by admin | Feb 7, 2019 | anxiety management, Body Acceptance, Body Image, Breastfeeding, Community, Eating Disorder Recovery, Eating Disorders During Pregnancy, Eating Disorders Postpartum, Emotions & Food, Hunger & Fullness Postpartum, Mental Health Treatment, Mindful Eating, Nurtured Mama, perinatal mood disorders, Podcast, Postpartum, pregnancy, pregnancy wellness, Self Care, stress management, Support for Moms
Busy Mom's Starter Guide to Making Peace with Food
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IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BABY WEIGHT – RECOVERY MAMA SUMMIT
During pregnancy and postpartum, your relationship with food changes and your body transforms. This shift is challenging for nearly all new moms, but if you have a history of anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder, that adds another layer of complexity to an already difficult process. So, what kind of support do you need if you are in recovery as you transition into motherhood?
Dr. Linda Shanti is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco. She specializes in recovery from eating disorders, body image challenges, anxiety, postpartum depression, and new mom support. Linda is also a well-known speaker and author of the book The Recovery Mama Guide to Your Eating Disorder Recovery in Pregnancy and Postpartum. With 20 years of experience in the realm of compulsive eating, emotional eating, binge eating, bulimia, and anorexia, she is committed to helping women leverage expressive arts, mindfulness, and compassionate mirroring to support recovery in pregnancy and postpartum.
On this episode of The Embodied & Well Mom Show, Linda joins us to explain the proactive approach she took to get support during her own pregnancy, discussing the way her anxiety presented as irritability, anger, and hypervigilance. She shares her experience with both food and body image during pregnancy and postpartum and describes how she supports women in decoding the myths around ‘getting your body back.’ Listen in to understand Linda’s approach to working with new moms in recovery—and learn to quiet your overdeveloped self-critic in favor of self-compassion!
Key Takeaways
Linda’s proactive approach to getting support during her own pregnancy
- Brought up history of anxiety, eating disorder at first appointment
- Surprised by irritable depression, rage and hypervigilance
The challenge of supporting a partner with irritable depression
- Looks like pushing away, want to be alone
Linda’s experience with food during pregnancy and postpartum
- Disconcerting ravenous hunger
- Nausea in first trimester (calmed by eating)
Linda’s experience with body image during pregnancy
- Drastic hormonal shifts led to BIG feelings
- Fun to have baby bump in middle of process
- Very rough at end, ‘carting around boulder’
How Linda supports clients around postpartum body image
- Work through grief process
- Decode myths re: diet culture, getting body back
How Linda works with moms in recovery from eating disorders
- Reframe independence as interdependence
- Address overdeveloped self-critic
- Reassess schedule, lower the bar on expectations
Linda’s advice for overachieving first-time moms
- You will come back, have time to self again
Connect with Linda
Linda’s Website
Recovery Mama on Instagram
Recovery Mam on Facebook
Connect with Lindsay
Intuitive Eating Moms
Embodied & Well Mom Show on Facebook
Lindsay on Instagram
Lindsay on Pinterest
Lindsay on Twitter
Lindsay on LinkedIn
Resources
The Recovery Mama Guide to Your Eating Disorder Recovery in Pregnancy and Postpartum by Linda Shanti McCabe
by admin | Nov 30, 2018 | Mental Health Treatment, Mindful Eating, perinatal mood disorders, Podcast, Postpartum, pregnancy, pregnancy wellness, Self Care, stress management, Support for Moms
Busy Mom's Starter Guide to Making Peace with Food
Get the 5 day audio course!
Listen + Subscribe on ITUNES or STITCHER
We’d greatly appreciate a podcast rating and review so that we can reach more mamas and families!
Every mom needs more help than we get. But if you’re a new mom struggling with anxiety and depression, it can be difficult to reach out for support. With or without a diagnosis of PMADs, you deserve help—and yoga therapy may provide just the tools you need to address any physical or emotional imbalances you are experiencing. The best part? Much of it can be done while you’re holding a baby or lying down. No mat required.
