Episode 34: Starting Solids: Stress Free Baby-Led Weaning & Tackling Picky Eating with Jenny Best, Founder of @solidstartsStarting solids can be so exciting but also so nerve-wrecking as a new parent! Feeding can be just as divisive as sleep these days, and this week Rachael is joined by Jenny Best, the founder of Solid Starts, to talk about the “best” way to begin your little one on solid foods.  Jenny shares her journey of being a mom while building a super successful resource for parents to prevent picky eating and find joy in feeding their children. She discusses the importance of responsive feeding and the benefits of both baby-led weaning as well as spoon feeding. Jenny also addresses the challenges faced by medical professionals in keeping up with rapidly changing research and the need for better communication between healthcare providers and parents. She emphasizes the importance of trusting your child and provides tips for easing anxiety when starting solids. Additionally, Jenny dispels common misconceptions about choking, the difference between toddler selectivity and severe picky eating, and more. You’ll hear some strategies for encouraging exploration and problem-solving at mealtime, and finally, Jenny shares her most important advice for new parents. Jenny is a mom of three on a quest to help parents prevent picky eating and find joy at the table together. Prior to launching Solid Starts, Jenny led communications at various food non profits and served many years in the NYC government. Before that, she was a professional ballerina with the New York City Ballet.Mentioned in this episode:Solid Starts instagram: @solidstartsSolid Starts website: https://solidstarts.com/ Follow Jenny on Instagram: @jennysbeetRachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website (transcripts available here)If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review! xo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 33: Maintaining Intimacy After Kids with Vanessa and Xander Marin @vanessaandxanderIn this episode, Rachael Shepard-Ohta speaks with Vanessa and Xander Marin, authors and husband and wife duo, all about intimacy, relationships, and their new book, Sex Talks! They discuss the inspiration behind the book and the importance of open and honest communication about sex and relationships. They highlight the conversations on emotional connection and pleasure as particularly important. They also address the challenges couples face during the roommate phase and provide tips for navigating different levels of readiness for intimacy. Hear their take on the benefits of couples therapy and alternative resources for couples seeking support. Meet New York Times Best Selling authors Vanessa and Xander Marin. She’s a sex therapist with 20 years of experience, he’s a regular dude, and together they wrote Sex Talks: The Five Conversations That Will Transform Your Love Life. They’re the shockingly open, slightly nerdy, and seriously funny couple you’ll be calling your new besties in no time. They share the ups and downs in their relationship while giving you step-by-step techniques for improving yours. Follow them on Instagram @vanessaandxander, and tune in to their podcast, Pillow Talks, for totally do-able sex tips, practical relationship advice, hilarious and honest stories of what really goes on behind closed bedroom doors, and so much more. It’s the sex education you WISH you’d had!Mentioned in this episode:Xander and Vanessa’s Instagram @vanessaandxanderVanessa and Xander’s Online Courses: https://vmtherapy.com/coursesRediscovering Us: Intimacy and Sex for Parents CoursePillow Talks Podcast Sex Talks BookRachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website (transcripts available here)If you enjoyed this episode please rate and review! xo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 32: NICU Awareness: The Unique Challenges and Support Needed for NICU Babies and ParentsThis week, we have our first TWO guest episode! Rachael has TWO amazing guests on to discuss all about the NICU. They offer unique perspectives from both professional and personal experiences. First, Rachael starts with Dr. Frankie Harrison. Dr.Frankie, a clinical psychologist and mom who had a premature baby, discusses the challenges and emotions associated with the NICU journey. She emphasizes the importance of raising awareness for the NICU and providing support for parents who have been through neonatal care. Dr. Frankie also highlights the high rates of mood disorders and PTSD among parents who have experienced the NICU and the lack of support available. She provides tips for self-care and coping with the challenges of taking a baby home from the NICU. Additionally, she discusses the common issues with sleep and feeding that NICU babies may face and emphasizes the importance of focusing on the parent-baby connection.Our second guest, Abby Boursiquot, an SLP/CLC/feeding specialist, shares her personal experience and professional expertise on breastfeeding and feeding challenges in the NICU. She discusses how parents can encourage breastfeeding