The BumpCast: Recent Episodes
Shannon Bally: Mom and Podcaster
On this podcast, I’ll take you through each week of your pregnancy with some tips and tricks to help you out, interviews from mamas who have been there, tips from professionals who work with pregnant mamas, and some insight into what’s to come. Enjoy this incredible journey as you grow a miracle!
Postpartum doulas are engaged in care for the baby and family during the first 12 weeks of life for the new baby.
Jessica Stapp is here to help navigate the ins and outs of hiring and utilizing a postpartum doula as well as give great tips for setting boundaries around your baby, your home life, and your health.
Resources we discussed:
Baby cues video
What does a postpartum doula do anyway?
Connect with Jessica:
jessicasacdoula.com
Congratulations Mama and welcome to week 41 of your pregnancy. This week your baby is the size of a watermelon, measuring around 20.4 inches long and about 8 pounds. Or more. Or less. There really is no way of knowing until he or she makes their debut.
I know that some of you may have reached week 41 and I want to make sure you know what is going on with you this week!
Chances are, you are totally over this whole pregnancy thing and just want to meet your sweet baby already! All the experts are going to tell you that you should get as much sleep and rest as possible right now, and while I don’t disagree, I also know that this advice can be frustrating and impractical to a mama on the cusp of meeting one of the most important people in your life.
Since you have gone past your anticipated due date, your doctor or provider will want to monitor you extra closely. You may be scheduled or another ultrasound, non stress test and or a biophysical profile just to check in on your little one.
A few tips on trying to naturally induce labor include: eating spicy food, having sex, acupuncture, and lots of walking! Remember to stay hydrated, even if you feel like you visit the toilet so much you may as well move your bed into the bathroom.
So why are you overdo anyway? Well, a family history of going past the 40 week mark can be part of the cause, but of course, your original due date may have been miscalculated, also.
Whatever the reason may be, it’s not important to discuss your thoughts about induction with your provider. They may or may not be on board with your personal plan to serve an eviction notice and there are a few ways they can assist in speeding up the process. Also, remember that a due date is really just an estimate.
Stripping membranes which can be painful, can be done in the doctor’s office.
You can take medication to help dilate your cervix.
Or the provider can “break your water” or rupture the membranes with a thin plastic hook. This one is usually only done when you’ve been in labor but haven’t progressed past a certain point for hours. With my first pregnancy, I was induced and in the hospital in labor for 12 hours but didn’t progress past to the point my water broke. The on-call doctor said he would break my water when he was out of surgery delivering twins via c-section for another family, and before he came back, my water broke on it’s own.
There are a lot of things I would change about my first birth experience if I had the chance, but my best advice to you is to be your own best advocate. I also recommend having a support person with you that can advocate on your behalf (and that of your baby) in case you aren’t able to, and also to remind you about your birth plan or wishes for your labor and delivery.
As you get ready to embark on Motherhood and you've been through 40 weeks of pregnancy, this is the perfect time for you to get a blast of expert advice from our guests.
This podcast episode is a mashup of advice pulled from interviews along your journey.
If you are burdened by the chaos in your life, I want to help you overcome the overwhelm that’s standing in the way of your success!
Join the Conquer Your Chaos free 5 day challenge!
To get signed up for the next challenge!
m.me/chaosqueenspodcast
Congratulations, mama, and welcome to week 39 of your pregnancy! This week your sweet baby is the size of a pumpkin. Measuring about 20 inches long and weighing in at about 7.3 pounds, baby just keeps growing, despite being so crowded inside your 39 weeks pregnant belly.
It’s almost eviction day.
I pulled a few common late pregnancy symptoms from thebump.com, so if you’re looking for more information on any of these, head over to their website.
One symptom of late pregnancy is your bloody show - a discharge that’s as thick as mucus and sometimes has a tinge of blood in it. Many people consider this to be a sign you’ll go into labor soon, there’s no exact science to it, so it’s hard to say when showtime will be.
A few other symptoms you may be dealing with now include:
- Pelvic pressure. While getting into position for birth, baby may be sitting so low that that your lower torso feels heavy and uncomfortable.
- Lightning crotch. Because baby’s so low, his or her movements can hit some sensitive nerves, giving you sharp sensations in your pelvis—yep, like a lightning bolt!
