Moms of the Night

As mamas, we do so much to prepare for our babies, but one thing we often overlook in our preparation and education is our own recovering bodies. In today's episode, I chat with Amy Kiefer about her own pregnancy and postpartum experiences, and how they influenced her to share her knowledge and resources with others.

Amy is an RN-BSN, NSCA-CPT, Certified Doula, and co-founder of Expecting & Empowered. After starting her personal training career working with pregnant clients, she realized there were far too many misconceptions still floating around. Now, she is on a mission to bring clarity to all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

In this episode, we get raw about the physical symptoms of pregnancy and postpartum and the ways that we experienced changes in our bodies and relationships. Diving into our personal experiences, we also talk about advocating for yourself during birth, educating your partner on your needs, and how you can prepare and heal your body in healthy ways.

Connect with Amy at @ameskiefer & @expectingandempowered

Use code MOMSOFTHENIGHT to get $5 off your first month or $30 off your first year of the Expecting & Empowered App! Sign up: Subscriptions - Expecting and Empowered

LET'S CONNECT:

Join our Moms of the Night community on Instagram: @momsofthenightpodcast. And if you’re loving the podcast, be sure to drop a 5 star rating and give us a review — it helps us greatly with reaching moms who also need to hear these words!

Dear Mama Monologues are special clips we pull from each episode, filled with an encouraging message from our guest to you. They are released as a bonus mini-sode each week so you have a place you can quickly access words to get you through those tough motherhood moments.

Lauren is a mom of two girls - Madison (3) and Emerson (10 weeks) living in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband. She works part-time as a hospital social worker, with a large part of her career being in oncology. As a way to create community with Jewish moms, she started the @ourshalomhome Instagram account, to connect with Jewish moms, share ideas, and showcase her creativity.

Connect with Lauren at @ourshalomhome or @laurendriscoll22

When we talk about the newborn stage, grief, anger, and resentment aren't often words we hear. However, for many mamas with colicky babies (or other difficulties) it can be one of the most trying and difficult times a new mama faces. On today's episode, Lauren Driscoll opens up about her experience with her first baby and shares how it impacted her feelings about motherhood, mental health, and the future of her family.

As a part-time social worker who works with families during difficult periods of grieving—a large part of her career being in oncology—she eloquently talks about how grief can become a part of our motherhood journeys—and how we can move forward from it.

Lauren is now a mom of two girls - Madison (3) and Emerson (10 weeks). Together, we talk about the transition between one kid and two, and how it can change the way we view ourselves and our motherhood journeys.

As always, I am a big cheerleader for any type of community that helps mamas feel seen, heard, and validated. As a way to create a community with Jewish moms, Lauren started the @ourshalomhome Instagram account, to connect with Jewish moms, share ideas, and showcase her creativity.

Connect with Lauren at @ourshalomhome or @laurendriscoll22

LET'S CONNECT:

Join our Moms of the Night community on Instagram: @momsofthenightpodcast

And if you’re loving the podcast, be sure to drop a 5 star rating and give us a review - it helps us greatly with reaching moms who also need to hear these words!

Dear Mama Monologues are special clips we pull from each episode, filled with an encouraging message from our guest to you. They are released as a bonus mini-sode each week so you have a place you can quickly access words to get you through those tough motherhood moments.

Jess Hull is a former Facebook and Google executive who founded Mother Me, which is an app, online course, and support framework for successful women who want to do more than just survive their postpartum. The system she developed is called The Mother Me Method and it's based on the science and data of Matrescence as well as incorporating global perspectives on how other countries and cultures support postpartum women.

Jess approaches her work more from an academic standpoint vs. a clinical perspective. She has done extensive research on matrescence and maternal health and seeks practical solutions that can help busy women. Known for her enthusiasm, humor and compelling speaking, Jess resonates with so many women because she combines her passion for sharing a data driven approach with her personal experiences and her ability to relate to the universal challenges and joys of motherhood.

In her research and in her experience, Jess often felt that moms and their wellbeing were an afterthought. It's what motivated her to start her company and name it Mother Me - as a call to action to recognize that moms need and deserve the same love and care we so instinctually give to our newborns.

If you're interested in working with Jess to feel more informed, prepared, supported and excited for your postpartum, visit www.motherme.io

In today's episode, Jess Hull and I talk about all things matrescence, or the process and journey of becoming a mother. As mamas, we take so much time to educate ourselves about our children and make sure that all of their needs are met, but we often forget to treat ourselves with the same kind of care. Jess created Mother Me, an app, online course, and support framework for successful women who want to do more than just survive their postpartum for that reason.

Jess Hull is a former Facebook and Google executive. The system she developed is called The Mother Me Method and it's based on the science and data of Matrescence as well as incorporating global perspectives on how other countries and cultures support postpartum women.

Jess approaches her work more from an academic standpoint vs. a clinical perspective. She has done extensive research on matrescence and maternal health and seeks practical solutions that can help busy women. Known for her enthusiasm, humor and compelling speaking, Jess resonates with so many women because she combines her passion for sharing a data driven approach with her personal experiences and her ability to relate to the universal challenges and joys of motherhood.

In her research and in her experience, Jess often felt that moms and their wellbeing were an afterthought. It's what motivated her to start her company and name it Mother Me - as a call to action to recognize that moms need and deserve the same love and care we so instinctually give to our newborns.

While reflecting on our own motherhood and matrescence journeys, Jess and I talk about the expectations vs realities of motherhood, how birth order and differing pregnancy experiences can affect the choices that we make about our familes, and how to start giving ourselves the grace that we need.

If you're interested in working with Jess to feel more informed, prepared, supported and excited for your postpartum, visit www.motherme.io

LET'S CONNECT:

Join our Moms of the Night community on Instagram: @momsofthenightpodcast

And if you’re loving the podcast, be sure to drop a 5 star rating and give us a review - it helps us greatly with reaching moms who also need to hear these words!

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS:

Better Beginnings provides birth and postpartum doula services, in-home lactation support, classes, and more to families welcoming new babies, serving parents in-person in the Twin Cities, Duluth, and Rochester Minnesota communities, and providing resources and support virtually all over the world.Visit betterbeginningsmn.com to learn more.

In today's emotional episode, I got to chat with Taylor Gawryluk, a first-time mama from Bismarck, North Dakota. She shares the story of how she became a medical mama when her then four-month-old son Krew was suddenly rushed to the hospital for feeding issues. After a diagnosis of a rare genetic condition, Taylor and her husband have had to navigate life with a son with a G Tube.

While discussing Taylor's journey and the ups and downs that come with being a medical mama, we also chat about labels, and how the ones put on us—either by ourselves or by others—can affect how we approach motherhood. We also talk about the loneliness and isolation that can come from challenging situations, especially medical ones.

Join our Moms of the Night community on Instagram: @momsofthenightpodcast

Follow Taylor on Instagram: @taylor.gawryluk

Dear Mama Monologues are special clips we pull from each episode, filled with an encouraging message from our guest to you. They are released as a bonus mini-sode each week so you have a place you can quickly access words to get you through those tough motherhood moments.

Taylor Gawryluk is a first-time mama living in Bismarck, North Dakota with her husband, and 8 month old son, Krew. She is in sales for her family’s business and runs a Cycle studio. Taylor’s world unexpectedly turned upside down when her son Krew was rushed to be admitted to the hospital for feeding issues, which led to a rare genetic condition diagnosis. As a “medical mom” she is now processing and navigating life with a son with a G Tube.

Taylor’s Instagram: @taylor.gawryluk

Dear Mama Monologues are special clips we pull from each episode, filled with an encouraging message from our guest to you. They are released as a bonus mini-sode each week so you have a place you can quickly access words to get you through those tough motherhood moments.

Brittany is a mom of 2 littles raising them alongside her husband in a northwest suburb of Minneapolis. She is a lover of Jesus, black coffee and deep conversations. Who lives for her morning rhythms before the family is up.

In the midst of the beautiful chaos of motherhood, Brittany, after climbing the corporate ladder for over a decade, is now living out her passion and purpose as the founder & CEO of Unlock Her Co., a transformative coaching brand that creates trusted spaces for high-achieving women and female entrepreneurs to feel seen, heard and empowered to prioritize her well-being and unlock her version of a purposeful life.

In today's episode, I chat with my friend and fellow entrepreneur Brittany Heyboer, the founder & CEO of Unlock Her Co. Being a working Mom comes with a lot of struggle, sadness, and shame—and we talk about it all!

As a transformative coaching brand, Unlock Her Co. creates trusted spaces for high-achieving women and female entrepreneurs to feel seen, heard, and empowered to prioritize their well-being and unlock their version of a purposeful life. In the episode, Brittany shares her journey of finding harmony rather than balance, and how to find confidence in the decisions that you make for your family.

Whether you are a working mama climbing the corporate ladder, a stay-at-home mom happily spending time with your babies or somewhere in between, today's episode is about embracing your journey and finding ways to achieve the life that you envision for yourself and your family.

Join our Moms of the Night community on Instagram: @momsofthenightpodcast

Dear Mama Monologues are special clips we pull from each episode, filled with an encouraging message from our guest to you. They are released as a bonus mini-sode each week so you have a place you can quickly access words to get you through those tough motherhood moments.

Arden Cartrette is a Birth + Bereavement Doula that specializes in grief associated with pregnancy loss. After her own infertility journey followed by recurrent pregnancy loss, she started a virtual support service for people who have experienced loss at any gestation and who are navigating life after loss. The Miscarriage Doula + Co has served over 1,000 clients to date and provides resources, validation, and information to the miscarriage community.