The MOTHERLODE Podcast

As natural a thing as it may be, breast/chestfeeding can be friggin’ hard! And many new parents aren’t prepared for that. Neither one of us were, that’s for sure! We both assumed it would feel natural and would just click into place. What we didn’t anticipate was the unbearable pain, the problems latching, the endless hours spent pumping, the undiagnosed lip tie, the many, many shed tears, or the feeling of defeat that would come along with it and we certainly weren’t prepared for any of that. Can we ever truly be prepared for what postpartum and new motherhood brings? We certainly don’t think so. We can have tools in our box but nothing can truly prepare you, since every experience is so unique.

️What we both wish we’d known then is that our babies would be OK. Whether exclusively breastfed or formula fed, they would be just fine. That they would grow strong, thrive, be healthy, and happy regardless of how they were fed. That our bonds with our first borns would be stronger than anything either of us could have ever imagined. That we didn’t need to be so hard on ourselves.

In this week's episode, Sarah & Stephanie share their own personal experiences with breastfeeding; their struggles and successes, and ways in which you can find support.
RESOURCES:
Nurture by Naps
La Leche League
Lactation Matters
Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association
United States Breastfeeding Committee
Milk Junkies
Milk Banking Association of America
MOBI Motherhood International
National Alliance For Breastfeeding Advocacy
Breastfeeding.com
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Sarah & Stephanie are the Founders of LUNA Mother Co, the first all-in-one digital platform for motherhood. From their evidence based fitness method, to pelvic floor & core physical therapy programs, parenting classes, & community, LUNA Mother Co has it all!
Subscribe to The MOTHERLODE Podcast so you never miss an episode, & catch up with us on Instagram! Interested in being on the show or know someone who would be a great fit? Email us [email protected] Like this episode? Leave us a review and let us know your thoughts!

This week we sat down with Whitney English & Alex Caspero, the Founders of Plant Based Juniors to talk about everything from how to instill healthy eating habits in our children, navigating picky eaters, the truth about protein, and so much more! This was such an informative and fun conversation!
Whitney and Alex are Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and mothers who started Plant Based Juniors as a resource for families who want to raise their kids in a predominantly plant-based way; and feel confident about the many decisions that come with nourishing children.

They know how confusing it all can be, so at PBJs they do the research for you. Whitney & Alex rely on evidence-based nutrition advice, so you know that the recommendations they make are based on research, not dogma. Their goal is to empower parents to make the best nutrition decisions for their families.
RESOURCES
Check out the Plant Based Juniors website to lear more HERE!
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Sarah & Stephanie are the Founders of LUNA Mother Co, the first all-in-one digital platform for motherhood. From their evidence based fitness method, to pelvic floor & core physical therapy programs, parenting classes, & community, LUNA Mother Co has it all. New subscribers, get your first month FREE using the code MOTHERLODE.
Subscribe to The MOTHERLODE Podcast so you never miss an episode, & catch up with us on Instagram! Interested in being on the show or know someone who would be a great fit? Email us [email protected] Like this episode? Leave us a review and let us know your thoughts!

On today’s episode, we are joined by Tara Brooke and Gina Giordano, the Founders of Born Into This, a 501c# non-profit organization & yearly conference, and Doula Trainings International. We discuss the importance of autonomy & reproductive justice, as well as the role of a doula and why you should consider hiring one.

Over the last decade, Doula Trainings International has become one of the premier online and in-person doula training organizations in the world. With a network of educators, their team has trained thousands of birth workers across the US and internationally, with a commitment to autonomy, cultural humility, reproductive justice, collaborative entrepreneurship. Through their work with DTI, Gina & Tara invited thought provoking leaders in their community to creatively connect, share resources, and examine injustices and privileges within the birth world. Inspired by the impact those conversations and connections, the vision of Born Into This grew. Now a 501c3 non-profit organization, Born Into This continues to produce conferences, workshops, and online content that work to revolutionize the world’s relationship with reproductive health.

Tara & Gina also recently published their first book called “Born Into This: A Creative Guide Through Reproductive Health” – written from the perspective of birth educators and doulas, their book explores everything from hormones to pregnancy to menopause. Grab your copy HERE!
RESOURCES:
Find a doula in your area HERETo learn more about DTI or become a doula or childbirth educator, visit https://doulatrainingsinternational.com/
You can now watch past Born Into This conferences HERE! Want to join the next one? Visit https://www.wearebornintothis.com/conference for info about upcoming events, workshops, and to connect with Tara and Gina.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Sarah & Stephanie are the Founders of LUNA Mother Co, the first all-in-one digital platform for motherhood. From their evidence based fitness method, to pelvic floor & core physical therapy programs, parenting classes, & community, LUNA Mother Co has it all. New subscribers, get your first month FREE using the code MOTHERLODE.
Subscribe to The MOTHERLODE Podcast so you never miss an episode, & catch up with us on Instagram! Interested in being on the show or know someone who would be a great fit? Email us [email protected] Like this episode? Leave us a review and let us know your thoughts!

