The Sleep Sessions: Recent Episodes
Dara Whitaker
This podcast is a place for women to share their challenges and successes of adapting to life and sleep after a new baby. Each episode features a different mom sharing her story. The discussions cover a wide range of topics: birth experiences, physical recovery, feeding challenges, sleep training methods, mental health, infant illness, impacts on relationships, work/life balance and more.
On today’s episode, Danielle from Parenting Wholeheartedly shares about her experiences with a C-section and sleep challenges with both of her children that led her to work with a sleep consultant. She also discusses her husband’s depression and alcoholism that began shortly after the birth of their second daughter and how they were able to recover from that dark period in their lives.
Today I’m speaking with Morgan Molitor from @construction2style. With her first son, she experienced an emergency C-section after 12 hours of labor and afterward felt like she had been robbed of her birth experience. Morgan opted for a planned c-section with her second son but things still did not go as anticipated. Much of our conversation is centered around how she dealt with these experiences and how motherhood shaped her for the better.
On today’s episode, Brittany from the Growing Our Family podcast shares about her induction at 37 weeks, working with a lactation consultant, suffering from sleep deprivation, and sleep training her son via full extinction per a recommendation from her pediatrician.
On today’s episode, sleep coach & Occupational Therapist Molly Mahler shares about her lengthy birth experience with her first and ways she was able to involve her husband in the early newborn days, even while she was breastfeeding. Molly also talks about the different sleep training methods she used and how moms can support one another.
On today’s episode, Carole shares about her two C-section deliveries and becoming a mom for the first time at 37 years old. She also talks about her challenges with breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, dealing with postpartum depression with both of her children, and intrusive thoughts.
On today’s episode, Savannah shares her moving and inspiring account of her postpartum journey. Eight weeks after her home water birth, she discovered that she had retained placenta and underwent a D&C procedure to have it removed. Prior to the surgery, she faced tremendous challenges with breastfeeding and postpartum depression. Savannah also shares about the impacts having a baby has had on the relationships in her life and how often times she feels like she is now a burden to family and friends.
On today’s episode, Mary Bridget shares about her positive birth experience, her 6 month long breastfeeding journey, hormonal challenges she faced when she weaned, sleep training, and going back to work.
On today's episode, Allison shares her heartbreaking, yet inspirational story that starts with a postpartum hemorrhage resulting in an emergency hysterectomy following the birth of her first son. Due to the events that occurred, Allison became unable to carry and birth another child and was forced the grieve her dream of doing so. She shares about this grieving process, breastfeeding, returning to work after her maternity leave, and struggling to connect with other women who were having "normal" motherhood experiences. Though she experienced tremendous trauma, Allison's story has a happy ending thanks to her sister stepping in to be a surrogate and carry her second son.
On today’s episode, Ali Levine shares about her traumatic first birth experience that ultimately led to her journey with postpartum depression and challenges with breastfeeding. Luckily, she has a strong support system and was able to overcome these hardships. Ali recently gave birth to her second baby girl via a successful VBAC and found having her placenta encapsulated really helped her through the postpartum period this time around.
About Ali Levine: Born and raised in New York, Ali has worked for some of the biggest names in the Fashion Industry. Ali relocated to Los Angeles, California and became a household name as a celebrity stylist. Ali recently appeared with her husband on Bravo's hit show, "Stripped." Ali makes regular appearances on local to National television promoting herself as a brand becoming an on- camera expert. After Ali's 1st birth of her daughter Amelia Rei, Ali transitioned to mompreneur and mommy influencer across the board. Belonging to sought after mommy groups her fashion sense plus real life day to day inspires many who follow her and cover her. Now she is a mama of two girls and sharing it all!! Ali has a well known podcast called Striptd Down with Ali Levine, all about motherhood, real, raw and everything in between!! You can find her @alilevinedesign.
Sleep consultant, Dr. Sarah Mitchell shares about her experiences with undiagnosed gestational diabetes, attachment parenting, and postpartum anxiety.
From Ottowa, Ontario, Sarah and her husband now live in the San Francisco Bay area with her 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter. With 8 years of university healthcare research, Sarah thought she’d be prepared to deal with her son’s sleeping habits as a newborn. She began to struggle with unexpected sleeping issues and became obsessed with researching, studying and talking to experts about implementing solutions.
