Armed to the Heart - Military Women, Work-life Balance, Female Veterans, Christian Moms, Pregnancy and Postpartum
Live out God’s calling in work & family life, within and beyond the uniform — Are you feeling alone as a woman of Christian faith in the military or another male-dominated environment? Are you driven to make a big impact, but wish you could be more present, and give more time to your family? Are you working to lead change, struggling to find your voice or courage as you swim against the current? Are you a high-achiever pouring yourself out for everyone else but burnt out, stressed, and struggling to find time for your own physical & mental health because there’s always so much that needs to be done? Does your harsh inner critic make you feel like no matter how much you do, it’s never enough? You know you’re called to be a leader and change-maker, but it’s hard to find others like you who also share your faith & values. Maybe you’re feeling forced to choose between. Every day is a battle, trying to give 100% in all the hats you wear. You’re performing well but your load is heavy, you’re weighed down by guilt, and exhausted from pushing through but never having a moment to rest. It’s hard to know what to say yes to, and scary considering a different course than the traditional path of success everyone is pushing you toward, or what you’ve always known. Maybe you’ve recently made the transition or are thinking about leaving the military. You don’t want your work to come at the expense of your family; they come first. Amidst it all, you just want to do God’s will. I see you sister. I’m on this journey with you. In this Podcast, you’ll find heart to heart conversations about motherhood and military life, work-life balance and leadership, all grounded in Biblical truths, my education & experience as a professionally-trained Catholic Mindset Coach, certified Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Coach, and lessons I’ve learned the hard way in the last 5 years of high level advocacy work fighting for mothers, families, and life in the military. I believe strongly that no one should have to choose between their family and their call to serve. That motherhood should never be the death of our dreams. That motherhood is not a limiting factor in what a woman can achieve, but lack of support can be. I started Armed to the Heart to be who I needed when I was in the trenches, overwhelmed by motherhood in the military, struggling in my mental health & postpartum recovery, drowning in my home, carrying so much guilt for the time I had to spend away from my baby, feeling so much pressure to prove myself in a combat arms unit and feeling like a failure in all of it. My family was getting the leftovers of me. I felt stifled in my faith. Trapped in the military. It felt impossible to actually live out my priorities. I felt so far from the superwoman others saw in me. As a dual military, active duty Army officer raising 2 sweet (and wild!) boys in the Catholic faith, a fierce advocate for my sisters in arms going through pregnancy & postpartum, a recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, & big dreamer with a heart to make a difference, I know the struggle that comes with wearing so many hats & trying to fulfill God’s call for us. Through so many answered prayers, the Lord has allowed me to be part of the change I want to see. To bridge the gaps I’ve experienced and seen in thousands of women’s experience in the military, through policy advocacy work, mentorship & coaching. To fight for motherhood, for life, and for freedom to live out our faith in the military. He taught me that our minds are the true spiritual battlegrounds, and that by learning to manage our mind, emotions, & time, we don’t have to be a victim to our circumstances. He showed me that by discerning His will in every season, it is possible to keep my faith and family first while making a meaningful impact. So if you’re ready to do the same, for the glory of God, this Podcast is for you! Lace up those boots sister, it’s time to jump in. We can do this together.
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Episodes
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Welcome to Part 2 of this 2-part Episode where we're busting the 20 most common myths & outdated (even harmful) pieces of advice I see out there on postpartum fitness.
The painful truth is that these are many of the most common things we see -- all over Google, Facebook groups, our standard issued Military Pregnancy & Postpartum Fitness resources, in the general Health & Fitness space (especially the Fit Influencer realm) and in daily conversations between moms...I believed all these things too before I went through my training as a certified Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Coach and continued pursuing continuing education from there.
We have to keep getting better, more updated guidance out there for moms everywhere, but ESPECIALLY for women who serve because our careers depend on our ability to recover quickly, and get back to rigorous fitness standards postpartum.
If you're pregnant or postpartum, you don't want to miss these episodes.
Be sure to share this with a friend who deserves this quality info too!
