Birth stories are powerful and deeply personal, and in this episode, Elana opens up about the arrival of her fourth baby, Revi. From early labor and mindset shifts, to choosing a supportive birth team and trusting her intuition, Elana shares the details of her journey to a beautiful home birth at 42 weeks. You’ll hear how she navigated discouraging medical advice and outside influences, and the tools that made the biggest difference in her labor.
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Be sure to also listen to Ep. 383 | Part 2, where Elana shares her postpartum experience and tips for a smoother postpartum.
Topics Covered In This Episode:
Mindset shifts for labor and delivery
Navigating the final days and weeks of pregnancy
Natural induction methods
Tips for choosing your birth team
Show Notes:
Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell’s Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child’s number one health advocate!
Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD’s online nutrition program and community, Postpartum Reset, an intimate private community and online roadmap for any mama (or mama-to-be) who feels stuck, alone, and depleted and wants to learn how to thrive in motherhood.
This Episode’s Sponsors
njoy the health benefits of PaleoValley’s products such as their supplements, superfood bars and meat sticks. Receive 15% off your purchase by heading to paleovalley.com/doctormom
Discover for yourself why Needed is trusted by women’s health practitioners and mamas alike to support optimal pregnancy outcomes. Try their 4 Part Complete Nutrition plan which includes a Prenatal Multi, Omega-3, Collagen Protein, and Pre/Probiotic. To get started, head to thisisneeded.com, and use code DOCTORMOM20 for 20% off Needed’s Complete Plan!
Active Skin Repair is a must-have for everyone to keep themselves and their families healthy and clean. Keep a bottle in the car to spray your face after removing your mask, a bottle in your medicine cabinet to replace your toxic first aid products, and one in your outdoor pack for whatever life throws at you. Use code DOCTORMOM to receive 20% off your order + free shipping (with $35 minimum purchase). Visit BLDGActive.com to order.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can’t wait to meet you!
Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only. All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.
Early airway health can shape your child’s long-term development more than you think. In this episode, myofunctional therapist and dental hygienist Caity Hart joins me to break down what parents need to know about expanders, guided growth appliances and how the mouth and airway are connected. We explore how structural oral issues like crowded teeth, mouth breathing and tongue posture can influence sleep, behavior and even facial development.
Caity explains the difference between fixed and removable expanders, how to know if your child is a candidate and the importance of early assessment. We also talk about what to expect during treatment, how bodywork supports the process and why nasal breathing is a key to lifelong health.
This conversation is packed with empowering insights for parents who want to be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to their child’s oral and airway development. Whether you're concerned about snoring, teeth grinding or just want to get ahead of orthodontic issues, this episode will guide you with clarity, confidence and compassion.
Topics Covered In This Episode:
Myofunctional therapy and oral development
Signs your child may need an expander
Skeletal expansion and nasal breathing
Early airway assessment for children
How to choose the right dental appliance
Show Notes:
Follow Caity @mindfulmyo/ on Instagram
Read Management of the Developing Dentition and Occlusion in Pediatric Dentistry article
Read The Role of Myofunctional Therapy in Pediatric Dentistry article
Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell’s Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child’s number one health advocate!
Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD’s online nutrition program and community, Postpartum Reset, an intimate private community and online roadmap for any mama (or mama-to-be) who feels stuck, alone, and depleted and wants to learn how to thrive in motherhood.
Caitlyn earned her degree in Dental Hygiene in 2016 from West Los Angeles College after almost a decade in the dental field as a dental assistant in Southern California. In 2020, Caitlyn and her family moved to the Treasure Valley in the beautiful state of Idaho. She has years of experience working in Conventional, Integrative and Airway focused dentistry. Caitlyn is passionate about early identification of craniofacial growth and jaw development deficiencies in children. These negative growth patterns can have profound effects on sleep, breathing and the TMJ into adulthood.
Caitlyn believes that Myofunctional therapy is one of the most underutilized treatment modalities in dentistry. Her goal as a therapist is to bridge the gap between oral and systemic health with a focus on nasal breathing, tongue posture, correct swallow and lip seal. She is passionate about encouraging proper craniofacial growth in children and supporting breathing and sleep optimization in all ages.
This Episode’s Sponsors
Enjoy the health benefits of PaleoValley’s products such as their supplements, superfood bars and meat sticks. Receive 15% off your purchase by heading to paleovalley.com/doctormom
Discover for yourself why Needed is trusted by women’s health practitioners and mamas alike to support optimal pregnancy outcomes. Try their 4 Part Complete Nutrition plan which includes a Prenatal Multi, Omega-3, Collagen Protein, and Pre/Probiotic. To get started, head to thisisneeded.com, and use code DOCTORMOM20 for 20% off Needed’s Complete Plan!
Active Skin Repair is a must-have for everyone to keep themselves and their families healthy and clean. Keep a bottle in the car to spray your face after removing your mask, a bottle in your medicine cabinet to replace your toxic first aid products, and one in your outdoor pack for whatever life throws at you. Use code DOCTORMOM to receive 20% off your order + free shipping (with $35 minimum purchase). Visit BLDGActive.com to order.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can’t wait to meet you!
Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only. All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.
Early airway health can shape your child’s long-term development more than you think. In this episode, myofunctional therapist and dental hygienist Caity Hart joins me to break down what parents need to know about expanders, guided growth appliances and how the mouth and airway are connected. We explore how structural oral issues like crowded teeth, mouth breathing and tongue posture can influence sleep, behavior and even facial development.
Caity explains the difference between fixed and removable expanders, how to know if your child is a candidate and the importance of early assessment. We also talk about what to expect during treatment, how bodywork supports the process and why nasal breathing is a key to lifelong health.
This conversation is packed with empowering insights for parents who want to be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to their child’s oral and airway development. Whether you're concerned about snoring, teeth grinding or just want to get ahead of orthodontic issues, this episode will guide you with clarity, confidence and compassion.
Topics Covered In This Episode:
Myofunctional therapy and oral development
Signs your child may need an expander
Skeletal expansion and nasal breathing
Early airway assessment for children
How to choose the right dental appliance
Show Notes:
Follow Caity @mindfulmyo/ on Instagram
Read Management of the Developing Dentition and Occlusion in Pediatric Dentistry article
Read The Role of Myofunctional Therapy in Pediatric Dentistry article
Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell’s Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child’s number one health advocate!
Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD’s online nutrition program and community, Postpartum Reset, an intimate private community and online roadmap for any mama (or mama-to-be) who feels stuck, alone, and depleted and wants to learn how to thrive in motherhood.
Caitlyn earned her degree in Dental Hygiene in 2016 from West Los Angeles College after almost a decade in the dental field as a dental assistant in Southern California. In 2020, Caitlyn and her family moved to the Treasure Valley in the beautiful state of Idaho. She has years of experience working in Conventional, Integrative and Airway focused dentistry. Caitlyn is passionate about early identification of craniofacial growth and jaw development deficiencies in children. These negative growth patterns can have profound effects on sleep, breathing and the TMJ into adulthood.
Caitlyn believes that Myofunctional therapy is one of the most underutilized treatment modalities in dentistry. Her goal as a therapist is to bridge the gap between oral and systemic health with a focus on nasal breathing, tongue posture, correct swallow and lip seal. She is passionate about encouraging proper craniofacial growth in children and supporting breathing and sleep optimization in all ages.
This Episode’s Sponsors
Enjoy the health benefits of PaleoValley’s products such as their supplements, superfood bars and meat sticks. Receive 15% off your purchase by heading to paleovalley.com/doctormom
Discover for yourself why Needed is trusted by women’s health practitioners and mamas alike to support optimal pregnancy outcomes. Try their 4 Part Complete Nutrition plan which includes a Prenatal Multi, Omega-3, Collagen Protein, and Pre/Probiotic. To get started, head to thisisneeded.com, and use code DOCTORMOM20 for 20% off Needed’s Complete Plan!
Active Skin Repair is a must-have for everyone to keep themselves and their families healthy and clean. Keep a bottle in the car to spray your face after removing your mask, a bottle in your medicine cabinet to replace your toxic first aid products, and one in your outdoor pack for whatever life throws at you. Use code DOCTORMOM to receive 20% off your order + free shipping (with $35 minimum purchase). Visit BLDGActive.com to order.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can’t wait to meet you!
Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only. All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.
Snoring and mouth breathing are often dismissed, but for children, they can have life-altering effects. From behavioral challenges and ADHD-like symptoms to poor sleep, academic struggles, and even long-term health risks, airway issues can be the missing piece parents never considered.
In this episode, dentist and airway health pioneer Dr. Kalli Hale uncovers how early intervention can reshape a child’s health, development, and future. You’ll learn what you can do to support crooked teeth and enlarged tonsils from an integrative approach, how orthodontics can go beyond braces to impact airway health, and what subtle signs parents should never ignore. Most importantly, you’ll walk away empowered with practical steps to protect your child’s wellbeing today and set them up for a thriving tomorrow. Dr. Kalli is a proud founder and the Chief Dental Officer for Toothpillow, a telehealth platform for kids 3-12, designed by expert airway dentists and myofunctional therapists to treat jaws non-surgically, improving breathing, sleep, and overall oral health. We’ve partnered with them for this episode to showcase this innovative, convenient option for parents.
Topics Covered In This Episode:
Sleep disordered breathing and ADHD in children
Mouth breathing, tonsils, and airway health
Early orthodontics and jaw development
How sleep impacts learning and behavior
Tools and therapies to support better breathing
Show Notes:
Get your Free video assessment (a $50 value) and $200 off treatment with code DOCTORMOM
Purchase Kids' mouth tape
Learn more about Wyndly allergy testing
Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell’s Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child’s number one health advocate!
Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD’s online nutrition program and community, Postpartum Reset, an intimate private community and online roadmap for any mama (or mama-to-be) who feels stuck, alone, and depleted and wants to learn how to thrive in motherhood.
Dr. Kalli Hale is passionate about how our teeth affect our systemic health. Her training in obstructive sleep apnea has transformed both her personal and professional career. Dr. Hale works with dentists around the country to develop clinical protocols for the treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and sleep-disordered breathing. Her work in pediatric expansion and sleep-disordered breathing catapulted her speaking career and lives by the slogan “we have to start getting it right, for our kids.” Kalli is the co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer of The Airway Dentists, a group of practices in Houston dedicated to ridding the world of sleep-disordered breathing." Kalli is a proud founder and the Chief Dental Officer for Toothpillow, Inc.!
This Episode’s Sponsors
Toothpillow is a telehealth platform for kids 3-12, designed by expert airway dentists and myofunctional therapists to treat jaws non-surgically, improving breathing, sleep, and overall health.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can’t wait to meet you!
Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only. All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.
Genetic testing is more than just ancestry results. It can be one of the most powerful tools for supporting your child’s long-term health and making informed medical decisions. In this empowering episode, Dr. Elana is joined by board-certified genetic counselor, Natalie Samson, to explore how DNA testing can help personalize everything from supplements to nutrition, vaccine protocols and emotional well-being.
One of the most important parts of this conversation is how genetic insights can help assess vaccine risk. You’ll learn how inflammation markers, methylation, detox pathways and oxidative stress genes can influence how a child responds to vaccines. With this information, parents can feel more confident in their ability to support their child’s unique biology before and after vaccines.
Natalie makes complex science feel easy to understand, offering real-life examples for moms who want clarity, not confusion. Dr. Elana also shares how genetic testing helped her tailor supplement plans, prepare for pregnancy and feel more grounded in her family’s health decisions.
Whether you are planning for pregnancy, navigating chronic symptoms, or facing vaccine decisions, this episode offers trusted education and encouragement so you feel informed and prepared.
Topics Covered In This Episode:
Genetic testing for personalized health plans
How epigenetics influences chronic disease risk
DNA-based vaccine risk assessment and immune support
Understanding detox pathways and inflammation markers
How genetic insights guide nutrition and supplement choices
Supporting children’s emotional health through neurotransmitter genetics
Show Notes:
Mention this podcast episode, and you can get 15% off an appointment with Natalie
Follow @goldengeneticshealth on Instagram
Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell’s Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child’s number one health advocate!
Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD’s online nutrition program and community, Postpartum Reset, an intimate private community and online roadmap for any mama (or mama-to-be) who feels stuck, alone, and depleted and wants to learn how to thrive in motherhood.
Natalie is a dedicated Board-Certified Genetic Counselor devoted to transforming healthcare through personalized, integrative, and preventative approaches. She established her own practice, Golden Genetics to introduce an integrative and holistic approach to genetic counseling and testing, combining it with nutrition and nutrigenomics. She focuses on cancer, neurology and nutrigenomics and she aims to provide preventative and personalized care in genetic counseling and testing.
This Episode’s Sponsors
Enjoy the health benefits of PaleoValley’s products such as their supplements, superfood bars and meat sticks. Receive 15% off your purchase by heading to paleovalley.com/doctormom
Discover for yourself why Needed is trusted by women’s health practitioners and mamas alike to support optimal pregnancy outcomes. Try their 4 Part Complete Nutrition plan which includes a Prenatal Multi, Omega-3, Collagen Protein, and Pre/Probiotic. To get started, head to thisisneeded.com, and use code DOCTORMOM20 for 20% off Needed’s Complete Plan!
Active Skin Repair is a must-have for everyone to keep themselves and their families healthy and clean. Keep a bottle in the car to spray your face after removing your mask, a bottle in your medicine cabinet to replace your toxic first aid products, and one in your outdoor pack for whatever life throws at you. Use code DOCTORMOM to receive 20% off your order + free shipping (with $35 minimum purchase). Visit BLDGActive.com to order.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can’t wait to meet you!
Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only. All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.
Women are often praised for being “good” but what if goodness is holding us back from being whole? In this deeply thought-provoking episode, bestselling author Elise Loehnen returns to discuss her new workbook, Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness, a companion to her New York Times bestseller, On Our Best Behavior.
They explore how deeply ingrained cultural programming shapes women’s identities, expectations, and stories, often without our awareness. Elise breaks down the seven “sins” that subconsciously govern women’s lives, including the good girl script, perfectionism, and self-sacrifice, and teaches us how to reclaim power by choosing truth and wholeness over performance and fear.
You’ll learn tangible tools for self-inquiry including “fact versus story”, how to identify fear responses, naming personas, and how to recognize if you’re caught in a drama triangle.
This episode is rich with insights, tools, and real-life examples that will help you begin to shift your internal stories, access deeper self-compassion, and build stronger, healthier boundaries. It’s not about being a better woman—it’s about being more you.
Topics Covered In This Episode:
Cultural conditioning and the good girl myth
Self-awareness tools you can practice today
Understanding your fear response
How the drama triangle keeps you stuck
How to name and work with your inner personas
Show Notes:
Follow @eliseloehnen on Instagram
Tweet Elise @eloehnen
Purchase New York Times bestseller On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good
Buy Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness—the official companion guide to On Our Best Behavior, as well as True and False Magic, which Elise wrote with legendary psychiatrist Phil Stutz.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell’s Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child’s number one health advocate!
Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD’s online nutrition program and community, Postpartum Reset, an intimate private community and online roadmap for any mama (or mama-to-be) who feels stuck, alone, and depleted and wants to learn how to thrive in motherhood.
Elise Loehnen is a writer, editor, and podcast host who lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Rob, and their two sons, Max and Sam. She is the host of Pulling the Thread, a podcast focused on pulling apart the stories we tell about who we are—and then putting those threads back together. Ultimately Elise is a seeker and synthesizer, braiding together wisdom traditions, cultural history, and a deep knowledge of healing modalities to unlock new ways to contextualize who we are and why we’re here. She’s also the author of the instant New York Times bestseller On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good (Dial Press/PRH). The book weaves together history, memoir, and cultural criticism to explore the ways patriarchy lands in the bodies of women and embeds itself in our consciousness—and what we then police in ourselves and in each other. Regardless of our religious provenance, the self-denial implicit in each of the Seven Deadly Sins—Sloth, Envy, Pride, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Anger—reads like a checklist of what it means to be a “good” woman. With awareness, we can begin to recognize these patterns of self-restriction, break the story, and move ourselves and each other toward freedom and balance.
Elise is a frequent contributor to Oprah, and has written for The New York Times, Elle Decor, Stylist, and more.
This Episode’s Sponsors
Enjoy the health benefits of PaleoValley’s products such as their supplements, superfood bars and meat sticks. Receive 15% off your purchase by heading to paleovalley.com/doctormom
Discover for yourself why Needed is trusted by women’s health practitioners and mamas alike to support optimal pregnancy outcomes. Try their 4 Part Complete Nutrition plan which includes a Prenatal Multi, Omega-3, Collagen Protein, and Pre/Probiotic. To get started, head to thisisneeded.com, and use code DOCTORMOM20 for 20% off Needed’s Complete Plan!
Active Skin Repair is a must-have for everyone to keep themselves and their families healthy and clean. Keep a bottle in the car to spray your face after removing your mask, a bottle in your medicine cabinet to replace your toxic first aid products, and one in your outdoor pack for whatever life throws at you. Use code DOCTORMOM to receive 20% off your order + free shipping (with $35 minimum purchase). Visit BLDGActive.com to order.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF to Steph and Dr. Elana on Instagram. They can’t wait to meet you!
Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only. All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.