Becoming Mama?: A Pregnancy and Birth Podcast by Motherly is the essential pregnancy and birth companion podcast to the groundbreaking book, The Motherly Guide to Becoming Mama: Redefining the Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum Journey.  Meet your host Diana Spalding, Motherly?s Digital Education Editor and certified nurse-midwife and learn more about what to expect in each episode.

In the very first episode of the Becoming Mama? Podcast, Diana talks about the importance of self-care through pregnancy. We live in a society that makes us feel like self-care is selfish, but really it is the least selfish thing you can do, especially when you are on the brink of motherhood. 

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

In this episode, Diana talks about getting pregnant, and one of the most important concepts to know when you?re trying to get pregnant: Timing is everything. Plus, you?ll learn about an important sign that you are ovulating.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

This episode is dedicated to women who are experiencing a miscarriage, if listening feels right. Miscarriage is perhaps the most intensely personal experience a person can go through. There is no right way to feel, except the way that comes up for you naturally?just know that you are deeply and lovingly held and supported.  

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

If you?ve just found out you are pregnant, in addition to hundreds of feelings (!), you may be wondering about what you can and cannot eat. In this episode we?ll give an overview of the foods that experts usually recommend avoiding during pregnancy.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

It may seem impossibly early in your pregnancy to start thinking about birth! But, where you give birth influences where you get your prenatal care, and you?ll be having your first prenatal appointment soon. In this episode, Diana will give an overview of your options.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

This podcast is about you, but you are probably curious about what your bay is up to in there. This week, check in and see what is happening with your baby?s development at 6 weeks pregnant.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Pregnancy is an amazing, but vulnerable time. So it?s essential to surround yourself with people that lift you up. In the episode, Diana shares some ideas when considering who to have in your pregnancy village.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

It?s week 8, which means you may be having your first prenatal visit pretty soon. In this episode, Diana discusses what to anticipate at that first visit, and shares some tips on making pelvic exams more tolerable.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

If you are following week by week and are 9 weeks pregnant, nausea may really be starting to take hold, as it does for most pregnant women. Diana shares some ideas to make it better, and offers emotional support for this very difficult symptom.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

It?s time for a little ?what is your baby up to? update! The ten-week mark of pregnancy is an exciting milestone because it is the last week of the embryo stage. We?ll also talk about your concerns related to nutrition when you have pregnancy nausea.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Sex and intimacy during pregnancy can feel mysterious?but it doesn?t have to! In this episode, Diana talks about how to stay safe, how to (gasp) enjoy it, and shares a note on feeling comfortable about your body with your provider.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

This is the time when many parents start to think about their registries and the items they?d like to acquire for their babies! In this episode Diana shares some tips for creating the perfect registry.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Let?s pause and reflect on the everything in your life that?s led you to this very important moment in time. In this episode, Diana encourages you to try to ?release the not enoughs, the can?ts, and the doubts,? so that you can step into your true self and power.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Making the decision about what work looks like for you after the baby comes is super personal. In his episode, Diana addresses a common concern for women: telling your employer or co-workers that you are pregnant. 

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Let?s check in on your baby?s development at week 15. Diana also shares a way to bond with your baby this month, and some info on when you?ll get to feel those first baby movements.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

In this episode, Diana reviews the benefits of exercise during pregnancy, and shares some insight into pregnancy cravings?why we have them, and some ideas for healthy foods.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

It may seem far away, but remember that at the end of all of this, you will have a baby! In this episode, Diana talks about beginning to think about how you?ll want to be a parent to your child?and the most important piece to remember.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Values are essential your guiding principles?the concepts that are the most important to you as you go through your days and years. Defining those values during pregnancy can be incredibly helpful so that you can stay true to yourself as you transition into motherhood.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Let?s check in and see what?s going on with your baby! And, Diana shares tips on getting enough sleep as your pregnancy progresses, your belly gets bigger, and sleep is harder to come by.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Many women have their big anatomy scan, a long ultrasound that looks at all the parts of the baby around this week. Sometimes, ultrasound reveal a concern. This episode is focused on supporting you should that become a part of your story.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Doulas can be an incredibly powerful member of your team. In this episode Diana talks about what doulas are, how they can help, how to choose one, and how doulas can be instrumental in improving disparities in maternal health. 

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Pregnancy is amazing?but sometimes it can be very hard. In this episode, Diana offers support and love to women experiencing difficult pregnancies (for any reason).

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

It?s time to start talking about birth! Diana gives an overview of what happens during the first, second, third and fourth stages of labor, and what you might experience during each of them.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

In this episode, we?ll check in with your baby?s development, and talk about the importance of having fun?both during pregnancy and in motherhood.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

In today?s episode, we are going to talk about preterm labor?the signs and symptoms, and what to do if you are worried that you might be going into labor early. Plus, Diana shares some support for warrior NICU mamas.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

It?s important to pay attention to your baby?s movement?in this episode Diana shares one way to keep track. Plus, she invites you to marvel at this important pregnancy milestone?the third trimester. 

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The placenta is a wildly cool organ, with very important functions during pregnancy?and some very interesting potential uses after.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Let?s talk about relationships. You are approaching the end of the second trimester, which means that things are getting very real. If you have a partner, let?s think about what your relationship is all going to be like when the baby is here.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Let?s do our first check in to see what your baby is up to in the third trimester. Plus, Diana shares some comforting insight into the common concern of umbilical cords being wrapped around the baby?s neck, as well as information on the practice of delayed cord clamping. 

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Anemia can be more common during the third trimester, so let?s talk about the symptoms, and some ways to increase your iron intake. We?ll also talk through diaphragmatic breathing?how to do it, and why you might want to.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

In this episode, Diana discusses breech and transverse baby positions, ways to encourage them to move to a head-down position, and what to anticipate if they don?t.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Today, we are going to talk about fear, specifically, the fear of birth. Diana discusses when to seek help for fearful thoughts, and share some ideas for making your fear feel less powerful. 

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Your pregnancy is 33 weeks along, so let?s check in with their development. And, Diana talks about why you might want to consider developing a birth plan for your upcoming birth.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

We?ve spent time in recent episodes talking about birth, and today we are going to talk about what happens just after birth. Plus, Diana talks about what to anticipate when it comes to postpartum bleeding.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Today we are going to talk about pain and the epidural decision?in a completely non-judgmental way, of course. 

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Start thinking about ways you can create a postpartum haven for yourself?a place where you can just rest and heal and take care of your baby in a way that feels like you are being cocooned in love and nurturing goodness.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

In this episode, Diana checks in with your baby?s development one more time, and shares some comforting words regarding the common concern around giving birth to a big baby. 

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Diana discusses what happens during a Cesarean section, and reminds us that Cesarean births are very much births.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

You. Are. So. Close. Let Diana offer you some inspiration and comfort as you get ready to give birth. You?ve got this.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Most first time mamas go past their due date?but that doesn?t make it easy. In this episode, Diana offers some encouragement, and a way to stay positive during this potentially tough period of time.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Today, Diana talks about your emotional wellbeing after giving birth, specifically the baby blues and postpartum depression and anxiety and other mood disorders.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Let?s spend some time talking about your physical recovery from birth, specifically your vagina and pelvis. 

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

In today?s episode, Diana talks about the sweet new addition to your life, and some ways that you can bond with them.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Today we are going to talk about feeding your baby, and what is perhaps the most common worry is among new parents?how do I know that my baby is getting enough to eat?

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

In this final weekly episode, Diana spends a few moments talking about evolution, specifically the way that your life and your motherhood journey are going to continue to evolve.

Please remember that Motherly provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. This podcast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.