1 in 100,000 people are affected by listeria. But did you know that pregnant persons are 10x more likely to contract the food-borne illness?

In this first episode of this month’s Maternal Health Month series, I speak with Dr. Caledonia Buckheit about her very personal experience contracting listeria at 27 weeks pregnant.

In a candid conversation about listeria and birth trauma, Dr. Buckheit walks us through what those days in the hospital felt like for her, her traumatic birth via C-section at 27 weeks, her daughter's subsequent stay in the NICU, and her return to residency.

Dr. Buckheit shares her advice on how to approach conversations regarding birth trauma, and we talk about the value of "potato time" during a mom's sacred hour after bedtime.

Dr. Caledonia Buckheit is a board-certified OB/GYN and Fellow of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is a full-time generalist and partner physician at Kamm McKenzie OB/GYN, the busiest private OB/GYN practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. Originally from Maine, she earned her medical degree from Dartmouth and completed her residency at Duke University, where she received the award for excellence in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery—twice.

Dr. Buckheit is passionate about supporting women through all stages of life. She is especially committed to promoting safe, healthy birth and takes pride in maintaining a low cesarean section rate. Her clinical interests also include menopause care, pain management for in-office procedures, and minimally invasive surgery.

Outside of work, she enjoys life in Raleigh with her husband and two daughters, along with a lively backyard full of chickens and garden beds.

Follow Dr. Caledonia Buckheit on Instagram and TikTok at @calibmd

Music by Dana Music from Pixabay

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Raise your hand if you have ever felt like a shell of a person after becoming a mom 🙋‍♀️

I know I have.

Motherhood can be lonely. With childcare, work, and general life responsibilities, it can be too easy to get lost in motherhood and forget who we are.

So how do we start to find ourselves? Or rather, are our former versions of ourselves still to be found?

Today I talk with Leadership Coach Jen Gagnon about burnout, how easy it is to lose yourself in motherhood, and how she helps moms reclaim their identity to find purpose and passion.

Jen is a certified leadership coach dedicated to helping women confidently navigate career and motherhood without burning out.

As a corporate working mom herself, she understand the unique challenges that come with juggling both professional and personal responsibilities.

She believes that women don’t have to choose between being a great mom and having a fulfilling career, and they can do so without sacrificing their well-being.

You can follow Jen on social media @leadwithjen.

Music by Dana Music from Pixabay

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Let's be friends! Follow Good Moms on Instagram at @goodmomspod

There is nothing that I love more than a conversation about my two favorite topics: pop culture and motherhood.

Today I'm sitting down with freelance journalist Zara Hanawalt to talk about her journey into women's journalism and writing about issues central to motherhood.

We talk about Ellen Pompeo's episode on the Call Her Daddy Podcast and some takeaways that we got from listening in, such as a mother’s evolution after motherhood and identity reconciliation. Zara shares what evolving in motherhood looks like for her and why she believes the superhero narrative is flawed.

We also talk about the motherhood penalty, the importance of self-autonomy and workplace flexibility. Zara discusses her non-negotiables when it comes to work schedules, and what she stands firm on at home to prioritize herself.

Finally, Zara shares the ways in which celebrities positively contribute to conversations about motherhood. We talk about our love for reality tv and why we are #sorrynotsorry about indulging in guilty pleasures.

Zara is a mom of twins and a freelance journalist covering motherhood, women's health, and culture. She has written for outlets like the New York Times for Kids, Vogue, Elle, Glamour, Parents, Cosmopolitan, Motherly, and many others. She's passionate about leading conversations about the state of motherhood in the United States. Zara has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

You can follow Zara on Instagram and TikTok

Music by Dana Music from Pixabay

If you liked this episode or previous episodes, like, rate, or leave a review!

Let's be friends! Follow Good Moms on Instagram at @goodmomspod