Suzannah Neufeld is a licensed psychotherapist and certified yoga therapist in private practice out of the Bay Area. She has 15 years of experience supporting people coping with eating disorders, body image concerns, anxiety, and pregnancy and early parenthood. Suzannah speaks regularly on the topics of eating disorders, body image, perinatal mood disorders, and yoga therapy for organizations like the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Postpartum Support International, and About-Face. Her first book, Awake at 3 a.m.: Yoga Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Pregnancy and Early Motherhood, was published in 2018.
Today, Suzannah joins us to share her definition of yoga, discussing the difference between its true intention and how it’s been marketed in Western culture. She offers her take on the idea of self-care and explains why she advocates for responsiveness to your body instead. Suzannah also addresses what she calls the ‘all-natural mandate’ and the judgement and shame pregnant women and new moms feel around food. Listen in for Suzannah’s insight on the distinction between PMADs and the baby blues, the value in researching therapists before the baby comes, and how she leverages yoga therapy to help moms with anxiety and depression.
Key Takeaways
Suzannah’s definition of yoga
- Practices to connect body, heart and mind
- Provide clarity and meaningful existence
The 3 key components of Suzannah’s practice
- Breathing techniques—pranayama
- Movement/postures—asanas
- Philosophical tools (e.g.: inward focus, compassion)
The true intention of yoga
- Not about certain body type, structure
- Dropping into body to access freedom
Suzannah’s take on the idea of self-care
- Focus on self disregards community as source
- Activities often require time or money
Why Suzannah advocates for responsiveness to your body
- Act on need to rest, relationship with food
- Yoga affords opportunity to learn to listen
The difference between PMADs and the baby blues
- Distinction in duration, severity of symptoms
- Emotional, behavioral and thought indicators
Suzannah’s insight on creating a postpartum plan
- Deserve help with or without diagnosis
- Interview therapists while pregnant
How PMADs might show up in unexpected ways
- Anxiety (normal vs. interfering)
- Rage that makes you ashamed
How Suzannah uses yoga to help moms with PMADs
- Get present in body, notice areas of tension
- Address imbalances with poses or practices
- Many can be done holding baby, lying down
Suzannah’s view of the ‘all-natural mandate’
- Perception that yoga means eating clean
- Judgement that hurting baby if don’t
- Another way of policing women’s bodies
How to recover from shame around food
- Do what’s right for you, find support
- Know people will say unhelpful things
Suzannah’s top advice around yoga and mental health
- Medication can be helpful (not ‘easy way out’)
- Yoga won’t fix, but will provide solace
Connect with Suzannah
Suzannah’s Website
Suzannah on Facebook
Suzannah on Twitter
Suzannah on Instagram
SPONSOR:
Intuitive Eating Moms Club
Non-diet wellness made simple for moms.
December’s Topic:
A Mindful You!
A month dedicated to establishing a mindfulness practice and using it to support your eating (and life) experiences.
LEARN MORE
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Awake at 3 a.m.: Yoga Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Pregnancy and Early Motherhood by Suzannah Neufeld
Body Full of Stars: Female Rage and My Passage into Motherhood by Molly Caro May
Nancy Bardacke
Mindful Birthing: Training the Mind, Body, and Heart for Childbirth and Beyond by Nancy Bardacke
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Yoga Rising: 30 Empowering Stories from Yoga Renegades for Every Body by Melanie C. Klein
Yoga and Body Image Coalition
Yoga and Body Image: 25 Personal Stories About Beauty, Bravery & Loving Your Body by Melanie C. Klein
by Ana R | Sep 21, 2018 | Child Feeding, Eating Disorder Recovery, Eating Disorders During Pregnancy, Eating Disorders Postpartum, perinatal mood disorders, Postpartum, pregnancy, pregnancy wellness, Self Care, Support for Moms, Uncategorized, Weight Gain
Listen + Subscribe on ITUNES or STITCHER
We’d greatly appreciate a podcast rating and review so that we can reach more mamas and families!
