Intimacy After Childbirth: How to Get Your Groove Back with Kiana Reeves
Dear Doula
TW: This episode contains adult content of a sexual nature As a doula, I've had countless conversations with new parents navigating the complexities of intimacy after childbirth. Whether it’s regaining libido, feeling physically or emotionally more comfortable having sex, or adjusting to the significant hormonal shifts postpartum, there's a lot tied into it. This week, I’m joined by one of the best people in the business to help me unpack these issues: somatic sex educator Kiana Reeves. Our conversation highlights the importance of patience, understanding, and open...
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An Attorney’s Guide to Safer Childbirth with Gina Mundy
Dear Doula
TW: If you have lost a child, had birth complications, or know someone who has, please be aware that some of those themes will be discussed in this week's show. Many of us dream of the day that you finally get to meet your baby. Labor and delivery is one of the most powerful, life-changing events not only for you, but for your family too. And so getting ready for that moment to make sure that you deliver a healthy baby, and that nothing happens to your baby during childbirth is so incredibly important. Gina Mundy is a childbirth attorney and mother of three. After spending...
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Facing the VBAC Dilemma? Your Guide to Informed Choices with Midwife Melissa Dean
Dear Doula
If you’ve had a cesarean birth and get pregnant again, one of the questions I often get asked is, ‘Should I plan for another cesarean, or should I try to give birth vaginally?’ Choosing between a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and repeat cesarean is not an easy decision, with benefits and risks to both options. Joining me today to dig into this topic further is Melissa Dean, midwife and founder of the Casa Natal Birth and Wellness Center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Melissa has a breadth of knowledge when it comes to VBACs, so if you’re currently facing this dilemma...
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More than “Baby Blues”: Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) with Elyse Springer
Dear Doula
The arrival of a new life is a momentous occasion that often brings joy, excitement, and a myriad of emotions. However, the perinatal and postpartum periods can also bring a host of mental health complexities that demand attention and understanding. To help us understand the nuances of perinatal mental health, debunk some of the most common misconceptions around maternal mental health, and shed light on the intricacies that can impact the well-being of new parents, I invited licensed mental health therapist Elyse Springer to share her wealth of knowledge on this topic. As...
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The Sleep-Well Toddler Toolkit: Bedtime Refusal, Separation Anxiety, and More! ("Sleep Fairy" Series)
Dear Doula
Ever found yourself tiptoeing out of your toddler’s room, hoping against hope that this will be the one bedtime where your little one blissfully succumbs to sleep? You’re certainly not alone–toddlerhood can be accompanied by a number of bedtime battles and this edition of the Baby Sleep Fairy Chronicles is here to help. If you’re struggling to navigate some of the most common toddler sleep problems like bedtime refusal, separation anxiety, or the crib-to-bed transition, this episode will arm you with proactive bedtime strategies that will ensure more restful nights for both...
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The Lie of a Good Night's Sleep (The "Sleep Fairy" Series)
Dear Doula
The controversy, conversations, articles, and books surrounding sleep training are so wildly different, I have no idea how any parent today can comfortably reach a decision on it. Is my child really going to get brain damage from sleep training? Will I ever sleep again? Let’s face it, we all need sleep to be able to survive and to actually live joyful, calm, and peaceful lives. If you’ve landed here, you’re likely to be an exhausted parent desperate for ways to improve you and your child’s sleep. You haven’t “failed” at parenting, you just haven’t found what’s...
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Twin Zzz’s: Mastering Sleep for Twins (“Sleep Fairy” Series)
Dear Doula
Welcome to the inaugural episode of my "Sleep Fairy” series, where I’m devoting multiple episodes to one of the biggest things parents need help with: sleep. To start us out in the series, we’re delving into the world of sleep when it comes to twins. Believe it or not, I’ve actually got a lot of experience working with multiples (even quadruplets!), so today I’m providing you with insights and actionable advice to help you navigate the unique sleep challenges that come with twins and beyond. In this episode, we discuss the importance of understanding each twin's...
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Going Against the Grain: Foster Adventurous Eating Habits in Kids with Helene Skantzikas
Dear Doula
For many of us, feeding babies and toddlers can be overwhelming, especially when you’re faced with food rejection and other issues at the table. Helene Skantzikas is the creator of the French Foodie Baby, a blog which chronicles her journey in the nurturing and expanding of her son Pablo’s tastebuds and love of life through good food. Helene joins me today to share her secrets to fostering healthy eating habits, including the role her family and French cultural background has played in her approach to feeding her son (possibly the best fed child I have ever known!). Listen in to...
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How to Plan for Parental Leave with Arianna Taboada
Dear Doula
As a new parent, you deserve to have the opportunity to welcome your new family member and transition into this new chapter, without stressing about work. But the lack of comprehensive federal policies for paid parental leave in the U.S. places a significant burden on new parents who are faced with the impossible choice between caring for their children and maintaining their careers. In today’s episode, I’m interviewing parental leave consultant Arianna Taboada, who is working to disrupt the narrative that growing a family is incompatible with growing a company or having a career....
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The Baby Brands We’re Loving Right Now with Monica Banks
Dear Doula
Endless Google searches, relentless posting in Facebook groups, asking other parents for advice…. It’s no wonder most first time parents feel overwhelmed shopping for products for their little ones. But does it really have to be so confusing, exhausting, and depersonalized?! To help us sift through the vast array of baby products on the market, I invited a very special guest and THE ultimate baby product guru to talk to us about what is new and cool in 2023! Join me as I sit down with Monica Banks from Gugu Guru, the only creator community focused entirely on maternity and...
info_outlineAs parents, we are called to value the challenging moments just as much as we value the inspiring moments. Both are extraordinary opportunities for growth. How you parent today has an incredible long-term impact on the teenagers and adults you create for the future.
Whilst we tend to be intentional about many aspects of our life like what we eat, where we live, and where we work, we’re not always as intentional with one of the most important roles we will ever have: parenting.
I am delighted to be joined by parenting coach Megan Cordaro, who explains why moving away from reward charts and more towards unconditional parenting, allowed her relationship with her 5 children to blossom. She also shares 3 important tips for what you can do with your children now that will help them grow into intrinsically motivated teenagers and adults.
Connect with Megan Cordaro:
Follow her on Instagram: @meganbcordaro
Go to her website: https://www.megancordaro.com/
You can follow Brandi and her work @deardouapodcast on IG, @brandi_jordan_official IG, and send questions, comments and platitudes to [email protected]. Have a question you want Brandi to answer? Shoot her an email or a DM and she might include it on her next podcast episode!
If you are looking for support with your children, you can reach out to us at The Cradle Company for more information on hiring a parenting or baby specialist.
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Time Stamps
01:27 - Megan tells us about her background and her approach to parenting
04:52 - Brandi asks Megan what the issues are with positive reinforcement
06:47 - Megan explains why it’s not too late if you have already been using positive reinforcement methods with your children
09:21 - Brandi asks how to deal with a lack of support or pushback about your parenting style
11:23 - Megan gives us the 3 essentials that should be happening with children under 5 to help them grow into an intrinsically motivated teenager
17:04 - Megan tells us what she loves about her relationship with her teenagers
19:05 - Brandi and Megan discuss how teenagers can maintain independence whilst having limits in place
25:02 - Megan shares what you can expect from her 1-1 coaching and her parenting circles around intentional parenting