Becoming a Mother
A postpartum podcast for new and expectant mothers, hosted by Brittany Olson. Each episode features candid conversations with moms about their journeys to motherhood, from deciding to have a child through pregnancy, birth or adoption, and postpartum life. The show aims to remove shame and fear from discussing the struggles many women face during this life-changing transition. By sharing these stories openly, it hopes to support fellow and future mothers.
Episodes
Ep. 1: "You’re not alone" with Breanne Nobile
Breanne is a mom to an almost three-year-old boy . She discusses struggling with anxiety and depression throughout pregnancy and into postpartum. She shares her birth story as well as her postpartum journey, which involved a hospital stay with her son for presumed meningitis. We discuss all things motherhood and the struggles we both faced during this transition. I hope you enjoy listening to he
Ep 2: "You know what is best for your baby" with Cailie Morgan
Cailie is mom to her 11-month-old son. She suffered from severe Preeclampsia and delivered early, which resulted in a 56-day NICU stay for her son. She is going to discuss how that experience shaped her life and how she slowly claims her life back after struggling in postpartum.. We discuss handling judgment and mom shame and regaining confidence in yourself after becoming a mother.
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss to Reproductive Immunology w. Jackie Huffman
Ep. 3 Jackie has a 10 month old daughter. She is a SAHM and music teacher. After multiple pregnancy losses Jackie and her husband worked with an adoption consultant agency before meeting with a Reproductive immunologist. Her RE discovered that she had an autoimmune disorder known as Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) which was causing her recurrent pregnancy losses. After treatment for APS, Jackie
IVF, Preeclampsia, Grief & PPD, Birth Story & Beyond with SE Orlando
Sarah Elizabeth a.k.a SE is 32 years old and is from Pennsylvania. She has a 3 year old son and works in corporate retail. SE went through IVF, not because of fertility issues but because she is a carrier for Fragile X Syndrome. SE was induced and delivered early due to preeclampsia, which ended up affecting her into postpartum. SE shares her birth story and discusses her postpartum experience.
Pregnancy after Miscarriage, Birth Story &Postpartum w. Alex Gallagher
Alex is 30 years old and is from the suburbs of Philadelphia. She has an 8 month old daughter. Alex explains how her first pregnancy which ended in miscarriage shaped how she experienced her second pregnancy. She shares her birth story and postpartum journey which includes breastfeeding, sleep training and mom guilt, as well as the daily joys of getting to be her daughter's mother. I hope you enj
Pt.1 Mothering While Grieving Loss of Mother after Infertility w. Lexi
Lexi Kenoyer - Mom to a 15 month old daughter and Realtor - shares her journey to motherhood which is centered around her becoming a mother after the tragic and unexpected death of her own mother at 5 months postpartum. *Content warning* Lexi’s story begins with her first pregnancy which ended in miscarriage. She discusses her 2 year journey to becoming pregnant involving male factor infertility.
Pt.2 Mothering While Grieving Loss of Mother After Infertility w. Lexi
Lexi Kenoyer - Mom to a 15 month old daughter and Realtor - shares her journey to motherhood which is centered around her becoming a mother after the tragic and unexpected death of her own mother at 5 months postpartum. *Content warning* Lexi’s story begins with her first pregnancy which ended in miscarriage. She discusses her 2 year journey to becoming pregnant involving male factor infertility..