– Search for the podcast in your podcast app (The Embodied & Well Mom Show)
– Scroll down and click 5 stars
– Tap “Write a Review” & enter brief review
– Press send
MEET THE GUEST:
Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and mama of four (almost 5). With a San Diego based nutrition practice, Crystal helps mamas nurture a peaceful relationship with food and their bodies at any stage of the motherhood journey. As a survivor of an eating disorder and postpartum depression, Crystal is passionate about empowering mothers to nourish themselves first, so that they may better nourish their families.
Crystal infuses both personal and professional experience into her nutrition counseling practice, with over 10 years of involvement in the fields of maternal health, child nutrition, and eating disorder recovery. By serving mothers and families through her online blog and locally, through her private practice, Crystal is committed to creating a community of strong, thriving mothers, who are learning to nourish their families’ minds, bodies, and spirits.
WHERE TO FIND CRYSTAL ONLINE:
Website: https://www.crystalkarges.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalkargesnutrition
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crystalkarges
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/crystal_karges
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystalkarges
EPISODE SUMMARY:
- In this episode, Crystal shares about her transition to motherhood. She opened up about her experiences with eating disorder recovery, postpartum depression and how she uses those experiences to help advocate for her clients. Crystal highlights that motherhood is defined by growth and is about being adaptable and open to learning. She emphasizes the importance of learning to lean on others for support who care and understand what you’re going through.
- Crystal talks about the pressures and frustrations that most women go through during pregnancy particularly about developing insecurities when it comes to what to eat during pregnancy, the pressure to gain a certain amount during pregnancy and the expectation to “bounce back” after baby.
- Crystal also encourages moms to be advocates for themselves. She encourages moms to find their voice and to communicate what they need. She also emphasizes the importance of finding a support group that can help you maintain a sense of peace during the pregnancy and postpartum journey.
by admin | Sep 12, 2018 | Intuitive Eating, Podcast, Postpartum, pregnancy, pregnancy wellness, Self Care, Support for Moms
Busy Mom's Starter Guide to Making Peace with Food
Get the 5 day audio course!
Hey Mamas!
The Nurtured Mama Podcast is back! Except it’s no longer called The Nurtured Mama Podcast. It’s now the Embodied and Well Mom Show. If you listen to the episode you’ll learn why the name has changed, what I’ve been up to and what to expect with season 2! Can’t wait to dive in!
Cheers, mama!!
Resources I mention in the episode:
https://benourished.org/
https://www.intuitiveeatingmoms.com (my new website url)
Get your all-access pass to the Intuitive Eating for Moms Starter Series here –> https://www.intuitiveeatingmoms.com/intuitive-eating-for-moms/
Free facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nurturedmamacommunity/
BRAND NEW: Uplevel your intuitive eating and motherhood journey by joining the Intuitive Eating Moms Club. Non-diet wellness made simple for moms. Learn more about it here–> http://www.intuitiveeatingmoms.club
by Ana R | Dec 12, 2017 | Body Acceptance, Body Image, Breastfeeding, Nurtured Mama, Podcast, Postpartum, pregnancy, pregnancy wellness, Self Care, Support for Moms, Uncategorized

Listen + Subscribe on ITUNES or STITCHER
We’d greatly appreciate a podcast rating and review so that we can reach more mamas and families!
– Search for the podcast in your podcast app (The Nurtured Mama Podcast)
– Scroll down and click 5 stars
– Tap “Write a Review” & enter brief review
– Press send
MEET THE GUEST:
Jennifer McGurk, RDN, CDN, CDE, CEDRD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist whose mission is to help people heal from diets, and find peace and balance with their food choices. She is the owner of Eat With Knowledge in Nyack, NY. She leads a team of dietitians who support the philosophy, “Feel fabulous about food!”
As a Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian, Jennifer combines her expertise in medical nutrition therapy, psychology, and physiology to help clients understand their eating behaviors, and gain the insight needed to make positive changes for their health. She is an expert in the field of eating disorders, and a proud advocate for the Health at Every Size movement.
Jennifer has created the business, Pursuing Private Practice, along with authoring a book series of the same name, to help other healthcare professionals reach their goal of owning their own business. She also offers an e-course on Pursing Private Practice to help all healthcare professionals achieve their business goals. She offers supervision to other dietitians in the field of eating disorders.
