the record straight. Tune in as I walk you through what to do at every stage: from the early weeks, when you’re just trying to extend time between feeds, all the way through the 4-month mark, when your baby...
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69. The Egg Donation Journey: How My Frozen Eggs Helped Build a Family
Parenthood Prep
Watching your best friends struggle to build a family while sitting on frozen eggs you're not planning to use creates a unique kind of tension. After spending years in the parenting and family creation world, I’ve seen it all - surrogacy, adoption, egg donation, and everything in between. But when my friends Dave and Danny casually mentioned their complicated journey to have a biological child during a Zoom call in 2020, the solution hit me like a ton of bricks: those 15 eggs I froze at 37? Not in my future plans, but they could absolutely be part of theirs. This week’s...
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68. “Can I Sleep Train My Baby If?”: The Nursing Edition
Parenthood Prep
Nursing parents, I hear you: you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, right? You’re told that your baby won’t sleep through the night as long as you’re breastfeeding. And if you want sleep, you’ll have to give up the boob. Here’s the truth: I work with tons of nursing parents - over half of my sleep training clients are breastfeeding - and I never tell them to stop. Your baby can absolutely sleep through the night (yes, even 12 hours!) while keeping your nursing relationship intact. The secret? It’s not about whether they’re getting formula or breast milk, it’s...
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67. How to Hire a Nanny Without Losing Your Mind with Shenandoah Davis
Parenthood Prep
Hiring a nanny for the first time? Yeah, it can feel like a total whirlwind. There’s the logistics: job descriptions, references, contracts, all that jazz. But there’s also the emotional part of inviting a stranger into your home to care for your little ones. It’s a lot to navigate, and most parents end up stuck somewhere between too low of expectations (can I really ask for someone with experience?) and way too high (wanting someone available 24/7 but only paying for 40 hours a week - yikes). This week, I’m chatting with Shenandoah Davis from Adventure Nannies about what the...
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66. Why Swaddling Is Your Newborn’s Best Friend
Parenthood Prep
Swaddling your newborn might feel like wrestling a tiny octopus into submission, especially when those little arms keep breaking free at 3AM. Many new parents abandon the practice entirely, convinced their baby "hates" being wrapped up, not realizing they're mistaking the process for the result. Swaddling recreates the cozy containment babies experienced in the womb, helping them adjust to sleeping on their backs - a position that feels unnatural to them but keeps them safe. When babies spend nine months curled up in a ball and suddenly find themselves flat on their backs with arms and...
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65. Wake Windows Explained: Stop Stressing and Start Sleeping
Parenthood Prep
Wake windows. If you’re a parent, you’ve probably spent more time thinking about them than is healthy. You set alarms, obsess over exact minutes, and stress about whether you’re doing it “right.” But here’s the deal: wake windows aren’t the problem, it’s how you’re using them. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the clock, this episode is for you. I’ll teach you how to use wake windows as a flexible guide (because, spoiler alert, they’re not meant to be a rigid rule). I’ll also explain when to ditch the wake windows for a clock schedule and why your baby’s...
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64. Toddler Mealtimes and Safe Sleep with Dr. Danis Copenhaver (Part 2)
Parenthood Prep
Do you ever look at your toddler’s plate and think, “Is this enough food?” Maybe they’ve had a string cheese stick and some air, and you’re wondering if you’re slowly raising a future picky eater. Don’t panic—when concierge pediatrician Dr. Danis Copenhaver does a breakdown of what toddlers actually eat over a few days, the picture is usually much healthier than we think. In part two of my conversation with Dr. Danis Copenhaver, we talk about the real deal with toddler eating, safe sleep practices, and building your support system before your baby even arrives. With her...
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63. Tired of Rushed Doctor Visits? Let’s Talk Concierge Pediatrics with Dr. Danis Copenhaver (Part 1)
Parenthood Prep
Medicine is shifting away from the patient-centered care that once defined the doctor-patient relationship. After a decade of practicing pediatrics in various settings across New York City, Dr. Danis Copenhaver witnessed firsthand how the economics of healthcare consistently undermined quality care. From small mom-and-pop practices to venture capital-funded groups, the pressure to see more patients in less time created a system where neither doctors nor families felt satisfied. In this conversation with Dr. Copenhaver, I explore how concierge pediatrics offers a modern solution to an...
info_outlineSo, you’re having a baby—or maybe you’re just morbidly curious about what actually happens when labor hits. Either way, let’s talk about pain management.
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by my sister, Kim Gordon, a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) who specializes in labor and delivery anesthesia. In other words, she’s the person you really want to know when contractions get real.
Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/48