Diastasis Recti is a term that is getting a lot of buzz these days (thankfully!) However with all that buzz comes some myths, misconceptions, and untruths. On today's episode we debunk some of these myths and misconceptions surrounding diastasis recti with Ashley Nowe, the Founder of Get Mom Strong.
For those who may not be familiar with the term, Diastasis Recti (also referred to as "abdominal separation") is the partial or complete separation of the rectus abdominis, or “six-pack” muscles, which meet at the midline of your stomach. Diastasis occurs naturally during pregnancy in order to accommodate for the growing uterus and often resolves on its own within 6-8 weeks postpartum. However this isn't always the case, and many mothers are left with injury-based diastasis after that initial healing stage that may require rehabilitative exercises to correct. Join us as we share some of the common misconceptions surrounding this condition.
Ashley Nowe is a mom of three, stepmom of two, and a pre & postnatal exercise specialist. After birthing her three children (including a set of giant twins) Ashley didn't recognize her body. She says "The twins shook my foundation, taking such a toll on my body, and my sense of self. I struggle(d) with diastasis recti—a “separation” of the abdominal wall—but have worked hard to learn to love my stomach again in its new form and reconnect with my core. This journey set me on a mission to educate other women and to help them take back pregnancy and postpartum! Whether you are a mom to a newborn or a grown kid, it is never too late to improve your core and pelvic floor and live a life full of function and vitality." To learn more about Ashley, visit her at www.getmomstrong.com and follow her on Instagram where she shares lots of great tips, workouts, and more!
DIASTASIS RECTI RESOURCES:
Find a pelvic Floor Physical Therapist near you by clicking HERE
LUNA Mother Co offers a thorough self-assessment video taught by our in-house pelvic floor physical therapist to help you identify if you have diastasis recti postpartum and how to begin healing. LUNA's Core Restore program also addresses diastasis and provides you with the tools to begin reconnecting to and healing your core.
Get Mom Strong also offers tools to help you reconnect to, rehabilitate, and restrengthen your core post-birth.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Sarah & Stephanie are the Founders of LUNA Mother Co, the first all-in-one digital platform for motherhood. From their evidence based fitness method, to pelvic floor & core physical therapy programs, parenting classes, & community, LUNA Mother Co has it all. New subscribers, get your first month FREE using the code MOTHERLODE.
Subscribe to The MOTHERLODE Podcast so you never miss an episode, & catch up with us on Instagram! Interested in being on the show or know someone who would be a great fit? Email us [email protected] Like this episode? Leave us a review and let us know your thoughts!

*TRIGGER WARNING* - this week's episode talk about pregnancy loss and may be triggering for some listeners.
1 in 4 people who become pregnant will experience loss. That is no small number. Yet our society tends to shy away from talking about it. We believe these stories deserve to be told, and that people who have experienced loss deserve more support. In this week's episode we talk with Lynea Wallace, a mother of two living children who has gone through three pregnancy losses. She bravely shares her story with us in a completely unedited, real, and raw conversation.
RESOURCES:
- LUNA Mother Co's CONNECT Program is a curated offering for those who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss to begin to connect to and heal your body through a 4 part core and pelvic floor connect series, restorative yoga practices, and guided meditations, process emotions with the help of mental health experts, and honor your loss with a community who stands with you and supports you. neutral, non-triggering language is used throughout this program. This program is offered on a sliding scale and grants are also available. Learn more about the program HERE or email us at [email protected] for financial assistance.
- Hand Online
- Birthwaves Doula Support for Pregnancy & Infant Loss
- Walk With Me
- March Of Dimes
- Return To Zero : HOPE

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Sarah & Stephanie are the Founders of LUNA Mother Co, a curated fitness and wellness app for MOTHERhood. Because we believe you deserve more from fitness. From evidence based fitness classes, core and pelvic floor programs, meditations, and nutritional guidance to parenting classes, LUNA has you covered.
Subscribe to The MOTHERLODE Podcast so you never miss an episode, & catch up with us on Instagram! Interested in being on the show or know someone who would be a great fit? Email us [email protected] Like this episode? Leave us a review and let us know your thoughts!