The Motherhood Body Chronicles

In this episode, therapist Amanda White (owner of Therapy for Women) talks about her experience of being a “fence sitter” when it comes to having children. She discussed how it felt to get pregnant very quickly after she finally decided that she did want to pursue parenthood. She also talks about her experience with going through HG (hyperemesis gravidarum) after having recovered from bulimia, and navigating her baby’s IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction). She then shared about her experience of starting to go into liver failure towards the end of her pregnancy and the subsequent birth trauma that ensued. cw for emetophobia, su*cidal thoughts, and birth traumaAmanda E. White is a licensed therapist and the creator of the popular instagram account @therapyforwomen. She is the host of the podcast, “Nuance Needed.” She is the author of the book “Not Drinking Tonight” and its corresponding workbook. She is the founder of the group therapy practice, Therapy for Women Center, based in Philadelphia serving clients across the country. She has been featured in notable publications such as Forbes, Washington Post, Shape, Women’s Health Magazine, and more. To learn more visit therapyforwomencenter.comFind Amanda:instagram/tiktok: Amanda E. White website: https://therapyforwomencenter.comFind Colleen:instagram/tiktok: @drcolleenreichmannwebsite: www.wildflowertherapyllc.com Get full access to Musings from a Feminist Mother at colleenreichmann.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Maryland-based maternal mental health art therapist Aubrey Bodt talks about her experience with pregnancy and birth during the height of the pandemic. She also explores how it felt to parent without the village that she always expected, and arriving at the decision to be a “one and done” mom. cw: discussion of miscarriage Aubrey Bodt, LCPAT, LCPC, ATR-BC is a licensed and board certified art therapist and counselor in Maryland with over a decade of experience supporting children and families in psychiatric and pediatric hospital settings. Now the founder of TendWell Therapy LLC, Aubrey empowers mothers to reclaim and rewrite their narratives, reconnect with the power of their intuition, and navigate challenges like anxiety, postpartum rage, body image struggles, and identity shifts. Through a unique blend of art therapy and counseling, she fosters self-discovery, clarity, and resilience, all through a compassionate, feminist lens. As a mother herself to a delightful and inspiring 4 1/2-year-old, Aubrey is deeply committed to shifting societal conversations around motherhood to honor its complexity and celebrate women’s strength.Find Aubrey:Website: https://tendwelltherapy.com/Instagram: @tendwelltherapyFind Colleen:website: www.wildflowertherapyllc.cominstagram/tiktok: @drcolleenreichmann Get full access to Musings from a Feminist Mother at colleenreichmann.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, NC shares about their experiences through pregancy and early parenthood. They talk about their journey (following the birth of their daughter) of separating from partner/co-parenting, and beginning T and transitioning/stepping into their transmasculine identity (as well as the body ease that has ensued)NC Eakin Rodriguez (they/them) is a Brooklyn-based parent of a five year old, and a feminist organizer. They work for e-commerce.Find NC:instagram: @ncisonlineMedium: NC Eakin RodriguezFind Colleen:website: www.wildflowertherapyllc.cominstagram/tiktik: @drcolleenreichmann Get full access to Musings from a Feminist Mother at colleenreichmann.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, maternal mental health therapist Nicole McNelis shares about her personal and professional experience with mom rage. She explains why rage is an important signal for all of us, and never anything to be ashamed about. Nicole McNelis, M.Ed., NCC, LPC, PMH-C, is a licensed mental health therapist and perinatal mental health counseling specialist. She is the founder of an award-winning counseling private practice in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – where she also resides with her family.Nicole has been featured as a mental health expert in print publications, online media, books, and podcasts. Serving as a Subject Matter Expert and Conference Presenter for Postpartum Support International, Nicole is honored to serve the perinatal mental health community.Passionate about supporting individuals through life transitions both big and small, Nicole helps her clients move through the overwhelm and exhaustion of juggling it all – all the time.Find Colleen:website: www.wildflowertherapyllc.cominstagram/tiktok: @drcolleenreichmannFind Nicole:website: www.nicolemcnelis.cominstagram: @therapist.mom.collective Get full access to Musings from a Feminist Mother at colleenreichmann.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, San Diego-based EMDR and maternal mental health therapist Jen Mendoza discusses her journey to motherhood, which included a long road of infertility before having her first baby via IVF. She then talked about having two more children after this, one of which was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. She talks about the nuance of holding both the grief and the joy of mothering a medically complex child, and how she tends to her own nervous system so she can show up for her family during this complicated journey. Jen Mendoza, LCSW, PMH-C is a certified perinatal mental health therapist and mom of three young children in San Diego, CA. Jen is the founder of MotherThrive Therapy, a private practice specializing in infertility, pregnancy, postpartum and reproductive trauma. As a mom with her own complicated motherhood journey, Jen brings both personal and professional experience to her work. She is passionate about helping mothers break generational cycles, empowering them to feel more grounded, confident, and trust their maternal intuition.Find Jen: Website: www.motherthrivetherapy.cominstagram: @MotherThriveTherapyFind Colleen:website: www.wildflowertherapyllc.cominstagram/tiktok: @drcolleenreichmann Get full access to Musings from a Feminist Mother at colleenreichmann.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, intuitive eating dietitian Robin Klein talks about becoming pregnant after a long road which included several losses. She also talks about her postpartum journey during the height of COVID lockdowns, and breastfeeding/pumping struggles that she experienced due to a past breast reduction surgery. Robin also shares some wisdom around how to instill food and body positivity in our kids, even as we ourselves may still struggle. CW: discussions around miscarriage Robin Klein, RD, CSP, LDN is a Philly-based Registered Dietitian/Nutrition Therapist and Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition. She empowers her clients to heal their relationship with food and their bodies by helping them to break free from chronic dieting and make food choices from a place of pleasure and nourishment over rigidity and restriction. She embraces a non-diet and weight-inclusive approach with a passion for helping clients discover increased self-compassion, body acceptance, and respect. Robin truly believes there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to eating and living. Find Robin:website: https://www.intunenutritiontherapy.cominstagram: @intunenutritiontherapyFind Dr. Colleen Reichmannwebsite: www.wildflowertherapyllc.cominstagram/tiktok: @drcolleenreichmannsubstack: https://colleenreichmann.substack.com Get full access to Musings from a Feminist Mother at colleenreichmann.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Katie describes her plus size pregnancy during ED recovery. She speaks about birth trauma she experienced with her son, and described his NICU stay which was due to Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Katie also shares about how pregnancy helped launched her into strong recovery from her eating disorder. CW: Birth trauma and NICU stay Katie Nowak is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the Buffalo, NY area (Go Bills!), where she has been practicing for 15 years. She has worked in many different areas within the field but found her passion in working with adolescents and adults in psychotherapy. She specializes in eating disorders, OCD, and mood/anxiety disorders. Katie is a HAES-aligned, fat-positive therapist who takes an eclectic approach to therapy, as she does not believe “one size fits all.” She is regularly awed and inspired by her clients and is grateful for the privilege of walking alongside them during their therapy journey. Like any good elder millennial, she enjoys listening to late 90s/early 00s hip-hop and pop punk. She also enjoys re-watching “Daria” and “Frasier,” much to her family’s chagrin. Katie lives in the Buffalo area with her husband and 4-year-old son.Find Katie: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/katie-nowak-getzville-ny/1168422Find Colleen:Instagram/threads/tiktok: @drcolleenreichmannWebsite: www.wildflowertherapyllc.com Get full access to Musings from a Feminist Mother at colleenreichmann.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Dr. Emy Monday talks about her journey through secondary infertility, which includes multiple pregnancy losses. She also talks about having to so often pivot and shift her earlier expectations about what motherhood would be like. CW: discussion of miscarriagesEmy Monday is a licensed clinical psychologist based in northern New Jersey. She runs a small private practice and works virtually with adolescents and young adults all over the country on anxiety, perfectionism, people pleasing, and OCD. She works through a psychodynamic and interpersonal framework that is firmly rooted in feminism and social justice. In addition to individual therapy she offers speaking engagements at high schools and colleges all over the country that focus on “dropping the curtain” on therapy to make seeking mental health services a little less daunting. Emy is also the mom of two young kiddos and spends her time outside of the office with her family cooking up a storm and baking bread and cakes.Find Emy:Instagram: @dremymondayWebsite: www.dremymonday.comFind Colleen:Instagram/tiktok/threads: @drcolleenreichmannWebsite: www.wildflowertherapyllc.comInterested in sharing more about your matrescence journey on the pod? Email me at [email protected]! Get full access to Musings from a Feminist Mother at colleenreichmann.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, artist Casey Urban talks about her experience with postpartum depression after having her daughter. She also discusses getting pregnant unexpectedly while in the midst of PPD, and her decision to have an abortion (which ended up being traumatic.) She talks about coming home to her body through pole dancing, as well as psychedelics and burlesque. TW: discussion of a traumatic abortionCasey is a mother and a multidisciplinary artist. She is recovered from bulimia, and is now a body acceptance advocate, a singer, a pole dancer, and the creator of a program called "Portal Magic" (in which she uses somatic movement , magic, and songwriter to help people create authentic lives.) Find Casey:Instagram: @caseyurbanWebsite: www.caseyurban.comFind Colleen:Instagram: @drcolleenreichmannTiktok: @drcolleenreichmannWebsite: www.wildflowertherapyllc.comWant to share about your matrescence journey on the pod? Email me at [email protected]! Get full access to Musings from a Feminist Mother at colleenreichmann.substack.com/subscribe

In this Episode, dietitian Eva Haldis (owner of Reclaim Nutrition) talks about discovering that she has ADHD in early motherhood. Eva talks about which aspects of the postpartum period led to her experiencing overwhelm, and then her eventual pursuit of a diagnosis. Eva is a mother, and registered dietitian. She is the founder of Reclaim Nutrition, a nutrition therapy practice in Horsham PA. She is passionate about helping people heal their relationship to food.Find Eva:Instagram: reclaimnutrition_paWebsite: https://reclaimnutritionpa.comFind Colleen:Instagram: @drcolleenreichmannTiktok: @drcolleenreichmannWebsite: www.wildflowertherapyllc.comWant to share about your matrescence journey on the pod? Email me at [email protected]! Get full access to Musings from a Feminist Mother at colleenreichmann.substack.com/subscribe