This week our interview is with Jodi Congdon from hiptoheart.com
Jodi is a birth and lactation educator and doula. In this interview we discuss Expectations and time management when nursing as well as answer listener questions about nursing with breast implants - it can be done!
Connect with Jodi at:
Facebook: Hip to Heart
Instagram @hiptoheart
This is week 38 on the BumpCast and I'm interviewing my oldest son, Riley. Tune in to get his big brother perspective on life as a 7 year old.
Congratulations mama and welcome to week 37 of your pregnancy! Baby is about 19 1/4 inches long and weighs just under 6.5 pounds.
A few things to prepare this week: pack your diaper bag and install the car seat. If you’re having a hospital birth, the staff will typically check that your car seat is installed correctly when they discharge you, so avoid delays by making sure this is done.
Baby’s lungs and brain are growing and maturing rapidly in these last few weeks. So, when you feel like you just can’t be pregnant anymore and you’re completely over it, remember, baby still has some growing to do!
Things are getting snug inside your womb now, so baby can’t do as many summersaults or flips, but she should still be kicking often.
This week we are talking all about Blended families with the host and creator of the Essential Step-Mom podcast and The Spectacular Step Mom community, Tracy Poizner.
Tracy discusses how you can approach introducing a new baby into a blended family household and even touches on some of the fears and obstacles step moms that are moms-to-be can have during pregnancy and beyond. If you’re a step mom or are looking for tips on how to beat integrate a blended family, this episode is for you!
Connect with Tracy:
www.theessentialstepmom.com
The Essential Step Mom Podcast
Congratulations, mama. Welcome to week 36 of your pregnancy!
This week we are discussing the ins and outs of your baby and your body at 36 weeks.
We have a great interview with mama and relationship coach Angelique Moore. Angelique is the mother of 5 beautiful children, one son (22) and two sets of fraternal twin girls (8 and 18). If you have ever been curious what it's like to have two sets of twins, you don't want to miss this episode!
Make sure you connect with Angelique for all the amazing things she's doing for women!
www.loveherwellness.com
www.thebumpcast.com/post/week-36-multiples
Congratulations, mama! Welcome to week 35 of your pregnancy! With only 5 short weeks left until you meet your baby, you are probably feeling a lot of emotions and exhaustion but could also be experiencing some nesting symptoms now. Baby is about 18 inches long and weighs just over 5 pounds. She’s mostly in there putting on fat and waiting out the next 5 weeks with you. Most babies are in the head down position now, but if you see your doctor and they say baby isn’t head down, don’t worry too much. There’s still time!! You should also go back and listen to the episode where I interview my fabulous Chiropractor, Dr. Michelle Arietta - Which is the week 5 episode – for some tips on how a chiropractor can help get you ready for baby to make her appearance. If you are catching the nesting bug, here is an article from Parent Guide News with some tips on what you should be looking at. Rebekah is from SC, is married to her high school crush and they have three children together. She also has 8 years of experience in missions and women's ministry in West Africa. During this time - she went through two pregnancies and gave birth to her first two children in Africa. She's also been successful in multiple MLM businesses for almost seven years and she loves to see women destroy the lies in their minds that hold them back from reaching their full potential. Through all these experiences, nothing makes her come alive more than coaching and encouraging other women to embrace their gifts and fulfill their God-given calling! As a serial entrepreneur, she brings a wide variety of experience to the table and she loves to pass on what she's learned to help others be successful. Connect with Rebekah: www.hopequeen.com www.instagram.com/rebekah__nolt www.instagram.com/cbd_hopequeen
Congratulations mama and welcome to week 34 of your pregnancy! Baby weighs in at 4.7 pounds and around 17.7 inches.
Did you know that your baby can hear your voice and recognize even your partner’s voice!
Thebump.com states:
Some experts say that, after birth, babies can recognize songs mom sang while pregnant; they may even be more easily soothed by those familiar tunes once they're “on the outside.”
You may want to start thinking about your hospital stay (if that’s your thing) and make sure you’ve reviewed your birth plan with your health care provider so everyone is on the same page.
You’re going to start seeing your OB every week now, if that’s the route you’re going.
