Ahma Need A Minute

For our anniversary episode, we have a very special guest who is making waves in motherhood: Leslie Schrock is an accomplished author with two books that bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical advice for working families. Her breakout hit book, 'Bumpin': The Modern Guide to Pregnancy,' has become a go-to resource for parents navigating the simultaneously beautiful and challenging journey of pregnancy. Her second book, 'Fertility Rules: The Definitive Guide to Male and Female Reproductive Health,' draws on the latest clinical research to provide insights into topics that are rarely discussed in fertility books, from increasing sperm count and reducing exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals to navigating IVF.

Infertility is defined as the inability to get pregnant after a year of attempting to conceive. This impacts roughly 15% of couples in America. If you’re approaching your 30s or 40s and want to have a family some day, chances are, issues of fertility have crossed your mind. Perhaps you are currently struggling or know someone who has been trying for months or even years. In this episode with our Chief Health Officer Sonya Ye, we explore natural ways to boost fertility and get the body ready for pregnancy. By making lifestyle changes, you can increase your odds of conceiving, no matter if you are trying to get pregnant in your 20s or over 35.

Writing a birth plan can be intimidating to first time moms and parents and this episode helps walk you through step-by-step and offers a free template. Taking the time to think through your options can help you or your partner better advocate in the delivery room. I felt empowered having done some research and decision-making prior to entering labor and it gave me the confidence I needed to have the birth experience I wanted. If you're an expecting mom, I hope this helps you frame your intentions. If you've gone through labor and delivery, I'd love to hear what you think of this template!

Is your family entering a new chapter and needing to decide amongst childcare options? Yobe, preschool teacher turned childcare center director and children's book publisher, gives us the inside scoop of what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to open the lines of communication with your childcare provider. Hear her take on topics from teaching philosophies to drawing a line with childcare providers babysitting off-hours.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and Jessica opens up on miscarrying her first pregnancy. While still absorbing the shock of the non-viable fetus, due to unforeseen circumstances, she becomes temporarily isolated from her partner. Listen to her journey on conceiving again and how her first pregnancy impacted her experience with her rainbow baby. If you are going through this journey and need support, reach out to your network and let your inner circle in. And if you’re looking for ways to support those in grief, take a look at our articles and Instagram for ideas and guidance.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and we’re opening the dialogue today with one of our Ahma & Co writers, Jeanne. She talks about her physical and emotional journey in miscarriage last year and reflects on her strength to move through grief. Jeanne walks us through the doctor’s visits and the Dilation and Curettage out-patient procedure from both a patient and nurse perspective. This is not an easy topic to chat about, and I found myself fumbling on the words to say as Jeanne shared her experience. If you are going through this journey and need support, reach out to your network and let your inner circle in. And if you’re looking for ways to support those in grief, take a look at our articles and Instagram for ideas and guidance.

We have our first male on the show - my husband Jing! This one is for our expecting and experienced dads! If you've been listening to Ahma Need A Minute, you know that Jing played a crucial role in the birth of both our sons. As we celebrate our 7th year of marriage, tune in to hear reflections of our labor and delivery story, how we've grown as parents, and how we find "balance." If you have topic ideas or want to talk about this episode, join our facebook group or comment on the episode's instagram post!

Beth and Erika divulge details on family planning with a fertility clinic, sperm donor selection, and a traumatic emergency c-section. Coming around their son's first birthday, they reflect on their love for their nanny, the joys of parenthood, and the (newfound) decision for Erika to carry next.

Jade (a first time mom) has Q&A with Margaret (the host of Ahma Need A Minute) on topics around birth planning, labor and delivery, preparing for postpartum, partner support, and breastfeeding. If you're expecting and don't know where to start, this episode can spark some ideas for your birth preparation.

Jade is our first expecting mom on the show - due this September with baby #1. She talks about her experience navigating the unknowns and overwhelms of pregnancy (including an amniocentesis test!) and shares how her training in Mindfulness and Reiki have helped. If you need a minute - as someone family planning, pregnant, raising kids, or just being a human - Jade takes us through a short meditation to re-center, relax, and remember you got this!

Christine is a mom of two and has over 15 years of experience as a clinical dietitian. In addition to sharing her two very different birth stories (one including placenta previa), she also shares her journey of working with patients with Cystic Fibrosis.

The Case Family shares the trials and tribulations of conception (insemination) and how they chose a donor. Before confirming the pregnancy, Rebecca had to return to sea for service. Fortunately, she made it back towards the end of Kassie’s pregnancy and they tell their labor and delivery story in a light and humorous way. Throughout the episode, you can hear the love they have for each other, and how motherhood has further strengthened their relationship.

As a birth doula, postpartum caregiver, postpartum chef, and maternal health advocate, Shelley from New Mother Caregiving is our first subject matter expert on the show. She talks about the importance of the first 40 days postpartum, the differences in postpartum care in Western and Eastern cultures, and tangible advice on what support caregivers can do for the mother.

After an unplanned c-section, Eda went through the motions of frustration, disappointment, and self-doubt. With support from her husband, she became vocal on her needs and priorities and gained confidence that shone in her second labor and delivery experience. As a member of the Coast Guard, she also reflects on how policies have improved for serving mothers and the movements underway.

If you’re an expecting mom, partner or support person of a mom who plans to breastfeed, this episode is for you. After struggling to feed her newborn daughter at the hospital after an unplanned and traumatic c-section, Christina dove into understanding the agenda behind imposing breastfeeding on new mothers. She uncovers gaps in the industry and speaks to the heavy load that mothers face in providing for their babies.

Emma is a stay at home mom of two boys that came into the world during the height of the pandemic. During her pregnancy, she had preconceived notions of a beautiful delivery and breastfeeding journey, and was later disenchanted. Emma shares her truth and the hardships in postpartum. Despite these obstacles and realizations, Emma’s smile radiates throughout the episode as she describes her family and the love they share.

On top of the pressures of being a first-time-mom, Sally delivered her daughter at the beginning of lockdown. In talking with her doctor, she discovered she had postpartum anxiety. Mental health continues to be a taboo topic, and Sally hopes by sharing her story, more mothers (and their partners) will understand the importance of validating the situation and seeking help. Coming off her second maternity leave, Sally is enjoying the reopening of her lifestyle and social life with her beautiful family.

After an emotional fertility journey, Cynthia shares how she returned back to her new "normal" and overcame mom-guilt. While her postpartum recovery was smoother than her ectopic surgery recovery, she still gave herself pressure on knowledge gaps in newborn care and breastfeeding. She reflects on her faith, the support her spouse lent, and the grace she gave herself.

As Cynthia went through her fertility journey, she found clarity in what was right for her family and the means to advocate and achieve it. She prioritized self-care and community, and both came back to provide.

When Joyce struggled to find time during her fellowship, her village stepped up to fill in the gaps. Recent life events in her family have given her a better work-life balance to savor time with her daughters. Joyce shares her perspective on her "systems", making decisions and course-correcting as she goes.

Shaniece is an imperfectly perfect Mother of Two, Wife, and Educator amongst many other titles. Hear her birth stories and how she took learnings from her first experience to strategize and advocate for herself the second time around.

For the team at Ahma & Co, this podcast has long been a dream. Conceived as the company’s initiative to share the real stories of everyday moms, including the good, the bad, and everything in between, Ahma Need a Minute is finally launching after a full year of careful planning - just in time for Mother’s Day. As an introduction, Esther, the founder of Ahma & Co, and Margaret, your host, talk about the inspiration and motivations behind it all.