Newbies host Kaile Garcia talks with certified health coach and author Britt Olson about how family dynamics change after having a baby, especially with two children 18 months apart.

Britt shares moving from Florida to Georgia at eight months pregnant, laboring 33 hours, and experiencing postpartum isolation and later severe postpartum anxiety and depression with intrusive thoughts and panic attacks; she felt significant improvement after weaning.

She describes the stress on her marriage when far from family, dividing nighttime duties by child, and the challenges of planned grandparent visits, unmet expectations, and boundary-setting when boundaries weren’t respected, including examples around gifts and family trips.

Britt emphasizes that hard phases and relationships can improve over time and offers nervous system calming techniques: grounding outdoors using the five senses and somatic shaking to discharge stress.

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Host Kaile Garcia introduces a Newbies episode on becoming a mother while a husband or partner serves in the military, focusing on solo parenting during long deployments, minimal contact, and limited nearby family.

Expert guest Shelby Bateman, the 2026 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year, shares her family’s experience with two young children, having her first during COVID while stationed far from family, and parenting through a MEU deployment that extended from six to nine months.

They discuss the challenges of staying connected to an absent parent, reintegration when a service member returns, and feeling unprepared for military motherhood. Shelby emphasizes building community, getting involved, and “being a villager,” and highlights resources such as WIC, MCCS, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society programs, and base libraries. She also explains the Military Spouse of the Year program, her upcoming activities, and where to connect with her on social media.

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Host Kaile Garcia welcomes expert mama Aisha Owens to discuss postpartum workouts with a focus on hitting protein goals during the fourth trimester and beyond.

Aisha shares her transition from vegan to pescatarian after pregnancy cravings, her difficult postpartum period with anxiety, and how returning to movement supported her mental health with encouragement from her husband.

They discuss practical protein guidance (aiming for at least half of body weight in grams), the high calorie burn of nursing, and simple high-protein foods and meal-prep ideas including protein smoothies, Greek yogurt with granola, beans and rice, ground turkey or beef with peppers, and bean-based pasta like BRAMI.

For movement, Aisha recommends starting with walking and babywearing exercises such as squats and calf raises, building up over 4–6 months. She advises finding mom support, choosing quick grab-and-go nutrition, and using social media positively for connection and motivation.

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Host Kaile Garcia welcomes Elad Erdan, CEO of Babysense, to discuss how overwhelmed new parents can feel choosing baby gear and how to pick the right baby monitor.

Erdan shares how monitoring became crucial when moving babies to their own room and how a good monitor provides reassurance, better rest, and improved family functioning.

He explains BabySense’s safety-driven origins in the 1990s amid tragic crib incidents and notes concerns in modern baby tech such as unnecessary alerts, complex data, and privacy. He recommends three key questions: whether the monitor works reliably at 3 a.m., whether it offers actionable clarity instead of noise, and whether to choose non-Wi-Fi direct connection versus Wi-Fi app access depending on caregivers.

He outlines three monitor categories—breathing/motion, local non-Wi-Fi video, and Wi-Fi smart monitors—plus recent advances like HD video, split-screen, multi-camera setups, non-contact sensors, and added features like climate sensors, night lights, and lullabies.

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Newbies host Kaile Garcia discusses sleep tips for new mothers with Carissa Gustafson a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in perinatal mental health.

Gustafson shares her own experiences with gestational diabetes, a traumatic first birth involving breech presentation and nuchal cord, and subsequent pregnancy losses before having her second child.

The conversation emphasizes sleep as a key factor in postpartum mood regulation, including the importance of “anchor sleep” (about four consecutive hours), creating a sleep plan for mom, and building support through partners, family, night help, or shifts especially when breastfeeding.

They cover how anxiety, hypervigilance, and doom scrolling can prevent sleep, when to seek therapy or medication, and practical routines like an hour-long wind-down, avoiding screens, meditation/body scans, journaling, gentle movement, reading, and magnesium lotion.

Gustafson offers a free postpartum guide, an online ACT-based course (Reclaim Your Life After Birth), and individual therapy for California residents.

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Host Kaile Garcia interviews Aly Wood, a former tech professional, stay-at-home mom, military spouse, and future CFP, about financial tips for new mothers navigating postpartum, maternity leave, and potential shifts to one income.

Aly shares her surprise pregnancy, breech baby, and positive scheduled C-section experience, then discusses the emotional and practical adjustments of leaving a high-earning job, including money guilt and planning for military pay uncertainty.

She recommends tracking spending with a budgeting app (they use Monarch Money), building baby expenses into monthly/annual budgets, and using registries informed by other parents’ must-haves to avoid unnecessary purchases. Cost-saving strategies include investing in “grow-with-me” items, saving gradually for big purchases, buying secondhand when safe, and shopping sales.

They emphasize budgeting as “favors for future you,” aligning spending with family goals, and starting financial conversations as a team.

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If you were passionate about working out before pregnancy, continued with moderate exercise during, and now want to reclaim your shape after having a baby, this episode is for you.

We dive into a discussion about postpartum strength training with wellness and postpartum strength coach Kailey McPherson

Hosted by Kaile Garcia, this episode offers invaluable insights for new moms eager to get back into their fitness routines.

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Host Kaile Garcia interviews Karthik Gangiredla, a Seattle-based dad and founder of birchstore.com, about what newborn gear parents truly need and how to avoid being overwhelmed by unnecessary products.

Karthik says newborn needs fall into four categories: sleep, feeding, transportation, and diapering with essentials like a safe bassinet or crib setup (firm, flat, bare), bottles or breastfeeding supplies as needed, an infant car seat, and diapers/wipes plus a changing surface and diaper bin.

He advises buying minimally at first, then adjusting based on baby temperament or medical needs (e.g., contact napping, startle reflex, reflux, preemies, sensitive skin) and following safe sleep and swaddling guidelines.

He explains Birch as a curated store and toolkit with a universal smart registry, checklists, trackers, research library, and a Trust Score using safety and review signals, offering free US shipping and generous returns.

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Host Kaile Garcia welcomes Dr. Ricki Pollycove, a longtime Bay Area OB/GYN, to discuss what’s normal and not normal in postpartum recovery. They compare healing after vaginal birth and C-section, noting that discomfort varies with the birth experience and that reducing perineal swelling by positioning hips above the heart can lessen pain and speed healing.

Dr. Pollycove explains typical C-section pain triggers (coughing, sneezing, laughing, sometimes urination) and factors that affect recovery, including excess weight gain.

She emphasizes postpartum nutrition and hydration—high protein, lower carbohydrates, and ample fluids—to support mood, energy, and wound healing.

At the 6–8 week visit, common issues include breastfeeding nipple pain, relationship support, isolation, and mood changes linked to low estrogen while nursing; she also recommends evaluating anemia, thyroid function, possible UTI, and considering safe estrogen support when needed.

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Newbies host Kaile Garcia interviews Theresa Hunt, a level three NICU nurse in Northeast Ohio, about what parents can expect during a NICU stay.

Hunt explains NICU levels 1–4, which babies are admitted (including those born before 35 weeks), and how transfers work when higher-level care is needed. She describes typical assignments ranging from “feeder growers” to critical infants needing IV medications and respiratory support, and shares ways nurses prepare parents by setting expectations and involving them in care through touch, diapering, weighing, skin-to-skin, and feeding practice.

The discussion covers breastfeeding in the NICU, pumping, “nuzzling,” lactation support, and measuring intake, along with discharge milestones and corrected/adjusted age. Hunt outlines night-shift routines, visiting policies, and common items families bring, and ends with a story of a 22-week infant who survived without deficits.

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Host Kaile Garcia welcomes Lori Harding, a Dallas-based Pilates instructor and solo mom of an under-one-year-old, to discuss working out postpartum and its physical and mental health benefits.

Lori shares her planned C-section birth story due to placenta previa, her IVF baby born on World IVF Day, and returning to exercise about eight weeks postpartum after being medically cleared.

She explains contemporary Pilates on a reformer as strength-focused training distinct from classical Pilates, and describes how she supports postpartum and pregnant clients with modifications, accessible transitions, and encouragement to listen to their bodies and give themselves grace.

The episode includes at-home movement ideas (squats, lunges, light weights, standing core) and Lori’s “aha” moment from her first postpartum class.

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