Chemical Pregnancy, Long Induction, C-Section & PPA w. Alyssa Terlizzi
Alyssa Terlizzi - Mom to an 18 month old - shares her journey to motherhood. Her story begins with her first pregnancy which was a chemical pregnancy. During her second pregnancy she had gallbladder issues early on and had to have her gallbladder removed at only 5 weeks postpartum. She was diagnosed with Preeclampsia and induced at 37 weeks. Her multiple day labor ended in C-Section and the birth
Ep 8. Balancing Two: Haley Travalgia's Transition from One to Two Kids
Haley Travalgia - Mom of 2 kids ages 3.5 & 1. She candidly shares her journey navigating motherhood and the transition from one child to two. From the challenges of pregnancy to the realities of postpartum experiences, Haley opens up about mom guilt, relationship dynamics, and the evolving landscape of raising multiple children. Dive into the raw and relatable conversations about balancing work, m
Embracing Mindfulness & Holistic Healing Postpartum - Gabrielle
Gabrielle - Mom to her 2 year old daughter and founder of Serene Moms. Gabby shares her journey to motherhood from self image & confidence changes, postpartum anxiety, embracing your new life after becoming a mom and holistic lifestyle choices. We discuss the ongoing process of self-discovery and healing when you become a mom. Gabrielle shares her positive induction birth story and opens up about
Ep 10 - Unexplained Infertility, Maintaining your Identity and Becoming an Author & Mother with Rebecca Garner
Rebecca Garner is 34 years and is from the suburbs of Chicago. She is a mom of two with a 5 year old daughter and 1 year old son. Rebecca had two C-sections and went through a period of unexplained infertility when trying for her second. She got back into writing during this time to help cope. She reflects on the importance of self-care and maintaining personal identity alongside motherhood. She s
Ep. 11: Natalie Cooper's Motherhood Journey: Preeclampsia, Emergency C-Section and Postpartum
Natalie always wanted to be a mother and decided to start trying after eloping with her husband, David, due to family health issues. She became pregnant quickly, which was a surprise. She experienced severe preeclampsia, leading to an emergency C-section at 35 weeks. Despite the complications, her daughter was born healthy and has been thriving. Natalie shares her breastfeeding journey which invol
Ep. 12: Christina Spoehr’s Motherhood Journey: Late-Term Miscarriage, Incompetent Cervix, Cerclage, Step-motherhood
Christina Spoehr is 35 and is from Rhode Island. She has a 15 year old stepson and a 2 year old daughter. In addition to being a mom she works in public relations. On this episode Christina shares her heartfelt journey to motherhood opening up about her lifelong desire to be a mom, becoming a stepmom, and the difficult and emotional experience of pregnancy loss due to an incompetent cervix. She d
Ep. 13: Rachele Macera's Motherhood Journey: Unexplained Infertility and Becoming a Doula & Birth Worker
Rachele Macera - Mom to 2 and expecting her 3rd this month is a Birth & Postpartum Doula - Founder of Safe Haven Doula and childbirth educator. Rachele's birth experience impacted her so strongly that she decided to get into birth work and to support moms women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and with breastfeeding. She also experienced some unexplained infertility and in her story she explai
Ep. 14: Destiny's Motherhood Journey: Infertility & PCOS, Plus-Size in Pregnancy, Elective Induction & C-Section, Exclusively Pumping, Maternity Leave
Destiny has 2 daughters who are 3.5 and 11 months old and she is also a licensed insurance producer. Destiny shares her story of infertility and diagnosis with PCOS. She shares her first birth story in depth which was an elective induction which resulted in a C-section. She opens up about her experience through pregnancy and birth as a plus size woman. Destiny also exclusively pumped both her
Ep 15: Kara Kushnir's Motherhood Journey: LCSW and Perinatal Mental Health Specialist opens up about her Birth Trauma, PTSD, PPA, & POCD
Kara Kushnir – Mom to her 3 year old son, Psychotherapist specializing in perinatal mental health, Postpartum Support International NJ Chapter Chair of the Board and Author of “Mama’s Thoughts” shares her story on today’s episode. She had Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) throughout pregnancy. Her scheduled C-section did not go as planned and led to a traumatic birth which affected her into postpartum.
End of the Year Update & Check in with Brittany
Looking forward to connecting with all of you and bringing awareness to matrescence in 2025.
