No One Told Us

Episode 9: Toddler Sleep Can Get Worse? Solo with RachaelAre you struggling with bedtime battles, nap refusals, or other struggles with your toddler or preschooler? SAME. In this episode Rachael gets real about what she’s currently dealing with having a three year old with some very strong opinions. She talks about the REAL reasons so many little kids struggle with bedtime and naps, plus takes listener questions!In this episode you’ll hear about why little kids often have a hard time going to bed and all the power struggles and testing limits that happen at bedtime. I will explain how to use connection to your advantage for a smoother evening and how to move away from bed sharing with your toddler or preschooler. I tell you my thoughts on providing bedtime snacks and answer the popular question: are toddlers being manipulative? I also discuss when and how to drop the nap, plus much more! Blog Post on Bedtime Snacks (with snack ideas!)Blog Post on “Fighting Sleep” and Bedtime Battles in babies and toddlersFREE Nap Transition Guide, Including how to start "Quiet Time"For more about Toddler Bedtime Struggles, check out the Better Bedtimes Guide from HSB, and get $10 off for listening to this episode! Use code BEDTIMESPODRachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Join me & our guests each week for new episodes and follow along:Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website (Transcripts Available!)For more on biologically normal infant sleep and a holistic approach to getting more sleep, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow on instagram. This podcast does not contain medical advice and is for entertainment purposes only.Please follow & subscribe to No One Told Us and if you enjoyed this episode- leave us a review!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 8: How Hard Breastfeeding Can Be with Kelly Kendall of @thebalancedboobHave you ever heard things like that it’s normal for breastfeeding to hurt? Spoiler- it’s not. This week, host Rachael and her guest, IBCLC Kelly Kendall, bust lots of myths about breastfeeding, mastitis, clogged ducts, and more. They talk about how to source good quality information on the internet and how you can support yourself and prepare for your breastfeeding journey before baby is even here! The goal of their discussion is to give hope through education about our bodies and how feeding babies works so people can be empowered to make decisions that work for them.Join Rachael and Kelly to talk about how to empower yourself and be proactive with support postpartum. Kelly busts myths about mastitis, clogged ducts etc. and tells us the importance of learning hand expressions before birth! We discuss the impact of self-compassion during feeding challenges and what to do if you're feeling pain. We dive into all about the basics of milk supply and regulation, especially at the beginning! Rachael and Kelly share their personal feeding journeys, and more!Kelly is a nurse, IBCLC and founder of The Balanced Boob which provides support and education to breastfeeding families. Kelly works helping mamas confidently navigate their breastfeeding journey without the overwhelm, guilt, or judgment. Kelly is so passionate about educating and supporting families in her breastfeeding program Boob School. You can find Kelly on instagram @thebalancedboob and get more support with breastfeeding on her website Boob School!Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Join me & our guests each week for new episodes and follow along:Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show WebsiteFor more on biologically normal infant sleep and a holistic approach to getting more sleep, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow on instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 7: How To Keep Kids Healthy with Dr. Anjuli GansDisclaimer: This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please seek immediate care from your physician if you have any concerns about your baby or child’s health.Join Rachael and Dr. Anjuli Gans as they talk about cold and flu season with your kids and babies, partnering with your healthcare team, trusting your own parental intuition, and more! Dr. Anjuli will also answer some of the most-asked questions directly from our listeners!In this episode we discuss how and why Dr. Anjuli started her Instagram page and resources for parents. We talk about the importance of forming trusting, therapeutic alliances with your care team and the trends in medical advice on social media. Dr. Anjuli teaches us how to manage cold and flu season with little ones plus focuses on RSV season and how to protect your baby, especially with older children around! Learn all the tips for hydrating your babies and kids when they’re sick and educate yourself on the signs of respiratory distress and when to be concerned. Dr. Anjuli shares some homeopathic remedies and top things to be feeding your child to keep them healthy and answers the question if multivitamins are necessary or not. Find out if melatonin is recommended for improving babies and kids sleep plus the benefits of breastfeeding past 12 months. We also discuss managing congestion and silent reflux in newborns and so much more!Dr. Anjuli Gans is a pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and at Georgetown University School of Medicine. She’s worked in pediatrics for over a decade -- and focuses on early childhood development and pediatric mental health and well-being. But it wasn't until she became a mom of two young children that she realized how little practical health information there was out there for parents. She remembers all of the advice she used to give, before she had kids, that now feels truthfully very unrealistic. You can follow Dr. Gans on Instagram @resilientrascals to find simple, intentional, step-by-step health tips for parents. You can also purchase one of her in-depth guides on her website Resilient Rascals as well as find a variety of other resources and blogs. Specifically, you can find her Vitamin Guide for children from birth through three years of age here.Grab the HSB Better Bedtimes Guide Dr. Anjuli used for her child here. For more on biologically normal infant sleep and a holistic approach to getting more sleep, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow on instagram.Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Join me & our guests each week for new episodes and follow along:Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 6: We Have Good Reason to be Angry with Yara HearyDid you feel totally unprepared for how ANGRY you'd sometimes feel after having a baby? Maybe you did all the baby prep classes or prepared yourself for labor as much as you could or read all the “how-to” books on parenting and have a great partner. But once you got home, you realized nobody prepared you for just how much everything in your life was going to change. Perhaps you are struggling with your identity shifting or your relationship has totally changed, or you're being triggered by things that didn't bother you before. Maybe you take it out on your partner- or your kids. Maybe you even feel some shame or embarrassment about these things. In this episode Rachael and Yara discuss the biggest points of contention in relationships after having a baby and why it is totally understandable for us to feel angry.Join Rachael and Yara to talk about what couples struggle most with after having a baby and how a mothers identity tends to shift post baby. Yara discusses how defining expectations with your partner can help to prevent resentment and some ways to experience mothering with more ease. We address changing our beliefs & expectations on what it actually will look like when becoming parents and why moms might feel angry and resentful postpartum. Yara educates us on anger with our children and what to do when we're triggered plus how to assume the best of our children and others in our lives! Learn how to support your nervous system BEFORE you feel anger and how to practice self-compassion for mothers and connecting with our inner child, and so much more!Book Mentioned: Fair Play by Eve RodskyYara Heary is a Perth psychologist who works exclusively with women throughout conception, pregnancy, and motherhood. Yara started Life After Birth Psychology following the birth of her first son which started her on yet another journey of self-rediscovery. Her experiences throughout early motherhood drew her to support other women as they navigate their own family of origin dynamics, the social programming of the “good mother”, relationship changes with those around them, identity shifts, and role changes to find their place of balance and authenticity as mothers. She is also the host of Life After Birth with Yara, a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of women as they navigate life as mothers. Follow Yara on Instagram.Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Join me & our guests each week for new episodes and follow along:Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 5: How Your Relationship Changes After a Baby with Rachael & MarleyJoin Rachael and her husband Marley as they get real and personal and talk about what they miss most about life before kids and the biggest ways they think things have changed since becoming parents.In this episode they discuss planning for the birth of a baby together and how their relationships change after the first baby, versus second or third. Marley shares the hardest part about being a new dad and their thoughts on date nights and vacations without their kids. Learn how sleeping arrangements do or do not affect relationships and hear some advice for expecting dads or partners!Marley is a clinical social worker from San Francisco, CA and a dad of three!Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Join me & our guests each week for new episodes and follow along:Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show WebsiteFor more on Rachael's approach to infant sleep check out heysleepybaby.com and follow on instagram.Please follow & subscribe to No One Told Us and if you enjoyed this episode- leave us a review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 4: It's OK to Change Your Mind with Bekah MartinezJoin Rachael and Bekah Martinez to talk about all things pregnancy, birth, social media pressure, and parenting as Bekah prepares to welcome her third child. In this episode we discuss our previous birth experiences and plans for Bekah's next birth. We talk all about breastfeeding, cosleeping, & being touched out. We both share our newborn sleep struggles and Bekah shares her sleep training experience and new thoughts on the subject plus what she plans to do differently for her third baby! We talk about how social media comparisons and misinformation can be triggering to your parenting journey and much more!Bekah is a former Bachelor contestant turned mom-of-almost-3, influencer and podcaster. Amongst many things, she's passionate about physiological birth, reconnecting with the earth through homemaking, and authentic parenting. You can find her on Instagram and hear a lot more chatter on patreon.com/bekahandgray. Follow Bekah on Instagram, Youtube & Tiktok.Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Join me & our guests each week for new episodes and follow along:Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show WebsitePlease follow & subscribe to No One Told Us and if you enjoyed this episode- leave us a 5-Star rating and review! We love you for that!This podcast does not contain medical advice and is for entertainment purposes only.