Blooming in Motherhood

Anna: Trust, endurance, and self-love in the first year with a heart baby | Episode 5

Anna is a mother of two who thought her motherhood and her family might resemble a 90s sitcom. All of that changed when she received completely unexpected and life-changing news after her first daughter's newborn screening. In this episode, Anna shares about the challenges her family faced with 3 open heart surgeries in 4 years, the impact of postpartum depression and anxiety on her husband, and the trust, endurance, and self-love that Anna found in her first year as a mother.
 
Resources and Links:
Anna on instagram
Lily Evadena Watterworth Facebook Page
Jack's Helping Hand
Caring for Your Mental Health When Your Baby is in the NICU
 
 

Jess: ”I found myself” in the first year of motherhood | Episode 4

Jess is a mother and a fertility coach and doula. On this episode, Jess shares about her self-discovery in her first year of motherhood - learning to accept change and be adaptable as a mother, finding clarity, and most of all, finding herself.
We talk about asking for help (everyone should take notes from her neighbor on how to support a new mom!) and the importance of sleep in her healing from postpartum anxiety. 
 
Resources
Jess's website!
Jess's instagram: @fertilityjess
Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Managing Postpartum Anxiety and Scary Thoughts
Managing Sleep Deprivation as a New Parent
How to Support a New (or New Again) Mom
 

Lianna: A heartbreaking, defeating, blessed first year | Episode 3

Lianna is a Marriage and Family Therapist and mother of two. Unexpected diagnoses for both of her babies in the first days of their lives were a "big curveball". On this episode, Lianna talks about how heartbreak and defeat existed right alongside feeling blessed and loving motherhood. She shares about working through grief in postpartum, caring for medically complex children, and how mindfulness has supported her through the challenges of early parenthood.
 
Resources:
Learn more about Postpartum Mental Health
Find local mental health support: Postpartum Support International Directory
Online peer support groups: Postpartum Support International Groups
 
From Lianna:
Instagram: @lianna_huseman
Book recommendation: Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin

Nikki: An exhausting, confusing, tender first years with 3 under 2 | Episode 2

Nikki is a mother of three, both by adoption and birth. Nikki describes her motherhood journey as going from “famine to feast” - after 7 years of trying to start a family, Nikki became a mom to three girls under two… in the midst of COVID and a cross-country move. Nikki shares about sleepless nights and loneliness, learning to ask for help, celebration, gaining resilience, and growth. Lots of growth. 
 
Resources:
Managing Sleep Deprivation as a New Parent
 
From Nikki:
Taking Cara Babies
The Connected Child by Karen Purvis
Adopted for Life by Russell Moore
Honestly Adoption Podcast
Calm Parenting Podcast

Melissa: An overwhelming, exciting, wonderful first year with twins | Episode 1

In this episode I’m talking with Melissa about her first year as a young mother of twins. Melissa was so generous in sharing her story and some of the challenges she faced in that first year - including managing extreme sleep deprivation and issues with her own health that increased her anxiety postpartum. She also shares some great insight on the importance of community and keeping your marriage or partnership strong through what she called “one of the hardest years” of her life.
 
Resources:
Managing Sleep Deprivation as a New Parent
Communication Habits of Successful Couples
Eight Ways to Keep Your Relationship Healthy During Postpartum and Early Parenting