Cord Blood Banking: What Every Expecting Parent Should Know (with CBR’s Genetic Counselor)
Episode Title: Cord Blood Banking 101: What Every Expecting Parent Should Know (with CBR’s Genetic Counselor) Description: Not sure what cord blood banking actually is—or if it’s worth it? In this episode, Hillary and Erica sit down with Lauren Isley, a certified genetic counselor and Senior Clinical Science Specialist at Cord Blood Registry (CBR), to break down everything parents need to know about cord blood and cord tissue banking. Lauren explains the science behind newborn stem cells, the differences between private and public banks, how cord blood is used today, and why it’s an investment more parents are choosing to make. She also clears up common misconceptions about delayed cord clamping, cost, and the likelihood of using stored stem cells in the future. Topics we cover: What’s actually stored when you bank cord blood and cord tissue How stem cells are being used to treat diseases like leukemia and cerebral palsy The difference between public and private cord blood banks Can you delay cord clamping and still bank cord blood? How and when to enroll with CBR Cost, misconceptions, and the peace-of-mind factor Special Offer: Use code EM50 for 50% off CBR’s annual bundle at cordblood.com. Get clear on the feeding–sleep loop and next steps: https://babysettler.com Visit Baby Settler Follow @babysettler on Instagram Follow @earlymommingpodcast on Instagram Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify About Hillary: Hillary is a board-certified lactation consultant, masters-level registered nurse, author of Babies Made Simple, mom of four, and the founder/lead consultant at Baby Settler located in Charleston, SC (virtually worldwide). Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding questions or concerns about your or your baby’s health.
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1:06:26
Baby Prep Blueprint: Set Up Baby Gear, Feeding, and Sleep Systems That Actually Work
If you’re a partner, best friend, grandma, or future parent, this episode gives you the exact setup checklist, gift ideas, and feeding–sleep rules that prevent those brutal first-week meltdowns. Not pregnant? Perfect. This is the ultimate baby prep playbook for anyone who loves or supports a new mom. In this episode, Hillary and Erica share how to go from baby shower to setup without the chaos—including practical systems, simple gear organization tips, and the stress-reducing feeding–sleep foundations that help every new family find rhythm from day one. Whether you’re expecting, helping someone who is, or just planning ahead, you’ll walk away with actionable, real-life advice on what to buy, what to skip, and how to prepare for a smoother postpartum transition (no guesswork, no overwhelm). Get clear on the feeding–sleep loop and next steps: https://babysettler.com Visit Baby Settler Follow @babysettler on Instagram Follow @earlymommingpodcast on Instagram Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify About Hillary: Hillary is a board-certified lactation consultant, masters-level registered nurse, author of Babies Made Simple, mom of four, and the founder/lead consultant at Baby Settler located in Charleston, SC (virtually worldwide). Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding questions or concerns about your or your baby’s health.
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Labor & Delivery 101: Stages, Inductions & Epidurals (with Dr. Kate White)
Erica (32 weeks!) and Hillary kick things off with a bump update, a baby-shower wardrobe saga, and a funny “am I late…or pregnant?!” moment—then OB-GYN Dr. Kate White joins to walk first-time moms through Labor & Delivery 101. We cover: Stages of labor in plain English (what Braxton Hicks really are, and the 5-1-1 rule) When to head to the hospital vs. when it’s okay to wait Pain management options: preparing for unmedicated birth, when to ask for an epidural, what “too late” actually means, and non-pharmacologic tools (showers, TENS, nitrous where available) Induction 101: Bishop score basics, ARRIVE trial takeaways, and cervical-ripening methods (Cervidil/misoprostol, Foley bulb, Dilapan, membrane rupture, Pitocin) Water breaking myths: why it doesn’t always mean sprinting to L&D (and when it does) Rapid-fire truths: delayed cord clamping (how long is actually helpful), eating during labor (what’s smart), and whether you can still move with an epidural What to ask on your hospital tour: anesthesia availability, epidural timing policies, nitrous/TENS access, birth bars/balls, and shower use Reassurance for anxious moms: how to voice fears, why flexibility is your secret superpower, and keeping the main goal—healthy mom, healthy baby—front and center Guest: Dr. Kate White, OB-GYN, Lowcountry OB/GYN (Charleston, SC) — co-host of the podcast Heads & Tails. Get clear on the feeding–sleep loop and next steps: https://babysettler.com Visit Baby Settler Follow @babysettler on Instagram Follow @earlymommingpodcast on Instagram Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify About Hillary: Hillary is a board-certified lactation consultant, masters-level registered nurse, author of Babies Made Simple, mom of four, and the founder/lead consultant at Baby Settler located in Charleston, SC (virtually worldwide). Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding questions or concerns about your or your baby’s health.
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1:40:16
Surviving the Emotional Rollercoaster of New Motherhood (with Dr. Alice Pickering, PsyD)
Surviving the Emotional Rollercoaster of New Motherhood (with Dr. Alice Pickering, PsyD) Summary: Erica opens with a candid check-in (plus a surprise cameo from her husband, Nate) before welcoming licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Alice Pickering. Together with Hillary, they normalize the emotional highs and lows of new motherhood—baby blues vs. postpartum depression/anxiety, identity shifts, sleep and feeding stress, and practical ways to protect mental health in the fourth trimester. Links Mentioned Postpartum Support International (find trained providers): https://postpartum.net Alice Pickering, PsyD: dralicepsyd.com Get clear on the feeding–sleep loop and next steps: https://babysettler.com Visit Baby Settler Follow @babysettler on Instagram Follow @earlymommingpodcast on Instagram Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify About Hillary: Hillary is a board-certified lactation consultant, masters-level registered nurse, author of Babies Made Simple, mom of four, and the founder/lead consultant at Baby Settler located in Charleston, SC (virtually worldwide). Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding questions or concerns about your or your baby’s health.
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1:22:54
EMFs & Baby Monitors: What Really Matters
EMFs & Baby Monitors: What Really Matters Summary: Hillary and Erica unpack EMFs, 5G worries, and the crowded market of baby monitors—audio, wearables, and video—so moms can pick gear that supports intuition instead of anxiety. Hillary shares why sound + room temperature are her must-haves, when a wearable (like a pulse-ox sock) can be useful, and how video feeds can sometimes spike stress. What You’ll Learn EMFs 101 (light touch) and practical ways to reduce exposure Pros/cons of audio, wearable, and video monitors When vitals tracking helps (illness/specific scenarios) Why video can increase hyper-vigilance—and how to set boundaries A simple decision checklist to choose the right monitor for you Bonus tip: using an “OK-to-Wake” clock for toddlers Timestamps 00:46 — EMFs & 5G anxieties: keeping perspective 00:54 — Low-tech audio monitors (sound + room temp) 00:56 — Wearables (e.g., pulse-ox socks): when they help 01:03 — Video monitors: benefits vs. anxiety triggers 01:15 — Decision checklist & healthy tech boundaries 01:16 — “OK-to-Wake” clock basics 01:19 — Key takeaways Links Mentioned The Invisible Rainbow (book): https://amzn.to/4mGefrW Wearable pulse-ox “dream sock”: https://amzn.to/45PADI8 “OK-to-Wake” toddler clock: https://amzn.to/3UQQMrN Baby Settler Sleep Bundle: https://www.babysettler.com/the-baby-sleep-bundle/ Body-Well EMF device: (mentioned; no link) Get clear on the feeding–sleep loop and next steps: https://babysettler.com Visit Baby Settler Follow @babysettler on Instagram Follow @earlymommingpodcast on Instagram Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify About Hillary: Hillary is a board-certified lactation consultant, masters-level registered nurse, author of Babies Made Simple, mom of four, and the founder/lead consultant at Baby Settler located in Charleston, SC (virtually worldwide). Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding questions or concerns about your or your baby’s health.
Welcome to the Early-Momming Podcast, where every other Monday morning, we embark on a journey of discovery together. Hosted by Hillary Sadler, a seasoned mother-baby nurse, author, founder and CEO of Babysettler, who is also a mom of four, this podcast is your go-to guide through the maze of early motherhood.
Join Hillary as she shares the reality of millennial motherhood. She's stepping beyond her role as a health-care professional and sharing more than just evidence-based information.
You’ll hear her uncensored thoughts, opinions, and beliefs about pregnancy, birth, postpartum-life, and early-momming. She's inviting other experts who are willing to go beyond the party line to join the conversation too! No topic is off-limits.
Plus, Hillary's non-medical older sister will be a regular guest host, adding a fresh perspective and keeping things interesting. Together, they tackle tough questions and seek authentic answers, ensuring that moms in every stage of their journey feel seen, heard, and supported.
Whether you're a soon-to-be mom, a hopeful mom, or knee-deep in diapers, this podcast is your safe space to show up, get real, and find solace in the shared experiences of early motherhood. Because in this vulnerable season, you deserve truth at your fingertips and a community that understands.
Don't let motherhood suck you dry. Join us on the Early-Momming Podcast and discover how your baby can thrive, how you can sleep, and how your relationships can evolve. Let's embrace the reality of early motherhood together. We've got this!
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