Main points:
1:58 Planned on natural approaches
2:14 Undiagnosed gestational diabetes
3:23 Signs of gestational diabetes
4:26 Sleep problems
5:43 Birth incision healing
6:18 Postpartum anxiety
7:00 Sleeping and Maternity leave in Canaday
8:26 Sleeping pressure in Canada vs. United States
8:47 Sleeping approaches based on family demands
10:50 Path to good sleep
12:24 Have a plan in place that you feel comfortable with
12:32 Mental shift
14:24 Starting sleep routine
17:29 Sleeping through the night and Feeding habits
19:41 Second child
21:06 Sleep and impact on relationships in life: tension with husband
Tips and Resources:
Therapy
Self-care
Sleep Summary by age
Bringing up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman
Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.
On today’s episode, Cassie Young from The Bert Show gets open & honest about her struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety. She also shares her birth story and new mother experience including a failed epidural multiple times, breastfeeding, going back to work after maternity leave, and mental health struggles & seeking professional health.
Cassie lives with her husband and 8 month old baby. Although they live away from many of their family members, they are taking life day by day while raising their child. Working for such a small company, Cassie is grateful to be employed at a firm that believes in a paid maternity leave.
Main points:
2:46 Maternity leave and employers
7:15 Birth experience: induced labor, 4 x local anesthetic, failed epidurals, silent baby after birth, bleeding heavily, breakthrough cry
12:51 Physical recovery
14:52 Natural practices
16:37 Bringing her home: fear of hurting baby, nightmares
23:08 Mental health: postpartum depression, anxiety
27:20 Working through mental health
29:58 Relationships in life
Tips and Resources:
Sleep training
Moms on Call swaddling technique
Taking Cara Babies
Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.
On today's episode, Savannah shares about her experience as a single, young mom to her beautiful baby girl, Charlotte. After an unplanned pregnancy with an unsupportive partner, Savannah impressively decided to move forward with raising her daughter all on her own. Her birth story started at 32 weeks when she went into pre-term labor which required her to be on bed rest for the remaining 8 weeks of her pregnancy.
After coming home, Savannah noticed that her daughter had a tongue tie and a dairy intolerance that made breastfeeding very difficult. They also faced some sleep challenges and are still working through them now that Charlotte is 1-year-old. Savannah's family initially had some negative feelings towards her pregnancy but eventually came around and are now a very strong support system for her and her daughter.
Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.
Today’s Guest is TV Host & Entertainment Reporter, Stuart Brazell. Stuart is currently 38 weeks pregnant with her second baby and shares about how her first birth experience didn’t go as planned, requiring a vacuum and an episiotomy, leading to a very challenging physical recovery. Although she didn’t feel like herself for months after her son was born, she was able to successfully breastfeed for 18 months.
Stuart lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband Robbie and 2 year old son.
Main points:
3:45 First Birth Experience: pitocin, membrane-swipe, epidural, vacuum, high-blood pressure
8:50 Physical Recovery
10:06 Breastfeeding: 18 months, good experience, working while breastfeeding
10:40 Sleeping: night nurse, abroad trip
Methods: bath and book routine, patience
14:24 Balancing Work and Mom life
16:58 Being Pregnant while Parenting Another
19:55 Acid Reflux: gripe water, diet, breastfeeding
22:57 Travelling with a Newborn
24:23 Having a Child and Relationships
Tips and Resources:
Take advantage of the online communities of moms
Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.
Colleen and her husband were planning on an unmedicated hospital birth, but were shocked when their son flipped into a breech position at 37 weeks gestation. While this resulted in an unplanned C-section, Colleen still had a very positive birth experience.
Colleen, her husband Patrick and soon to be one year old Rory are an animal loving family as owners to their dog Scout and horse Matt
Main points:
Birth Story (1:53)
Positive C-section experience (4:15)
Preeclampsia post C-section (5:16)
C-section advice (7:38)
Going home from hospital (9:17)
Breastfeeding jaundice and switching to formula(11:22)
Sleeping (14:33)
Going back to work (16:14)
Nightime routine (18:31)
New baby and relationships in life (22:48)
Tips and Resources:
Find time for yourself
Love to dream swaddle
Mayen Abdominal massage post c-section
Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.
After meeting her husband in high school, Samantha and her husband live in Pompano Beach, Florida with their 19 month old son. Samantha started the hysterical and relatable blog & Instagram account @mommy.realist to serve as a venting platform for new moms.