Everything is probably really swollen a lot of the time now. Laying flat can help with that, but for you mamas who can’t get regular rest throughout the day, at least take some time to stop and put your feet Up on breaks and in the evenings. Light stretching when you wake up each morning can help your blood circulation and prevent swelling, and remember to drink lots of water.
This week we are interviewing Jen McLellan from Plus Size Birth. I got the chance to chat with Jen about making sure your health care provider is size inclusive and gets an overall picture of your health, as well as hearing the excellent advice that if your provider is rude, bias, or not giving you the care you feel you should get, it’s perfectly acceptable to fire them and find someone you work well with.
Jen McLellan is a certified childbirth educator, wife, and mother to a charismatic 8-year-old. She's the host of the popular Plus Mommy Podcast, published author, speaker, and founder of Plus Size Birth, the premier resource for all things plus size pregnancy. With over 4 million page views on her blog and 177,000 followers on Plus Mommy Facebook page, Jen is passionate about plus size pregnancy and navigating the bumps along the road of motherhood.
I loved chatting with Jen this week, and I can’t wait for you to hear all she has to share. Don’t forget to check out the show notes on the BumpCast.com for a link to Jen’s free resource on what to pack in your hospital bag!
Jen's Free Resource on what to pack in your hospital bag
At week 33 you’re only 7 weeks away from meeting your sweet baby. This week, baby is the size of whole pineapple. At a little over 4 pounds and measuring 17 1/4 inches, things are getting snug inside your womb.
This week we are interviewing Susete Pinto from Night Night Baby Sleep Consulting.
Susete is a Child Sleep Consultant who, as a mom of two boys, empathizes with the difficulties of parenting a child who doesn’t sleep well. She founded Night Night Baby Consulting to help parents who dream about putting their children to sleep with no fuss by teaching them healthy sleep habits.
As a member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants and Sleep Sense, Susete is knowledgeable in how to teach your baby to sleep well by addressing your baby’s specific sleep issues and providing a plan to resolve them; all while being there each step of the way.
You can find her on Facebook & Instagram @ NightNightBabyConsulting
Congratulations, Mama and welcome to week 32 of your pregnancy!
This week your baby is positioning herself head down in your uterus as you’re getting closer and closer to delivery. At around 4 pounds and measuring between 16.5 and 17 inches long, your little one is about the size of a large squash.
As for you, mama, your doctor appointments will likely start to be every two weeks starting very soon, if they haven’t already.
At 8 months pregnant, you’re probably still experiencingheartburn, shortness of breath, vaginal discharge and aching pelvis.
Some additional symptoms we’ve talked about include Braxton Hicks contractions and super dark nipples. For more on Hyper-pigmentation, make sure you check out our week 6 episode!
This week we have our first male guest on the podcast, my husband Joshua Bally!
I got the great opportunity to interview the love of my life and ask him all the Dad questions I have.
With only nine weeks left to go, your baby is the size of a coconut! Measuring 16 inches and weighing in around 3.2 pounds, your little one is growing every single day!
This week we are airing the second half of our interview with Ann Kaplan, mom, birth educator and amazing woman! During the remainder of our interview, Ann mentions a few birth positions and some great techniques you can tap into when you’re in the throws of labor. Also, don’t forget to check the show notes on thebumpcast.com for the free resource Ann is providing for YOU, the BumpCast listener on getting your kids to listen, the FIRST time! Ann’s Freebie: http://bit.ly/mamaguide
Congratulations, mama and welcome to week 30! You've been pregnant for a Loon time, but there is an end in sight. 10 weeks or less for most of you.
This week on the BumpCast we have part 1 of a two part interview with mom, doula, birth educator and mama mentor Ann Kaplan.
Ann discusses all things pregnancy as well as answers all my questions about moving her family from Denver, CO to Spain!
Ann discusses all things pregnancy as well as answers all my questions about moving her family from Denver, CO to Spain! Ann has also graciously provided BumpCast listeners with a freebie: http://bit.ly/mamaguide
Your pregnancy: week 29 updates
This week we interview Missy Titus from Sacramento, California.
