I meant to take a 3 month podcast break and it's turned into a full year. It's been a year. This is a catch-up episode because I feel like it would be weird to just jump back in after such a prolonged break. I talk about my endometriosis excision surgeries and iron infusions and other controversial things in the crunchy world that I zero percent regret.

**Trigger warning: This episode does briefly mention some sensitive subjects like postpartum hemorrhage, blood loss, anesthesia, and pediatric hospitalization. Like I said, it's been a year. But you might want to hold off on listening if the above subjects are particularly activating for you.**

In this bonus episode, my friend Stephanie Risinger (@stephanie.hopefulandwhole) and I talk about our personal experiences with the birth control pill and our professional experiences in working with women who are not always seen, heard, and respected in medical settings. In short, medical gaslighting is very common in the perinatal settings in which we see clients. So when the Washington Post came out with an article titled, Women are getting off birth control amid misinformation explosion, I knew we had to talk about it.

In holistic spaces, there's a lot of backlash against this article, referencing medical gaslighting but also calling out media at large and its glaring biases.

We discuss the article with an eye on critical thinking and curiosity more so than making a definitive statement or writing a thesis on birth control or feminism. As I re-listened to our conversation, I realized these are the kinds of discussions we need to be having as the media prepares to tell women how to feel and think and act about their bodies for the next 8 months of this election cycle.

So while I will be back to my postpartum and motherhood content soon, I think this discussion is an important one to have in the larger conversation about women's health and where the authority really lies (hint: the authority lies with you, not your doctor and not with social media and not with poorly-researched "news" articles).

For more on birth control's potential side effects, check out episode 16 on the Are You Menstrual? podcast.

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If you're enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and leave a review in Apple Podcasts to help other people find us! You can also find me on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@happy.mama.healthy.baby⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more content.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter and get a free freezer meal download: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://happymamahealthybaby.ck.page⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about my work and schedule an in-person or virtual lactation consult ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠⁠⁠⁠happymamahealthybaby.co⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our online breastfeeding and postpartum course: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedbeginningscourse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (15% off with code PODCAST15)

Postpartum recipes and resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedmotherbundle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

My allergy e-cookbook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedwithnuance⁠⁠⁠

I am solidly in my toddler breastfeeding era right now, so I figured this was the perfect time to talk about it! In this solo episode, I cover toddler breastfeeding myths, my personal change of heart in this regard, global breastfeeding recommendations and the benefits of breastfeeding, and the benefits of breastfeeding for more than a year. I talk about how your milk changes over time and how the experience of nursing definitely changes.

So many resources cited in this episode:

1.) "What to Expect" Instagram highlights: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17884745341987178/

2.) KellyMom's article on breastfeeding past infancy: https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/ebf-benefits/

3.) Breastfeeding in Mongolia: https://www.naturalchild.org/articles/guest/ruth_kamnitzer.html

4.) Don't Take the Intimacy Out of Breastfeeding: https://www.janetlansbury.com/2010/10/theres-a-person-on-your-breast-dont-take-the-intimacy-out-of-breastfeeding/

5.) The Psychological Effects of Breastfeeding: https://tghncollections.pubpub.org/pub/8-the-psychological-effects-of-breastfeeding/release/2

6.) AAP Breastfeeding Policy Statement: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/1/e2022057988/188347/Policy-Statement-Breastfeeding-and-the-Use-of?autologincheck=redirected

7.) Lily Nichols on Vitamin A: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/liver-organ-meat/

8.) Lily Nichols on Nutrients in Breastmilk: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/can-we-boost-the-nutrient-levels-breast-milk/

9.) Minerals + Mother's Milk podcast interview with Amanda Montalvo: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4O7bqZcRVHoNsqNXVoRo4V?si=BgV38RnjRiesyTJHp3dE_g

** 15% off Lactation Lab testing with code HAPPYMAMA: ​​https://lactationlab.com/discount/HAPPYMAMA **

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If you're enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and leave a review in Apple Podcasts to help other people find us! You can also find me on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@happy.mama.healthy.baby⁠⁠⁠ for more content.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter and get a free freezer meal download: ⁠⁠⁠https://happymamahealthybaby.ck.page⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about my work and schedule an in-person or virtual lactation consult ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠⁠⁠happymamahealthybaby.co⁠⁠⁠

Our online breastfeeding and postpartum course: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedbeginningscourse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (15% off with code PODCAST15)

Postpartum recipes and resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedmotherbundle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

My allergy e-cookbook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedwithnuance⁠⁠⁠

This episode is sponsored by the Nourished Mother Recipe Bundle. Get a 15% discount here with code PODCAST15: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedmotherbundle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In today's episode, strength coach Adina Rubin (@adinarubin_) and I chat about life with 3 kids, kettlebells, why moms need to be strong, how this looks practically in the postpartum season, why walking isn't always the best postpartum exercise, and how a strength program doesn't have to be complicated or even *hard* to be effective.