***Looking for a Postpartum Program you can trust, that'll get you to where you want to / need to be?
Strong + Resilient Postpartum Fitness Program (18 week+ Plan for Busy, Active Mamas in the military + beyond who want to get stronger, heal their core + pelvic floor + regain confidence in their bodies again after giving birth, get back to the military fitness test & fitness goals, and have an empowering postpartum experience where you & your family can truly thrive)
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL OR CONNECT:
Email: megan@armedtotheheart.com
1:1 Coaching Call
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:
Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum for Military Mamas + Beyond
Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy
RESOURCES FOR MORE BALANCE IN FAMILY & WORK-LIFE:
Overcome the Overwhelm (Feel like your to-do-list is never-ending, and pulled in a million directions? Grab my FREE guide to help you balance work + mom life with less guilt + more peace, with God at the center)
Renew: My LIVE Group Coaching Mastermind of like-minded women pursuing more balance, with Jesus at the center. It is an amazing community of support, tools to find much more balance, and accountability.
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Oh man, we're getting into it here!
Tune into this 2-part Episode where we're busting the 20 most common myths & outdated (even harmful) pieces of advice I see out there on postpartum fitness.
The painful truth is that these are many of the most common things we see -- all over Google, Facebook groups, our standard issued Military Pregnancy & Postpartum Fitness resources, in the general Health & Fitness space (especially the Fit Influencer realm) and in daily conversations between moms...I believed all these things too before I went through my training as a certified Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Coach and continued pursuing continuing education from there.
We have to keep getting better, more updated guidance out there for moms everywhere, but ESPECIALLY for women who serve because our careers depend on our ability to recover quickly, and get back to rigorous fitness standards postpartum.
If you're pregnant or postpartum, you don't want to miss these episodes.
Be sure to share this with a friend who deserves this quality info too!
***Looking for a Postpartum Program you can trust?
Strong + Resilient Postpartum Fitness Program (18 week+ Plan for Busy, Active Mamas in the military + beyond who want to get stronger, heal their core + pelvic floor + regain confidence in their bodies again after giving birth, get back to the military fitness test & fitness goals, and have an empowering postpartum experience where you & your family can truly thrive)
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL OR CONNECT:
Email: megan@armedtotheheart.com
1:1 Coaching Call
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:
Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum for Military Mamas + Beyond
Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy
RESOURCES FOR MORE BALANCE IN FAMILY & WORK-LIFE:
Overcome the Overwhelm (Feel like your to-do-list is never-ending, and pulled in a million directions? Grab my FREE guide to help you balance work + mom life with less guilt + more peace, with God at the center)
Renew: My LIVE Group Coaching Mastermind of like-minded women pursuing more balance, with Jesus at the center. It is an amazing community of support, tools to find much more balance, and accountability.
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Today we're diving into PART 2 of my 6-step Meal Planning and Prep System, and all the tips, hacks, and time-saving strategies that help me consistently prioritize my nutrition as a busy military mom, and get a variety of healthy, delicious meals on the table for our family, WITHOUT all the stress & hassle.
Today's episode builds on those 6 steps, with 5 ways to make cooking even easier & simpler, and the 6 biggest pitfalls I've fallen into and see that keep us stuck, overwhelmed, or make it hard to be consistent in our healthy habits like meal planning & prep -- even when we have big fitness goals or all the best intentions to stick with it.
I used to spend HOURS searching Pinterest and blogs to find quick, easy, healthy recipes to try, until I found a system that actually works.
I know how stressful it can be to be the one to carry so much of the physical and invisible mental load of being the one responsible for planning, shopping, cooking, and keeping track of all the meals for you and your family. Of trying your best to feed your picky little ones what they'll actually eat, trying to maintain a milk supply while also trying to lose weight postpartum and get back to the military fitness standards or get after your health & fitness goals, and getting food on the table as quickly as you can after a long day of work to leave some time for quality time as a family before the bedtime routine, slaving away over the stovetop while your babies are crying for you & hanging on your legs when you have barely any energy or patience left in your tank because you haven't had a break all day...I get it.
I did not realize how hard I was making this on myself, until I finally figured out a system that cuts out all the extra time & energy I was spending, and helped me feel a million times less stressed about how to fit nutrition into my busy life. So that's what I'm sharing with you today to give you these shortcuts & hacks too.
If you're ready to SIMPLIFY nutrition for you and your family and fit this into your crazy life to minimize the stress and anxiety around "what's for dinner", and pour into your family & your fitness goals by prioritizing eating healthy, then this 2-part series is for you!