On today’s episode, Samantha shares about her positive birth experience, challenges with breastfeeding success with sleep training, traveling internationally with a newborn, and how she and her husband navigated changes in their relationship after having a baby.
Main Points:
2:28 Birth Story at 4 weeks early
5:22 Bringing newborn home
6:14 Latching struggles, sleeping with recliner and co-sleeping
7:47 Feeding methods: breastfeeding and using formula
10:07 Sleep training and taking care of babies, weaning
12:37 Travelling with an infant
14:08Sstopping co-sleeping and breastfeeding for better mental health
15:20 Taking the year off of work
15:50 Starting @mommy.realest
16:25 Baby impacting marriage, relationships and social life
21:02 Self care practices
Tips and Resources:
What to Expect App
Prioritize self-care
Giving up control for a less stressful lifestyle
Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions. You can purchase the Postpartum Thrive Guide at www.thesleepsessions.co/get-the-guide.
On today's episode, Candace shares about struggling with the idea of becoming a mother of two, coping with anxiety during pregnancy, and staying true to what felt right for her and her family throughout her motherhood journey. She also talks about her experience during a surprise unmedicated, success with feeding on demand, and choosing not to sleep train either of her babies.
“If it works for you that’s really all that matters” (17:07)
After going to the same high school, Candace and her husband Mike met later in life, settled down in Athens, and had two very different pregnancies. To learn more about her story, listen in!
Main points:
Overview (2:04)
First Pregnancy - Boy (2:05)
Second Pregnancy - Girl (3:56)
Dealing with Anxiety (4:12)
Bringing Babies Home (10:36)
Bringing First Born Home (10:51)
First Born and Sleep (11:20)
Breastfeeding First Born (12:45)
Breastfeeding Second Born (14:22)
Second Born and Sleep (15:09)
Anxiety as a Mother of Two (18:02)
Son’s Sleep at Age 3 (20:25)
Tips and Resources:
Find what works for you
Use Facebook and Youtube, Listen to Podcasts
The Baby Center
What to Expect
Kelly Mom
Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.
As a fitness icon and mother of two, Miranda Alcaraz has had to learn how to navigate major changes to her body & mind all while growing her business and community, Street Parking.
On today’s episode, Miranda Alcaraz shares about her two unmedicated births, switching to a home birth just weeks before her due date due to Covid, a surprise first pregnancy that changed her perspective on motherhood entirely, and how “owning it” impacted her career for the better.
She also talks about her breastfeeding journey, struggles with body image, sleep challenges, and how she learned to love motherhood more than she could have ever imagined.
On today’s episode, Stephanie shares about her daughter’s premature birth at 32 weeks via emergency C-section, challenges they faced with feeding & acid reflux, transitioning back to work after maternity leave, and ultimately deciding to leave her career when her daughter was 18 months old.
“I always felt like I wasn’t doing enough at work, I wasn’t doing enough at home, and I was just failing at both” (21:42)
Stephanie lives in Minneapolis with her husband, daughter Clara and dog, Lucy. Her first year as a mother came with struggles she never imagined, but ultimately they made her realize what was most important to her.
Main points:
Stephanie’s Birth Story (1:25)
Aftermath: Special Care Nursery for 5 Weeks (3:01)
Transition: Bringing Clara Home (6:34)
Feeding Struggles (7:11)
Acid Reflux and Eating Habits (10:05)
Clara’s Sleep Cycles (12:41)
Going Back to Work (16:25)
Frequent Sickness and Guilt (22:48)
Leaving Work (27:06)
Tips, Advice and Resources (30:16)
Resources:
Taking Cara Babies: Online Sleep Classes and Resources for Newborn to Two-Year Olds
Follow on Instagram @takingcarababies
Be sure to subscribe to The Sleep Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions.
On today's episode, we learn about Amanda's PCOS diagnosis when she was in her teens, her struggle with years of infertility, and how she was eventually able to have two successful pregnancies. She also shares about her C-section, VBAC, sleep training, and navigating having two under two with minimal outside support due to Covid. This episode is brought to you by Beluga Baby. Their super soft, breathable bamboo wraps are perfect for the newborn days and beyond, giving your baby a womb like environment to relax into while giving you your hands back. Get yours at BelugaBaby.com.
Catherine, shares about her two differing birth experiences, navigating how to feed her twins, exclusively pumping, wishing she hadn’t put so much pressure on herself about transitioning to formula, following a sleep routine, and getting the support of a night doula.
Morning radio show co-host, Falen Bonsett, shares about her positive birth experience, dealing with hemorrhoids, overcoming irrational fears, feeling mom guilt about her husband stepping in as the primary nighttime caretaker due to her career’s demands, and success with sleep training.
Katie shares about her two unmedicated hospital births, being a naturally minded mom, dealing with extreme colic with both of her babies, overcoming feeding & digestion challenges, the toll these issues took on her family, and how she learned to allow other people to care for her children.
Arielle from Expect to Sleep Again Sleep Consulting shares her story of a difficult pregnancy, traumatic birth experience, postpartum hemorrhage, going through a divorce, and how hiring a sleep consultant changed her life.
Sarah shares her experiences with an unmedicated hospital birth, difficulty with bonding with her baby, following a sleep routine, and learning to put her challenging childhood behind her by having a daughter of her own.
Brooke from @thesouthernishmama shares about her 3 different birth experiences, recovery from a third degree tear, coping with postpartum insomnia, and how motherhood helped her find her voice. This episode is brought to you by Sam Rogers at Northwestern Mutual - visit samrogers.nm.com
Allison shares her experiences with co-sleeping, moving to Italy with her infant daughter for her husband’s basketball career, and finding a sleep training method that worked for her family that didn’t involve crying it out.
On today’s special episode we learn what a night nurse is, who should have one, when they are most beneficial, and how they help to support families postpartum from Liz Price, a NICU RN, Certified Sleep Consultant, and Certified Lactation Counselor.
Mary Jane shares her experiences with jaundice with her first baby, overcoming significant feeding challenges with her second, and undergoing a serious & invasive surgery while 28 weeks pregnant with her third. This episode is brought to you by Northwestern Mutual. Visit samrogers.nm.com to learn more.
It’s hard to believe that my baby is 1 year old! I hate to sound cliche but the saying “the days are long and the years are short” does a great job of explaining how I’m feeling. On today’s episode, I share my experiences with miscarriage, breastfeeding & pumping challenges, learning how to bond with my baby, leaving my career, and overcoming nap struggles. It’s amazing to reflect on how far we’ve come and I can’t imagine our lives without our sweet little Winnie. This episode is brought to you by Northwestern Mutual - visit samrogers.nm.com to learn more.
Casey shares about her emergency c-section and the emotional toll it took on her, how speaking with a counselor helped her cope with postpartum anger, and ways she handles sleep developmental milestones with her two children.
Food Network Star turned entrepreneur, Addie, shares about her very different birth experiences, having an allergic reaction to her epidural that caused challenges with breastfeeding, managing two kids under two, and starting a business while on maternity leave with her youngest.
Gill Rapley, Author & Founder of Baby Led Weaning, shares her tips and best practices for starting your baby on solid foods.
Jess from @jessicaoakes shares her story of overcoming infertility struggles (twice!), choosing to sleep train her second baby after having a tough time with her first, and coping with mom guilt while trying to balance being a mom, wife, and successful blogger.
Richelle shares her experience with an induction, choosing to have her baby sleep in a crib from day one, success with pumping, and going back to work when her daughter was 8 weeks old.
Raquel, Co-Founder of Funboy, tells her story of a natural hospital birth, balancing being a mom and an entrepreneur, and shares products that helped her children sleep.
Margot shares her experiences with an induction, breastfeeding challenges, and activities that helped her bond with her baby.
Laura Hunter, Author & Co-Founder of Moms on Call, shares her experience of raising 5 children and starting her successful business while her youngest was just 1 week old.
Katie shares her experience with a twin pregnancy, an emergency c-section, having premature babies, and finding the right medical providers.
Kris shares her experiences with postpartum depression, co-sleeping and building a strong support system.
Colleen shares her experiences with a c-section, feeding challenges, traveling internationally with a newborn, and changing family dynamics.
Hannah shares her experiences with c-section recovery, having babies 18 months apart, and sleep training.
Caitlin shares her experiences with a home birth, co-sleeping, and handling unwarranted criticism.
A first time mom & music teacher shares her experiences with bonding with her baby, breastfeeding and finding a rhythm in her new role.