Sage Motherhood

Welcome to the Sage Motherhood Podcast, a show for moms and moms-to-be who want so much more than the status quo for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. If you know the childbearing year is a sacred, full-person experience: this is the show for you. I am your host, Stefanie Melo, a perinatal coach, newborn care specialist, and homebirth mom of five. Bringing 10 years of doula experience; I'll guide you to options and choices that support the birth and postpartum outcomes you desire. If you are a mom of many, a first-time parent, are planning for a VBAC, preparing for your first homebirth or reclaiming your power after a traumatic birth; I will provide you with tolls and inspiration to experience a positive pregnancy, a better birth and a peaceful postpartum. Each week, I'll bring you holistic tips and sage wisdom to navigate the discomforts of pregnancy, prepare for a birth you love, bond with your baby, tend to your postpartum body with love, build connection with your partner, respond to the challenges of motherhood with grace and ease and mindset tools that bring you peace in the midst of powerful contractions and massive change. This time in motherhood doesn't have to be perfect to feel joyful and abundant. A positive parenting experience awaits you and it starts NOW.

First Trimester Ultrasounds 07/31/2025

All About Due Dates 07/11/2025

First Trimester Fatigue 07/04/2025

The Secret Tool for Healthy Pregnancy & Birth 06/10/2025

The Secret Tool for Healthy Pregnancy & Birth There is so much data on the benefits of doula support in labor. It truly is powerful . However, even families who hire doulas miss out on the holistic long term benefits of doula support for the first, second, third and fourth trimester. Navigating pregnancy and postpartum in our current system with only prenatal care is a major factor in increased birth risks. It's disheartening as a doula to witness clients undermine their goals during pregnancy and postpartum. Registering for products that are harmful for infant development Agreeing to cervical exams that are unnecessary and risky Lifestyle choices that increase risk of serious complicaitons Introducing practices that undermine their breastfeeding goals The truth is pregnancy, birth and postpartum are a bit of a wild card---but not as much as we've been led to believe. There are specific reasons women don't meet breastfeeding goals, why more and more women experience hypertension and gestational diabetes, reasons why they have precipitous labors. So many of these reason can be avoided with support of an expert. Your wonderful OB or midwife doesn't fill this role, their job is limited in it's scope. Like most professions, it's hard for providers to stay up-to-date on the peripheral research in their field. That's where I come in - I am a professional member of Evidence Based Birth with the latest data on Vitamin K, water birth, and so much more. I've also invested my time and money to have helpful information on complicated lactation, oral tethers, reflux, fertility nutrition, pregnancy nutrition and. hormonal health. Click here for the , use code SHAREYL to get 10% off your first order. Set up a monthly order and save 24% on each order. The biggest problem is that women, mothers, dads, grandparents, friend and family do not know what the evidence shows is the safest, so we jsut assume that "more technology" equal better results. If you want to avoid this mistake: learn the evidence with me as your If you live in the East Valley of Phoenix and are looking for a Newborn Care Specialist or Night Nanny, work with me: S If you are expecting, join me in Sage Mama Maternity. Blending evidence and intuition is the key to experiencing a postitive pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Join /episode/index/show/3cb9634c-0c20-4e85-9678-730f33f8df69/id/36907960

The Myth of Obstetric Care 03/19/2025

The Myth of Obstetric Care This is the primary mistake that I see expecting families make when seeking care and support for pregnancy and birth. You can avoid this mistake when you understand what Evidence Based Care looks like, and as a result you'll improve your chances of personalized, safe care for you and baby. Obstetric Care has practiced on women in the US for around 200 years and in that time we have learned that practicing X-Rays on pregnant women is not safe Prescribing Thalidomide caused birth defects Using Cytotec on a woman with previous cesarean can be deadly Episiotomy causes unnecessary damage to mother with infrequent benefits Hand washing reduces the spread of infection Inducing labor increases risk for cesarean in first-time mothers Twilight sleep prevents mothers from bonding post-delivery Yes, of course we need some level of experimentation when it comes to science and the practice of medicine. For example, epidurals allow women to be awake when baby is born, and to bond with baby post-cesarean. Epidurals began being used because an anesthesiologist decided to try it out on a patient. However, most women and partners do not realize that the majority of interventions in pregnancy and birth are not offered AFTER the evidence is solid, it's being gathered with each family. The problem is most assume that for low-risk pregnancy, working with an obstetrician is the safest. The data shows that midwifery care is the safest for low risk pregnancy, and that referral to an obstetrician when risk or need arises leads to better outcomes for moms and babies. The biggest problem is that women, mothers, dads, grandparents, friend and family do not know what the evidence shows is the safest, so we jsut assume that "more technology" equal better results. If you want to avoid this mistake: learn the evidence with me as your If you live in the East Valley of Phoenix and are looking for a Newborn Care Specialist or Night Nanny, work with me: If your baby is already here and you need help navigating all of this, work with me virtually -- If you are expecting, join me in Sage Mama Maternity. Blending evidence and intuition is the key to experiencing a postitive pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Join /episode/index/show/3cb9634c-0c20-4e85-9678-730f33f8df69/id/35751560

