New Mom Talk: A Resource for Pregnant, Expecting Moms & New Moms & Pregnancy

This Episode is brought to you by Lovebug Probiotics. 
October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, a good reminder that postpartum depression is common, treatable, and nothing to face alone. For moms who haven't found relief with traditional treatment, newer options like ketamine are part of a growing conversation. Today we're joined by Gena Kosmides, MSN, RN, CRNP-PMH, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with extensive experience in ketamine therapy and SPRAVATO® (esketamine) treatment at The Mood Center, with locations in Annapolis and Columbia, Maryland. Her expertise includes caring for adults with treatment-resistant depression, and her broader psychiatric experience includes anxiety, OCD, PTSD, postpartum depression, and other mental health conditions.
What You'll Learn
In this episode, Gena shares her background and what her work looks like day to day, then starts with the basics: what ketamine is and how it's used in mental health care. We talk through how ketamine may help treat postpartum depression and its symptoms, who might be a good candidate for treatment, and what to know about safety for breastfeeding parents. Gena also explains how ketamine compares to traditional antidepressants for postpartum depression, and breaks down the difference between mail-order ketamine therapy and treatment in a clinical setting. She closes with additional tips and recommendations for moms navigating their mental health, whether you're considering treatment for yourself or supporting someone you love.
This episode is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about what's right for you. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
Connect with Gena Kosmides
Website: https://www.themoodcenter.com 
Email: info@themoodcenter.com
Phone: 443-940-MOOD
FB: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Mood-Wellness-Center-100085271415655
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mood-center/home/
Pregnancy and new motherhood come with a lot of questions. Between figuring out what's best for you, what your baby needs, and how to navigate all the changes that come with becoming a mom, it's nice when supporting your family's wellness can be one less complicated thing.
This episode of New Mom Talk is brought to you by Lovebug Probiotics, a mom-founded probiotic brand with science-backed options designed for different stages of motherhood and family life.
Lovebug's story began with motherhood. During the birth of her son, Hudson, co-founder Ashley Harris received broad-spectrum antibiotics. That experience led her to start learning more about the gut microbiome and ultimately inspired her to create Lovebug.
Today, Lovebug offers probiotics for pregnancy, postpartum, babies, toddlers, kids, women, and adults, making it easy to find an option that fits your family's current stage.
Lovebug's Prenatal and Postnatal Probiotics are formulated specifically with moms in mind, while their baby probiotic line includes age-specific options for little ones during the first year of life.*
Mariela also had the opportunity to personally try Yeast + Vaginal pH Support Probiotic and felt good about having proactive support for her vaginal and urinary health because it also includes cranberry extract for urinary tract support.
Because becoming a mom comes with enough questions. Supporting your family's digestive and immune health can be one simple addition to your everyday wellness routine.*
Ready to find the right Lovebug for you and your family?
Shop Lovebug Probiotics: https://lovebug.com/
Use code NEWMOMTALK20 for 20% OFF YOUR FIRST PURCHASE.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering a supplement for your baby, talk with your healthcare professional about what's appropriate for you.
 ketamine for postpartum depression, postpartum depression treatment, PPD treatment options, ketamine therapy, esketamine, SPRAVATO, treatment-resistant depression, ketamine and breastfeeding, postpartum mental health, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, maternal mental health, new mom mental health, National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, October mental health awareness, postpartum depression screening, psychiatric nurse practitioner, ketamine vs antidepressants, mail-order ketamine, at-home ketamine therapy, The Mood Center, Gena Kosmides, postpartum depression symptoms, Lovebug Probiotics
www.NewMomTalk.com
Buy Me A Coffee
IG: @NewMomTalk.Podcast
YouTube: @NewMomTalk
Mariela@NewMomTalk.com
Interested in being a guest? Shoot us an email!

