Mommy and Maine Mommy and Maine

Calina Keating, RN is a Neonatal Critical Care Registered Nurse and owner of The Mama Coach in Maine. She lives in Biddeford with her husband, Myles, and puppy, Cowboy. Calina graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Montana State University and has worked in several high level Neonatal Intensive Care Units across the country. Calina started her business, The Mama Coach,  in March of 2023 to provide families with the support and education to make parenthood easier. She works with families in the prenatal period through the 4th trimester to provide one-on-one or group education and evidence informed care. She works with families virtually, in-home, and through workshops in the community. Calina offers a variety of services, but specializes in difficult bottle feeding, breastfeeding, and newborn sleep. Her goal is to help you find the evidence informed solutions that work for you and your family! 



You will learn about...


Calina's individualized prenatal packages including childbirth education, labor preparation, education on unexpected interventions used for delivery, and going over feeding options
Calina's comprehensive postpartum packages that always include feeding consults, troubleshooting challenges with newborn sleep or care for your baby, and figuring out root cause of potential feeding issues
How to select bottles and correct nipple flows if choosing to bottle feed
Assessing if there may be a tongue or lip tie causing barriers to feeding
Boosting families' confidence in their new role as parents and empowering them to make informed decisions based on evidence backed solutions and personal preference



Resources:


THE MAMA COACH - CALINA KEATING INSTAGRAM
THE MAMA COACH - CALINA KEATING WEBSITE
SIGN UP HERE FOR UPCOMING VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS



Connect with Mackenzi:


MOMMY AND MAINE INSTAGRAM
BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL

Before creating Raise Playspace, Amanda was an educator with a degree in Early Childhood and 12 years of teaching experience. Working in public schools and nonprofit early intervention centers, she understood the importance of support for both children and their families. After leaving the classroom to raise her own children, she quickly realized the resources and support she was seeking were few and far between. She set out to make a place for children to learn through play and for parents to catch their breath and know they are not alone. Amanda believes that by connecting with each other and our children, we can feel more grounded, empowered, and supported. Her hope is that Raise feels like home and a breath of fresh air. She can't wait to meet you there.



Join Amanda Rothbart, owner of Raise Playspace, during this raw conversation where she shares her experience of how being a new parent and SAHM led her to want to open a community resource and space for families to gather. She shares the realities of new motherhood, opening up about how her expectations of what she thought it would be didn't always seem to align with how it really was. Amanda vulnerably talks about the sacrifices we make as moms, the pull between deciding to stay home or return to work, and the emotions and challenges that often arise during those first early years. Amanda has learned that stepping out of your comfort zone to connect with others is how new friendships are created and true community is cultivated.



Raise Playspace is located in Scarborough, ME and offers several workshops, classes, and groups that are geared for both children and their caregivers, offering an inclusive space to play, learn, and grow together.



Resources:


RAISE PLAYSPACE WEBSITE
RAISE PLAYSPACE INSTAGRAM
RAISE PLAYSPACE FACEBOOK



Connect with Mackenzi:


MOMMY AND MAINE INSTAGRAM
BOOK A CONNECTION CALL

Abby Smith is a certified lactation counselor here in Maine, owning and operating her business, Giving Tree Lactation. Abby specializes in breastfeeding education and in-home lactation support. In 2019 when Abby had her first son, she quickly realized the lack of breastfeeding support and help available to a new mom. Abby's true passion is to ensure moms have realistic expectations and breastfeeding support during those challenging first days, weeks, and months. 



You will learn about...


the importance of prenatal education/preparation and how that can support your feeding journey right from the start despite how birth scenario might play out
when your milk supply typically comes in
how the type of birth you have can impact your feeding journey
using hand expression and pumping as a tool in the hospital to establish a demand for your body (if baby isn't nearby or able to latch/pull out milk just yet)
when to introduce a bottle to your baby in preparation for returning to work or to have partner be more involved in feeding times
potential factors that may lead to unanticipated drop in supply
strategies to improve pumping sessions when away from baby
how to go about starting/creating a pumping schedule
what is power pumping?
knowing what pump to buy/use
foods/drinks that could help to increase milk supply (basically just make sure you're drinking and eating PLENTY!)



Resources:


Giving Tree Lactation WEBSITE
@givingtreelactation INSTAGRAM



Connect with Mackenzi:


@mommyandmaine INSTAGRAM
BOOK A FREE CALL

Chelsey is a southern Maine mom with a background of 8+ years as a pediatric occupational therapist. Chelsey graduated from the University of New England with a bachelors of science degree in Occupational Studies and continued on at UNE to earn her masters of science degree in Occupational Therapy. Throughout her career, Chelsey has supported children of all ages in various settings including: outpatient, school-based, in-home care and telehealth. Following the birth of her first daughter, Chelsey sought out resources through literature, support groups, locally based services, and continuing education courses to expand her knowledge of infant growth and development. Chelsey has become a trusted source of guidance and information to her closest friends and family and is excited to provide the same opportunity to other families.



You will learn about... 


the 8 senses and what sensory processing means
importance of exposing our babies to different sensory experiences and stimuli to support development and regulation
understanding the different sensory preferences and thresholds for input
sensory avoiding (sensitive) vs. sensory seeking vs. low registration
how sensory preferences can change and fluctuate 
typical behaviors our kids may demonstrate and present with
examples of everyday, practical sensory activities to implement in our kids' routines 
preparing children for success ahead of time taking into account their sensory profile through strategies such as telling stories/planning or heavy work tasks



Resources:


Instagram: @playful.development
Email: playfuldevelopment.maine@gmail.com



Connect with Mackenzi:


Instagram: @mommyandmaine
Email: mommyandmaine@gmail.com

Emma is a born and bred Mainer and a professional nanny, living in the midcoast and working in Portland, Maine. With over 4 years of professional, full-time, nannying experience and over a decade of working with children at large, she's passionate about the early years and loves spending her days helping children and families thrive. Emma's a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and an active member of both the International and United States Nanny Associations. In her free time, you can find her exploring Maine's rocky coast, thrifting for vintage treasures, serving at her church, or tending to her aspiring jungle of houseplants.

Emma offers her services as a CPST to the Greater Portland area for free and by appointment. Appointment requests can be submitted via the google form linked in her bio @TheMaineNanny. Her page is full of caregiving wisdoms, nanny tips, and she even has a "guide" highlighting some of her favorite child-friendly spots in the Greater Portland area. 

No matter where you're located, you can find a certified tech near you by going to Cert.SafeKids.org, "Find a Tech" and searching by your state or zip code.



You will learn about...


How to properly install a carseat and correctly harness your child
Recommendations for where to put carseats: what is the "safest" spot in the car?
Guidelines for how long to rear-face
Factors to consider when choosing a carseat: functionality, ease of use, price point, etc
The 401 on puffy winter jackets and why they're a NO GO
Decreasing risk of injury associated with eating/drinking in the car
Navigating your community's public resources and how to locate a CPST



Resources:


Instagram: @themainenanny
National Child Passenger Safety Certification Website



Connect with Mackenzi:


Instagram: @mommyandmaine
Email: mommyandmaine@gmail.com

Welcome back to the Mommy and Maine Podcast! For the first release of 2023, I wanted to share a solo episode where I talk about how and why I chose my word of the year. I provide tips for reflecting on your own matrescence journey, how that can serve you in choosing your own word of the year, and actionable steps to put it into motion right away. 



Going forward, expect to hear a new episode released every Tuesday. I will be doing two solo episodes per month and two interviews per month with local professionals. 



Please let me know your takeaways from today's show! I love to hear your responses and feedback, and am always willing to chat. If nothing else, I hope today's episode inspired you to take a deeper look at your own matrescence journey and evaluate where you're at in this current season of life. What feels good to you? What is serving you and lending a hand to your own development and transformation? Hone in on what really matters and get clear on your values this year, momma. Share with a friend and tag me over on instagram, @mommyandmaine.