You can find Adina's self-paced kettlebell program here: Strength Training for Happy Hormones

Since this interview, Adjna has released her POSTPARTUM SPECIFIC program as well: STHH Postpartum

You can find her podcast with Diane Teall here: Get Your Sh*t Together

Resources we mention:

-Episode 10: discussing retained reflexes and rhythmic movement

-Episode 12: discussing infant sleep

-Adina's podcast episode on weight loss

**This podcast is for educational purposes only! The opinions of myself or my guests are never meant to replace individual medical advice. Please practice informed consent with your mom intuition and your care team.**

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If you're enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and leave a review in Apple Podcasts to help other people find us! You can also find me on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@happy.mama.healthy.baby⁠⁠⁠ for more content.

Learn more about my work and schedule an in-person or virtual lactation consult ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠⁠⁠happymamahealthybaby.co⁠⁠⁠

Our online breastfeeding and postpartum course: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedbeginningscourse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (15% off with code PODCAST15)

My allergy e-cookbook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedwithnuance⁠⁠⁠

Certified Classical Homeopath Jenna Dodge (@projecthomeopathy) is chatting with us today about how homeopathy can be a helpful tool in your postpartum, breastfeeding, baby-raising era. She explains how she became a homeopath, what homeopathy is, how it works, how it differs from other home remedies like herbal tinctures, and how to find remedies that could work for you.

Resources we discuss:

projecthomeopathy.com

jennadodge.com

Homeopathy with Jenna FB group: https://www.facebook.com/homeopathywithjenna

Avoiding Urgent Care with Homeopathy course: https://www.jennadodge.com/avoiding-urgent-care-with-homeopathy

You can find the books Jenna mentions on my Amazon storefront: https://amzn.to/3KE2FfM

**This podcast is for educational purposes only! The opinions of myself or my guests are never meant to replace individual medical advice. Please practice informed consent with your mom intuition and your care team.**

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Shoutout to Branwynn Merino wool bras and PACT organic cotton bras. I finally switched to natural fibers after getting thrush this summer and have found that these are some of the few options out there for mamas with cup sizes D and above. When you use these codes, you get a discount and I get a small affiliate commission that helps support this podcast! I'll never promote a product I haven't personally spent money on and appreciated.

$10 off Branwyn wool undergarments with code HAPPYMAMA10: https://branwyn.com/theresedansby

20% off PACT organic clothing with this link: https://mbsy.co/3sBlhc

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If you're enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and leave a review in Apple Podcasts to help other people find us! You can also find me on Instagram ⁠⁠@happy.mama.healthy.baby⁠⁠ for more content.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter and get a free freezer meal download: ⁠⁠https://happymamahealthybaby.ck.page⁠⁠

Learn more about my work and schedule an in-person or virtual lactation consult ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠⁠happymamahealthybaby.co⁠⁠

Our online breastfeeding and postpartum course: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedbeginningscourse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (15% off with code PODCAST15)

Postpartum recipes and resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedmotherbundle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

My allergy e-cookbook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedwithnuance⁠⁠

Pediatric nurse, functional health coach, and mom of 3 Peyton Berg (@pey_lovinghealthllc) and I initially planned to talk about "balancing" work and motherhood but we ended up covering a lot of ground in this conversation:

• how hard means different things to different people and comparison in motherhood isn't helpful
• what it looks like to walk through a season of confusion when you thought you were doing the right thing and you didn't get the outcome you expected
• discernment about alternative healing modalities
• navigating the healthy living space as Christians, and the difference between spiritual and emotional health
• and asking for and accepting help

Peyton's website is here: https://www.lovinghealthfm.com/

Her post on Christianity and healing modalities is here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrcEokTP0XH/?img_index=1