***Quick favor!! Has this Podcast blessed you? If so, I'd love to get to know you better through this short, 2-question anonymous survey! It's a quick poll that'll help me learn more about what's most on your heart & mind, so I can serve you best.
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL OR CONNECT:
Email: megan@armedtotheheart.com
1:1 Coaching Call
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:
Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum for Military Mamas + Beyond
Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy
Strong + Resilient Postpartum Fitness Program (18 week+ Plan for Busy, Active Mamas in the military + beyond who want to get stronger, heal their core + pelvic floor + regain confidence in their bodies again after giving birth, get back to the military fitness test & fitness goals, and have an empowering postpartum experience where you & your family can truly thrive)
RESOURCES FOR MORE BALANCE IN FAMILY & WORK-LIFE:
Overcome the Overwhelm (Feel like your to-do-list is never-ending, and pulled in a million directions? Grab my FREE guide to help you balance work + mom life with less guilt + more peace, with God at the center)
Renew: My LIVE Group Coaching Mastermind of like-minded women pursuing more balance, with Jesus at the center. It is an amazing community of support, tools to find much more balance, and accountability.
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Today I'm revealing my 6-step Meal Planning and Prep System, and a bunch of tips, hacks, and time-saving strategies that help me consistently prioritize my nutrition as a busy military mom, and get a variety of healthy, delicious meals on the table for our family, WITHOUT all the stress & hassle.
I used to spend HOURS searching Pinterest and blogs to find quick, easy, healthy recipes to try, until I found a system that actually works.
I know how stressful it can be to be the one to carry so much of the physical and invisible mental load of being the one responsible for planning, shopping, cooking, and keeping track of all the meals for you and your family. Of trying your best to feed your picky little ones what they'll actually eat, trying to maintain a milk supply while also trying to lose weight postpartum and get back to the military fitness standards or get after your health & fitness goals, and getting food on the table as quickly as you can after a long day of work to leave some time for quality time as a family before the bedtime routine, slaving away over the stovetop while your babies are crying for you & hanging on your legs when you have barely any energy or patience left in your tank because you haven't had a break all day...I get it.
I did not realize how hard I was making this on myself, until I finally figured out a system that cuts out all the extra time & energy I was spending, and helped me feel a million times less stressed about how to fit nutrition into my busy life. So that's what I'm sharing with you today to give you these shortcuts & hacks too.
If you're ready to SIMPLIFY nutrition for you and your family and fit this into your crazy life to minimize the stress and anxiety around "what's for dinner", and pour into your family & your fitness goals by prioritizing eating healthy, then this is for you!
I'll see you inside Part 1! :)
***Quick favor!! Has this Podcast blessed you? If so, I'd love to get to know you better through this short, 2-question anonymous survey! It's a quick poll that'll help me learn more about what's most on your heart & mind so I can serve you best.
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL OR CONNECT:
Email: megan@armedtotheheart.com
1:1 Coaching Call
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:
Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum for Military Mamas + Beyond
Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy
Strong + Resilient Postpartum Fitness Program (18 week+ Plan for Busy, Active Mamas in the military + beyond who want to get stronger, heal their core + pelvic floor + regain confidence in their bodies again after giving birth, get back to the military fitness test & fitness goals, and have an empowering postpartum experience where you & your family can truly thrive)
RESOURCES FOR MORE BALANCE IN FAMILY & WORK-LIFE:
Overcome the Overwhelm (Feel like your to-do-list is never-ending, and pulled in a million directions? Grab my FREE guide to help you balance work + mom life with less guilt + more peace, with God at the center)
Renew: My LIVE Group Coaching Mastermind of like-minded women pursuing more balance, with Jesus at the center. It is an amazing community of support, tools to find much more balance, and accountability.
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Hey sweet sister. Today we’re talking about how to survive and actually thrive through the craziness that comes with being a military family.
Specifically, 10 tips to have a less stressful, easier move.
Picking up and moving our families every couple years is not for the faint of heart. But it’s our life in the military. And we often don’t have any choice or control over it.
In just this year we have 3 moves. In our almost 5 years of marriage 2.5 years have been spent apart due to military demands.