while in the NICU, including the importance of skin-to-skin contact and practicing latching. Abby also addresses the challenges parents may face when taking their baby home from the NICU, such as triple feeding and adjusting to a new feeding routine. She emphasizes the need for parents to prioritize their mental health during this time and seek therapy if needed. Abby offers insights on how friends and family can support NICU parents and highlights the importance of self-care. Lastly, she discusses the unique experience of time in the NICU and the uncertainty parents may face.Dr Frankie Harrison is a clinical Psychologist based in the UK, and also a Mum who had a premature baby at 31 weeks. Her baby needed neonatal support when they were born and she struggled with the impact this had on her once home. She looked around, asked her doctor and found that there was limited support available for NICU parents. So she set up @miraclemoonuk on instagram and facebook, a supportive community for parents who have been through neonatal care and birth trauma. Abby is an SLP/CLC/feeding specialist and has worked in special care nurseries and NICU settings in Chicago and DC areas. She is now an infant feeding specialist, specifically for medically complex infants, managing the issues that can occur with prematurity and breast/bottle feeding efficiency issues including tongue ties. Personally, her 2.5 year old son was born at 35 weeks and was in the NICU for 3 weeks. She felt it was such a transformative experience especially as a first time mom, but also seeing the NICU from a personal lens after working there before. This experience further informed her perspective on the NICU and how we can improve the experience for postpartum parents.Mentioned in this episode:Dr. Frankie’s website Dr. Frankie’s Instagram @miraclemoonukAbby’s Instagram @ourvillageslpAbby’s websiteRachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website (check out our sponsors, episode details and transcripts available here) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 31: Fostering a Secure Attachment with Michelle Charriere @babiesandbrainsThis week Rachael and guest Michelle Charriere, a birth to five mental health specialist, have a lighthearted but important discussion around attachment theory and its importance in parent-child relationships. Michelle explains the different attachment styles and emphasizes the need for repair in maintaining a healthy attachment relationship. She also addresses two of the most controversial topics on social media: daycare and sleep training. Michelle provides insights into choosing childcare options that support attachment and highlights the importance of observing and connecting with caregivers, and so much more.Rachael and Michelle also have a little fun discussing their favorite topic- all things Bravo. Hear Michelle's opinion on the best housewives franchise to start with if you’re looking for a new show to binge, F**k, Marry, Kill with Bravo TV personalities, and more!Michelle Charriere is a birth to five mental health specialist with a background in community behavioral health. She previously worked in-home with families involved in the foster care system, providing psychoeducation on attachment, trauma, and development to help caregivers better understand and support their children. She created Babies and Brains to reach more caregivers around the globe and she provides information and support through digital courses, guides, and social media content. Mentioned in this episode:Michelle’s Babies and Brains IG pageParenting Through Attachment CourseChildcare & Preschool GuideNew Sibling Guide Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website (transcripts available here)If you enjoyed this episode please rate, review and follow! 😘✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 30: Body Safety and Abuse Prevention: Keeping Kids Safe with Feather Berkower @parentingsafechildrenThis week Rachael has a very important conversation with Feather Berkower, a leader and well known author in child sexual abuse prevention. Feather educates us on ways we can protect our children when we are not with them both by having tough conversations with adults and teaching them "body safety" and consent from the start. Feather emphasizes the importance of pushing through our own discomfort to have these tough conversations for the sake of our kids.The uncomfortable truth is that most of us either are survivors or know a survivor of abuse. In this necessary episode, Rachael and Feather discuss the current stats for sexual abuse (which are shocking) and how to teach children protection skills without scaring them. Feather shares what makes a child most vulnerable to abuse, and the signs to look out for that abuse may have occurred. Feather also offers tips on ways we can speak to friends and family about the values we are teaching our children in relation to body safety and how to begin having conversations around this topic at a very young age. Feather is a licensed clinical social worker who holds a Master’s of Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. She has been a leader in child sexual abuse prevention since 1985 and has educated nearly one-hundred fifty thousand schoolchildren, parents and youth professionals. Her well-regarded workshop, Parenting Safe Children, empowers adults to keep children safe from sexual assault. Feather co-authored Off Limits, a parenting book that will change the way you think about keeping children safe.. Feather makes this difficult topic less scary, and consistently impresses audiences with her knowledge, commitment, and warmth. Mentioned in this episode:Join the Live Zoom Workshop for Parenting Safe Children in March & April: Sign Up hereFeather’s Book: “Off Limits: A Parent’s Guide to Keeping Kids Safe from Sexual Abuse”Feather’s Instagram hereRachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website (transcripts available here)** Don't forget to leave a rating and review if you enjoy this Podcast! Thank you so much! 🥰 ** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 29: “Perinatal Mood Disorders Don’t Discriminate” with Jasmine @pearlsofjasmineThis week, Rachael and guest Jasmine discuss a very important and often stigmatized topic, postpartum mental health and perinatal mood disorders. Dr. Jasmine is a clinical pharmacist who is incredibly vulnerable and open in talking about her own experiences with postpartum anxiety, depression, and insomnia after the birth of her daughter and how that experience led to her decision to be “one and done”.Jasmine shares her expert knowledge as a pharmacist and discusses the stigma of medications, the pros and cons of the "new" postpartum depression medication, and discusses her own decision to start medication after the birth of her daughter.Find out some common misconceptions or stereotypes about perinatal mental health or treatments, how being an Asian-American woman influenced her during her postpartum experience, and how culture and representation is so incredibly important for women on this journey to not feel so alone. Jasmine is a clinical pharmacist and mom of one. She became very passionate about maternal mental health after she suffered severe postpartum depression, insomnia and anxiety shortly after having her child. As a healthcare provider, she never thought she would be affected by PPD because she assumed she’d recognize the signs and know how to ward it off. Writing about her journey on her blog and then sharing some of these moments on Instagram have been a way for her to heal and try to normalize mental health for other moms. Just a few months ago, she completed her perinatal mental health certification (PMH-C) to continue to educate herself further on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.Jasmine’s IG page: https://www.instagram.com/pearlsofjasmine/  Healing the Tigress podcast IG Page: https://www.instagram.com/healingthetigress/ Referenced in this Episode:Jasmine’s Newsletter about new treatment option Podcast Episode on Fatherhood in PostpartumMore on being “One and Done” Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website (transcripts available here) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 28: Grandparents: Boundaries, Parenting Differences and Advice with John & Diane, Rachael’s Parents!This week Rachael has two very special people in her life as guests- her mom and dad, John and Diane! Hear their real thoughts on Rachael’s viral "Boomer Advice" Tiktok, stroll down memory lane as they recount sleep and parenting in the late 80s and early 90s, and find out how they used to get their parenting advice.John and Diane share their personal experiences around things like sleep training and cosleeping and the stigma it had 30 years ago. They talk about how the culture around parenting and sleep has changed over the years, give their honest thoughts on "gentle parenting", and answer questions from YOU, the listeners about how to set boundaries with parents and in-laws! John and Diane also share their biggest regret as parents- which Rachael heard for the first time during the interview- and let you know their biggest piece of advice as you navigate the early years of parenting.John and Diane are Rachael’s Parents and parents to 2 other daughters. They are the loving grandparents of Rachael's 3 kids and live in Connecticut.Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 27: Understanding Your Fertility with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack @fertilityfridayKnowledge is power, especially when it comes to your body, your period, and your fertility. This week, Rachael and Lisa Hendrickson-Jack, fertility educator and author of a new book,  Real Food For Fertility, chat all about fertility awareness, birth control, using your cycle as your fifth “vital sign”, and how to know if your period is “normal.” In this empowering episode, you’ll find out what a normal, healthy menstrual cycle looks like, if hormonal contraceptives impact fertility, and what is the pill actually doing in the body. They also discuss fertility awareness, how it can help improve a woman's chances of conceiving