The Supported Parenthood RN: Recent Episodes
Jordan Laux
Parenthood is a complex and layered experience. On The Supported Parenthood RN Podcast, I tackle topics such as: what makes a good mom, boundaries, traveling with kids, societal expectations of parents, birth trauma, and more. As a mother myself, partnered with my pediatric nursing experience I’ve spent hours talking to parents about the hard moments, their deepest fears, joys, and triumphs; and have no problem doing a deep dive into the nitty-gritty of parenthood. I focus on education and encouragement for the postpartum period.
We have a nauseatingly high maternal mortality rate in the US, and something needs to be done about it. It is a complex issue, with many problems snowballing into one; the most significant issue I see though? The Postpartum Problem. In America, the lack of support and medical monitoring that doesn’t happen in the most vulnerable time for both mom and baby, the first 6 weeks postpartum, is deplorable. We lack support at the individual, medical, communal, legislative, and societal levels. In this episode, I flesh out these issues and touch on where I believe the solutions lie.
Is there a sweet spot between honoring a woman’s natural ability and intuition during birth and maintaining her and her child’s safety through medical intervention? Yes, but I'd argue we are nowhere close to that spot in America. In this episode, Savannah and I discuss the history of how the medicalization of birth evolved in America, how the current culture of birth affects women and motherhood, and what we believe are steps forward to do better by our mothers.
In the face of the startling maternal mortality rate in America, we must start asking the hard questions to protect our mothers. In this episode, I am joined by my friend Rachael. A native Australian and pregnant with her first child, she sheds light on the differences between Australian and American perinatal care. She and I chat about her experience with midwife-led care, an emphasis on physiologic birth, and what America might learn from our friends down under.
As a nurse who has supported countless mothers through their first feedings, and as a mother who breastfed herself, there are SO MANY things women need to know and are never taught. Sure, an IBCLC will teach you how to latch and express milk but will they tell you to grab extra towels when you feed because you'll become a milk geyser or that it's normal to feel like you're losing your mind since all you're doing in the first few weeks is feeding your child? Because I will. In this bonus episode, I share my most significant piece of advice for new breastfeeding moms along with practical advice like how to create an atmosphere to facilitate letdown, a heads-up on things people forget to tell moms, and I round it out with encouragement because breastfeeding is HARD.
What is it like being a postpartum mom? There are so many layers to consider when discussing the postpartum journey and recovery. Becoming a mother transforms every single part of you, and it can be intensely overwhelming. In this episode, I will break down some of the things you might encounter physically, mentally, and emotionally; while sprinkling in some advice and honesty on how to make postpartum a little bit easier.
Have you ever wondered what your partner needs to know to prepare for postpartum? Sure everyone needs to know how to change a diaper, but what about how to navigate the tumultuous changes postpartum brings to your relationship? In this episode I am joined by my husband to discuss the surprising things about postpartum from a male’s perspective; including what advice he would give to new fathers, what he would tell himself if he could go back, and what are concrete ways partners can support the postpartum mom.
We are inundated with information when preparing for a baby, and quite frankly a lot of the advice we receive doesn’t adequately prepare us for the realities of parenthood. In this episode, I will discuss things that surprised me about parenthood, what to do to get your body physically ready for pregnancy and postpartum, and how to get your mind in a good headspace to tackle being a new parent.
With all the advancements in our society has the push and pull between having children and a career gotten any easier? In this episode I am joined by my sister, an aspiring mother and lawyer, to discuss how the struggle to “have it all” is approached in her generation and if we are getting any closer to becoming the supportive society parents need.
Is it important to discern your parenting style before you even have kids? My answer, YES. In this episode, I touch on the foundations for different parenting styles, how to uncover your personal parenting values, and how to make sure you always stay aligned with your parenting goals. Show notes can be found at supportedparenthoodrn.com
In the face of a growing mental health crisis among our children. I ask the question, what makes a happy kid? I share one of my favorite parenting books “The Happiest Kids In The World” and walk through its comparison between the Dutch parenting approach vs the American way. After highlighting my favorite lessons from the book, I seek to answer the question of what really makes a happy child. My conclusion? In short, it’s you!
Is the “Am I a good mom?” on an ever-present loop in your head? It is in mine. In this episode, I try to answer the question of what truly makes a good mom, and how to ground ourselves when parental anxiety starts to grow overwhelming.Show notes can be found at supportparenthoodrn.com
A strong community is essential for our overall wellbeing, so why is it incredibly hard to find and build this tribe? In this episode, I break out some of my favorite studies highlighting just how important a robust community is for our health and touch on some concrete ways we can build this for ourselves in a culture that’s all too focused on being a busy individual. Show notes can be found at supportedparenthoodrn.com
Welcome to The Supported RN Podcast. In this short introduction episode I share the childhood experience that shaped me, my hopes for this platform, and what fanned the flame that burns inside of me for maternal and infant healthcare. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey.