A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast - Christian Motherhood, Postpartum Planning, Birth Prep, Mental Health & Routines

You’ve probably heard the phrase “gut microbiome” everywhere lately—but what does it actually mean, and why does it matter for your baby?
In this episode, Dr. Savita Srivastava, a Yale-trained gastroenterologist and microbiome specialist, breaks down the science behind your baby’s developing gut microbiome and how those first 1,000 days can influence immune and metabolic health.
We talk about pregnancy, birth, breast milk, C-sections, combination feeding, formula, introducing solids, antibiotics, and even letting your baby get a little messy outside. Most importantly, Dr. Srivastava brings a message that moms need to hear: you don't have to do everything perfectly to support your baby's health.
In this episode, we talk about:
What the gut microbiome actually is and why those trillions of microbes play such an important role in your baby's developing immune system and overall health.
How pregnancy and birth can influence the microbiome, including what we know—and what researchers are still learning—about the pregnancy microbiome and vaginal birth.
Why breast milk is so unique, including the live microbes and special sugars that help nourish beneficial bacteria in your baby's gut.
What happens when breastfeeding doesn't go according to plan, including C-sections, pumping, combination feeding, shorter breastfeeding journeys, and formula feeding.
Simple ways to support your baby's microbiome beyond breastfeeding, from introducing a diverse variety of foods to getting outside, interacting with pets, and experiencing the natural world.
Why moms can let go of some of the pressure, because supporting your baby's health isn't about creating a perfect pregnancy, birth, feeding journey, or postpartum experience.
One Thing I Want Every Mom to Remember:
There is no perfect way to do motherhood.
Dr. Srivastava reminds us that breastfeeding is one piece of a much bigger picture—and that mom's health matters, too. Whether you're breastfeeding, pumping, combination feeding, formula feeding, or navigating something you never expected, there are still ways to support your baby's developing microbiome.
And when it comes to those first 1,000 days, some of the most helpful things can also be some of the simplest: nourishing foods, time outside, exposure to the natural world, and giving yourself permission to enjoy the messy, chaotic parts of raising a baby.
About Dr. Savita Srivastava
Dr. Savita Srivastava is a Yale-trained gastroenterologist and microbiome specialist and the author of First 1000 Days: How Your Baby’s Gut Microbes Shape Lifelong Health. Her work focuses on the developing gut microbiome and its connection to immune, metabolic, and lifelong health.
Connect with Dr. Savita:
Visit her website: 
https://www.doctorsavita.com/

Follow her on Instagram: @gutdoctorsavita

Purchase First 1000 Days: How Your Baby’s Gut Microbes Shape Lifelong Health

A question for you...
What is one thing you've felt pressure to do “perfectly” as a mom that you're ready to let go of?
Support the show
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://abridgetomotherhood.com
Instagram: @abridgetomotherhood
Shoot me an email: danielle@abridgetomotherhood.com 
Leave a Review
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating and review? Your support helps more Christian moms discover the podcast and find hope in Christ during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. 
After you review the show — take a screenshot and upload it here — so I can send you some happy mail with a little surprise as a thank you.
Your feedback means so much to me and helps us reach new moms who desperately need to hear that they are worthy of support!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting the show!

Motherhood can be something you prayed for deeply—and still leave you wondering, “Where did I go?”

In this conversation, Alexis opens up about her experiences with postpartum anxiety, depression, and rage after the births of her two children, including the moment she realized she needed to tell her husband what was really going on and reach out for professional help.

We talk about the pressure to “bounce back,” the grief that can come with becoming a new version of yourself, mom guilt, social media comparison, and what it looks like to find your identity again—not by becoming who you were before motherhood, but by allowing God to shape who you're becoming.

In this episode, we talk about:
Recognizing when postpartum struggles have gone beyond a hard day and having the courage to tell someone what's really going on.
Postpartum anxiety, depression, and rage—and why moms need to know these experiences are real and deserve support.
Letting go of the pressure to “get back” to who you were before motherhood and making space for the woman you're becoming.
Finding your identity outside of motherhood through small moments of rest, creativity, movement, Scripture, prayer, and things that help you feel like yourself again.
Mom guilt and social media comparison, and learning to recognize the difference between reality and the highlight reel.
Walking through postpartum mental health challenges with faith, including seeking therapy and professional support while also praying and relying on God.
One thing I want every mom to remember
You can love your children deeply and still find motherhood hard.

Those two things can be true at the same time.

If you're struggling with postpartum depression, anxiety, rage, or feeling like you've lost yourself, asking for help does not make you a bad mom. You deserve support, and you don't have to walk through a difficult season alone.

Alexis also shares a beautiful reminder from her own journey: “I've lived to testify.” What you've walked through may eventually become part of the story God uses to encourage someone else.

About Alexis
Alexis is the author of Becoming Her, a book about motherhood, identity, postpartum mental health, and finding yourself again through the transition into motherhood. After experiencing postpartum anxiety, depression, and rage, Alexis began openly sharing her story to help other moms feel less alone and create more honest conversations around the realities of motherhood.

Connect with Alexis
You can find Alexis and learn more about Becoming Her through her social media channels and purchase the book on Amazon.

Follow her on Instagram: @alexis.schmittler.01

Purchase Becoming HER: A Journey of Faith, Motherhood, and Finding Myself Again

A question for you
Have you ever felt like you lost a piece of yourself in motherhood—and what has helped you feel like yourself again?
Support the show
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://abridgetomotherhood.com
Instagram: @abridgetomotherhood
Shoot me an email: danielle@abridgetomotherhood.com 
Leave a Review
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating and review? Your support helps more Christian moms discover the podcast and find hope in Christ during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. 
After you review the show — take a screenshot and upload it here — so I can send you some happy mail with a little surprise as a thank you.
Your feedback means so much to me and helps us reach new moms who desperately need to hear that they are worthy of support!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting the show!

When you hear “pelvic floor therapy,” you might immediately think of Kegels. But pelvic floor physical therapy is about so much more than strengthening one group of muscles.
In this episode of A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast, I’m talking with Dr. Abby Andres, a physical therapist who specializes in obstetric and pelvic floor care, about what moms really need to know about pelvic health before, during, and after pregnancy.
Dr. Abby brings a trauma-informed approach to her work, recognizing that pelvic health can be deeply personal and that past experiences, birth trauma, pain, and even shame can affect how a woman experiences treatment. We talk about how to know when a symptom is something worth getting help for, what pelvic floor therapy can actually address, and what postpartum recovery should look like in those early weeks.
We also talk about the often-overlooked gap in postpartum care, why rest is productive, how to return to movement safely, and how virtual pelvic floor physical therapy can give busy moms practical tools to care for their bodies independently.
In this episode, we talk about:
What trauma-informed pelvic floor therapy actually looks like and why feeling safe, heard, and in control matters during such an intimate form of care.
The difference between “common” and something you simply have to live with, including pelvic pain, incontinence, constipation, bowel and bladder concerns, and other symptoms.
Red flags during pregnancy that may indicate it's time to seek additional support rather than simply accepting discomfort as part of pregnancy.
What postpartum recovery really needs, including why rest is productive and why those first few weeks don't need to look like intense workouts or “bouncing back.”
Breaking the shame surrounding pelvic floor symptoms, including pain with intercourse, leaking, and other concerns moms may be embarrassed to talk about.
How pelvic floor PT can work virtually, giving moms individualized tools and education so they can become more independent in caring for their bodies.
One thing I want every mom to remember:
Just because something is common after pregnancy or birth doesn't mean you have to simply accept it.
As Dr. Abby explains, the more important question is: How much is this symptom bothering you, and how much is it disrupting your daily life?
If pain, leaking, bowel or bladder issues, or another symptom is affecting your sleep, activities, relationships, or ability to enjoy your life, it's worth talking to a qualified provider.
And if you've been avoiding care because of shame or embarrassment, this is your reminder that you are not alone—and there are people who can help. Dr. Abby's approach centers on educating, validating, and inviting women into support rather than making them feel ashamed of what they're experiencing.

About Dr. Abby Andres
Dr. Abby Andres is a physical therapist specializing in obstetric and pelvic floor care. With a trauma-informed approach, she helps women navigate pelvic pain, pregnancy-related symptoms, postpartum recovery, core weakness, incontinence, bowel and bladder concerns, and more.
Her practice is entirely virtual and focuses on giving women the tools and education they need to become more independent in caring for their bodies. She offers a free 15-minute introduction call for women interested in learning whether virtual pelvic floor PT is a good fit.

Connect with Dr. Abby
Website:  www.drabigailandres.com
Instagram: @dr.abigailandres
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.abigailandres

A question for you...
Is there a postpartum or pelvic health symptom you've been told is “normal” that you've been wondering if you actually need to get help for?
If this episode was helpful, share it with another mom who needs to know that she doesn't have to simply live with pelvic pain, leaking, or other uncomfortable symptoms.
Support the show
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://abridgetomotherhood.com
Instagram: @abridgetomotherhood
Shoot me an email: danielle@abridgetomotherhood.com 
Leave a Review
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating and review? Your support helps more Christian moms discover the podcast and find hope in Christ during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. 
After you review the show — take a screenshot and upload it here — so I can send you some happy mail with a little surprise as a thank you.
Your feedback means so much to me and helps us reach new moms who desperately need to hear that they are worthy of support!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting the show!

Preparing for birth can bring a whole mix of emotions. You may feel excited to meet your baby, but also nervous about labor, pain, the unknown, or whether your birth will go according to plan.
In this episode of A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast, I’m talking with Christian birth doula and childbirth educator Jaimie Johnson about how we can prepare for birth physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—without allowing fear to take over.
Jaimie shares how her own birth experiences led her into birth work and eventually inspired her to create a faith-based approach to childbirth education. We talk about preparing not only for birth, but also for the transition into motherhood, because pregnancy and birth can be opportunities for God to grow and prepare us for the women and mothers He is calling us to become.
We also dive into the importance of recognizing our fears instead of ignoring them, replacing fear and lies with God's truth, using Scripture and prayer during pregnancy and birth, and learning to advocate for ourselves while still trusting God with the outcome.
In this episode, we talk about:
Preparing for birth holistically—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Working through fear and anxiety by recognizing our fears and replacing lies with God's truth.
Using prayer and Scripture to prepare for birth and create a faith-filled birth team.
Advocating for yourself in the birth room while still trusting God and seeking His wisdom in your decisions.
Preparing for an unmedicated birth and why mental preparation and commitment can be just as important as physical preparation.
Surrendering your birth plans to God and finding peace when your birth doesn't go the way you expected.
A Scripture to Remember

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2

When the world, social media, family, friends, and even our own fears are filling our minds with noise about what birth should look like, we can continually return to God's truth and ask Him for wisdom about the decisions in front of us.
About Jaimie Johnson
Jaimie Johnson is a Christian birth doula and childbirth educator who helps women prepare for birth physically, mentally, and spiritually. Through her business, Grace to Growth Wellness, she combines childbirth education, prenatal yoga, mindful preparation, and faith to help women approach birth with confidence, preparation, and trust in God.
Her online birth course, Created for Birth, helps women prepare for the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of childbirth.
Connect with Jaimie
Learn more about Jaimie's work and her Created for Birth course through Grace to Growth Wellness.
Website: Grace to Growth Wellness
Instagram: @G2GJaimieJohnson
A question for you...

What is one fear or worry about birth that you need to surrender to God as you prepare for your baby?
If this episode encouraged you, share it with another mom who is preparing for birth and could use a little more confidence, truth, and faith going into her birth experience. 
Support the show
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://abridgetomotherhood.com
Instagram: @abridgetomotherhood
Shoot me an email: danielle@abridgetomotherhood.com 
Leave a Review
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating and review? Your support helps more Christian moms discover the podcast and find hope in Christ during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. 
After you review the show — take a screenshot and upload it here — so I can send you some happy mail with a little surprise as a thank you.
Your feedback means so much to me and helps us reach new moms who desperately need to hear that they are worthy of support!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting the show!

Postpartum moms need more than a meal train and a quick “How’s the baby?”
They need to be seen, supported, and cared for, too.
In this episode of the A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast, Danielle talks about some of the ways the church can unintentionally make postpartum motherhood harder—including expecting moms to return to “normal” too quickly, asking them to serve before asking what they need, and sometimes offering spiritual answers to problems that also require practical support.
Because postpartum moms may need prayer and sleep.
They may need Scripture and a meal.
They may need to trust God and ask for help.
These things are not opposites.
Supporting a postpartum mom is spiritual ministry—and the church has an opportunity to become a place where mothers don't have to pretend they're okay or carry the weight of motherhood alone.
And while we don't want to place unrealistic pressure on moms to maintain a perfect spiritual routine, we also don't want mothers to believe that their relationship with God has to disappear during this season.
So what does it actually look like to spend time with God when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, and barely have time to shower?
In This Episode:
Why postpartum moms shouldn't be expected to return to “normal” immediately
The difference between spiritual encouragement and spiritual pressure
Why practical support is spiritual support
What moms may need beyond “just pray about it”
Why the church should ask what postpartum moms need—not just what they can do
How supporting mothers can be a powerful form of ministry
An invitation to join the upcoming workshop Staying Close With God Postpartum: Spending Time with Him When You Barely Have Time to Shower
Join the FREE LIVE Workshop: Staying Close to God Postpartum: Spending Time with Him When You Barely Have Time to Shower
📅 Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 6 PM Eastern
If motherhood has made it difficult to maintain the spiritual rhythms you had before kids, you are not alone—and you don't have to figure out what comes next by yourself.
👉 www.abridgetomotherhood.com/workshop 
Support the show
Connect with Danielle
Website: https://abridgetomotherhood.com
Instagram: @abridgetomotherhood
Shoot me an email: danielle@abridgetomotherhood.com 
Leave a Review
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to leave a rating and review? Your support helps more Christian moms discover the podcast and find hope in Christ during pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood. 
After you review the show — take a screenshot and upload it here — so I can send you some happy mail with a little surprise as a thank you.
Your feedback means so much to me and helps us reach new moms who desperately need to hear that they are worthy of support!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this episode may be affiliate links, including Amazon links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them. Thank you for supporting the show!