Missy is a Wardrobe Consultant and Color Analyst at Simplified Wardrobe. She helps busy women and women going through major transitions—whether that’s personal, physical, professional or otherwise—create easy, stylish wardrobes for where they are now and where they want to be. That means fitting into their lifestyle, making them feel and look great, and helping them project an image and style that aligns with their goals, values, and personality. She can’t wait to help you simplify your life, gain confidence, and get reacquainted with the woman inside. Connect with Missy at: simplifiedwardrobe.com or on Instagram: @simplifiedwardrobe
You've made it to your third trimester! Your little one might be kicking so hard and so often that it’s causing you to lose sleep. At 15 inches and about 2.25 pounds your sweet pea can blink and is also experiencing REM sleep, and possibly having her first little baby dreams!
This week, as we welcome you into your third and final trimester, I want to get you all the tools you need to start nesting and getting ready for your little one to arrive! On this week's episode, I'm interviewing Carly Adams from Tidy Revival. Carly is a Professional Organizer based in Sacramento, CA. She helps her clients get organized in their homes & businesses by working alongside them. Whether that’s helping them declutter, creating a Pinterest-perfect pantry, or helping a busy Mom re-examine the flow of her kitchen or utility closet - Carly is a self-proclaimed “organizational nerd” that loves to geek out to her clients’ benefit. As an Auntie to 5 (soon to be 6!) kiddos - she's in tune with the needs of busy Mamas! When she’s not dropping off donations, she can be found relaxing at home with her husband and dog. Study about stress & clutter: "No Place Like Home: Home Tours Correlate With Daily Patterns of Mood and Cortisol" Variera Series by IKEA Made By Design by Target Tidy Revival Website Instagram Link Facebook Link This episode was sponsored by Bark.com. If your kids can access the internet, you need to know about Bark.
Welcome to week 27 of your pregnancy!!
This week your little one is the size of a cabbage(which is super fitting since we are releasing this on St Patrick’s Day!) at 14 inches long. Weighing in at around 2 pounds, your sweet babe can likely recognize both you and your partner’s voice from inside your womb.
This week we are interviewing Marta Spirk from the Mom Does it All podcast.
Marta is a certified success coach and triplet mom. She helps moms find purpose in life post-partum by identifying their passions and pursuing them without fear or guilt - because moms can DO IT ALL!
www.martaspirk.coach
www.instagram.com/momdoesitall_
www.instagram.com/momdoesitallpodcast
www.momdoesitall.community
This week your little one is about 14 inches long and weighs around 2 pounds. Comparable to an acorn squash. With only about 14 weeks to go your sweet pea is growing eyelashes around her now open eyes and tiny finger nails.
As for you mama now is around the time your belly button could pop out. Like a turkey timer showing that you’re almost ready to pop this can be slightly uncomfortable. Your belly button may be sensitive to the touch so try to avoid rubbing it against anything or having clothing touch it too much to avoid discomfort.
This week on the podcast, I’m so excited to have interviewed Mikala Simon who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, creator of Stages of FUN developmental play kits and a silly sock lover. She is living the small town life in South Dakota with her husband, 2 daughters, and 2 moody, yet lovable cats. She can't wait to give you the best toys on the market and smart play ideas
Check out her website and blog at www.stagesoffun.com
Congratulations, Mama and welcome to week 25 of your pregnancy!
This week, your baby weights about a pound and a half and measures close to 13 inches. With only 15 weeks to go, you’ll be holding your sweet pea in no time at all!
This week I’m interviewing Mama Alison Anderson.
Tune in to hear all about her pregnancy and birth experiences!
This week we discuss week 24 of your pregnancy and discuss keeping your older children feeling excited and appreciated as you prepare to welcome your new baby. We discuss Gary Chapman's "The 5 Love Languages" and how you can use the test at www.5lovelanguages.com to make sure your older kids feel all the love from you.
Whether you're pregnant or not, this advice will help you connect better with your kids.
We also mention our night out at the theater to see STOMP! as a special guest of @theblogbloc, @sacmusicals, and @sacramentotop10
Welcome to week 23 of your pregnancy, mama!
This week, baby is a little over 11 inches long and slightly heavier than a pound. Baby’s punches and kicks are getting stronger now. Your partner can probably feel the movements from outside your tummy. Baby’s heart is strong enough that her heartbeat can be heard using a stethoscope.
This is week 3 in our resolutions series and we have an interview with Bri Pruitt, the Hippie Dippie Mom.