**This podcast is for educational purposes only. The opinions of myself or my guests are never meant to replace individual medical advice. Please practice informed consent with your mama intuition and your care team.**

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If you're enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and leave a review in Apple Podcasts to help other people find us! You can also find me on Instagram ⁠@happy.mama.healthy.baby⁠ for more content.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter and get a free freezer meal download: ⁠https://happymamahealthybaby.ck.page⁠

Learn more about my work and schedule an in-person or virtual lactation consult ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠happymamahealthybaby.co⁠

Our online breastfeeding and postpartum course: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedbeginningscourse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (15% off with code PODCAST15)

Postpartum recipes and resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedmotherbundle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

My allergy e-cookbook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedwithnuance⁠

Cheryl Sew Hoy (@tiny.health) and I dive RIGHT into why mother's microbiome affects baby's gut health, why not all probiotics are helpful, how to improve baby's gut health (and yours), why any amount of breastmilk benefits baby's microbiome, and how the microbiome changes as our babies grow. And, of course, we address the question of whether or not babies need probiotics.

Links to things we talk about in the episode:

• Tiny Health blog posts mentioned in this interview: birth plan, gentle c-sections, pediatric antibiotics, the power of dirt
• Missing Microbes book: amzn.to/3CWD6CI
• My interview with Sally Fallon about living foods and human milk: https://spoti.fi/3reSHuw
• Order a Tiny Health microbiome test here and use code HAPPYMAMA20 for $20 off: https://bit.ly/3XCMqVU
• Get 10% off Smidge Infant probiotic with code HAPPYMAMA10 here: https://bit.ly/3XwkN0x

**This podcast is for educational purposes only! The opinions of myself or my guests are never meant to replace individual medical advice. Please practice informed consent with your mom intuition and your care team.**

--

If you're enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and leave a review in Apple Podcasts to help other people find us! You can also find me on Instagram @happy.mama.healthy.baby for more content.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter and get a free freezer meal download: https://happymamahealthybaby.ck.page

Learn more about my work and schedule an in-person or virtual lactation consult ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at happymamahealthybaby.co

Our online breastfeeding and postpartum course: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedbeginningscourse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (15% off with code PODCAST15)

Postpartum recipes and resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedmotherbundle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

My allergy e-cookbook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedwithnuance

This conversation with Cassy Joy Garcia (@fedandfit) was so encouraging to me. Even a professional cookbook author finds it difficult to make dinner with little kids around! In this interview, we talk about shifting priorities, how to make work time work with young children, asking for help, and our favorite dinner go-tos. Of course, we also talk about Cassy's second and third cookbooks and why they're perfect for this exact season of life that we are both in.

You can find Cassy's Cook Once Eat All Week and Cook Once Dinner Fix cookbooks in my Amazon storefront HERE because I'm constantly telling friends and clients about them! I use one or both of them weekly.

Links to other things we talked about:

-The Lazy Genius Way and the Lazy Genius Kitchen books are great when you're out of newborn mode, and help prepare you for the next chaotic season you may encounter.

-Sign up for weekly emails on FedandFit.com to get free meal plans and recipes in your inbox every Friday

-Get my free postpartum (or any time) freezer meal plan with 14 recipes, a master grocery list, and step-by-step instructions when you ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for my monthly email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

-And here's the food allergy e-cookbook I was talking about at the top of the episode

**This podcast is for educational purposes only! The opinions of myself or my guests are never meant to replace individual medical advice. Please practice informed consent with your mom intuition and your care team.**

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If you're enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and leave a review in Apple Podcasts to help other people find us! You can also find me on Instagram ⁠⁠@happy.mama.healthy.baby⁠⁠ for more content.

Get a FREE postpartum (or any time) freezer meal plan with 14 recipes, a master grocery list, and step-by-step instructions when you sign up for my monthly newsletter: ⁠⁠https://happymamahealthybaby.ck.page⁠⁠

Learn more about my work and schedule an in-person or virtual lactation consult ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠⁠happymamahealthybaby.co⁠⁠

Our online breastfeeding and postpartum course: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedbeginningscourse⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (15% off with code PODCAST15)

Postpartum recipes and resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedmotherbundle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

My allergy e-cookbook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/nourishedwithnuance⁠⁠