Jennifer is a frequent guest in the media, often talking about positive nutrition, body image, healing from dieting, and educating others about eating disorders. She also loves to talk about all topics related to private practice! She has given presentations at conferences and workshops to audiences from 10 to as many as 1,000 people, and has been featured in news articles and on podcasts. For Jennifer, each presentation is an opportunity to share with her audience her positive message about food.
WHERE TO FIND JENNIFER ONLINE:
Websites:
www.eatwithknowledge.com
www.pursuingprivatepractice.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferMcGurkRDN/
Twitter: @jenmcgurkrdn
Instagram: @jennifermcgurkrdn
EPISODE SUMMARY:
- Jennifer shares about her family’s experiences during their transition when they welcomed their second child at home.
- She also gives emphasis on giving assurance to the first child that nothing will ever change in how he/she is loved and cared for despite the fact that there’s a new addition to the family.
- Jennifer discussed how she planned differently for her 2nd birth, pregnancy and postpartum. She also shared a tip about not having so many expectations when it comes to the process of pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum.
- For Jen, change is the only constant. She shares that she’s learned it’s okay for things not to fall into the timeline. It’s okay to take a step back and reflect. Later on, things will fall into their own place.
- She also gives advice to mothers on being compassionate with themselves. Leave guilt and shame aside. Whatever decision you make that you think is best for your family is okay.
- According to Jen, what your body needs is important. Yet, it’s also important to take care of your mind and soul. Motherhood is a tough job and it’s okay to ask support.



by Ana R | Dec 5, 2017 | anxiety management, high-risk pregnancy, Nurtured Mama, Podcast, Postpartum, Postpartum Wellness Series, pregnancy wellness, stress management

Listen + Subscribe on ITUNES or STITCHER
We’d greatly appreciate a podcast rating and review so that we can reach more mamas and families!
– Search for the podcast in your podcast app (The Nurtured Mama Podcast)
– Scroll down and click 5 stars
– Tap “Write a Review” & enter brief review
– Press send
MEET OUR GUEST:
Parijat Deshpande is the leading high-risk pregnancy expert who educates and guides women on how to manage their stress, anxiety and overall wellness so they can have healthier pregnancies, decrease their risk of preterm birth and give their baby a healthy start to life. Parijat is a clinically trained therapist, a women’s wellness expert and an experienced speaker on the impact of stress on health and wellness. She has over 4 years of experience as a Psychology Lecturer UC Berkeley and is the founder of MySahana, a South Asian mental health nonprofit. Parijat is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and is also a certified wellness coach, a certified stress management coach and a certified marriage educator.
WHERE TO FIND PARIJAT ONLINE:
Website: www.ParijatDeshpande.com
EPISODE SUMMARY:
- Parijat talks about her transition to motherhood, from all the challenges that she had faced starting from conceiving their baby, to going through ruptured ectopic pregnancy, preterm labor, and the turmoils that she and her family had to go through after giving birth to fight for their baby’s survival.Parijat believed that it had become her mission to help other women who are of her similar journey by giving them the support and encouragement that they need to be able to overcome it.
- She also talks about a research study that relates high-level stress to increasing a certain hormone that affects the placental clock, causing a greater risk for preterm delivery.
- Parijat share tips on how she helps mothers manage their anxiety using the mind-body connection. According to her, that sense of control is really important to helping moms feel less anxious.When you’re able to bring down your anxiety, it’s essential to listen to what your body is telling you. She teaches clients to help them identify the difference between anxiety and when is the right time to seek medical help.
- Parijat also talks about providing postpartum support to mothers who are in high-risk a pregnancy. According to her the postpartum experience of a high-risk pregnancy is quite different than a typical pregnancy because there is so much trauma that the mother goes through without the mother having enough time to process.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:
One on One Program:
Hold My Hand Program
Course:
Healthy High Risk Pregnancy Course
You can find these on her website: https://www.parijatdeshpande.com/