The Value of Support as You Find Your Path 03/11/2025

When Your Journey Takes an Unexpected Turn 02/05/2025

Interview with Pilar on Thriving with Triplets 01/22/2025

Holidays & Travel Tips for New Parents 11/26/2024

Mythbusters featuring guest Annie Roo 11/19/2024

Crash Course in Cloth Diapering 03/01/2024

The Importance of Responding to Baby's Cues 02/22/2024

Lessons from a Very Long Labor 02/14/2024

Prenatal Yoga with Ashley Goddard, The Yogi Birth Doula 01/24/2024

Prenatal Yoga with Ashley Goddard, The Yogi Birth Doula In this episode you’ll get to hear from Ashley Goddard, the Yogi Birth Doula. We discuss how yoga saved her life when she discovered it decades ago. How yoga supported not only her pregnancy, but also her birth and postpartum. We discuss the myths and realities of the pelvic floor and how yoga can support pelvic floor health. Ashley shares tips on getting started with yoga even if you’re totally new to it, and how the breathwork of yoga practice is a powerful tool for your labor and delivery. — I was obsessed with learning in my first pregnancy, determined to have the homebirth of my dreams. 12 years, 5 home births and 30 births attended I am here to support you at the highest level to have the childbearing year that dreams are made of. Join me in Sage Motherhood Mentorship and I’ll personally walk you through the process. 9 months of 1:1 support (and for your partner too!). Let me save you all the research and help you connect to your intuition while understanding the evidence so that you can head into your birth from a place of confidence while navigating postpartum with ease. Sage Motherhood Mentorship If you're terrified of the birth process or struggling with anxiety, start using my prenatal affirmations today Cultivate a Birth Mindset That Delivers Ready to have a baby, but maybe your body doesn't see to agree? I'm a CMM trained Fertility Massage Specialist. I can help you get closer to your baby dreams. Fertility Support Breastfeeding may be the biological norm, but that doesn't mean it's easy. Let me help you troubleshoot to preserve your lactation goals. Lactation Support Expecting in the Phoenix area? I'd love to be your night nanny! Newborn Care Specialist — Connect with Ashley Goddard Ashley is a Phoenix based birth doula, childbirth educator and prenatal yoga instructor. She provides compassionate, evidence-based care for your prenatal and birthing journey. Ashley is a mom of an adorable 3 year old son and a good friend. Connect with Ashley on Instagram Work with Ashley — /episode/index/show/3cb9634c-0c20-4e85-9678-730f33f8df69/id/29558368

What Does a Newborn Care Specialist Do? 01/18/2024

As You Prepare for Baby, Don't Forget This! 01/12/2024

Moms Need Rest More Than Resolutions this New Year 01/04/2024

22. DHA for Healthy Baby, Birth and Maternal Mental Health 12/14/2023

21. First Trimester Tips 12/07/2023

20. Twenty Things I am Grateful for as a Sage Mama 11/22/2023

19. The Power of Infant Massage & Kangaroo Care 11/15/2023

19. The Power of Infant Massage & Kangaroo Care 19. The Power of Kangaroo Care & Infant Massage History of Infant Massage Infant Massage Research Kangaroo Care Kangaroo Care Research Where to Learn Infant Massage Cultural Traditions with Infant Massage Indian Massage African Massage Russian Massage Infant Massage Benefits for Baby: Faster weight gain Improve cardiac and respiratory output Better sleeping patterns Release of hormones for food absorption and digestion Skin stimulation Improvement of muscle tone Enhanced neurological development •Improvement of sensory awareness Provide a special communication/development of non-verbal communication Promotes self-esteem and respect Infant Massage Benefits for Parents: Parents feel more confident in their ability to read baby’s cues The parent’s ability to soothe and meet baby’s needs A parent’s healthy self-esteem as baby responds, validating their skills and role as parents Increase the parent’s confidence to follow their intuitive sense The release of hormones from the mother to nurture the baby Enhance communication and respect Infant Massage as a family tradition Can be a time for parent and child to communicate in a relaxed and playful manner Special time between father and child Assist older siblings to welcome a new baby to the family through their participation in giving a portion of the massage with appropriate touch/pressure; learning to understand the baby's needs, and by their receiving an age appropriate massage to decrease incidence of possible jealousy Infant Massage Benefits for Society These may promote, or encourage: Secure, healthy attached children May help reduce child abuse by reducing parental stress. May prevent sexual abuse by teaching consent and bodily autonomy May help to prevent IPV later in life due to secure infant attachment. Kanagaroo Care Parents should be seated comfortably in a quiet, dimly lit room with some privacy. Position the baby, dressed in diaper on your bare chest for a minimum of 20 minutes. For warmth, you can cover the baby's shoulders and back with a blanket, as long as their chest is skin-to-skin with yours. Always be sure that any blankets are away from your baby's face. This bonding time can be experienced by parents of any sex. If kangaroo care is performed around feeding, place the baby with the non-breastfeeding parent after the feed. Kangaroo Care Research Gene Anderson, Pioneer of Kangaroo Care Research in USA Physiology and research provide overwhelming evidence that kangaroo mother care is not only safe but superior to the use of technology such as incubators, Depriving babies of skin-to-skin makes alternative stress pathways in the brain, which can lead to ADD, colic, sleep disorders among other things." KanGURU: Susan M. Ludington, PhD, CNM, FAAN is a CNM who has tested Kangaroo Care's use as a treatment to improve cardiopulmonary stability, decrease apnea and bradycardia frequency, improve sleep, reduce agitation/irritability, reduce pain, and enhance maternal and paternal attachment/interaction with the infant, and maternal stress. Is your baby already here? Learn Infant Massage with me! Still expecting? Learn Infant Massage with me through /episode/index/show/3cb9634c-0c20-4e85-9678-730f33f8df69/id/28639378

