Andrea Faulkner Williams is the Head Mama and Co-founder of Tubby Todd Bath Co., which she launched in 2014 with her husband, Brian Todd, as a solution to their own family’s sensitive skin. Tubby Todd’s mission is to connect families through good, clean fun bodycare basics. The company started out by sharing products on Instagram with friends and family and they now have a cult following of a million+ community members across their channels. Andrea believes that bubbles are for everyone and is on a mission to provide families with connection opportunities. She lives in San Diego with Brian and their four little ones. Join her on Instagram @andreafaulknerwilliams
Tubby Todd Bath Co.
Today’s episode was sponsored by Tubby Todd Bath Co. Created with sensitive skin in mind, Tubby Todd’s line of bodycare basics are gentle, effective and fun for the whole family. You might have heard of their eczema miracle worker All Over Ointment (fondly referred to as AOO), but this family-owned brand offers a full line of sensitive skincare solutions that you’ll love to reach for every single day. Start with The Regulars or Baby Bundle to get your little one set up with their very first skincare routine. Join the TT fam and get 15% off your first purchase with code BIRTHHOUR15 at tubbytodd.com.
Needed
Today’s episode was also sponsored by Needed, the authority on perinatal and women’s nutrition. Needed is a nutrition platform dedicated to optimally nourishing women before, during, and after pregnancy. Needed is backed by the latest clinical research and 3,000+ perinatal nutrition practitioners. They’re the #1 women’s health supplement brand recommended by nutritionally-trained practitioners, and the first perinatal nutrition company to be B-Corp and Climate-Neutral Certified. Optimal nourishment is needed, and most prenatal vitamins are missing key nutrients and include bare minimum amounts. In fact, while 97% of women in the US take a prenatal supplement, 95%+ are still deficient in key nutrients. Needed’s Prenatal Multi was formulated in partnership with perinatal practitioners – using the latest research and by testing thousands of mamas’ nutrient levels to know what’s truly needed to thrive, not just survive. Optimally nourish yourself with their complete line of perinatal and women’s health supplements at thisisneeded.com. Use code BIRTHHOUR for 20% off at thisisneeded.com.
This Marielis’ first pregnancy/birth. She had a very normal/healthy pregnancy and has no history of mental illness. After planning a mostly unmedicated birth, she ended up having an unplanned c-section. Is he started off using nitrous oxide for some time but after 16 hours, was only dilated to 6cm. She was stuck at 9 cm for another 8 hours so they decided it was time for a c-section. After a week she started feeling a bit weird. At first she felt like she was fading in and out of her body. She’d feel normal for a few hours then felt like she wasn’t all there and during these times would feel extreme paranoia and manic episodes. She wasn’t able to sleep or eat and when she started to realize she wasn’t feeling herself her baby’s father started looking into getting her help and was able to find her a doctor who diagnosed her with postpartum psychosis (over zoom). She wasn’t able to care for her baby (when she looked at her she felt like she wasn’t really there/alive) It was an extremely scary time for her and everyone around her. She was checking into a mental health facility for 6 days and finally felt like herself again. Connect with her on Instagram at @hailmari__
Call the PSI emergency hotline 1-800-273-8255. Emergency Hotlines are available all the time. It is very important that you reach out right now and find the support and information you need to be safe. Call for yourself or someone you care about; available 24/7.
Ergobaby
This episode is sponsored by Ergobaby. Founded in 2003, Ergobaby has pioneered the gold standard for comfortable, ergonomic soft structured carriers. Their commitment to providing parents with the foundation to thrive has launched the company into creating a broad range of award-winning products that fit into families’ daily lives seamlessly, comfortably, and safely – where function and quality are not compromised. In 2020, they launched Everlove by Ergobaby, a first of its kind baby carrier buy back and resale program, a sustainability effort to support families and the planet. Check out Ergobaby’s Embrace in Soft Air Mesh and new Evolve 3-in-1 Bouncer that we discussed on the podcast!
After two years of trying to get pregnant, Madelyn was eventually diagnosed with PCOS and began fertility treatment. With the aid of a trigger shot and timed intercourse, Madelyn became pregnant, and gave birth to her first son in June 2020. Her pregnancy was uncomplicated and joyful. As a trained doula, Madelyn had prepared for an unmediated hospital birth. Despite her preparation, a prolonged labor ultimately resulting in a C-section left Madelyn feeling exhausted and out of control. Immediately following birth, Madelyn felt overwhelmed and highly anxious. In the first months postpartum, depression and anxiety coalesced around an increasingly fraught relationship with alcohol and the isolation of early COVID quarantines. Intrusive thoughts creeped in. As the months passed, her drinking became more frequent and secretive, and her relationships with those closest to her began to fray. With the assistance of therapy, medication and intensive outpatient rehabilitation, Madelyn was able to take control of her mental health and find sobriety. A profound period of introspection and healing followed.
In Spring 2022, Madelyn and her husband decided they wanted to try for a second baby. They were pleasantly surprised when Madelyn became pregnant only two months later and even more surprised when they discovered she was pregnant with twins!
Like her first, Madelyn’s second pregnancy was uncomplicated and joyful; although physically more challenging. Due to the babies’ positioning, a VBAC was not an option and a planned C-section at 38 weeks became an incredibly redemptive birth experience for Madelyn. In the three weeks since the birth of the twins, Madelyn is grateful to report that her postpartum experience has been completely different from her first.
Madelyn Morris Bio
Madelyn is a mom to three. Her first son, Leo was born June 2020 and her twins, Juniper and Elias, were born December 2022. Madelyn and her husband, Andrew, have been married almost 8 years. Madelyn is originally from Utah, but she and her family currently reside in Chicago, IL. Madelyn is a family law attorney. Connect with her on FB or instagram by searching for Madelyn Morris.
This episode is sponsored by Woolino. Woolino’s innovative sleep sacks help babies sleep better and longer. More sleep for baby means more sleep for you! Woolino’s super-soft, temperature-regulating merino wool sleep sacks use 100% natural fibers that are safe for babies, environmentally friendly, and easy to care for. Discover why thousands of babies and parents are sleeping better at woolino.com/thebirthhour and use the coupon code BIRTHHOUR for 15% off.
Britt previously shared her first birth story and experience with Postpartum Depression on episode 470. She returns to share her second story and how her plans for the birth and postpartum changed the second time around. Britt discusses how fear played a part of her labor progressing, and the power of letting go and trusting your body. She describes a euphoric birth & postpartum experience in a hospital birth center. She went home to enjoy a 4th trimester that felt calm, peaceful and empowering – a stark and welcome contrast after previously experiencing PPD.
Britt also shares the ups and downs of adjusting to life with a toddler and a newborn, as well as dealing with breastfeeding and infant weight gain issues, and a misdiagnosed tongue tie.
Britt Watkins Bio
Britt and her husband Matt reside in Upstate New York with their daughters Maya & Callie, and their sweet old dog, Doc. Britt and Matt love living in NY, taking full advantage of all four seasons in the Adirondack Mountains. Britt’s a total birth nerd, a certified lactation consultant, and loves sharing and hearing about birth & postpartum experiences.
This episode is sponsored by Ergobaby. Founded in 2003, Ergobaby has pioneered the gold standard for comfortable, ergonomic soft structured carriers. Their commitment to providing parents with the foundation to thrive has launched the company into creating a broad range of award-winning products that fit into families’ daily lives seamlessly, comfortably, and safely – where function and quality are not compromised. In 2020, they launched Everlove by Ergobaby, a first of its kind baby carrier buy back and resale program, a sustainability effort to support families and the planet. Check out Ergobaby’s Embrace in Soft Air Mesh and new Evolve 3-in-1 Bouncer that we discussed on the podcast!
Megan had Alexander at a hospital, when her husband was finishing up his studies. Megan had an epidural during her first birth because she didn’t know what to expect and was afraid as a young first time mom. Megan had postpartum anxiety but was not aware of what it was until she had her daughter and found a name for what she was feeling.
