Becoming a Mother

Looking forward to connecting with all of you and bringing awareness to matrescence in 2025.

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. She dealt with PTSD, POCD and PPA. This episode provides informative and expert insight from a mental health professional on how to get help in postpartum when suffering through mental health issues and exactly what women can do to combat them. She also gives insight on how birth trauma survivors can heal. Resources: Book (Mama's Thoughts) - https://a.co/d/c7envmQ Website- www.aworkofheartcounseling.com Postpartum Support International- postpartum.net Instagram: Brittany Olson: @becomingamotherpodcast / b_pepeolson Kara Kushnir: @aworkofheart_Counseling / @karakushnir_therapist / @psinjchapter

Destiny Clement is 30 and is from Louisiana. She 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 daughters and so she shares many tips and tricks for being successful through that journey. Destiny approaches motherhood with a calm attitude and encourages women to surrender to the unknown and relinquish control over expectations in birth and in motherhood. Instagram: Brittany Olson: Becomingamotherpodcast Destiny Clement: destinyclement_

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 explains how she worked through those issues and have 3 children. Go to: https://www.safehavendoula.com/ Free monthly postpartum support group the first Wednesday of every month. Rachele's Virtual childbirth education course out now! https://www.safehavendoula.com/new-page Instagram: Brittany Olson @becomingamotherpodcast Rachele Macera @safehaven.doula

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 discusses the steps she took to ensure a healthy pregnancy, including the decision to get a transabdominal cerclage (TAC). Christina also talks about the anxiety during pregnancy after loss, the realities of postpartum life, and the joys and struggles of raising her daughter. Join us for an inspiring conversation about resilience, hope, and the joy and struggles of motherhood. Instagram: Brittany Olson @Becomingamotherpodcast Christina Spoehr: @csoave