Check out Bri's Website: www.hippiedippiemom.com
Be sure to check the show notes for more links and resources at www.thebumpcast.com
This is our second week in the resolutions series. Last week we talked all about finances so if you didn’t get a chance to, you’ll definitely want to go back one episode to get all the tips for your financial future.
This week we talk to mama and lawyer Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter all about setting up you family estate to give you peace of mind for the future.
Listen, mama, I get that thinking about death and wills and who’s going to get your kids, should you meet an untimely death, but it’s really Important to start thinking of this stuff now instead of when it’s too late.
Make sure to check the show notes at www.thebumcast.com/podcast-notes to check out the resources we discuss in the episode.
Congratulations mama you’ve made it to week 21 you’re officially passed the halfway point in your pregnancy. This week your baby is about 10 1/2 inches long from head to toe and weighs about 11 to 12 1/2 ounces, about the size of a banana! Inside your little ones body more blood cells are starting to develop. It’s the liver and spleen’s job to make them before this point and now the bone marrow is mature enough to help as well. Baby is also starting to practice swallowing by consuming small amounts of the amniotic fluid surrounding him. Your baby’s arms and legs are finally in proportion now to the rest of his body. Baby also has a lot more control over his limb movements which explains all the kicking and stretching you're feeling on the inside. As for you, mama, at 21 weeks pregnant you might be starting to see some stretch marks. What happens with stretch marks is that the tissue under your skin gets torn as your skin stretches to accommodate your growing baby. Only about 50% of women get them during pregnancy and darker skinned women are less likely to get them, plus they’re probably not going to be as visible as on fair skin women. Unfortunately, there’s no proven way to prevent stretch marks from appearing but there are some amazing lotions and creams out there that will help keep your epidermis moisturized. Staying hydrated may help minimize stretch marks as well. If you haven’t started your registry yet, now is a good time to get that going. Even if you don’t plan to have a shower, you will have a list of items you can refer friends and family to, should they want to gift you something. We talk a lot more about the registry in this week’s interview, but before we get into that, I want to announce our Resolutions series. For the next few episodes, we will be taking you through finances, healthy habits, estate planning and wardrobe advice. Make sure soupy attention because a few guests even have special deals for the BumpCast Listeners. Without further adieu, I’d like to introduce this week’s guest: Jen Paterson. Jen Paterson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Dollar Divas. https://www.facebook.com/DollarDivas/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1688957871320466/ Instagram: @dollardivas Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/dpzykL Check out our Small Biz Money Mastermind http://www.dollardivas.org/mommastermind
Congratulations, Mama, you've made it halfway through your pregnancy! This week is typically when you will have your anatomy check, including when you get to find out the gender of your sweet little one. Of course, gender is important, but not the most important thing to all parents.
Some other things the ultrasound tech is looking at and measuring at this screening include head circumference, height, stomach, brain, spike, bladder, kidneys, girth, and the chambers of the heart.
Because this is an in depth screening, it will include the development of the sex organs, so if you are wanting to be surprised, or throwing a gender reveal party, make sure to mention it to your practitioner before the screening starts.
You’ll likely be asked to drink a certain amount of water prior to the screening. Something like 20 ounces of water an hour before your appointment time is pretty typical. This helps the tech take better pictures and have the ability to view your sweet baby in better detail. The screening can last anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much baby is moving and what angles the tech can get. It’s not unheard of to be asked to come back for a second screening in order for all the pictures to be taken, so don’t get discouraged if that happens.
Whatever you choose to do, whether you find out during the ultrasound or do a reveal party later, or even wait until baby is born to be surprised, make sure you document it all with photos and video if you can. I look back at our video all the time, and the joy on everyone’s face makes me so happy!
Our interview this week is with the amazing Ashley Brown
Ashley is the owner of Incourage Foods, whose mission is to help moms create time and space in their lives through cooking. She wants to help moms take advantage of the many benefits cooking offers, so they can invest their time in ways that matter most. Ashley helps make cooking work for moms through her blog where she shares simple, quick, and delicious meals. She also offers Meals For Moms, a meal planning service that will take you from scrambling to pull dinner together last minute to consistently saving your time, your money, and your sanity.
Ashley shares her tips for meal planning as well as her birth experience with her amazing Doula. She also discusses her meal planning services that will make your life so much easier!