Holistic Support for Pregnancy & Birth Concerns 11/08/2023

Postpartum Recover with a Toddler 11/02/2023

Should I Eat Lactation Cookies 10/18/2023

Support for Anxiety in Pregnancy 10/11/2023

Folate's Long Lost Cousin: Choline 10/04/2023

Folate's Long Lost Cousin: Choline Choline falls into the B family of vitamins, though it doesn’t have a “b” name like b12, b9, etc. More about choline: Choline in mom: builds cell membranes supports nerve function DNA synthesis cell messaging fat transport and metabolism in mom Choline for baby Builds the nervous system, Brain development, especially the hippocampus and memory health Placental health Positively impact life-long gene expression. Choline works in tandem with omega-3 fat, DHA and enhances how DHA is incorporated into the cells. Choline rich foods tend to also be high in DHA Risks of not enough choline: 94% of pregnany women in the USA do not consume enough choline. Deficiencies are clearly linked to neural tube defects & cleft palate. Optimal choline levels are linked to prevention of preeclampsia Our bodies do not produce enough choline for essential functions, therefore we must get it through diet (or supplementation if Vegan). Recommendations: Current research shows the amount of choline consumed in pregnancy should be closer to 930 mg per day. For women with MTHFR gene mutation, choline needs to be substantially higher than 450 mg. Foods Rich in Choline: The standard recommendations do not lead to pregnancy, birth, infant or life-long health. This is why I offer prenatal nutrition inside of . I’m shortening the learning curve of a whole foods approach to health and offering specific information for pregnancy and lactation. You deserve the best and so does your little one. You won’t get it from the standard of care. Check out : my masterclass on taking a different approach to birth, and why it’s an uphill battle to get a natural birth in the hospital. Links Real Food for Pregnancy, by Lily Nichols National Institutes for Health * I am an Amazon Associate and may earn a commission on products you purchase through this link at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business. /episode/index/show/3cb9634c-0c20-4e85-9678-730f33f8df69/id/28214666

Meeting Your Breastfeeding Goals 09/27/2023

A Vision that Shakes the Status Quo 09/13/2023

A Vision that Shakes the Status Quo A vision for mothers, babies, fathers, partners and community around the childbearing year that shakes the status quo. There is a lot to consider when pregnant and welcoming a new baby, and it goes far beyond the technical & physical aspects like getting on a prenatal vitamin, choosing a provider and researching car seats. It even goes beyond hiring a doula, taking childbirth education classes and reading a breastfeeding book. What you actually need To have an experience that you look back on with fondness and gratitude instead of relief is to be emotionally, physically, mentally prepared & supported. Our society is pretty okay at preparation, but lacking in support and we often forget that our emotional and mental health is more important than the physical experience, because eventually pregnancy ends but our emotions & thoughts are still there. My vision that shakes the status quo is: Wise, intuitive, healthy and confident mamas Healthy, happy and developmentally supported babies. Partners who are open to nuance and complexity and prioritize the health of their relationship with a mama who is rapidly changing. Dads, Parents see the importance of forming healthy attachments and understand how to do that. Siblings to witness this transformation in mama and still feel loved, accepted and significant. Extended family who LISTEN to mama. A community that is so good that every mama has multiple people offer to coordinate meal drop offs, and help around the house for the first six weeks. My vision is for you to be radically resourced throughout the childbearing year. Does this vision speak to you? Do you desire a childbearing year so good you can’t help but talk about it? Book your free consultation with me today. Working on shifting your fears around birth & baby? Get your prenatal affirmations PDF + Audio recordings now Thinking about a natural birth? Join me in my masterclass designed to help you see the need for your vision and tap deeply into the desires and emotions that will get you there. The Road Not Taken Curious about Sage Motherhood Mentorship? Get all the details here: Connect with me @sagemotherhood on Tiktok & Instagram /episode/index/show/3cb9634c-0c20-4e85-9678-730f33f8df69/id/28013739

Optimizing Calcium Abosorption in Pregnancy 09/06/2023

Optimizing Calcium Abosorption in Pregnancy Calcium in Pregnancy, Pre-eclampsia & Absorbing calcium Calcium is a mineral that has a special relationship with Vitamin D. ⁣ Calcium requirements for pregnant and lactating women vary by age. ⁣ If you are 18 or younger and pregnant or lactating you should be getting at least 1300mg ⁣ Ages 19-50 and lactating or pregnant are least 1000mg Calcium supplementation is indicated for women with a history of high-blood pressure and preeclampsia. Research shows a combination supplement of magnesium sulfate, vitamin d, calcium and zinc significantly reduces blood pressure. The doses studied were 800 mg calcium, 200 mg magnesium, 8 mg zinc and 400 IU Vitamin D3 ⁣ Your body uses calcium to support: Muscular strength and stamina Bone strength Tooth Strength ⁣ Excellent Food Sources of Calcium Collard greens 266 mg Broccoli rabe 100 mg Cress, 41mg Kale cooked, 179 mg, Green soybeans, cooked 175 mg Bok choy, 160mg Rhubarb 105mg Broccoli 70mg Oranges 55mg ⁣ Another important fact with calcium absorption is that you need healthy intestines to absorb calcium, and healthy liver and kidneys to convert calcium from the digestive system to the forms needed to build your body and baby’s. ⁣ Two ways to support your liver: Reduce exposure to things that damage the liver: Phthalates -2023 study showed that phthalate exposure increased liver enzyme levels, a sign of liver damage Acetaminophen Ibuprofen Alcohol abuse (defined as 1 serving per day for women, 2 per day for men) Synthetic vitamin A Excessive sugar sugar, 2023 study showed that phthalate exposure increased liver enzyme levels, a sign of liver damage Parabens, if kidneys are not functioning properly Action item: ditch commercial skin care and body products as they almost always contain phthalates. Help your body cleanse from exposures that harm the liver, from Dr. Sara Gottfried Add bitter vegetables and herbs at every meal for their liver benefit: arugula, dandelion leaves, endive, radish, sage - include these in your 11 servings of vegetables per day count Eat alliums to raise glutathione such as onions, garlic, and leeks. Eat cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, radishes. Eat the rainbow, every day Add prebiotic fiber, which helps remove BPA in the system, such as asparagus, burdock root, Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, garlic, onion, leeks, unripe (green) bananas, flaxseeds, seaweed, konjac root, and yacon root Spices to reduce inflammation: turmeric, red pepper and chili, black pepper, licorice, clove, ginger, garlic, coriander, cardamom, fenugreek, cumin, rosemary, anise, cinnamon. Consume 4-5 forkfuls of probiotic foods per day: sauerkraut, kefir, and kimchi. Ways to support your intestinal tract: Eat a diverse variety of foods Consume lots of fruits and vegetables and legumes Eat lots of fruits, Eat fermented foods for naturally occurring probiotics Consume Prebiotic foods Consume polyphenols Eat Whole grains vs processed grains (some research shows wheat, barley and rye can increase gut permeability–and that isn’t a good thing) Breastfeed for 6 months exclusively Take a high-quality diverse probiotic supplement if health has been compromised How to support your kidneys Physical activity Manage blood sugar Reduce blood pressure Maintain a healthy weight Improve hydration, 1.5 - 2L per day as the baseline Do not smoke Reduce over the counter medications, Consider alternatives to the herb kava kava if you have signs of impaired kidney function. It is my desire to see you have a positive pregnancy, a beautiful birth and a peaceful postpartum. Nutrition is one of the key elements to those objectives. This is why I include a prenatal nutrition class in Sage Motherhood Mentorship. Calcium is just one of many important minerals during your childbearing year, come work with me in and let’s optimize your nutrition so that you can have the childbearing year of your dreams. Looking for a VBAC or homebirth? Then you don’t want to miss my masterclass . It will help you connect deeply with your desired birth and the reasons you want it, as well as help you understand how the current medical model will steer you off of that path. Don’t forget to work on your birth mindset and get your (PDFs & Audio) including my most powerful teaching on mindset! /episode/index/show/3cb9634c-0c20-4e85-9678-730f33f8df69/id/27958713

How to Surrender in Birth & Motherhood 08/30/2023

Sage Motherhood

TOPICS