Megan’s second birth was different but also as empowering as her first. They had a natural home birth in their living room, with their midwives and her mother in law present. Megan’s postpartum journey after their second baby was the same as her first, but this time she realized that she had postpartum anxiety and took the time and initiative to find the help she needed to take care of her mental health.
Megan Christenson Bio
Megan is a mom to two amazing kids, Alexander is almost three and McKinley will be 8 months in October. Her family lives in British Columbia, Canada, where they explore their community, the outdoors and their every day life together. Megan works at an employment agency when she is done with her maternity leave, and enjoys being with her family, doing anything artsy and crafty, baking, and working with people. If you’d like to connect with Megan, please leave a comment here on the show notes page.
Glow Baby App for tracking and the community of women who were going through pregnancy and postpartum with me
The Wonder Weeks App, this is helpful because it helps me see a light at the end of the tunnel during difficult days/weeks and reminds me that they’re learning new skills
Big Little Feelings on Instagram and Facebook, especially if you already have kids because they have helpful techniques to avoid power struggles with toddlers and how to introduce a new baby, etc.
Oath Care
This episode is sponsored by Oath Care – a welcoming community to connect with fellow moms, find judgement-free support, and get personalized expert advice from pediatricians, marriage and family therapists, lactation and sleep consultants, pelvic floor therapists and more. Download the free to use Oath Care app from oathcare.com or in the App Store or Google Play.
Amy and her husband Scott had their first son in 2018. To Amy, at least in retrospect, the pregnancy felt easy with minimal morning sickness or health concerns, just some rib pain. Her husband likes to remind her that she still complained a lot! Labor was induced at 39 weeks due to the estimated large size of their baby. The induction resulted in an emergency C-Section after 3 hours of labor because of her baby’s heart rate decelerations. Postpartum healing consisted of intense gas pains, lip and tongue tie problems interfering with breastfeeding, and later postpartum depression as Amy weened.
The family became pregnant again in 2021. The pregnancy was much more difficult as Amy prepared for a VBAC. During the nine months, Amy tested positive for COVID, had bouts of hyperemesis gravidarum (excessive vomiting) in the second trimester, and the flu during her third trimester. She was also diagnosed with severe polyhydramnios (excessive fluid) which caused her belly to grow extremely large and painful. Because of the strains of the pregnancy complications, pandemic, and work, Amy dealt with heightened perinatal depression and anxiety. She went into labor naturally at 37 weeks; despite reaching 10 cm dilation and full effacement, she again needed an emergency C-Section due to her baby’s heart rate decelerating. Her baby required immediate assistance with oxygen and sugars, and was placed in the NICU. While in that care, her son endured multiple health challenges including hypoglycemia, polycythemia (increased red blood cell mass), jaundice, omphalitis (infection of the umbilicus), and viral meningitis stemming from parechovirus. He was in the NICU for 17 days. Amy has experienced considerable postpartum anxiety in the wake of this trauma, and with that, hopes to help others recognize the symptoms, get support, and make waves to improve health systems dealing with perinatal care.
Amy Serafin Bio
Amy (she/her)(38) and her husband Scott (he/him)(44) have been married 5 years. They live outside of Austin, TX with their two sons who are 4 years old and 4 months old, and a small menagerie of pets. Amy is a writer and mental health therapist who loves working with adults, especially mothers. You can connect with her socially on Instagram @flourishaustin.
Resources
Local to Austin/Texas:
Pregnancy and Postpartum Health Alliance of Texas: PPHATX.org
Your Village Consulting (doulas, childbirth education, sleep training, potty training, lactation specialist, etc) https://yourvillageconsulting.com/
This episode is sponsored by Ergobaby. Founded in 2003, Ergobaby has pioneered the gold standard for comfortable, ergonomic soft structured carriers. Their commitment to providing parents with the foundation to thrive has launched the company into creating a broad range of award-winning products that fit into families’ daily lives seamlessly, comfortably, and safely – where function and quality are not compromised. In 2020, they launched Everlove by Ergobaby, a first of its kind baby carrier buy back and resale program, a sustainability effort to support families and the planet. Check out Ergobaby’s Embrace in Soft Air Mesh and new Evolve 3-in-1 Bouncer that we discussed on the podcast!