Connect with Ashley at Incourage Foods:
FB, IG, Youtube Handles: @incouragefoods
Meal Planning Service Link: www.incouragefoods.com/mealsformoms
Welcome to week 19 of your pregnancy, mama! You're so close to halfway in this journey, and I'm so excited to tell you all of the things going on this week. Weighing in at 8 ounces and 6 inches long, your little prince or princess has gone through a growth spurt. Now covered in a cheesy like substance called Vernix Caseosa, your baby’s skin is now protected from becoming a wrinkled mess from the surrounding amniotic fluid. As you get closer to your due date, your baby will start to shed this coating, but may still have remnants of it on their skin at birth. Alysa Martinez is the founder of The Mighty Mama Box. She is a mama to a beautiful redhead boy who is every bit as sassy and independent as she is, and a wife to her amazingly supportive husband! Alysa takes us through her mama journey and the birth of her new company - They Mighty Mama, a postpartum subscription box service to support mamas in the months after baby is born. The Mighty Mama is a great gift idea to add to your registry! Instagram: @themightymamabox Facebook: The Mighty Mama
Congratulations mama you have made it to week 18! Almost to the halfway point, you’re now likely getting ready to go to baby’s anatomy scan, if you haven’t already.
Baby is now 5 1/2 inches long and can weigh anywhere from 5 to 6 1/2 ounces.
You may feel baby kick, twist and turn now. He’s big enough that you may feel those little movements inside, though your partner won’t be able to feel anything from the outside for quite a while longer.
This week's Interview is with Erin Kendall of www.fitmomgo.com Erin Kendall is an American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer with 2 little toddlers at home. While juggling a household, two kids, three pets and maintaining a little sense of self she hopes to bring a ray of hope and sunshine to other busy moms through Fit Mom Go! Fitness for Moms is more than a few minutes of "me time." It's a lifestyle that we pass onto our children and radiate in everything we do. Erin has been a personal trainer since 2009 and works with clients in person, online and leads a community of other Fit Moms! Erin has been featured on other podcast such as The Boss Mom Podcast and the Mom Inspired Show Podcast and runs a YouTube Channel with free workout videos and fitness inspiration. Definitely check out Erin’s Youtube channel and make sure you subscribe for tons of great content. Also, check out Erin’s website fitmomgo.com for more freebies, including a “Fit Mom Cheat Sheet”. Erin was kind enough to film a video for YOU, The BumpCast podcast listeners. For the link to this video on the Do’s and Don’ts of prenatal exercise, visit www.thebumpcast.com/resources. Erin's tip for pregnant mama who want to stay fit is to keep the routine of working out., but lessen the intensity. Erin's tip for postpartum mamas is to increase the intensity of your workouts by 10% each week. Tune into the episode for all of Erin's great tips and advice on fitness, motherhood and getting advice from others. Be sure to connect with Erin on YouTube and Instagram
Congratulations you’ve made it to week 17!
Your baby is practicing sucking and swallowing and her skeleton is beginning to change the cartridge to hard bone. Around the size of a turnip or the size of the palm of your hand baby is 5 ounces in about 5 inches long.
Connect with our guest, Mama, Author and Coach Alegra Loewenstein on:
Instagram: @alegrahealthy
www.alegraloewenstein.com
Congratulations, Mama! You're in Week 16 of your pregnancy. This week we discuss your baby's developments and also a great interview with Mommy Blogger Marissa Pablo. You can connect with Marissa at the following links: Blog : notsoglamourriss.com IG @glamourriss Beauty IG / Lash Inquires @makemeglamourriss
Congratulations mama you’ve made it to week 15 of your pregnancy.
This week we talk about the importance of hydration throughout pregnancy. I also had the chance to interview Doula and mama of 4, Amber Fruhling. Amber discusses her 4 very different birth experiences and Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Group B Strep Infection (GBS), emergency cesarean section, hypnotic-birthing and VBACs.
This episode is seriously full of tons of information!
Don't forget to check the show notes at www.thebumpcast.com
Congratulations mama you’ve made it to your second trimester!
From week 14 to week 27, you find yourself in the middle trimester somewhere between nauseous and gigantically uncomfortable.