So you’re in the thick of a big move, preparing for your next PCS, or navigating the ups and downs of military life, I see you, and this episode is for you.
The constant unpredictability & instability of our day to day lives in the military, the long distance & time apart from our spouse and/or kids, the frequent uprooting of our families & being far from our support systems or having to rebuild our village every time, it can wear on us and bring with it a whole lot of stress & anxieties.
One of the biggest things that has weighed on me through our time in the Army is the worry that my family is bearing the cost of my service. Worrying whether they’re going to be ok, worrying the military won’t take care of our family. Feeling constantly torn apart, & not sure how it’s all going to work out.
So let’s talk about the hard, and I’m going to give you 10 tips to navigate these challenging seasons. I pray this blesses you, and helps you manage the stress & chaos with more peace and grace.
***Has this Podcast blessed you? If so, I'd love to get to know you better through this short, 2-question anonymous survey! It's a quick poll that'll help me learn more about what's most on your heart & mind so I can serve you best.
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL OR CONNECT:
Email: megan@armedtotheheart.com
1:1 Coaching Call
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:
Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum for Military Mamas + Beyond
Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy
Strong + Resilient Postpartum Fitness Program (18 week+ Plan for Busy, Active Mamas in the military + beyond who want to get stronger, heal their core + pelvic floor + regain confidence in their bodies again after giving birth, get back to the military fitness test & fitness goals, and have an empowering postpartum experience where you & your family can truly thrive)
RESOURCES FOR MORE BALANCE IN FAMILY & WORK-LIFE:
Overcome the Overwhelm (Feel like your to-do-list is never-ending, and pulled in a million directions? Grab my FREE guide to help you balance work + mom life with less guilt + more peace, with God at the center)
Renew: My LIVE Group Coaching Mastermind of like-minded women pursuing more balance, with Jesus at the center. It is an amazing community of support, tools to find much more balance, and accountability.
Sunday Feb 12, 2023
Sunday Feb 12, 2023
Today we're covering what do when we're struggling to find the time & energy to exercise. When we need to get back to fitness tests or height & weight standards, or we want to lose our baby weight postpartum and feel stronger & more like ourselves again. When it feels like there are just not enough hours in the day to make the progress we want to on our goals.
We want to exercise consistently & eat healthy, but as a busy mamas who are pouring ourselves out for everyone else it can be hard to figure out how to find the time to take care of ourselves too, when we're pulled in so many directions.
When we're already feeling like we're not spending enough time with our kids due to our work, we don't want to feel guilty for taking more time away from our family to workout.
It can be easy to feel motivated right away when we set goals & resolutions, but have a hard time sticking with our workouts consistently, when life happens and keeps getting in the way, or when work & family life is already so demanding.
So today we're diving into 10 practical tips for how to find more time for exercise, without sacrificing who you want to be as a mom.
Let's help you make those healthy habits stick. I'll see you inside!
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL OR CONNECT:
Email: megan@armedtotheheart.com
1:1 Coaching Call
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:
Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum for Military Mamas + Beyond
Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy
Strong + Resilient Postpartum Fitness Program (18 week+ Plan for Busy, Active Mamas in the military + beyond who want to get stronger, heal their core + pelvic floor + regain confidence in their bodies again after giving birth, get back to the military fitness test & fitness goals, and have an empowering postpartum experience where you & your family can truly thrive)
RESOURCES FOR MORE BALANCE IN FAMILY & WORK-LIFE:
Overcome the Overwhelm (Feel like your to-do-list is never-ending, and pulled in a million directions? Grab my FREE guide to help you balance work + mom life with less guilt + more peace, with God at the center)
Renew: My LIVE Group Coaching Mastermind of like-minded women pursuing more balance, with Jesus at the center. It is an amazing community of support, tools to find much more balance, and accountability.
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
We're diving into 4 ways to navigate those situations where we feel forced to choose between our career & family, or feel like our breastfeeding / pumping journey has to end not on our own terms due to our jobs.
There are many times we may feel torn between our families and our work. We want to be the best we can be as a mom AND as leaders. We may feel like one is at the expense of the other, leaving us wondering if it's worth it or possible to find balance and do BOTH well.
