Stork'd

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Patrice Meagher discusses her struggle with breastfeeding at work which ultimately led to her decision to create MilkMate with her husband, so other working breastfeeding individuals can breastfeed at work without the struggle.

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

Stork'd Website

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube

Stork'd - Spotify

MilkMate - Website

MilkMate - Instagram

Patrice Meagher, the creator of MilkMate, joins Julia to address the challenge new mothers face in the workplace: the lack of a safe and private environment for breastfeeding. Patrice shares her journey as a working mom of four, when unsuitable pumping spaces at work forced her to end her breastfeeding journey prematurely. We discuss the politics of feeding your child, how time inefficient and emotionally draining pumping can be, the unique challenges of pumping at work and so much more.

Are you struggling with finding a suitable place to breastfeed at work? Are you spending too much time washing pump parts and carrying supplies back and forth, affecting your productivity? MilkMate offers a groundbreaking solution for working mothers who need to pump at work. Patrice educates employers and emphasizes providing a conducive space for lactating employees. If this topic resonates with you, take advantage of this informative episode of Stork'd and share it with a friend.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [2:51] Patrice shares her professional journey and how the difficulties of breastfeeding her child at work formed the concept of MilkMates

• [7:10] Patrice shares her breastfeeding journey with her four children

• [10:08] Patrice discusses the tools involved in breastfeeding and other things a new mom may not know

• [15:50] Discussion of MilkMate's service, the process and the benefit to the mom and the employer

• [20:18] The importance of explaining to an employer what is involved in breastfeeding so that they understand the need for a private, stocked space

• [24:25] Patrice discusses what people don't know about breastfeeding

• [28:03] What Patrice desires for the future of breastfeeding

• [31:42] Patrice shares what family means to her

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Many new moms feel pressure to breastfeed, but a lack of comfortable and private spaces at work can make it a real challenge. Some moms leave the workforce because they have to choose between working and breastfeeding.

• Don't get discouraged or down on yourself if breastfeeding doesn't work for you. It is difficult, expensive and time-consuming. Don't let social media force you into something you don't want.

• MilkMate is a service that allows working moms to continue working safely and privately while breastfeeding their babies.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube

MilkMate - Website

MilkMate - Instagram

BIOGRAPHY:

MilkMate's Founder and CEO, Patrice Meagher, created MilkMate out of her own lived experience, becoming a mom to her four children while also building her career as a high-powered commercial real estate executive. Her mission in creating MilkMate is simple: She wants to support and empower working moms everywhere – and it starts with her turnkey breast pumping solution purpose-built for workplace wellness rooms.

During her time representing landlords throughout Manhattan, Patrice experienced the rise of health and wellness initiatives in the workplace and began helping employers and landlords design wellness areas to comply with new laws requiring dedicated space for breast pumping. All the while, she chose to breastfeed her four children and continued to do so even after she returned to work from maternity leave. It didn't take her long to realize that the process surrounding breast pumping at work was inefficient and inconvenient. She knew there had to be a better way.

In 2020, Patrice left her commercial real estate job to start MilkMate so that no mother would ever have to choose between her family and career due to the challenges of breast pumping in the place of work.

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Alison Prato discusses how she defines family and how she felt her family unit wasn't complete without her second child. There was a yearning in her heart to complete her family.

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

Stork'd Website

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube

Stork'd - Spotify

@fertilityrally - Instagram

@infertileafstories - Instagram

@aliprato - Instagram

Fertility Rally - Website

Infertile AF Group - Buy the Book

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Alison Prato discusses how misinformation and poor sex education can impact your fertility and her fertility journey.

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

Stork'd Website

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube

Stork'd - Spotify

@fertilityrally - Instagram

@infertileafstories - Instagram

@aliprato - Instagram

Fertility Rally - Website

Infertile AF Group - Buy the Book

Alison Prato, an acclaimed journalist, has become one of the go - to voices in the fertility world sharing her infertility story and supporting others in their fertility journey. Ali's experience with secondary infertility included undergoing procedures like IUIs and IVF, and grappling with depression, grief, and relationship challenges. Her message is clear: you are not alone.

This message became especially important to Ali when she lost her mother this year. Julia and Ali discuss how families evolve even beyond IF and family building and how to navigate grief and change.

In 2019, Ali initiated her podcast, "Infertile AF," to foster community and support. Additionally, she co-founded Fertility Rally, a welcoming and inclusive community accessible round the clock for those navigating infertility. Ali highlights that the virtual Fertility Rally occurs biannually, in April and October, featuring experts in the field and offering breakout sessions covering various pertinent topics in this ever-evolving domain. Join Ali and Julia as they explore the realm of IVF and discuss accessible resources for infertile couples.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [3:14] Ali shares what brought her to the fertility space and relates her journey of infertility

• [9:09] Ali feels that moving to the East Coast delayed her starting a family, and she shares her experiences with miscarriages

• [16:00] Ali's marriage was suffering through this process, and there are no guarantees when doing IVF

• [22:06] Discussion of the Infertility Rally and where the infertility field is headed

• [29:06] Ali discusses experiences women are having and the camaraderie between her groups

• [31:26] Ali shares what family means to her

• [35:29] Ali talks about the book she wrote for children about how they were born and what her children have been told about IVF

• [38:47] Ali discusses losing her mom in 2023 and their beautiful relationship

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Research indicates there's like a cohort mentality around starting a family. If everyone is doing it, you're likely to do it too. They call it a contagion, even though it's not contagious. It's a social contagion.

• Egg quality diminishes the older you become, making it more difficult to conceive. Going through IVF treatment doesn't guarantee you will get pregnant. It is an evolving science requiring a little bit of magic.

• There is help available for couples facing infertility. Contact Ali Prato using the resource links provided.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube

@fertilityrally - Instagram

@infertileafstories - Instagram

@aliprato - Instagram

Fertility Rally - Website

Infertile AF Group - Buy the Book

BIOGRAPHY:

Ali Prato is an award-winning journalist and mama-of-two who went through secondary infertility, IUIs, IVF, depression, grief and relationship issues. She is here to let you know: You are not alone.

When a girlfriend who had a similar experience asked Ali to share her story to help others, she wrote an article for Health magazine and started getting feedback from women and some men, who were like, "Wow, nobody talks about infertility, IVF, or any of this!"

Ali realized quickly that there was a dearth of candid information about infertility and that there was still a stigma attached to it.

Always a storyteller at heart, Ali launched her podcast, Infertile AF, in 2019 — and today, she has published more than 250 episodes and garnered more than 1.25 million global downloads. In 2020, Ali and fellow infertility warrior Blair Nelson co-founded Fertility Rally, a safe, all-inclusive, 24/7 community for anyone and everyone navigating infertility or building their modern families through ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). In 2023, she brought all her ideas together under the Infertile AF Group, which just published "Work of ART," Ali's children's book about IVF — available for pre-order now!

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Michelle Yu discusses how Josie assists new parents in transitioning back to work with Michelle Yu.

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

Stork'd Website

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube

Stork'd - Spotify

MyJosie Inc. - Instagram

Josie - Website

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Michelle Yu discusses how companies are starting to recognize the value of working mothers and providing the right support to those working parents to help them thrive

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

Stork'd Website

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube

Stork'd - Spotify

MyJosie Inc. - Instagram

Josie - Website

Michelle Yu co-founded Josie, a company designed to support new moms re-entering the workforce, using their "three pillars" to facilitate success. Josie works directly with the employer to educate and create an infrastructure of resources and policies, coaching to the new parent and, last of all, managerial training. Studies support working mothers bringing skills to the workplace such as empathy, the ability to listen and multitasking, functions they perform daily at home. Could the American culture contribute to the challenges women face when returning to the workforce after welcoming a newborn into their home? Don't miss this enlightening episode that will educate employers, managers and new parents.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [3:03] Michelle shares her career background, and she recognized when she re-entered the workforce an unmet need, so she founded Josie

• [6:36] There is data supporting employers appreciate mothers being in a leadership role because of the exact skills they use at home, they bring to the office and discussion regarding education needed to provide support for working moms at the business level

• [8:58] Michelle feels that an essential component of returning to work for a thriving transition is to decide what your values and vision are going forward and get support from family and employee support groups

• [13:05] What about the mom who does not have the resources or family support, and what resources does Josie provide

• [18:24] Research about parenting in the US and talk about a parenting crisis

• [22:39] Michelle explains how the interaction between her program and clients works and what she sees for the future

• [27:19] What Michelle would want new parents to know and what her challenges are as a mom of a three and five-year-old

• [33:06] Unmet expectations can defeat you

• [41:01] Michelle shares what family means to her

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Moms ready to re-enter the workforce often don't have the support they need because no program is in place at work that addresses the unique situation of working and having an infant at home.

• When the transition back to work is unsuccessful, mothers can feel that they have unmet expectations and that they are failing their infant. Services like Josie can assist them through the transition.

• Many businesses do not offer parental leave. This can cause women to be emotionally and physically exhausted, often causing them to leave the workforce because of the cost of child care.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube

https://myjosie.com/

MyJosie Inc. - Instagram

Josie - Website

BIOGRAPHY:

Michelle Yu is the CEO at Josie, whose mission is to transform the working parent experience. Her work focuses on cultural transformation at the organizational level and personalized support at the individual level to drive retention and engagement among the working parent population.

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Chelsea Conaboy discusses scientific research about the changes that occur in your brain in anyone responsible for the ongoing care of a baby, not just birthing mothers.

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

Stork'd Website

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube

Stork'd - Spotify

Chelsea Conaboy - Website

Mother Brain Book

Chelsea Conaboy - Instagram

In this Stork'd Munchkin, Chelsea Conaboy discusses scientific research on why the brain undergoes profound changes and expose the flaws perpetuated by the myth that mothering is solely a woman's domain, known as "maternal instinct."

If you loved this Stork'd Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

Resources:

Stork'd Website

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube

Stork'd - Spotify

Chelsea Conaboy - Website

Mother Brain Book

Chelsea Conaboy - Instagram