We got together this morning, emotions still raw, to process the results of the election and what this means for our futures and the future of neli.

We’re not going to stop advocating for caregivers of all kinds. Take today, rest, regroup, feel all the feels, and join us as we charge forward tomorrow.

 

<3

Brittany and Katie

First, Jillian is amazing. She is a kind, supportive leader and just an incredible human. We were so excited to have her on the show.

In this conversation, Jillian shares her experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum with her two children. We walk through the challenges she faced during her pregnancies, including severe morning sickness and high blood pressure, and balancing her health with the pressures of being a leader in a large company. She shares her birth stories and the challenges of recovering from a c-section, along with the emotional toll a birth experience that doesn't align with your expectations takes. 

We also tackle her transitioning back to work and the pressure to prove herself as a mother. We exploire what it means for us to prioritize our own wellbeing in the face of a demanding career, and how we can better support women in the workplace. 

Take a listen.

 

 

 

We loved this conversation with Rachelle Stinson. She was kind enough to chat with us while she was THREE months postpartum after having TWINS. She's right there in the thick of things.

We talk about the surprise of having twins, the struggle of transitioning from one child to multiples, how mom guilt can overwhelm us, and how important it is to have a village surrounding you and helping you along the way. 

Rachelle also talks about her birth experiences, including a C-section and the recovery process. She shares the emotional journey of becoming a mother to two babies and the guilt she felt about dividing her attention.   We explore:

• Transitioning from one kid to multiples
• How every pregnancy is so different
• C-sections and recovery can be physically and emotionally demanding.
• How important support from family and friends is during the postpartum period.
• Recovering from severe abdominal surgery after giving birth to twins can be physically and emotionally challenging. It is important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard.
• Life with twins
• Finding a groove and going back to work
• It's OK to mourn the life you had while being happy for these new adventures

Dr. Stephanie is a board-certified OBGYN, lactation consultant, all-around superwoman, and owner of Lilivy Postpartum. She's on a mission to revolutionize postpartum care. In this episode, we take a hard look at the current state of postpartum care and her vision for a more comprehensive and supportive approach.    Dr. Stephanie also opens up about her personal struggles with postpartum mood disorders and the importance of partners being aware of the signs. She explains the hormonal shifts that occur during the postpartum period and offers advice on preparing for postpartum and seeking help. In this conversation, Dr. Stephanie discusses the importance of seeking support and normalizing postpartum experiences. She emphasizes the need for planning for postpartum from a mental health standpoint and highlights the importance of planning for breastfeeding. She also shares insights from her online breastfeeding course and the need for professional support in breastfeeding. She addresses the challenges and misconceptions of breastfeeding and encourages mothers to simplify the process. The conversation concludes with a summary of the topics covered and the intention to continue the discussion on lactation in future episodes.  

We couldn’t get enough, so she also did an event for our community on the ins and outs of hand expression, and we’re gearing up for another episode with her soon.

 

She has an online breastfeeding course, The Sh!t I Wish Someone Told Me About Breastfeeding Course, and offers comprehensive postpartum services for moms.

Takeaways

• Postpartum care in the US needs to be revolutionized to provide more comprehensive and supportive care.
• Partners should be aware of the signs of postpartum mood disorders and be prepared to seek help if necessary.
• Hormonal shifts during the postpartum period can contribute to mood disorders, and it is important to recognize the symptoms and seek appropriate support.
• Preparing for postpartum and having a plan in place for support can help alleviate stress and ensure a smoother transition into motherhood.
• Why seeking support and normalizing postpartum experiences can help new mothers feel less alone.
• Planning for postpartum from a mental health standpoint is crucial for overall well-being.
• Planning for breastfeeding and seeking professional support can improve the breastfeeding experience.
• Breastfeeding can be challenging, but simplifying the process and focusing on the baby's needs can alleviate stress and anxiety.

 

Resources mentioned:

• Postpartum Support International
• Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts

Fabi and her family are amazing. As the mother of 4 girls, she has plenty of wisdom to share about pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting. In this episode, she opened up about her daughter’s special needs and what it’s like to parent through the fear and uncertainty that can come with not knowing what your child’s future will look like. It’s a beautiful story. 

Despite the hardships, Fabi emphasizes the importance of support and finding joy in the midst of difficult times. Overall, her story highlights the resilience and strength of a mother's love.

This conversation with Amber left us in awe.

There’s a trigger warning here—Amber’s story includes two miscarriages, one in the early weeks of pregnancy and one at 20 weeks. She shares how those losses impacted her worldview, the importance of therapy and prioritizing your mental health, and navigating it all as a working mom. At the same time, we LAUGH throughout this episode. Her birth stories—amazing. From her water breaking in an elevator full of older gentlemen to almost not making it to the hospital, she's done it all. 

There are a lot of tears in these minutes—happy, sad, and everything in between. Thank you for sharing your life with us, Amber. <3 

We tackle all kinds of things here, including:

• Unexpected pregnancy and the beauty in it all
• What happens when your water breaks in the AEP building
• The unexpected path of entrepreneurship
• How becoming a mother changes the way you work
• Navigating loss, the impact of miscarriage, and the importance of therapy
• Why having safe, consistent people in your life is critical
• How important it is for companies to support their people through hardships

Kate was born and raised in Fort Wayne, IN & graduated from IPFW with a bachelor's in General Studies and a minor in OLS. (Organizational Leadership and Supervision) She enjoys being in nature and going for walks. A nice, strong cup of coffee in the morning is a little way she starts her day with feeling joy. She’s a mother of two girls, 19 months apart. A two-year-old (almost 3) and a one-year-old. She quit her corporate job working in the financial field—specifically retirement/consulting after her second daughter was born & she enjoys being home with both of them now.    In this episode, Kate shares her journey of becoming a mother to her two daughters, Emerson and Mia.   Kate discusses her birth experiences with both girls, including her desire for a natural birth and the unexpected challenges she faced. She also opens up about her postpartum experiences, including postpartum anxiety and her journey with breastfeeding. Kate shares her decision to become a stay-at-home mom and the joy she finds in being present for her children.   Throughout the conversation, Kate emphasizes the importance of embracing the unpredictability of motherhood and finding support and understanding along the way. We <3 Kate.   Takeaways

• Motherhood is unique and unpredictable, and each woman's experience is valid and valuable.
• Birth plans may not always go as expected, and it's important to be flexible and open to different outcomes.
• Postpartum experiences can be so different—but no matter what, you have to prioritize self-care and get support 
• Transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom can be a tough decision, and it's important to listen to your instincts and do what feels right for you and your family. 
• How motherhood can be a catalyst for personal healing and growth.
• Why having a support system, whether it be friends, family, or a partner, can greatly impact a mother's well-being.
• How the patience and understanding from loved ones can aid in the healing process.

Chapters   00:00 Introduction and Getting to Know Kate 03:19 Meeting Her Girls' Dad and Starting a Family 06:32 First Date and Getting Pregnant 09:29 Preparing for Pregnancy and Birth 12:02 Birth Experience with Emerson 18:13 Birth Experience with Mia 23:30 Postpartum Experience with Emerson 31:46 Postpartum Experience with Mia 36:07 Transitioning to Stay-at-Home Mom 39:29 Motherhood and Identity 40:26 Healing and Growth 41:22 Acknowledging and Communicating Feelings 41:51 The Importance of a Support System 42:12 Patience and Healing

Stacey Harting is the owner of Stacey Harting Photography and is a highly sought-after photographer, mom, regenerative farmer, and all-around incredible human being.    In this episode, she shares about her journey to get pregnant and then her pregnancy and postpartum experience, including signing a new lease for a building at 40 weeks pregnant and what it's like to be on the other side of the lens for her own postpartum photo shoots. She explains what moms need to know about booking maternity and newborn photos, the lengths she goes to in order to make new moms feel comfortable in their new bodies and roles, and how her experience has impacted how she sees this precious time.    Highlights   Chapters 00:00 Introduction  01:21 Getting into Photography and Regenerative Farming 02:48 Meeting Her Husband 03:24 Journey to Pregnancy 05:36 Pregnancy Experience 06:12 New Mom + Newborn Photography Business 06:56 Being on the Other Side of the Camera 09:21 Postpartum Experience 12:53 Returning to Work 14:48 Creating a Comfortable Environment for Moms 21:21 Importance of Capturing Moments 25:34 Booking Process

Wow. Lindsey Maxwell may be one of the strongest people we know.    In this conversation, Lindsey shares her experiences as a doula and the challenges of parenting while moving to different cities. She gives incredible advice for new moms—from how to plan for postpartum, where to find support, and all things self-care to sharing her experiences and wisdom with women's health.   She also opens up about the sudden passing of her husband and the legacy he's left. We dive into her journey to finding love again—including her experiences as a single mom, dating, and navigating all the things. We're so thankful for her vulnerability and openness.    TW: Losing a partner, addiction, trauma and loss   Highlights:

• Lindsey's experience with pregnancy and postpartum—including losing her partner when she was seven months pregnant
• How critical it is to have people to lean on during the hardest times in our lives
• Why planning for postpartum is just as important as planning for birth
• How gathering local resources and support networks is crucial
• Why communicating your needs to family and friends is essential for receiving the support you need during the postpartum period

Chapters   00:00 Introduction 02:40 Doula Work and Postpartum Support 09:26 Moving and Parenting Challenges 20:45 Losing a Partner and Finding Love Again 33:06 Navigating Postpartum and Dating 44:52 Dating as a Single Mom 48:09 Planning for Postpartum 52:11 Embracing Your Own Journey

We got a PEP TALK from Mariai Braune. In this conversation, Maria Braune shares her personal experiences and insights about working, parenting, and family life. As the mother of a teen and young adult, she told us everything we didn't know we needed to hear about parenting our own young kids.    We explore why we don't like counting down summers with our kids, building families that are empathetic and respectful, and the pressures we put on ourselves as moms.    Maria opens up about her own pregnancy and postpartum experiences, including dealing with postpartum depression and seeking help. It's still raw, even years later. She advocates for better maternity leave policies and highlights the need for support for parents at different stages of life.    Highlights:

• Why you shouldn't get caught up in the pressure of making every moment perfect
• How to seek help and support if you're struggling with postpartum depression or other challenges during the postpartum period.
• Why we need better maternity leave policies and support for parents at different life stages
• How to embrace the rollercoaster of parenting and look forward to new beginnings 
• How parenting teenagers and young adults is different (and the same)
• Why support is crucial in navigating the ups and downs of parenthood