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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Lisa was adopted as an infant from South Korea and raised in Hammond, IN. She found her way to Fort Wayne for college where she met her now husband. They made their way around the Midwest from Chicago to Cincinnati while pursuing their professional dreams and then back to Fort Wayne where she now works as a Neonatologist.
They have two boys, ages 3 and 5 that keep them busy! When she's not working or running around, she's usually working out. Accountability is on another level when your husband opens a gym, Plus Ultra Fitness, in the middle of a pandemic. The gym is her outlet…the place she gets to hang with friends, strengthen her mind and body, and show her kids how to build healthy habits.
In this episode, Lisa shares her experiences with births not going quite as planned, how being a Neonatologist impacted her pregnancy and delivery experience, and how she approaches staying healthy.
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Today's guest is neli's Co-Founder and CEO, Brittany King. In this episode, Brittay shares her experience with an unexpected pregnancy, navigating the transition to motherhood as a young woman whose plans included anything but a baby.
She discusses growing up in conservative evangelical settings, the impact it had on her views of sex and relationships, and navigating pregnancy with an abusive partner.
She shares her struggles with mental health postpartum, and how it all turned out beautiful in the end.
TW:
Unplanned pregnancy Depression and anxiety Suicide Emotional abuse Church trauma -
In this episode we sat down with Shannon Jackson, mom of two, to discuss her experiences with pregnancy and postpartum. Shannon shares what her experience was like with preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, postpartum anxiety, and coping with a newborn in the NICU. She also shares how her family has processed her son's Autism diagnosis, and what she hopes moms can learn from her story.
Shannon had us inspired, laughing, in tears, and ultimately left us full of wonder at how amazing moms really are. We hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did.
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Amy Unger was a full spectrum (family planning, birth, loss, postpartum) doula for several years, and trained as a midwifery assistant and lactation consultant before becoming a school psychology specialist. She's a child psychologist trained in educational neuropsychology—currently working as a school psychologist doing special education evaluations in Indiana. She also has a clinical research background dealing with health psychology and bioethics.
In this episode, she shares her perspective on all things pregnancy and postpartum—from being neurodivergent and navigating health issues, advocating for herself, and raising neurodivergent children. She shares her story with an openness and honestly that invites others to do the same. We loved holding space for Amy, and we found so many parts of her story that resonate with us all.
Can't wait for you to listen.
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Audrey Andersen is "mom" to four kids ages 10-17. They're each involved in travel sports and she spends a lot of her time carting them around the midwest. She is the owner and operator of King's Fitness and Nutrition, LLC —helping women achieve lasting weight loss and say goodbye to the yo-yo dieting rollercoaster. Audrey loves being outside, hiking, walking, and laying by the pool. When she has a free moment to spare, you can find her with a book, expanding her knowledge of the body-mind connection or at a local restaurant enjoying her family and friends.
We originally asked Audrey on the show to talk about sustainable weight loss, nutrition, and overall health. In addition to her expansive knowledge about all things healthy, we were blown away by her passion for helping women love themselves, and inspired to take a look at our own lives and habits—including the negative self-talk that plays on a loop in our heads. Audrey is truly one of the most inspiring people we know. Being around her is a joy—she fills you up and motivates you find strength you didn't know you had.
Don't miss this episode.
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Jasmine Bennett is the Owner/Founder of rel Eve co.—an organization dedicated to sourcing and providing the best, clean + sustainable period-care essentials and menstrual health specialty goods so menstrators can treat themselves to a more enjoyable period. We had the honor of connecting with Jasmine to talk about her startup, how she's balancing being the founder of a business with a mom (who homeschools!) and what it really means to honor your body during your period.
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On Today’s episode, we chat with Baili. Baili is a mom and military wife currently living in North Carolina. She’s a Customer Success Manager for a tech company, and when she’s not working, you can find her at the beach looking for shark teeth. She has 3 kids who are 15, 13, and 2.
Baili tackles challenges with grit and grace, and lives by an incredible set of values that she instills in her Kids. She shares the three very different experiences she had with pregnancy and postpartum—from her husband leaving 2 weeks after their child was born, coping with postpartum depression to giving birth in a navy hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and raising teenagers. You don’t want to miss this episode.
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In this episode, Brianna (Glenn) Bonilla shares her story. Throughout our time together, Brianna again and again demonstrated the strength and resilience that's inside all of us as mothers. She gets real with her take on being raised by a single mom, the fears we all share during pregnancy, battling postpartum depression, and the emotional toll of her pregnancy weight gain and postpartum body.
You don't want to miss this episode.
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Katie and Brittany, Co-Founders of neli, share the organization's history, mission, and vision.
Interested in joining us? Email [email protected]
Take the fourth trimester survey: https://www.nelicommunity.com/survey
Explore early survey results: https://www.nelicommunity.com/blog/postpartum-experience-survey
