BDA Baby (Before, During and After Baby)

Dr. LA Thoma Gustin joined us to tell her story in dealing with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. LA got pregnant after a struggle with fertility, and she tells us the story of her fertility journey to eventually becoming pregnant with her daughter. LA struggled with Hyperemesis in early pregnancy which can have a profound mental and physical toll on an expecting mother. She highlights the importance of having a support system and healthy coping mechanisms to make it through when pregnancy doesn’t go how we envisioned it might.   Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

In this powerful conversation, I sat down with Mary Farrelly, a NICU nurse and NICU doula behind the Instagram community "The NICU Translator." With over 13 years of experience caring for the tiniest patients and their families, Mary shares the realities of NICU life that most people never see as well as the critical gaps in care that exist when families finally go home. We explore the unexpected journey that leads families into the NICU, the overwhelming medical jargon that becomes their new language, and the tight-knit community that forms in those hospital rooms. Mary opens up about the staggering statistics: up to 70% of NICU families experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and 40% show clinical PTSD symptoms. These numbers far higher than the general postpartum population. But this isn't just about the challenges. Mary discusses the incredible work being done to bridge the gaps in NICU care, from her role as a NICU doula supporting families through discharge and beyond, to the community she's built online where parents find translation, understanding, and solidarity. We talk about why partners and siblings are also deeply affected, how trauma shows up months or even years later, and why specialized mental health support is essential for healing. Whether you've experienced the NICU yourself, supported someone through it, or simply want to understand this hidden world of healthcare, this episode offers an eye-opening look at the resilience of NICU families and the angels who walk alongside them. Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

Kelly Stumpe, aka the Car Mom, joined us for a conversation all about choosing the right vehicle and car seats for your family. She emphasizes the importance of safety, practicality, and long-term planning. We get into what the different safety ratings mean and how to decide what are the right priorities for your specific family. We also touch on car seat safety and the best practices for keeping kids safe while we travel!  Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

We sat down with Justine Marjan to talk all about her experience giving birth. At the time, we were in the height of the COVID pandemic, and many were having to shift their expectations for what birth would be for them. Justine shared her own experience, explaining how she prepared for childbirth and adapted to COVID precautions for her birth team. Justine also shares how she relied on her midwife and doula and their role in her birth. No two births are the same, and Justine encourages all moms to lean into the experience and trust their instincts.   Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

In this episode, Mike Rosenthal joined us to discuss his and his wife’s journey to parenthood through surrogacy. Mike shares the decision-making process behind choosing surrogacy, and all the highs and lows along the way to welcoming their new baby. Mike gets to share the dad’s perspective of becoming a parent, and how he has felt stepping into fatherhood. Each path to parenthood in unique, and Mike shares his story to show other parents that they are not alone in their unique journey.   Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!