- best parenting podcast
- best new mom podcast
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- best podcast for postpartum
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Carol Ann Kates — former grocery store and deli owner/operator turned award-winning cookbook author of Secret Recipes from the Corner Market and Grocery Shopping Secrets — shares shop-floor wisdom and kitchen-tested tricks for reducing stress while grocery shopping and cooking in the postpartum months. Expect practical, empathy-first strategies for shorter store runs, faster meal prep, smart batching, and partner-friendly systems that protect recovery and preserve energy.
What we cover
Three top stress-reduction strategies for grocery shopping with a newborn or young infant
How to streamline meal planning and grocery lists postpartum to minimize decisions and time in-store
Practical cooking tips for sleep-deprived parents: tools, batch-cooking methods, and quick, reliable recipes
How partners and support networks can share shopping and meal-prep responsibilities while respecting recovery and boundaries
Self-care mindset shifts and micro-routines around food and errands that preserve energy and reduce anxiety
Who this episode is for
New parents and caregivers in the first year postpartum
Partners, family members, and friends who support new parents
Doulas, postpartum doulas, lactation consultants, and new-parent support groups
Anyone designing postpartum-friendly meal or grocery services
Guest
Carol Ann Kates — Former grocery store and deli owner/operator; award-winning cookbook author of Secret Recipes from the Corner Market and Grocery Shopping Secrets. Carol Ann brings practical retail and recipe experience to help new parents shop smarter, cook faster, and eat better during recovery.
Website: https://www.carolannkates.com/
IG: @carolannkates
FB: Carol Ann Kates' Kitchen
LinkedIn: Carol Ann Kates
Key takeaways
Keep shopping trips short and intentional: plan, prioritize, and use pickup/delivery when needed.
Batch components (not always full meals) to enable flexible, fresh-feeling dinners with minimal effort.
Use store- and kitchen-tested hacks from a grocery pro: shop by aisle, pick multi-use staples, and rely on time-saving equipment.
Share visible systems for grocery and meal tasks so helpers know exactly what to do.
Adopt a “nourishing enough” mindset and protect one small daily food ritual to sustain energy.
Practical tips & hacks

Grocery shopping with an infant
Shop during quieter hours and bring a compact store kit for quick soothing (swaddle, pacifier, wipes).
Use curbside pickup for heavy items or on high-stress days; alternate in-store trips between partners.
Use an aisle-organized checklist (Carol Ann’s retail-tested method) to reduce backtracking and time in-store.
Meal planning & grocery lists
Keep a 7-item rotating plan with 3–4 go-to dinners and interchangeable sides.
Maintain a reusable master shopping list by category; set recurring orders for staples.
Prioritize multi-use ingredients like canned tomatoes, frozen vegetables, rotisserie chicken, grains, and ready-to-eat proteins.
Cooking hacks for sleep-deprived parents
Batch components: roast proteins and vegetables, make a big sauce, cook grains; recombine for quick meals.
Favor one-pot and sheet-pan recipes for faster cleanup and consistent results.
Must-have tools: Instant Pot/pressure cooker, slow cooker, good chef’s knife, and reliable storage containers.
Keep 4–5 no-fail quick meals on rotation and a stash of “rescue” frozen meals or ready-to-eat options.
Sharing responsibility with partners & networks
Assign clear roles and use a shared task list so helpers know exactly what to pick up or prepare.
Give specific requests to friends and family (time + item list) to increase follow-through.
Respect recovery boundaries: protect rest and allow convenience options without guilt.
Self-care mindset shifts & small routines
Aim for “nourishing enough” instead of culinary perfection.
Protect one small daily food ritual (a reliable breakfast or a calming cup of tea).
Reframe help-seeking as a practical recovery strategy that benefits the whole family.
Quick example meal plan (flexible)
Breakfasts: overnight oats, yogurt + fruit, scrambled eggs + toast
Lunches: grain bowls, hearty salads, sandwiches + soup
Dinners: sheet-pan chicken + veg, pasta with jar sauce + protein, slow-cooker chili, stir-fry
Snacks & staples: hummus, cheese sticks, fruit, nut butter, frozen berries
Resources & tools
Carol Ann Kates’ books: Secret Recipes from the Corner Market; Grocery Shopping Secrets
Grocery apps & services: Instacart, store curbside pickup, recurring online orders
Meal planning & shared lists: Google Keep, AnyList, OurGroceries, Todoist
Kitchen gear: Instant Pot, slow cooker, chef’s knife, baking sheet, storage containers
Episode action steps (for new parents)
Save Carol Ann’s aisle-organized shopping checklist and use it for your next trip.
Batch one component (protein or sauce) this week and freeze portions.
Set one shared calendar slot for grocery runs and one for a weekly 20–30 minute planning huddle.
Ask one person to take the next grocery trip with a clear list and time window.
If this episode helped, subscribe for more postpartum survival strategies and practical parenting systems. Share your best grocery or meal-prep hack on Instagram and tag @newmomtalk.podcast — we’ll feature listener tips on a future episode. 
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Want a shorter social caption, an Instagram carousel, or a printable aisle-organized shopping checklist based on Carol Ann’s method? I can create those next.
www.NewMomTalk.com
Buy Me A Coffee
IG: @NewMomTalk.Podcast
YouTube: @NewMomTalk
Mariela@NewMomTalk.com
Interested in being a guest? Shoot us an email!