Ep 16: Carson Pennypacker’s Motherhood Journey: Becoming a stepmom before giving birth, Loss, and Postpartum Challenges
Carson Pennypacker - Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Florida, and mom of 3 shares her multifaceted journey into motherhood. Carson became a mom earlier than expected when she started dating her now-husband, who had a four-year-old son. They later expanded their family, having another son and a daughter. Carson discusses the challenges and joys of becoming a mom, the impact of losing her mothe
Ep 17: Arielle Morrow's Motherhood Journey: MMC & D&C, Positive Induction, Postpartum Challenges and Finding Balance in Motherhood
Arielle Morrow - Bay area Mom to her 19 month old son and Tech Agency Program Manager. Arielle shares her journey into motherhood, discussing her experiences with pregnancy, miscarriage, and postpartum life. She talks about her initial ambivalence towards having children, her unexpected first pregnancy, and the emotional and physical challenges of experiencing a miscarriage. Arielle also details h
Ep. 18: Abby Hock's Motherhood Journey: IVF, Severe Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Birth Story & Postpartum
Abby Hock - Mom of 2 boys - 2 years old and 2 month shares her experience of being diagnosed with severe diminished ovarian reserve, undergoing multiple rounds of IVF, and the emotional and physical challenges she faced along the way. She talks about her 43-hour induction, complications with epidurals, and eventual C-section for the birth of her first son. Abby provides valuable insights int
Ep. 19: Courtney Cartier's Motherhood Journey
Courtney Cartier - Mom to her 20 month old daughter and HR Manager from Sacramento shares pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience including colicky evenings, hormonal shifts and the emotional toll of new parenthood. Courtney also talks about relationship changes after baby, the impact of generational differences in parenting, and the importance of self-care. We highlights the ups and downs of m
Ep. 20: Jillian Williams-Coffee: Mother, Paralympian Gold Medalist & Cancer Survivor & Mother
Jillian Williams-Coffee: Mother, Cancer Survivor, Paralympian USA Sitting Volleyball Tokyo 20' Gold Medalist shares her inspiring journey to motherhood. After her unexpected diagnosis of Ewing Sarcoma at 19 and amputation of her left leg Jillian recounts the following challenges she faced regarding fertility, undergoing chemotherapy, and being diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. D
A Brief Message from Brittany & Spring Check-in / Updates
Hi All - Updating you guys and also masking for help with social media management.
Email: becomingamotherpod@gmail.com
Instagram: @becomingamotherpodcast
Ep. 21: Katie Reed's Motherhood Journey: Navigating Grief after Loss of Loved one Newly Postpartum, Gestational Diabetes and Being a Working Mom of 2 Boys
Katie Reed - Mom of 2 boys, ages 2 and 4 months shares her journey to motherhood while navigating the grief of loser her grandmother/best friend suddenly from cancer not long after giving birth. Katie had gestational diabetes for both of her pregnancies and navigated colic, silent reflux and a tongue tie with her first son. She shares the differences from going from 0-1 and then 1-2 kids and how s
Ep. 22: Talia Tomoleoni's Motherhood Journey: Radical Acceptance & Redefining Identity and Joy in Postpartum
Talia Tomoleoni - Mom of 2 boys (pregnant at time of recording) shares her journey to motherhood and the radical acceptance of the life changes that come along with it. Our conversation explores the emotional complexities of becoming a mom, the identity shift and the challenges of balancing expectations with reality. Talia reflects on her first pregnancy and birth story. She discusses the physica
Ep. 23: Dayna Ferrer’s Motherhood Journey: IVF and a Surprise Pregnancy, 2 Cesareans and Navigating Postpartum as a Working Mom of 2 under 2
Dayna Ferrer - Mom to 2 toddlers, shares her journey to motherhood, including her struggles with infertility, IVF, pregnancy, birth experiences, and postpartum challenges. Dayna discusses her deep desire to become a mom, her emotional roller coaster during infertility treatments, and the eventual success of IVF.. She also recounts her surprise second pregnancy, which occurred naturally after IVF,
Ep. 24: Lisa Myers' Motherhood Journey: CEO and Founder of Ceres Chill
Lisa Meyers of Bainbridge Island WA, Mother of 2 ages 11 & 7, Founder and CEO of Ceres Chill, retired attorney and political operative shares her journey to motherhood. Lisa delves into navigating the challenges of postpartum recovery and balancing a demanding career in a male dominated field with motherhood. She also shares the emotional highs and lows of breastfeeding and how she ultimately turn
Ep. 25: Pietrina Musumeci's Motherhood Journey: IVF after Infertility and PCOS, Birth Story and Postpartum.
Pietrina Musumeci: Mom of 2 ages 5 and 2 shares her journey to motherhood, deciding to pursue IVF after facing challenges with infertility. She describes the 3-year process, including the emotional ups and downs and her successful first embryo transfer. Pietrina talks about her pregnancy experience, balancing work, and eventually transitioning to maternity leave. She shares her birth story and po
Ep. 25: Brandi Soileau's Motherhood Journey: Birth Story, Breastfeeding, Molar Pregnancy and Postpartum Ecperience
Brandi Soileau of Dallas TX, Mother of 2 ages 4 and 1.5 and Life, Travel & Motherhood Influencer @Bandisoileau shares her experience becoming a mother after nonchalantly deciding to have a child. She then explains she was "hooked" and could not believe she waited so long. She shares her birth story and then subsequent experience getting pregnant which resulted in a partial molar pregnancy discove
Ep. 26: Rachel Weitzel's Motherhood Journey: Late Term Loss, DNC turned Delivery, 2nd Pregnancy and Birth, Postpartum & Motherhood
Rachel Weitzel of Texas, Mom to her 4 year old daughter and founder of the Parenting Pontoon Mom Group @parentingpontoon, shares her experience becoming a mother. Her first pregnancy resulted in a late term miscarriage at 20 weeks and her planned DNC turned into the delivery of her son who is not earth side. Rachel shares how this affected her, mourning the loss of her son and being surrounded by
Ep. 27: Becky Nicholes' Motherhood Journey: Becoming a Mother to children with Disabilities, Twins after Late Term Loss, Birth Stories and being a Mom of 4 under 5 .
Becky Nicholes of New Jersey - Wife and Mom to 4 boys, Elementary School Counselor and Adjunct Professor shares her journey to motherhood which began with her having her first 2 boys just 1 year apart and during the COVID Pandemic. Both were diagnosed with autism. She shares her experience navigating their diagnoses and being a mom to children with disabilities, the early intervention steps taken
Ep. 28: Valentina Valencia's Motherhood Journey: Postpartum Lupus Diagnosis, Endometriosis , Traumatic Birth and Postpartum Separation Anxiety
Valentina Valencia of Florida - Mom to her 2.5 year old son shares her journey to motherhood which began with an early diagnosis of endometriosis. She became pregnant naturally despite being told it would be a struggle and may not even be possible. Valentina was induced due to high blood pressure and went through a traumatic birth due to an emergency C-Section where she had an intense seizure im
Postpartum Decoded: Doulas
Episode 1 of the Postpartum Decoded Series is here! On this episode, I chat with Kristin Revere to learn more about everything "Doula." Kristen is the owner and founder of Gold Coast Doulas in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is an elite certified birth & postpartum doula, a newborn care specialist, a childbirth educator, co-author of "Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby" and host of Ask the Doulas
Ep. 29: Ludivine Trentin's Motherhood Journey: A Cross-Cultural Perspective on Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Motherhood
Ludivine Trentin - Mom to her 2 year-old daughter and founder of In Her Mother’s World (@inhermothersworld) - A community of mothers who wants to follow their instincts instead of following the society pressure - shares her journey to motherhood which was widely shaped by her unique experience navigating the cultural differences between Europe and the United States.
Raised in France and later l
Ep. 30: Samantha Hawley's Motherhood Journey: Finding Clarity and Empowerment Through Journaling
Samantha Hawley - Mom to her 4 year-old son, Clarity Coach and Host of the “Journal Entries” Podcast shares her deeply personal journey through motherhood, marriage, and self-discovery. Samantha opens up about her experiences with pregnancy during the isolating times of 2020, navigating postpartum challenges, and the emotional toll of an unsupportive partnership. She discusses how journaling becam
Ep. 31 Brittany Olson on Journal Entries Podcast: What is Matrescence?
Recently I has the pleasure of being a guest on Samantha Hawley's podcast "Journal Entries." This week I am sharing my conversation with her on everything matrescence. We got real about what those first months of motherhood actually look like and the struggles we both faced. I spoke about what matrescence is and what you can do in postpartum if you are struggling through this transitional period.
