The Friendly Moms Club | Pregnancy, Postpartum + Parenthood

Ever had thoughts about motherhood that made you feel guilty or alone? Felt like you would be judged for sharing them? There is a 99% chance that whatever you were thinking about, someone else was thinking the exact same thing. We started doing a Mom Truth Thursdays on our instagram account and encouraged our followers to get something off their chest that they have been thinking or feeling about motherhood. Nothing was off limits. We shared them anonymously and the feedback was that it made so many mommas feel seen! So in order to continue with this trend todays episode we will be talking about our mom truths as well as some of the submissions we received! Some topics we touch on are: -Toddler meals -Struggling to find joy -Finding the perfect relationship pie graph -partners sleeping like logs From our own experiences, we know how helpful it can be to get these thoughts and feelings off your chest. There is something cathartic about putting them into words. We are simply a safe place to put them. Please let us know how you like this episode and if we should continue this trend every couple months. We really enjoy reading them, talking about them, sharing our own viewpoints and we hope that it helps you all feel seen and know you aren't alone. If you have something you'd like to share, please follow us on instagram and look out every Thursday for our question box! You can also email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com.

Have you ever wondered what the '6 week postpartum' appointment is all about?! Join Jen and Dr. Rachel Ollivier, a Nurse Practitioner and women's health scientist based out of the BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre in Vancouver, BC, while they chat all things sexual health in the postpartum period. Lets help normalize these conversations as part of regular postpartum care! We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a ⁠DM on Instagram ⁠@thefriendlymomsclub or email us at ⁠thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com⁠ Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Join Jen and Karlee as they talk about Peyton's birth! They discuss Jen's experience with preeclampsia, how her planned c-section turned into an emergency c-section and her decision to choose permanent family planning. We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Have you ever wondered what you actually need for the postpartum period? Tune in to hear Samantha Garcia, the owner of Bellies Inc and Bellies Community Space, doula, prenatal instructor, and mom of three tell us what is really important. Hint: it is likely not what you think and not something you will find on most people's baby shower registry. Samantha discusses who we need on our postpartum 'team', what we need to prepare in advance and some of her favorite postpartum items for mamas. You won't want to miss this episode if you or anyone you know is having a baby! Want to shop Bellies Inc... You can find their products on their website and Instagram. If you are local to the Lower Mainland, make sure you check out Bellies Community Space for prenatal yoga, prenatal classes, postpartum groups, mom and baby yoga and SO much more <3 We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

*Trigger warning: this episode contains discussion of birth injury and birth trauma* Join Karlee as she interviews Gina Mundy who is a childbirth attorney with over 20 years experience. Tune into hear Gina explain from her perspective what we really need to do to prepare for birth. Also, she shares about one very important person who plays a pivotal role in helping moms have safe babies. Visit her website to learn about Gina and about her book "A Parents Guide to Safer Childbirth" We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in labor and delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Breastfeeding is often an unexpected challenge that new mothers face. Moms will spend a lot of time planning a nursery and buying the best baby gear but fail to prepare for their feeding journey. Breastfeeding is dubbed as 'natural' yet it doesn’t always work for everyone and isn’t always supported in society. We are here to share our unexpected tips (and Jen’s second BF experience) on preparing for your feeding journey! 10:00 Jen shares about her breastfeeding journey with baby #2 22:45 You need to grieve your breastfeeding journey and why Karlee dislikes the term 'fed is best' (it is definitely NOT why you think!) Plus what to say instead! 32:00 What society and social media says you need for breastfeeding 36:30 What supplies we actually used 40:00 The most important part of today's episode.... Our 5 hot tips for succeeding at breastfeeding while also prioritizing your mental health. Our tips are different than what you might expect and they are centered around education, support, mindset, evaluation and knowing when to pivot. We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in labor and delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Has your health gone right down the pooper after becoming a mom? Have you tried to make a million extreme changes only to get overwhelmed and feel like a failure? You are not alone. Join Karlee and Dr Ally Power where they discuss REALISTIC, tangible and effective strategies for improving your health as a parent. Dr Ally teaches us how to advocate for your health, why your health matters, tuning into what you really need and also what dietary changes can make a huge impact on your mental and physical health. If any of that sounds scary or overwhelming to you Karlee PROMISES that Dr Ally provides so many tips on how to actually make changes while also matching your current capacity. Do not miss this episode because every mom needs to hear this. Where to find Dr Ally: Instagram @drallypower Virtual Health Collective in person and virtual Naturopathic doctor clinic. We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in labor and delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Join us for part 2 where we chat about common skin conditions and birthmarks in babies: newborn rash, baby acne, hemangiomas, stork bites, and congenital dermal melanocytosis. During the second half of the episode we share our best tips for managing a sick baby... Lord know we have had a few opportunities for this! :P Resources: Healthlink BC: Birthmarks Healthlink BC: Newborn Rashes and Skin Conditions Frida Baby DermaFrida Skin Soother Brush⁠⁠8-1-1 Nurse Hotline ⁠⁠ (For residents of BC) We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on ⁠Instagram ⁠@thefriendlymomsclub or email us at ⁠thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com⁠ Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in labor and delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Dealing with a sick bub is inevitable because they seriously seem to always be sick.... or is it just teething????!!!!! We were told our kids would get sick but we didn't realize how often it would actually happen. Also, no one warned us about how heartbreaking it is when they are sick and cannot communicate. It is always so scary and upsetting when your baby or toddler gets sick. Tune in to hear us share some of our experiences with sick kiddos, which we hope will make it a little less scary when/if you experience it. Resources: ⁠Healthlink BC ⁠ ⁠8-1-1 Nurse Hotline ⁠ (For residents of BC) ⁠CDC Ear Infection⁠ - Information and recommendations Mayo Clinic Press - The Constant Cold: Why are kids always sick We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in labor and delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Does the term 'Gentle Parenting' make you feel a certain kind of way? Tune in to hear certified conscious parenting coach and mom of 3, Rachael Fritz of Parenting on Mars, tell us all about attachment science, cycle breaking, and what all of these parenting ideologies really mean. Find out if it is too late to build a secure attachment, if Gentle Parenting is rooted in being a permissive parent, and what to do when you inevitable mess up as a parent. You can find Rachael Fritz on Instagram, Tik Tok, or on her website. Curious about her coaching services? Book a consult here! Watch Rachael on Daytime Chicago here! Book Recommendations: The Power of Showing Up by Dr. Daniel Siegel Beyond Behaviors by Mona Delahooke Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in labor and delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Join Jen and Karlee as they interview guest Nathalie who not only worked for an adoption agency but was also part of an open adoption herself. They will be talking about: Jen and Karlee both felt immense gratitude that Nathalie shared everything she did and was open about a system that very few people really understand (or talk much about). This is one you dont want to miss! Some Links for Basic Information: Adoption in BC Adoption Options *I would encourage you to look at the local government websites for information due to the fact that each province has different regulations surrounding adoption! I did not link them all here but if you need any help please let us know and we will see what we can do. We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in Labour and Delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