The second trimester is typically every pregnant woman‘s favorite trimester because many of the elements of the first trimester have subsided now. Hopefully this trimester you’ll see a relief from nausea, severe exhaustion and the constant need to pee, and perhaps even a lift in your libido.
Now that you’re starting to show, it’s time to go shopping for your new maternity wardrobe. You may still be able to get some use out of your non maternity clothes for a little longer - think flow shirts and elastic waist bottoms, maxi dresses and kimonos - but as your body grows and changes with your baby, you’ll want to invest in some good quality, capsule maternity wardrobe pieces.
As for your little one, she’s growing hair on her head, eyebrows and body. The downy coat of hair on your baby’s body is called Lanugo and is there to keep her warm, but it will start to shed as baby accumulates fat, taking over this function. She can use her facial muscles to smile and frown, and is moving constantly. Her digestive system continues to develop and her intestines are creating meconium which is a super sticky, black tar like substance that makes up her first few bowel movements.
Baby is about the size of a lemon, 3.5-4 inches and weighs around 2 ounces.
Bridget Richard is an independently licensed social worker who has been working in mental health for over 20 years. She has a private family therapy practice in Cleveland, OH where she helps individuals and families with a variety of emotional and mental health concerns. As a wife and mother of two grade school aged boys she recognized a need to support mothers of all kinds in finding the self-confidence to embrace their unique gifts and translate those gifts into positive parenting strategies. The Influential Parent blog is where she strives to empower mothers through sharing stories, as well as giving tips and advice on modern motherhood. Her goal is to encourage mothers to be confident leaders in their family and around the world.
Connect with Bridget at:
www.influentialparent.com
www.facebook.com/theinfluentialparent
Weekly update information found at www.whattoexpect.com and www.babycenter.com
During this special episode of the podcast, we discuss the importance of preparing holistically for pregnancy to give your body and your pregnancy the best chance for success, pregnancy loss, as well as postpartum care and the importance of surrounding yourself with a support system in all stages of motherhood, loss, and life. In honor of our lost little loves, The BumpCast has teamed up with The Pregnancy Concierge to bring you an interview with Kaci McGuire from Queen Bee Fertility.
If you're going through a loss and would like the list of resources Kaci mentions in the interview, please email her at: hello@queenbeefertility.com
Congrats mama, you made it to week 13 of your pregnancy - the last week of your first trimester! On this episode we discuss pregnancy hydration and breast feeding once baby arrives.
This week we are interviewing mama Laura Arndt about her pregnancy journey as well as her new app for mamas - The Matriarc App.
For health tips and tricks during your pregnancy and beyond, check out the Matriarc App available on Apple iOS.
Check out:
matriarcapp.com
lalecheleague.org
babycenter.com
whattoexpect.com
Welcome to week 12 of your amazing journey. This week baby is 2 1/4 inches long and weighs about half an ounce. Almost all of your little one’s bodily structures have been formed and now they will continue developing an evolving so they will be fully functioning by the time she’s born.
This was my very first interview on the BumpCast and I’m so glad it was with my good friend Dr. Tiffany Hubman. Please enjoy the interview as she talks about her first pregnancy and getting an emergency cerclage.
Welcome to week 11 of your journey, mamas! Make sure you stay tuned for the interview this week! There’s a wealth of knowledge from Annie Schlecht on pregnancy sleep tips, baby massage, Reiki sessions, and good sleep habits for babies and parents. She also has a webinar coming up that you do not want to miss!
Welcome to Week 10!
This week, baby is the size of a prune or kumquat and weighs in at less than a quarter of an ounce. She has reached the beginning of what’s known as the fetal period and is no longer considered an Embryo, so congratulations on hitting this milestone!
This week’s interview is with Janelle Lara!
Janelle is a Wife, Mom, and Business Strategist based out of Salt Lake City, She helps female coaches and experts build a 6 figure business, which only requires them to work part time.
You can follow her motherhood journey on instagram @millennialmamastyle or find her online at janellelara.com.
Welcome to week 9 mamas! You are, no doubt, getting more used to being pregnant and all the symptoms that go along with it!