for the first time or after already giving birth, plus lots more valuable information!Lisa Hendrickson-Jack is a certified Fertility Awareness Educator and Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner who teaches women to chart their menstrual cycles for natural birth control, conception, and monitoring overall health. She is the author of three bestselling books The Fifth Vital Sign, the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook, and her most recent book Real Food For Fertility, which she co-authored with Lily Nichols RDN. Lisa works tirelessly to debunk the myth that regular ovulation is only important when you want children by recognizing the menstrual cycle as a vital sign. Drawing heavily from the current scientific literature, Lisa presents an evidence-based approach to help women connect to their fifth vital sign by uncovering the connection between the menstrual cycle, fertility, and overall health. With well over 4 million downloads, her podcast, Fertility Friday, is the #1 source for information about fertility awareness and menstrual cycle health.Mentioned in this episode:Lisa’s website, Fertility Friday: fertilityfriday.comNEW BOOK! Real Food For Fertility: realfoodforfertility.comLisa's book, The Fifth Vital Sign: thefifthvitalsignbook.comLisa’s Instagram: @FertilityFridayFertility Friday PodcastRachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website (transcripts are available here!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 26: "I Thought I'd Be Sleeping By Now" with Lauren Paley @lauren_paleyThis week Rachael speaks with toddler mom, musician and content creator Lauren Paley. Rachael and Lauren dive into all things motherhood in this candid conversation, specifically sleep challenges. Lauren shares special glimpses into her experience as a first time mom including sleep (or lack thereof) and cosleeping, her best tips for exclusively pumping, and how she and her husband divide and share the load of parenthood. Lauren discusses having a "high needs" baby, her journey with postpartum anxiety and how it still shows up for her over a year postpartum. Hear how Lauren is navigating sharing her personal life on social media as a content creator with over 12 million followers across platforms.Lauren Paley, otherwise known as “The Stairwell Siren”, is a music and lifestyle content creator best known for her beautiful and haunting covers recorded in her garage stairwell. This Titanic Hymn to the Sea cover was the video that went viral and “started it all” for her! Lauren lives in Nashville, TN, with her daughter Piper, 18 months, and husband Dan. When she isn’t posting music, she’s sharing glimpses of her personal life as a new mom to adorable 18-month-old Piper. Lauren's newest goal is to work on a Lullaby album for little ones- so stay tuned!Lauren’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/lauren_paley/ Lauren’s TikTok page: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenpaley?lang=enRachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website (includes transcripts!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 25: Friendships: Finding Mom Friends, Friendship Breakups, and Modeling Healthy Friendships for Kids with Dr. Miriam KirmayerWe’ve all heard how important it is to have your “mom circle” but has anyone else ever thought that this is actually really hard to find? If you’ve felt this, you’re not alone. Adult friendships can be really hard especially as new moms. This week Rachael speaks with Dr. Miriam Kirmayer to talk all about adult friendships. Find out why it is so hard to make new friends as an adult, how to navigate friendships when parenting styles conflict, and how attachment style can impact friendships. They chat all about the importance of friendships for moms and having a “circle” of other moms and some of the potential effects on people who don’t have connections. Find out some tips on ways to make and meet new connections, plus so much more!Dr. Miriam Kirmayer is a clinical psychologist, leading friendship expert, and influential speaker on human connection and social support. With over a decade of research on the science of friendship, Dr. Miriam is revolutionizing the way we show up for, mentor, and connect with each other. She is one of the first and only clinical psychologists to specialize in adult friendship and shares guidance on navigating friendship and relationship challenges with tens of thousands of people through her popular online community. She is also a mom of two.Instagram (@miriamkirmayer): https://www.instagram.com/miriamkirmayer/Facebook (@miriamkirmayer): https://www.facebook.com/MiriamKirmayerLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-kirmayerLearn more about her NEW course, Confidently Connected: Building Meaningful Friendships here!Register now until Sunday, February 11th at 9:00 pm EST! Registering for the course gives you access to…. The Friendship Forum! The live workshop that kicks off the course the evening of February 13th at 8:00 pm EST.Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices