The Infinite Colors of Motherhood with Olivia Van Dyke

In this episode Olivia Van Dyke, a wife, a mother, and a CEO, speaks about her experience conceiving her first child at 24, the self-imposed pressure to get pregnant before her ailing father passes away, along with grieving the loss of her father while simultaneously preparing to give birth. This conversation is exceptionally moving as we examine together the heartbreak and the beauty found within the everyday moments of motherhood. www.keelysemler.com2:46 Origins and inspiration for the Motherlands Podcast3:12 Misconceptions about conception7:02 The journey and guilt of grief and loss during pregnancy9:39 Holding space for your emotions11:15 Olivia’s first birth experience20:39 The post birth feeling of invisibility for the mother and partner24:18 Feeling disconnected from your baby28:54 NICU and a rough transition into motherhood31:35 Conceiving their second child and a very different second birth33:03 Self judgment at play for using or not using an epidural33:41 Finding a connection with a doula and determined to have an unmedicated birth35:44 A fear of changing existent family dynamics with another child36:48 Many new factors: an unmedicated birth during covid48:44 Breastfeeding and working in early motherhood51:56 Feeding the other parts of you outside being a mother53:33 Sex drive after birth57:21 Therapy and discovering new parts of yourself after having a baby1:00:29 Advice for future birth-givers: you will be ok1:01:50 The benefits of being off of social media: no FOMO or comparison This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keelysemler.substack.com/subscribe