Ep. 32: Courtney Campbell's Motherhood Journey: Postpartum Challenges, Baby Sleep Struggles, and Becoming a Certified Sleep Consultant
Courtney Campbell - Mom of 2 boys, 3 & 5 years old of Indiana, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and owner of Counting Sleep with Courtney. shares her journey into motherhood and her experiences with postpartum challenges, baby sleep, and breastfeeding. She discusses her struggles with her first child during the pandemic, including complications with nursing, sleep issues, and postpartum anxiet
Ep 33. Chelsea Lamb's Motherhood Journey: Navigating Infant Loss after Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) & Finding Healing Through Advocacy
Chelsea Lamb - Mom of 2 earthside children and 1 angel, shares her deeply personal journey through motherhood, from navigating the challenges of postpartum with her first who experienced "BRUE" (Brief resolved unexplained event) and the loss of her second child, Miles, due to a rare congenital heart defect. Chelsea opens up about her her struggles with postpartum anxiety, the emotional toll of m
Postpartum Decoded: Supporting Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities
In this episode of my Postpartum Decoded Series I sit down with Dr. Emily Levy, founder and director of EBL Coaching, to discuss parenting children with learning and developmental disabilities.
Dr. Levy, an expert in special education with a doctorate in education, shares her insights on common learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, including signs to look for and w
Ep. 34: Susan Elizabeth's Motherhood Journey: Finding Purpose, Navigating Challenges, and Embracing Imperfection
In this heartfelt and deeply reflective episode, I sit down with my friend Susan, Mom of 2 and Licensed Social Worker, to explore her journey into motherhood. From discovering her nurturing instincts at a young age to navigating the challenges of pregnancy and postpartum, Susan opens up about her struggles with health conditions, SIBO and endometriosis, the emotional toll of losing her father, and
Ep. 35: Manon Berryman's Motherhood Journey: The Unfiltered Truth on Navigating Postpartum & Marriage
Manon Berryman, star of 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way (Season 7), founder of Barry Brand Agency, wife and mom to her adorable son, Benjamin gets deep, real and raw and opens up about her journey into motherhood, the challenges of postpartum emotions, balancing work and family life, and her decision to move to France for a slower-paced lifestyle. She shares her struggles with mom guilt, mental heal
Postpartum Decoded: From Postpartum to Perimenopause: Navigating Hormonal Health with Dr. Sarah Doyle
The Postpartum Decoded Series is back with Dr. Sarah Doyle, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, dives deep into the challenges women face during postpartum and perimenopause. From hormonal imbalances, brain fog, anxiety, depression, and rage to thyroid dysfunction and Hashimoto’s, Dr. Doyle explains the science behind these struggles and offers actionable s
Ep.36 | Foster Wilson: Navigating Motherhood – From Home Birth Plans to Loss and Healing
In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with author, director, podcast host and postpartum doula - Foster Wilson to discuss her transformative journey into motherhood.. Foster shares her experiences of becoming a young mom, her decision to pursue a home birth with her first, and the unexpected challenges she faced, including a breech baby and a diagnosis of cholestasis that led to a cesarean deliver
Ep.37 | Ashley Lambert: Rediscovering Identity and Strength in Motherhood
Ashley Lambert - mom of 2 boys and Faith-led Health Coach and Hots of the Fat Loss Momentum Podcast explores her transformative journey into motherhood and entrepreneurship. Ashley shares her candid story of navigating pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic, managing gestational diabetes, and feeling unprepared for the realities of postpartum life. She opens up about the overwhelming challenges
Ep.38 | Mel Parent: A Journey Through Motherhood, Loss, and Empowering Moms through Functional Healing
Mel Parent – Mom of 2, Nurse Practitioner and Functional Health & Fitness Coach for moms shares her inspiring journey into motherhood. From her lifelong dream of becoming a mom to navigating the challenges of pregnancy, balancing work, and coping with the loss of her own mother, Mel opens up about the highs and lows of parenting. She discusses the importance of self-care, adjusting expectations, a