A very important episode about all things baby safety! Jen and Karlee share some of the helpful resources and information they learned while navigating being first time moms. Some safety things are fairly common sense but others you may never think of. Even some of the common sense safety tips we had never thought of before! We hope you find this episode informative and that you learned something new. Baby safety is something you never want to put off until later, the earlier the better. Links to Websites we Mentioned: Safer seats: Website to find local CPST Winter Safety - Safe in the Seat Blog Post (their instagram @safeintheseat is also great) Safe Beginnings Car Seat Facebook Group Solid Starts We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in Labour and Delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Join us as we look back on 2023 and share what we are most proud of. Find out if we are into New Years resolutions and what our intentions are for 2024. Also, we spill about what family planning look like for both of us next year. Most importantly... What will be happening with the podcast? Also, please bear with us as we had a bunch of technical difficulties with this episode. I'd like to say it was the recording platform but some was also user error. We should be back to our regular sounding episodes next week! Books Jen Talked About: Raising a Emotionally Intelligent Child The Whole Brain Child Hold Me Tight We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in Labour and Delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

We are taking a break this week to spend some time with our families. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season. We will be back next week!

Welcome back for part 2 of The Friendly Dads Club! Tune in to hear Geoff and Nenad share their perspective on the postpartum period, specifically what they did that was helpful for us! We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in Labour and Delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Listen to Jen and Karlee talk about their returns to work after Maternity Leave. Both "thought" they would be prepared but what they found out is that there is nothing quite like maternity leave ending and returning to work to spark a full on overhaul of your routines, relationships and physical space. Some of the items they talk about are: They will also chat about some tips to help prepare for your return to work! We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in Labour and Delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

The Friendly Dads Club! Who knew they would talk so much. We had to split this episode into two. Both Jen and Karlee’s husbands join the show to talk about pregnancy, birth and postpartum through their eyes. It’s real talk and a bit funny at the same time. It’s always interesting hearing their version of events and what were the hardest parts to them. It is marked explicit for the odd swear word that was just too hard to edit out. Hope you enjoy! We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in Labour and Delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have

If you didn’t believe the saying “comparison is the thief of joy” before having kids, you definitely will now. Unfortunately, the mom shame and comparison game is big in the parenting world. Moms should be lifting each other up, not trying to compete to see who is better. Motherhood is hard enough without it becoming some sort of competition. Join Jen and Karlee as they talk about their own experiences with comparison/shame and how every baby is beautifully unique. We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in Labour and Delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Another fun guest episode! This time we have the other member of the tongue tie trio with Jen and Karlee to talk about the importance of a village and what it means to each of them (if you listened to our first episodes you'll know the tongue tie trio is how Jen and Karlee met). We talk about how finding your village may not include family and that it doesn't matter the size of the village, instead how meaningful those relationships are. If you are in the Lower Mainland make sure you check out Bellies Community Space's monthly events. If not, make sure you listen to Episode 1: How to Make Mom Friends. Also, we all used Dr. Bhatti (in Pitt Meadows) for the tongue tie revisions. We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in Labour and Delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have.

Daycare is a huge transition and no matter how prepared you think you are, it is still going to be tough. Both for the parents and for the child. It’s also hard to find a daycare you are comfortable with that has availability! Join Jen and Karlee as they talk about their own experiences finding a daycare, what they looked for in a facility and how their transitions went. We want to hear from you! Please ask us any questions or provide topic suggestions that you want to hear more about. Remember that nothing is off limits, we are here to talk about anything and everything including what society deems as shameful. You can leave a comment here, send us a DM on Instagram @thefriendlymomsclub or email us at thefriendlymomsclub@gmail.com Disclaimer: We are not medical experts. Although Karlee is a registered nurse working in Labour and Delivery we are not part of your health care team. Any content that we talk about is purely based on our own opinion and experiences. Please seek out your primary healthcare provider with any concerns you may have