- best parenting podcast
- best new mom podcast
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- best pregnancy podcast
- best podcast for expecting moms
- best podcast for moms
- best podcast for postpartum
- best prenatal podcast
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- new mom 
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If you're pregnant in California and you haven't looked into your maternity leave benefits yet — this episode is your sign. California has some of the most comprehensive maternity leave protections in the country, but the system is confusing, the deadlines are strict, and most moms don't find out what they were entitled to until it's too late.
Mariela sits down with Shelly Yehuda, a maternity leave advocate who helps California women navigate the system so they can maximize every benefit, protect their job, and actually be present with their baby in those early weeks — without the financial stress hanging over them.
This is practical, empowering, and honestly overdue. Every pregnant mama in California needs to hear this one.
In This Episode, We Cover:
💛 Every benefit available to California moms on maternity leave — and the exact steps to make sure you're getting every dollar you're entitled to
💛 The most critical deadlines you need to know before you go out on leave — and what happens if you miss them
💛 How job protection works in California, what your employer is legally obligated to do, and what to do if you feel your position is being threatened while you're out
💛 Lesser-known programs, additional benefits, and employer negotiations that moms regularly leave on the table simply because they didn't know to ask
💛 What to do in the months before your due date to lock in your benefits, secure your position, and avoid any gaps in pay
About Our Guest:
Shelly Yehuda is a California maternity leave advocate who helps women navigate one of the most overwhelming systems a new mom can face. Her mission is simple: make a confusing process feel clear, manageable, and fully supportive — so moms can focus on what actually matters. She specializes in helping women maximize their benefits, protect their jobs, and go into leave feeling prepared and confident.
Connect with Shelly Yehuda:
Official Website: www.parentalleaveadvisors.com
IG: @californiaparentalleave
Email: shelly@parentalleaveadvisors.com
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www.NewMomTalk.com
Buy Me A Coffee
IG: @NewMomTalk.Podcast
YouTube: @NewMomTalk
Mariela@NewMomTalk.com
Interested in being a guest? Shoot us an email!

- best parenting podcast
- best new mom podcast
- best podcasts for new moms
- best pregnancy podcast
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- best podcast for postpartum
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This episode is brought to you by Legendairy Milk. Use code NEWMOM15 at checkout to get 15% off She's Flowing.
Join us for an honest, practical conversation with Courtney Boylan, founder of Le Lolo, who’s on a mission to beautify postpartum care. Courtney reframes postpartum self-care as more than quick fixes or Instagram-ready moments — it’s about dignity, functionality, and building sustainable routines that honor new parents’ needs. She shares design-minded solutions, mindset shifts, and real-life routines for parents juggling newborn care, limited sleep, and other responsibilities.
What we cover
A broader definition of postpartum self-care beyond “sleep when the baby sleeps”
Cultural expectations that block sustainable postpartum recovery
Practical, non-negotiable self-care routines for busy new parents
How partners, family, and healthcare providers can better support individualized postpartum needs
Small mindset shifts and daily practices to rebuild identity, confidence, and agency
The design thinking behind Le Lolo’s products and why beauty + function matters in postpartum essentials
Who this episode is for
New and expecting parents
Partners and family members supporting someone postpartum
Postpartum care advocates, doulas, and clinicians
Parents who want practical self-care strategies that actually fit real life
Guest
Courtney Boylan — Founder of Le Lolo; creator of thoughtfully designed, beautiful postpartum essentials inspired by her experience as a mom of three.

Connect with Courtney Boylan:
Official Website: https://wearelelolo.com/
IG: @wearelelolo 
TikTok: @wearelelolo
Key takeaways
Postpartum self-care is practical, individualized, and dignified — not just errands and baths.
Design and aesthetics can improve how postpartum products are used and how parents feel while using them.
Small, consistent routines (tailored to your life) beat idealized, unsustainable “self-care” strategies.
Support systems—partners, family, clinicians—play a crucial role when they recognize and validate individual needs.
Rebuilding a sense of self starts with small daily practices and permission to prioritize care.
Giveaway
We’re giving away a Le Lolo postpartum care set! To enter, answer the giveaway question in this episode and submit your response on Instagram: @newmomtalk.podcast. Winner announced on the show’s IG.
Resources mentioned
Le Lolo — postpartum essentials designed by Courtney Boylan
Legendairy Milk — use code NEWMOM15 for 15% off She's Flowing
Subscribe for more episodes about postpartum health and practical parenting. Follow @newmomtalk.podcast on Instagram to enter the giveaway and keep up with episode extras.
postpartum self-care, postpartum essentials, Le Lolo, Courtney Boylan, postpartum products, postpartum recovery, new mom self-care, sustainable postpartum routines, partner support postpartum, postpartum mindset shifts, postpartum dignity, postpartum design, postpartum giveaway, Legendairy Milk, Legendairy Milk nursing supplements, Legendairy Milk prenatal products, Legendairy Milk postpartum supplements, nursing supplements, prenatal supplements, postpartum products, She's Flowing discount, NEWMOM15
www.NewMomTalk.com
Buy Me A Coffee
IG: @NewMomTalk.Podcast
YouTube: @NewMomTalk
Mariela@NewMomTalk.com
Interested in being a guest? Shoot us an email!

- best parenting podcast
- best new mom podcast
- best podcasts for new moms
- best pregnancy podcast
- best podcast for expecting moms
- best podcast for moms
- best podcast for postpartum
- best prenatal podcast
- best postnatal podcast
- best podcast for postnatal moms
- best podcast for pregnancy moms
- new mom 
- expecting mom
- first time mom

This episode is brought to you by Legendairy Milk. Use code NEWMOM15 at checkout to get 15% off She's Flowing.
Aly Wente — fifth-generation winegrower and Chief Revenue Officer of Wente Family Vineyards — joins us to talk real strategies for reconciling a demanding career and a thriving family life. Drawing on leadership at America’s oldest continuously family-owned winery and a modern, sustainability-minded approach, Aly reframes the idea of “balance,” shares systems that actually work, and names the practical supports that help prevent burnout while preserving what matters most.
What we cover
Whether “balance” is realistic or needs reframing as priorities, rhythm, or boundaries
How to distinguish non-negotiable commitments from habits driven by guilt or expectation
Concrete approaches to managing the mental and logistical load of career + household
Boundary-setting tactics for work and home that hold up under pressure
High-impact systems, routines, and outside supports that make day-to-day life manageable
Where to start when you feel overwhelmed: small, sustainable first steps
Who this episode is for
Working parents navigating career and caregiving responsibilities
Moms returning to work or climbing the ladder while raising children
Partners, managers, and HR leaders who support working families
Anyone seeking practical systems to reduce stress and increase presence at work and home
About our Guest
Aly Wente — Fifth-generation winegrower and Chief Revenue Officer, Wente Family Vineyards. Aly leads brand, hospitality, and customer experience strategy while honoring a 140+ year family legacy and applying a modern, sustainability-focused perspective to California wine.

Connect with Aly Wente:
Official Website: https://wentevineyards.com/
IG: @wente & @alywenteoneal
Key takeaways
Balance is often less about perfect equality and more about clarity of priorities, boundaries, and rhythms.
Audit your commitments: identify what truly needs your time versus what can be delegated, delayed, or dropped.
Share the mental load by naming tasks, assigning ownership, and using simple systems (calendars, shared lists, routines).
Boundary-setting requires clear communication, predictable routines, and consistent follow-through — both at work and at home.
Start with one small system (e.g., weekly planning session, shared family calendar, or a dedicated self-care appointment) and build from there.
Outside supports (childcare, flexible work arrangements, professional networks) compound impact — ask for them early and often.
Practical tips mentioned
Run a weekly 20–30 minute family planning huddle to align priorities and shift logistic load.
Batch work and family tasks into predictable blocks to reduce context switching.
Use a shared digital calendar and task list so responsibilities are visible and transferable.
Normalize asking for help and negotiate flexible solutions at work with specific proposals.
Protect at least one non-negotiable recovery routine (sleep, movement, or a weekly reset) to reduce burnout risk.
Resources mentioned
Wente Family Vineyards — company and hospitality information
Suggested tools: shared calendars (Google Calendar, iCal), shared task apps (Todoist, Trello), family planning templates
Subscribe for more stories from working parents and leaders balancing career and family. Share your best practical tip for work–mom balance on Instagram and tag @newmomtalk.podcast — we may feature listener tips on a future episode.
work mom balance, work–mom life balance, Aly Wente, Wente Family Vineyards, working parents, mom career balance, managing mental load, boundary setting for parents, family logistics systems, burnout prevention for moms, parental support strategies, sustainable routines for parents, shared family calendar, weekly family planning, flexible work for parents, leadership and parenting, winery leadership, California wine and family business, Legendairy Milk, Legendairy Milk nursing supplements, Legendairy Milk prenatal products, Legendairy Milk postpartum supplements, Legendairy Milk products, nursing supplements, prenatal supplements, postpartum products, She's Flowing discount, NEWMOM15
www.NewMomTalk.com
Buy Me A Coffee
IG: @NewMomTalk.Podcast
YouTube: @NewMomTalk
Mariela@NewMomTalk.com
Interested in being a guest? Shoot us an email!

- best parenting podcast
- best new mom podcast
- best podcasts for new moms
- best pregnancy podcast
- best podcast for expecting moms
- best podcast for moms
- best podcast for postpartum
- best prenatal podcast
- best postnatal podcast
- best podcast for postnatal moms
- best podcast for pregnancy moms
- new mom 
- expecting mom
- first time mom