If you want to avoid arguments with your partner about lifestyle changes from diet to drinking in the name of conceiving, this is the episode for you. 

Most of us think of consent as something we give for something big- like a medical procedure, or in sexual exchanges. Obviously we want to give consent to be intimate. What I want to talk about today, are the more subtle aspects of consent in the context of your path to parenthood and all of the well intentioned changes we might be making or thinking about making in regards to lifestyle changes. 

We will cover how to consciously communicate, lovingly ask for consent, and what to do if you already made the decision solo. 

Pregnancy and birth truly are a one of a kind experience. There's nothing quite like it. Forty weeks of gestation followed by a birth of an unknown length and possible interventions can naturally spark a lot of questions and even fears for a soon to be mama. This is often especially true if this is your first pregnancy or you have had past pregnancies that sadly may not have had the outcomes you had hoped for. Cultivating a relationship of trust with your providers can be one of the best tools for overcoming any fears or anxieties that may pop up along the way. 

Here are my 5 tips for getting the most out of your relationships with your OB's and midwives right from the start. 

1. Treat your first visit like a business meeting and don't be afraid to interview them. 

Picking an OB, midwife or large practice to provide you with prenatal and birthing support is often one of the most overlooked parts of the birthing process. Many women will opt to stay with the OB they have...

It has been said that your birth story dictates how you will parent. It is the essentially the fractal that plants the seed for how you will FEEL about mothering. At first blush it can seem like an overwhelming concept, but if you think about it in generalities it’s simplicity shines through. For most of us, our thoughts dictate our feelings which dictate our actions and actions give rise to our results or circumstance. 

Preparing for birth and all of its wonder can make the difference during birth, whether you feel empowered on your new journey as a parent, able to go with the flow and present in most moments or as if you are being told what to do and barely managing. I don’t know about you, but the former sounds much better than the latter as a trajectory into motherhood. So how does one prepare for such a magical event of which we have seemingly so little control?

The truth is, we are never fully prepared for what will be the uniqueness of our birth story and...

I used to love the "Would You Rather" game in college.  

Not only would it crack me up, but I felt like I was getting an unfiltered view of someone off the cuff. 

Recently I have been pondering the question, "Would I rather possess the ability to generate certainty anytime about anything, or grow my capacity for uncertainty?"

I used to want certainty and believed that if I had it, I could do anything. That is partially true. Because when we feel good, it is generally easier to take action and create the lives we want.

In the last few years though, I have figured out that the skill of growing my capacity for uncertainty is much more freeing (and fun). 

When my capacity to weather uncertainty is strong, it means I don't have to try and control anything or anyone around me. 

I get to let  ALL  the people in my life show up exactly as they are with no agenda to change them or their behaviors, to let them freely do what they want without making it mean...

I have a question for you whether you are on the journey to conceiving or already growing your family.

When you set out on the journey to become a parent did you know it would be this hard?

Did anyone prepare you for self doubt, feeling like a failure or the grief that would come from a complete identity shift?

IF they did, did you believe them?

I ask this because I have found it to be true of myself and so many other women that you are never quite ready for the shake up that occurs internally on this profound transformation event to parent.

And if we don't see that coming we can sometimes be our own worst critic, thinking something has gone wrong, even though it hasn't.

Last week I shared with you the importance of community to help aid in modeling these transformations. 

But this week, I want you to go to the micro community- you and your thoughts.

I think having your own back, which simply means committing to yourself to not be hard on yourself on top of things when...

Have you ever had the deep inkling that you needed to be in community with women of various stages in their lives, BUT when the time to join came you backed out?

Maybe you had thoughts like....

They won't get me and I'll feel worse.

My fertility or parenting problems are so unique no one will understand. 

I'm terrified to show up and really be seen for who I am.

I don't want to be told what to do.

Listening to someone else complain is going to make me feel worse, better stay in the cave.

Those are all normal thoughts when we entertain the idea of joining a new group or are seeking support. 

They are normal because brains are wired to scare you back into the cave of isolation where it is safe and familiar.

Your brain would rather manage uncomfortable thoughts and emotions because they are habit, then risk rejection or the anxiety of change that comes from growth. ALL brains!

I'm inviting you purposely get uncomfortable with me and a divinely chosen group of women to help...

Have you ever been certain that a circumstance was going to end in one of two ways only to have it unfold in a way you never could have even dreamed of?

When humans get stressed, a lot of times our brains can kick into black or white thinking assuming we know that the outcome will be very limited and probable towards one. 

When we aren't aware this is happening we tend to buy the story our brains are crafting for us and start to prepare for the worst, bracing and rehearsing for impact.

Hello spin out of drama with a side of overindulgent worry. (We're old friends.)

But what if............

We could open ourselves up to a rainbow of creative solutions simply by stepping away from the realm of probability and into the realm of possibility? 

What could you solve for in your life if you were in a state of possibility instead of probability most of the time?

What if it were as easy as continually asking yourself the question, " Am I in probability or possibility thinking right...

Dealing with Postpartum Depression

Are you a new mom struggling to keep up? Do you feel like taking care of your child is way more work than you anticipated leaving you constantly overwhelmed? Or are you finding yourself in a constant emotional funk, while telling yourself you should feel happy? You could be suffering from postpartum depression.

Many women suffer from postpartum depression, and even more go undiagnosed with postpartum anxiety. The magnitude of the depression and/or anxiety can vary from one woman to the other. Some women suffer from severe postpartum depression including suicidal ideation, while others have a mild version constantly feeling like something just isn’t right.

When you are stuck in the thick of negative postpartum takedown, it can feel like it’s going to last forever. The good news is, it doesn’t have to, and there is a way out.

In today’s episode, we are honored to have Liz Langston join us. Liz is a postpartum coach and a...