Guest Bio:

Episode Description

In this heartfelt episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Emily Freeman talks with Celeste Miller, a ranch mom from rural Montana, about her journey through breastfeeding challenges, rural isolation, and finding confidence in motherhood.

Celeste shares how her first baby’s health complications made nursing difficult, how she found support the second time around, and what it’s like raising kids while working on a cattle ranch. Together, Emily and Celeste discuss the realities of rural parenting — long drives for care, limited lactation support, and the pressure to “tough it out” — alongside the growing openness among moms to talk about postpartum mental health.

Highlights include:

• Navigating breastfeeding challenges and formula feeding without local support
• Balancing ranch life and parenting in a rural setting
• The importance of community, vulnerability, and practical support for moms
• Why resources like lactation consultants and postpartum support matter in small towns

Celeste’s message:
“You can be tough and still have a hard time — it’s not one or the other.”

Learn more:

• LIFTS Online Resource Guide Category Lactation Supports: https://hmhb-lifts.org/services?service_type=Lactation%20Support
• Read the article from the magazine: https://hmhb-mt.org/magazine/

Enjoying the podcast? We’d love your feedback and ideas for future episodes! Take our LIFTS Podcast Listener Survey at hmhb-mt.org/survey.

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, check out the LIFTS online resource guide at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

Episode Description:

In this episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Emily Freeman speaks with Stephanie Fitch (Billings Clinic) and Sarah Buchanan (Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services) about Siloed — a Montana-made documentary exploring the realities of maternal healthcare access in rural communities.

Produced by Montanans, for Montanans, Siloed weaves together powerful stories from across the state to reveal both the challenges and the deep resilience found in Montana families and providers. The film sheds light on maternal healthcare deserts, the emotional and logistical barriers families face, and the creative solutions, from telehealth to local support networks, helping bridge those gaps.

Highlights include:

• Why storytelling and lived experience matter as much as data in driving public health change
• How rural Montana communities are navigating obstetric care closures
• The importance of psychological safety and trust in healthcare
• The role of telehealth, doulas, and community health workers in expanding access
• The story behind the making of Siloed — from student filmmakers to statewide screenings
• Simple, human ways anyone can support new parents in their own community

Watch the film:
🎬 Siloed Documentary (DPHHS MOMS Program) - https://dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/moms/SiloedDocumentaryEducation

Learn more or get involved:

• Montana MOMS Program: https://mtmoms.org/
• Montana Maternal Health Alliance: https://dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/moms/LeadershipCouncil
• Find perinatal resources in every Montana county and reservation using the LIFTS Online Resource Guide: hmhb-lifts.org

Join the conversation:
Host a community screening, share the documentary with a friend, or simply check in on a new parent in your life. Small acts of care help break down isolation and build connection.

Enjoying the podcast? We’d love your feedback and ideas for future episodes! Take our LIFTS Podcast Listener Survey at hmhb-mt.org/survey.

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, check out the LIFTS online resource guide at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

Guest Bio:

Tehya Teigen is a 29-year-old proud mother of two and the wife of a Navy veteran. She is a recovering addict who believes in second chances, healing, and the power of self-love. Her journey serves as a reminder that recovery is possible and that every day is a new opportunity to rise stronger than before.

Episode Details:

In this episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Emily Freeman talks with Tehya Tigan, a Helena mom of two, about how Montana’s home visiting programs supported her family through pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenting.

Tehya shares how home visiting offered her more than information—it offered connection, advocacy, and encouragement at a time when she needed it most. She opens up about her journey through recovery, motherhood, and rebuilding life after addiction and legal challenges, reminding us that every parent deserves support and a chance to thrive.

Topics in this episode include:

• What home visiting is and how it works in Montana
• How home visitors support families with breastfeeding, car seat safety, and more
• The importance of advocacy and trust between home visitors and families
• Overcoming stigma around recovery and criminal records
• Finding hope and purpose through parenting

Resources mentioned:

• Learn more about home visiting in Montana: https://hmhb-mt.org/homevisiting/
• Explore local support programs and resources for families at LIFTS Online Resource Guide: http://hmhb-lifts.org
• Learn more about the home visiting program at Lewis and Clark County Home Visiting that Tehya utilizes: https://www.lccountymt.gov/Government/Public-Health/Pregnancy-and-Parenting/Home-Visiting

Enjoying the podcast? We’d love your feedback and ideas for future episodes! Take our LIFTS Podcast Listener Survey at hmhb-mt.org/survey.

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, check out the LIFTS online resource guide at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/