Our interview this week is with Sierra Adorno, a Doula and Placenta Encapsulation Specialist who operates out of the Sacramento, CA area. In the past year of being a Doula, Sierra has helped over 20 families with birthing, postpartum, and placenta encapsulation needs. Sierra fills us in about all things Doula related and the placenta encapsulation process. Connect with Sierra: www.facebook.com/BirthingWithoutFearDoulaAndPlacentaServices/ Instagram.com/birthingwithoutfear_doula Birthwithoutfeardoula.info Birthwithoutfeardoula@gmail.com
Welcome to week 8 of your pregnancy journey!
We dive into the eighth week of your pregnancy and also speak to first time surrogate mama Ericka Seeley about all things surrogacy, how to pick the right agency, and what to expect from the surrogacy journey.
For more information visit the show notes at: www.thebumpcast.com
This is week 7 of your journey! At about the size of a blueberry, your baby has doubled in size since last week and measures about ¼ to half an inch from crown to rump. While this still sounds very tiny, imagine that your baby is now 10,000 times larger than she was at conception. Most of that growth is concentrated in her head, with brain cells being generated at about 100 cells per minute!
This week's interview on the BumpCast is with Mama Lynn Turcotte-Schuh. Lynn is a Childbirth Educator and Parenting Mentor, Children's Book Author, Baby Sign Language Instructor, and the Creator of Happy Mama Wellness where she helps Mamas prepare for their new role, break through their parenting challenges, operate at their highest potential and create a positive and nurturing family dynamic. Lynn is highly passionate about helping Mamas find their power and be a role model they can be proud of.
This Week we are talking about Week 6 of your pregnancy!
Right now, your baby is about the size of a lentil or a sweet pea! While she still looks a little like an alien, baby’s nose, mouth and ears are developing and her eyes look like dark little spots on the side of her head. Her little arms and legs are also starting to pop out in the form of little buds.
Measuring your little one at this stage is usually done from the crown of her head to her cute little rump and at week 6, this measurement is about 1/5th to a ¼ inch long. Her heart is beating at 100-160 beats per minute, about twice as fast as your own.
Our guest this week is Mama Amy Dietrich who shares her awesome labor and birth story with us!
Congratulations on your pregnancy! You’re 5 weeks pregnant and that means, there’s a ton of tiny miracles happening inside your tummy right now. Each growing, dividing cell is something wonderful to be thankful for.
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Nursing tank: https://amzn.to/2uOiZ6W
We are starting at Week 4 in this amazing journey, and this week, we are going to get a little scientific to give you some insight into what’s going on inside your body.
This week we have an interview Heather Gregg. Heather is an amazing mama of 2 with a degree in Childhood Development and a love of Game of Thrones. She’s the first interview I had in our home studio and I’m so happy to have her as our first mama highlight on the podcast. Make sure to listen all the way through to hear Heather’s advice for new moms at the end. If you liked the episode, will you consider sharing it with another mama friend? We would love to reach as many mamas as possible! Also, don't forget to leave us a rating and review in iTunes, so we know how our content is impacting you!
Hi Mamas, Welcome to the BumpCast! I’m your host, Shannon Bally and this is the very first episode of our pregnancy podcast. I put together this resource for all you mamas out there going through this magical time of creating a miracle. In our episodes, we will do updates on what’s going on in your body and with your growing baby on a weekly basis, as well as interview some amazing moms as they share their pregnancy and birth stories with us. We also have experts who work with pregnant and post-partum moms coming on the podcast to offer tips and tricks for making it through this journey. I believe that pregnancy and motherhood are beautiful and as I’ve been doing these interviews, my favorite part has been to see the look on a mom’s face when she’s recounting her experience. Seeing the love in their eyes and the awe moms have of their own bodies doing miraculous things is fueling me through my own pregnancy. I’m a married mom of 3 with one more on the way. We had a loss last year when I miscarried at around 9 weeks, and at the time of this post, I’m 32 weeks pregnant with our rainbow baby. My amazing husband has been super supportive of me with my crazy idea of starting a podcast in my third trimester. I’m sure producer Josh will be making more than one appearance on the podcast, I want to interview him on the Dad’s perspective on pregnancy and how to handle all the wacked out pregnancy hormones and cravings. In our first Episode, I want to share with you the story of how I became a mom. Don't forget to find us on social media! Instagram: @thebumpcastofficial Facebook: The BumpCast Official