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 3: Anxiety is not "Normal" with Kate BorsatoYou've heard of Postpartum Depression but what about other perinatal mood disorders? Is it "normal" for moms to be anxious forever now that they've had a baby? What about intrusive thoughts? How long do these feelings last and what can we do about them?Join Rachael and Therapist Kate Borsato to talk about perinatal mood disorders and finding moments of joy in early motherhood. In this episode we discuss what's normal worrying/ anxiety vs. what's NOT normal and how to know when you should seek help. Kate explains what intrusive thoughts are, how to manage stress and find small "glimmers". We also share about self care, self compassion and finding yourself again!Kate is a mom of two daughters and lives on Vancouver Island with her kids and husband. She works as mental health therapist, she created and leads a nation-wide therapy practice (Perinatal Collective) with a team of over 20 perinatal specialists, and also creates self-help resources for things like anxiety, overwhelm, and finding more joy in motherhood. Follow Kate on InstagramVirtual Therapy Collective (for Canadians) Kate's WebsiteRecommended Online Courses To get connected with help right away, visit Postpartum Support InternationalRachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Join me & our guests each week for new episodes and follow along:Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show WebsitePlease follow & subscribe to No One Told Us and if you enjoyed this episode- leave us a review! Every week we choose random winners from our review section to win prizes!This podcast does not contain medical advice and is for entertainment purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 2: All About Sibling Stuff with Jess VanderWierJoin Rachael & Jess as we talk all about adding on to your family. We discuss siblings and different dynamics and challenges that can come up when welcoming a new baby.In this episode, Rachael and Jess discuss adding a second and third baby to the family and our personal experiences with this. We talk about getting through Postpartum with other children and how to prepare your older child for the birth of a sibling. Jess tells us how to connect with your older child when a new baby is born and addresses all the new feelings/ dynamics that may come up and how to handle them! We also learn how to deal with things like aggression from your older child, sleep issues that may come up after welcoming new baby & more!Jess VanderWier is a Registered Psychotherapist who helps families understand and respond to their children with gentleness and respect. Jess has a Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology and has logged thousands of clinical hours supporting parents and their children. As the founder of Nurtured First, Jess uses her expertise to support parents in her online parent community through her online courses and free resources. Follow Jess on InstagramNurtured First WebsiteRecommended Course: Parenting Little KidsRachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Join me & our guests each week for new episodes and follow along:Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show WebsitePlease follow & subscribe to No One Told Us and if you enjoyed this episode- leave us a review! Every week we choose random winners from our review section to win prizes!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever feel like you entered parenthood completely overwhelmed and underprepared? Yeah. Me too. Hey, friend! Meet Rachael Shepard-Ohta, your host for the podcast No One Told Us, where we tell the truth about parenting and let you in on allllll the stuff you really should've known before having kids. Rachael is the founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby but this podcast is SO much more than sleep. We'll be diving into ALL the topics you care about, to help you feel more prepared and less alone while raising your adorable little humans.Join me & our guests each week for new episodes and follow along:Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Youtube (to watch episodes on video)Website (transcripts available) Chat with you soon!x Rach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever googled "baby won't sleep" at 2am? Same. Baby sleep information can be a total minefield and most parents are left confused, unsure of who to trust (hint: you can trust yourself!) and TIRED.Join Rachael for the FIRST episode of NOTU and hear all about the reason she founded Hey, Sleepy Baby after a traumatic journey with baby sleep as a first time mom. Rachael discusses her first baby's sleep "problems" and what she tried plus how to deal with reflux, CMPA and tongue tie. Rachael discusses how baby sleep drove her a little insane and made her eventually try out sleep training (from that popular trainer) and what happened. Hear how she started cosleeping with baby number 2 and what she's doing differently as a mom to her 2nd and 3rd babies. She talks about what "normal" baby sleep really looks like and what "counts" as "sleeping through the night" plus so much more!Stay tuned till the end for a little pep talk if you're in the thick of it. It gets better!Research mentioned: PMID: 32087408 PMID: 28576897 https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3783 Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Join me & our guests each week for new episodes on ALL things parenting and follow along:Instagram (Show page)Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account)Show WebsiteFor more on biologically normal infant sleep and a holistic approach to getting more sleep, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow on instagram.Please follow & subscribe to No One Told Us and if you enjoyed this episode- leave us a review! Every week we choose random winners from our review section to win prizes!This podcast does not contain medical advice and is for entertainment purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices