Instinctual Motherhood Podcast

Stop Putting Yourself Last This Holiday Season

This week, we’re talking about something that every mom needs to hear — especially during the holidays: stop putting yourself last.
Between the travel, the traditions, and the endless to-do lists, it’s easy to lose yourself in making everything perfect for everyone else. But what if this year looked different? What if you started your day doing something for you first — before answering to everyone else’s needs?
In this episode, Jordyn shares a heartfelt reminder that self-care isn’t selfish (I know you’ve heard it before, but this time it’s really important you listen) — it’s necessary. You’ll walk away with simple, practical ways to prioritize yourself during the busiest season of the year, so you can show up as the calm, grounded version of you that your family actually needs.
Because the holidays don’t need more perfection — they need a mom who remembers herself, too.
 
Currently pregnant and want a birth plan that goes beyond just a piece of paper? Head over to https://instinctualmotherhood.com/BeyondTheBirthPlan to download your Birthplan Blueprint today! Your birth deserves your voice mama!

Do I Really Need a Doula? Birth Support, Informed Consent & Advocacy with HeHe Stewart

Assumptive language robs women of autonomy. True informed consent gives it back. This conversation with HeHe Stewart, doula and childbirth educator, dives into how to recognize coercion in both prenatal appointments and the birth room, why doulas are critical for first-time moms (and their partners), and the exact scripts you can use to pause, decline, or request. If you’ve ever wondered whether you “need” a doula, this episode will show you why support, advocacy, and choice aren’t luxuries—they’re essential.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to spot assumptive language and shift the conversation
Why true informed consent is more than just saying “yes”
The real role of a doula (and why your partner benefits, too)
Key questions to ask OBs, midwives, and doulas before birth
Simple scripts to pause, decline, or request care without confrontation
Resources & Links
Find a doula near you: DoulaMatch
Follow HeHe on Instagram: @tranquilitybyhehe
HeHe’s website: TranquilityByHehe
Free resource—Instinctual Birth Plan Blueprint

From Toddlers to Teens: My Current Season of Motherhood

Motherhood isn’t color-coded planners and spotless houses. It’s meltdowns over the wrong snack, potty training struggles, and teenagers rolling their eyes like you’re the least cool person alive. And yet, it’s also bedtime milestones that leave you both proud and teary, little voices learning new words, and kids who are slowly becoming best friends.
In this episode, I’m taking you behind the mic and sharing what life really looks like for me right now. From raising two toddlers while also navigating the teenage years, to considering another baby, to shifts I’m making in my own life and this business. I want this to feel like we’re sitting down for a coffee date and catching up on real life, not just the highlight reel.
You’ll hear: - The messy and magical parts of our current season (potty training, speech progress, and teenagers testing limits) - The shifts I’m making personally—from not drinking, to leaning deeper into motherhood, to refining where I want this business to grow- What’s happening behind the scenes at Instinctual Motherhood, including the free Birth Plan Blueprint and a new mini-workshop on advocacy I’m building for you - The reminders I’m holding onto about motherhood, kids, and finding joy in the everyday
This isn’t a five-step strategy episode - it’s a real, unfiltered life update. My hope is that it encourages you to embrace your own messy, beautiful season of motherhood and know that you’re not alone in figuring it all out.
And if you’re expecting or know someone who is, don’t forget to grab my free Instinctual Birth Plan Blueprint—a guide to help you move beyond just checking boxes and create a plan that reflects your instincts, your values, and your voice. Download it now at instinctualmotherhood.com/birthplan.

If You’ve Perfected Your Baby Registry, It’s Time to Plan Your Birth

You’ve probably spent hours researching strollers, car seats, and swaddles for your registry… but what about your birth plan?
In this episode of Instinctual Motherhood, I’m sharing what I wish I had known before writing my first birth plan. From the mistake of “just going with the flow,” to why every mom needs a backup plan, how to define your non-negotiables, and the role your partner and doula can play in advocating for you—you’ll learn what a birth plan is really about, and why the paper itself isn’t the power…the process is.
No matter where you plan to give birth—hospital, birth center, or home—this conversation will help you create a birth plan rooted in your instincts and feel confident making decisions when it matters most.
✨ Grab your free Instinctual Birth Plan Blueprint at instinctualmotherhood.com/birthplan and start building a plan that truly reflects you—not just a checklist.
Want to go deeper into the spectrum of birth? Don’t miss Episode 023.
And if you’re looking for clean, non-toxic supplements to support every season of motherhood, I love Just Ingredients—from vitamins to electrolytes and protein powders, they have everything you need to stay nourished. Use code Jordyn.Riegel at checkout for 10% off.

5 Things Missing From Most Birth Plans (and How to Fix Them)

Most moms spend hours on their baby registry but only minutes on their birth plan—and it shows. The truth? Most birth plans are just checklists that leave out the pieces that matter most. In this episode of Instinctual Motherhood, I’m breaking down the 5 things missing from most birth plans—and how to add them in so you can walk into birth feeling prepared, supported, and empowered. From instincts and emotional safety to advocacy, flexibility, and postpartum planning, this episode will give you the tools to create a birth plan that actually works for you (not just your provider).
Want step-by-step support creating yours? Download my FREE Instinctual Birth Plan Blueprint at InstinctualMotherhood.com/birthplan.
Get 10% off Just Ingredients supplements when you use code Jordyn.Riegel at checkout
 

Why Most Birth Plans Fail—And How to Create One That Honors Your Instincts

Birth isn’t just “epidural in the hospital” or “unmedicated at home.” In reality, birth exists on a spectrum—and where you fall on that spectrum can shape the birth plan that feels safest and most instinctual for you.
In this episode, Jordyn walks you through the five points on the spectrum of birth—from medical preferred to biological —and helps you reflect on where you naturally align. You’ll discover why your instincts might look different from your friends’ or family’s, how experiences and new information shift your choices, and why knowing your place on the spectrum matters when creating a birth plan.
You’ll learn:
What the spectrum of birth is (and why it changes everything)
How to uncover where you fall on the spectrum
Why most birth plans fail
How to use your instincts to build a birth plan that truly works for you
✨ Plus, Jordyn shares her brand-new free resource: The Instinctual Birth Plan Blueprint, a guide to help you research your options, identify your non-negotiables, and confidently advocate for the birth you deserve.
Download it free here: instinctualmotherhood.com/birthplan
 
You can't pour from an empty cup mama, keep your body hydrated and fueled with clean supplements. Head over to Just Ingredients and use code Jordyn.Riegel for 10% off at checkout!

The 5 Things I’d Beg My First-Time Postpartum Self to Do Differently

If you're a soon-to-be or brand-new mom drowning in conflicting advice, this episode is for you.
In this raw solo episode, I’m taking you back to my first postpartum experience—the one where I ignored all the “rest” rules, tried to bounce back too quickly, and believed I had to prove I could do it all. Spoiler: I regret it.
Now, as a mom of two, I’m sharing the five things I’d beg my first-time postpartum self to do differently—from truly following the 5-5-5 rest rule, to letting the house be messy, to unapologetically holding your baby as much as you want.
Whether you’re preparing for birth, deep in the newborn fog, or reflecting on your own early motherhood days, this episode will help you feel seen, grounded, and empowered to do postpartum your way.
💛 Listen in to hear:
The truth about the 5-5-5 postpartum rule (and why I skipped it the first time)
Why rest > productivity in early motherhood
How to let go of the pressure to “bounce back”
The importance of asking for (and accepting) help
Why holding your baby all day is not spoiling them—it's instinctual
Because you don’t get to redo your first postpartum season... but you can learn from mine.
👇 Ready to set your postpartum experience up for more rest, support, and instinctual care? Press play now.
If you are looking for personalized support in postpartum, I would love to walk alongside you. Head to instinctualmotherhood.com/coaching to book your free 15 minute call today!
 
Looking to support your body as a mom? Head over to Just Ingredients to get all the supplements you need - my personal favorites are the electrolytes and vegan protein powder. Use code Jordyn.Riegel at checkout for 10% off.

Biologically Normal Infant Sleep: What the Sleep Training Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know with Resting in Motherhood

Tired of being told to “just sleep train” your baby? Let’s talk about what’s actually normal. In this conversation with Brittni from Resting in Motherhood, we’re busting myths about baby sleep, breaking down the science behind night wakings, and exposing how the sleep training industry profits from moms who feel broken.
Brittni Mella Cepeda is a certified infant & toddler sleep specialist, mom to one, and worked with over 600 families to help moms get more sleep without having to sleep train or ignoring their instincts.
If you’ve ever questioned whether sleep training is the only way—or felt shame for co-sleeping, nursing to sleep, or contact napping—this episode is for you.
We dive into the science of baby sleep, why night wakings are normal, the impact of sleep training on a baby’s nervous system, and how co-sleeping and contact naps can actually support your child’s development.
Whether you’re exhausted and considering sleep training or you just want to feel less alone in the middle of the night, this episode is your permission slip to trust your instincts.
Topics we cover:
Biologically normal sleep in babies and toddlers
Co-sleeping vs. independent sleep
What the research actually says about sleep training
Nervous system regulation for babies and moms
What to do when you’re exhausted but also don’t want to sleep train
 Interested in learning more from Brittni? Head over to restinginmotherhood.com or @resting_in_motherhood on Instagram
This week only, Just Ingredients anniversary sale, 20% off sitewide, new products, and code Jordyn.Riegel gets you free shipping! Sale is August 5-11!

The Secret to Motherhood Is Not Control: A Conversation on Surrender with Sadie Golden

We’ve been sold the lie that control is the key to “doing motherhood right.” Perfect routines. Predictable naps. A clean house. Especially those of us who were over-achievers and chased perfection before motherhood. 
But what if the secret isn’t more control… it’s finally letting go?
In this honest, hilarious, and deeply relatable conversation, I sit down with Sadie Golden—mom of 3 and might I say master of surrender—to talk about what it actually looks like to loosen your grip and start embracing motherhood. We dive into the mess, the meltdowns (ours and our kids’), and the moments that remind us: your peace doesn’t come from control—it comes from surrendering and being present in the now.
Inside the episode, we chat about:
Why trying to control everything is making motherhood harder—not better
The glass vs. rubber ball mindset shift every mom needs
Letting go of guilt when you prioritize yourself (yes, even to go to the gym)
Why bouncing back to your old self isn’t the goal—and who you’re becoming is even better
And how to tune out the noise, listen to your instincts, and finally breathe again
If you’ve been white-knuckling motherhood and wondering why it still doesn’t feel good—this episode is your permission to drop the rulebook, surrender, and start doing it in a way that brings you more joy.
To follow Sadie you can find her @sadiebreann on Instagram and @sadiebreann_ on TikTok
Looking for supplements without junk ingredients? Head over to Just Ingredients and use code Jordyn.Riegel at checkout for 10% off

What If the Problem Isn’t Breastfeeding—It’s Gluten and Dairy?

You’re told your baby is just “colicky.” You’re told their reflux is “normal.” Maybe even that your breastmilk is the issue. But what if the real problem… is what you’re eating? In this episode, I share my personal story of discovering food sensitivities while breastfeeding—how dairy and gluten impacted both of my boys, the symptoms I couldn’t ignore, and how I made the decision to cut them out.
In this episode:
Why I cut gluten and dairy while breastfeeding (and how it changed everything)
The symptoms no one told me could be food related
The connection between dairy and chronic ear infections
How to make a gluten and dairy free lifestyle actually doable - including how to go out to eat
Encouragement for the mom who feels like something is off
If you’re wondering whether food could be affecting your baby’s skin, sleep, reflux, or behavior, this episode might connect the dots for you.
Wanting more support and to feel less overwhelmed in motherhood? Head over to instinctualmotherhood.com/coaching to book a free 15 minute call today
Looking to clean up your supplements and hydration? Just Ingredients is exactly what you need to stay fueled and hydrated while chasing around little ones. Use code Jordyn.Riegel for 10% off at checkout