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Natural Parenting Tips Radio

Episode 1: Childbirth Options: Birth Centers

For our premiere show, I interviewed Carmen from the Mommy Talk blog about her choice in childbirth options, which included choosing Providence Alternative Birthing Center in Southfield, Michigan for the location of her first birth.

Carmen's bio states: "I am a natural birthing, breastfeeding, baby food making, stay-at-home attachment Mama. I love blogging about hot topics in childbirth and parenting. I hope that the things I talk about will encourage women to go out and get educated about their choices in childbirth and parenting."

Episode 2: Nourishing Traditions Without The Grains

Nourishing Traditions is a foundational book for many who want to start eating healthy. Beth Wiles shares with us how this book has influenced her eating habits . Beth also shares about a no grain diet called the GAPS diet which seeks to heal gut dysbiosis. Beth believes, like Hippocrates did so many years before modern medicine, that healing the gut is the most important step to fighting cronic diseases.

Episode 3: Unassisted Homebirth - Understanding Your Childbirth Options

Before we make the decision on where to birth and with whom, we need to take a step back and examine a woman's philosophy of birth - where it comes from and why you need to ask the right questions. Your philosophy of birth then fuels your decision making process.

Lynn Griesemer is author of “Unassisted Homebirth: An Act of Love” and “Your Body, Your Birth: Secrets for a Satisfying and Successful Birth (CD).”

Episode 4: Homeschooling Online - Teaching The Art Of Branding

Dana Susan Beasley is publisher/principal of AngelArts, a creative arts agency and publishing house. She is passionate about helping individuals and families create dazzling futures for themselves by teaching them how to create sizzling, passion-centered branding. She does this through her step by step branding system programs, Brand Identity Quest and Brand Identity Mentor Programs.

While Dana's expertise is in graphic arts, writing, publishing, and music, she also is a homeschooling mother devoted to working at home. Her desire is that AngelArts, and her work, be a vehicle for God's glory. Because she is always reaching for new heights in her life and beyond and wants to inspire others to do the same!

Episode 5: Feeding Newborns - How To Breastfeed

I will be speaking with Mackey Roberson, who is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, about how to breastfeed your newborn. We'll be covering topics such as failure to thrive and nipple soreness. Here's a little about our guest:

I was born into a military family in the mid seventies with career driven parents who chose to bottle feed me because that’s what everyone else did. Hailing from a family of formula feeding women, the odds were not in favor of me becoming a breastfeeding warrior. But I am. Today I look for every opportunity to engage in discussions with prenatal women about their feeding options. I encourage and support Moms who choose to breastfeed.

When I take off my “professional titles”, I’m a wife, long term breast feeder, baby wearer, homeschooler, co-sleeper, Christian and a myriad of other things. My husband and I share in the joys and triumphs of raising 8 breastfed children. My children are 17,15,13,12,8,6,and my nursling is 15 months old. My life goal is to see breastfeeding become the norm.

Episode 6: Home Birth Stories - Ruth Agbolosoo

Ruth Agbolosoo is a mother of 3, graduate student, psychotherapy intern, work at home mom,

homeschooler and soon to be published book author. She's passionate about raising her children the natural way.

Her natural homebirthing journey started over 13 years ago before the birth of her first child. She did some research about natural birthing and wanted a water birth. She found out that that wasn’t an option in the birthing center she planned to give birth. Even so, she had a good birthing experience at the birthing center.

However, she missed the comforts of home such as food. For her second child, 10 years later, she decided with her husband to have a homebirth and had a good experience for the most part with the midwife they chose.

She had to wait until her last birth to have the water birth she dreamed of. Most of the process was unassisted. The midwives were in another part of the house at her request. Ruth feels this was the best experience not only because it was a water birth but also because she felt free. She did it mainly on her own and it felt great!

Episode 7: High School Home Study

Linda Wakefield Kelley has taught every grade, first through twelfth, to one or more of her three "kids". Today her children are finding success in their respective college careers. "I'm here to assure you, these high school at home years can be traveled both courageously and joyfully." Mrs. Kelley has also published numerous articles for national Christian publications.

Episode 8: International Babywearing Conference 2012

As a new Mom, Ann Marie failed to find a successful carrier option for her oldest daughter despite trying. She was delighted to discover Babywearing International of DC-MD-VA after the birth of her second and set about learning as much as she could so that she could help prevent other parents from the frustration she had in not finding a good carrier with her oldest. She is now the president of the board of directors for Babywearing International, she is an MBE with Babywearing International of DC-MD-VA and helps parents around our Nation's Capital to wear their babies safely and comfortably while regularly wearing her middle and youngest daughters.

Ann Marie Rodgerson graduated from Elon University with a BA in English and Theatre Arts. She earned her Master's in Education from Marymount University while working as a secondary English and theatre teacher. Ann Marie left professional teaching for the informal classroom of parenting. Ann Marie is the chair of the committee planning the 2012 International Babywearing Conference in Washington, DC. She is looking forward to hosting the world and spreading the babywearing love.

Episode 9: Black Birth and Maternal Mortality in the U.S.A.

Birth in America has gotten exremely dangerous. Maternal mortality rates continue to rise. African-American mortality rates are four to six times higher than the mortality rate of other mothers. Something must be done to fix this crisis.

Maddy Oden, mother to three children and grandmother of ten, has experienced the ravaging affects of maternal mortality. Since the untimely death of her daughter, Maddy has started a non profit organization, The Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation. The sole purpose of the Foundation is to educate women around the issues of pregnancy and birth. Their primary focus is on off label use of drugs, informed consent and maternal mortality. They give presentations at schools, churches, conferences and anywhere there are women of childbearing age.

We currently have an open petition to the FDA with over 3,000 both on and off line, regarding Cytotec inductions. Please visit our website at www.tatia.org

Episode 10: Elimination Communication Chat with Marija Mikolajczak

I'll be talking with ECWear's Marija Mikolajczak. As an elimination communication (EC) veteran and Work-At-Home Mom, Marija has a passion for teaching parents how to listen to their baby's cues that tell you they have to go to the bathroom. EC parents don't wait until their babies are of a certain potty traiing age to teach them to eliminate just like the rest of us. They start from birth! On this episode you'll learn how your baby can go diaperless like many babies all over the world! Marija will also share about which types of clothing work best while EC'ing your baby.

Marija owns an EC shop that she runs from home in NY called EC Wear. She sells clothing and accessories like split pants and crotchless pants that are specially designed for babies practicing EC.

Episode 11: Secrets of Awesome Homeschooling Field Trips

I'll be talking with homeschooling Mom of two, Sade Tagbo, about her experiences with homeschooling field trips! We'll answer the how to's, what if's and discuss the aspects of the perfect home school field trip! Here's a bit more about Sade:

I am a speaker, blogger, homeschooler and social media maven. I homeschool my two kids and run my home business - implementing social media marketing for small businesses.

When I am not homeschooling, I can be found speaking at schools, churches and women’s groups in the St. Louis area on faith, parenting, homeschooling and personal development.

Episode 12: Understanding the Homeschool Co-op

There are food co-ops and housing co-ops, but what is a homeschool co-op? Join me and my guest, Sade Tagbo, as we delve into the world of home school co-ops. You'll learn what they are, how to join one, the pros and cons to joining one and tips on getting the most out of your co-op experience.

You can also read the transcript of this show by clicking here.

Episode 13: Black Birth and Maternal Mortality in the U.S.A. - Part II

Maternal mortality rates of African-American women are 3-4 times higher than any other group of American women. That number is staggering. Something must be done to change the way women are cared for during their pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum experiences.

I'll be talking with midwife and Executive Director of Commonsense Childbirth Inc. - The Birth Place, Jennie Joseph (LM, CPM), about how she has worked to diminish that disparity in her community by developing a midwifery system of care called The JJ Way.

Episode 14: Saying No To Baby Immunizations

In this episode, I talk with The Refusers band leader, Michael Belkin. He shares his story of how his daughter was injured by the Hepatitis B shot and what he's been doing since then to bring about change.

You can listen to more of Michael's music by clicking here