Maybe it's stressful to manage given all your work is demanding of you, frustrating & hard when you don't have support from your unit, maybe you feel anxious about upcoming field training, missions away from home where you'll be gone for extended periods of time, or even deployments on the horizon that pull you from your family and you're not sure if that means you'll have to sacrifice your breastfeeding goals or wean before you feel ready. Maybe you're tired of feeling like your family is bearing the cost of your career progression or success in work.
You're not alone sister.
Through this episode I share a number of personal experiences, and stories of the women I've coached to walk you through how to find more peace and keep your family first, even in circumstances and situations where you feel stuck or you wish you had more freedom to choose, so you can be more empowered to protect what's most important to you.
These are some of the biggest lessons I've learned in how to be the best mom I can be while still giving my best to the team, and secrets to finding more of that elusive balance, even when a lot is out of our control as military women.
*Did this speak to your heart today? Want to schedule a super low pressure Discovery Call to talk through your situation and see if it'd be a good fit to work together?
Let's connect! Send me an email at megan@armedtotheheart.com
Book a 1 hour, 1:1 Coaching Call
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:
Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum for Military Mamas + Beyond
Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy
Strong + Resilient Postpartum Fitness Program (18 week+ Plan for Busy, Active Mamas in the military + beyond who want to get stronger, heal their core + pelvic floor + regain confidence in their bodies again after giving birth, and get back to everything you want to do - performing on the fitness test & more)
RESOURCES FOR MORE BALANCE IN FAMILY & WORK-LIFE:
Overcome the Overwhelm (Feel like your to-do-list is never-ending, and pulled in a million directions? Grab my FREE guide to help you balance work + mom life with less guilt + more peace, with God at the center)
Renew: My LIVE Group Coaching Mastermind of like-minded women within & beyond the military who are pursuing greater work-life balance, with Jesus at the center.
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Today we're diving into 10 ways to increase & maintain your supply as a pumping mom.
When we're juggling so many demands -- returning to work after maternity leave and getting settled back into a stressful job, trying to lose our baby weight & get back to where we want to be in fitness postpartum, trying to enjoy the limited time we do have with our baby after long days at work, figuring out if it'll be possible to continue pumping through field training operations, and trying to stick with our breastfeeding goals without sacrificing our mental health -- we need all the hacks to keep our supply up, and make what's often a challenging journey a bit easier.
These are all tips & strategies that have helped me keep going strong and increase my output even when balancing a lot as a military mom, and I know they can do the same for you!
Through the 12+ hour workdays, tons of field training time & time apart from my baby and husband, numerous military moves, sleep deprivation and the ups and downs of daily life, breastfeeding and pumping has been a rewarding labor of love.
Yet I know it's been far from easy. And maybe your journey has felt similar.
I pray this series has given you tons of helpful tips, practical takeaways, and encouragement as you navigate breastfeeding in uniform.
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL OR CONNECT:
Email: megan@armedtotheheart.com
1:1 Coaching Call
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:
Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum for Military Mamas + Beyond
Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy
Strong + Resilient Postpartum Fitness Program (18 week+ Plan for Busy, Active Mamas in the military + beyond who want to get stronger, heal their core + pelvic floor + regain confidence in their bodies again after giving birth, and get back to everything you want to do - performing on the fitness test & more)
RESOURCES FOR MORE BALANCE IN FAMILY & WORK-LIFE:
Overcome the Overwhelm (Feel like your to-do-list is never-ending, and pulled in a million directions? Grab my FREE guide to help you balance work + mom life with less guilt + more peace, with God at the center)
Renew: My LIVE Group Coaching Mastermind of like-minded women within & beyond the military who are pursuing greater work-life balance, with Jesus at the center.
Thursday Feb 02, 2023
Thursday Feb 02, 2023
Welcome back sister! Grab a notebook and pen -- you don't want to miss my best Secrets, Tips, & Hacks for Pumping, Maintaining Supply, Storing & Transporting Breastmilk while In the Field, Tactical Training Courses, Traveling, or Other Low-Resource Operational Environments.
Whether it's long days at work, nights & weeks or even month away from home due to field training, TDY, deployments, or other military requirements, we can often feel torn from our babies as moms in the military.
Balancing breastfeeding/pumping and duty is incredibly challenging.
Not only is it heartbreaking being away, but it can make us doubt whether it's possible or worth it to continue breastfeeding and pumping for them, even if we deeply desire to.
So today we're continuing the series and I'm diving into my biggest tips & best practices for the unique, often remote situations where you do want to keep it up, so you can keep going strong -- even through everything the military throws your way.
You can do this mama! Let's help you figure out how, and make a plan that works for you, and allows you to feel confident you're giving your all to both your family, and the mission without having to sacrifice this part of your journey.
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL OR CONNECT:
Email: megan@armedtotheheart.com
1:1 Coaching Call
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:
Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum for Military Mamas + Beyond
Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy
Strong + Resilient Postpartum Fitness Program (18 week+ Plan for Busy, Active Mamas in the military + beyond who want to get stronger, heal their core + pelvic floor + regain confidence in their bodies again after giving birth, and get back to everything you want to do - performing on the fitness test & more)
RESOURCES FOR MORE BALANCE IN FAMILY & WORK-LIFE:
Overcome the Overwhelm (Feel like your to-do-list is never-ending, and pulled in a million directions? Grab my FREE guide to help you balance work + mom life with less guilt + more peace, with God at the center)
Renew: My LIVE Group Coaching Mastermind of like-minded women within & beyond the military who are pursuing greater work-life balance, with Jesus at the center.
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
How do we overcome all the stigmas? Breach these taboo topics? Advocate for ourselves & our families to our leaders? Ask for what we need when it comes to lactation support without feeling like a burden?
Pumping as a working mom is quite challenging. Pumping in the military, even more so.
And sometimes those visible & invisible barriers can make us feel forced to choose between.
We may be dealing with unsupportive or unaware leaders, so the burden is falling on us to educate them & initiate the often terrifying, uncomfortable conversations to ask for a lactation room when we’re the first ever, and we’ve barely even had any women in our unit before.
We may be told to just go pump in the bathroom or may be feeling like a hassle, inconvenience or a liability when asking for accommodations to be factored into mission planning for a range, field training, or other operations.
We may worry we’re letting the team down, be stressed about how we're going to keep up with our job demands, or be anxious about perceptions & potential career impacts if we have to take time from work to pump every few hours.
We may feel pressure to “hide” our motherhood to be accepted & respected, or feel so much pressure to downplay our motherhood if we want to be successful in our careers.
So today's episode is an honest conversation full of my best tips to navigate these dynamics and realities of motherhood & breastfeeding in uniform. I share a few vulnerable stories of moments I’ve overcome my own fears, how I’ve made it work to continue breastfeeding my babies when I feel those tensions, and how we can normalize motherhood to be the best moms AND leaders we can be at the same time.
It is possible do both and do both well, and continue breaking down barriers for all the women who follow.
*Has this Podcast impacted you? Please take 1 min to leave a Review, and share this episode with a friend! Let's keep helping mamas like you know they're not alone, and getting better support out there for women who serve.
Recommended Resources:
Breastfeeding in Combat Boots: Regulations & Resources for All Branches of the Military: LOTS of great tips & info here!
Your local Mom2Mom Global Chapter may have good in-person support and even have a military "branch" of the chapter to join!
For my Army mamas - Lactation Support paragraphs of this Article we wrote
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL OR CONNECT:
Email: megan@armedtotheheart.com
1:1 Coaching Call
RESOURCES FOR MORE BALANCE IN FAMILY & WORK-LIFE:
Overcome the Overwhelm (Feel like your to-do-list is never-ending, and pulled in a million directions? Grab my FREE guide to help you balance work + mom life with less guilt + more peace, with God at the center)
Renew: My LIVE Group Coaching Mastermind of like-minded women pursuing greater work-life balance, with Jesus at the center. We support each other and hold one another accountable, and it's so beautiful knowing we're not alone and building our village of women both within & beyond the military.
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM FITNESS RESOURCES:
Free Postpartum Fitness Guide: How to Return to Fitness Postpartum for Military Mamas + Beyond
Free Pregnancy Exercise Guide: How to Safely Exercise + Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy
Strong + Resilient Postpartum Fitness Program (18 week+ Plan for Busy, Active Mamas in the military + beyond who want to get stronger, heal their core + pelvic floor + regain confidence in their bodies again after giving birth, and have an empowering postpartum experience where you & your family can truly thrive)