The Sisterhood Blog
We’re tackling the real issues we face while we’re on that journey of trying to conceive, facing infertility, getting pregnant, postpartum, or in the early years of motherhood. Written in a totally fun & relatable way that inspires you to prioritize your mental health every step of the way.
Breaking the Stigma: How Therapy Supports Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Women need and deserve support through the highs and lows of trying to conceive, pregnancy, and during the postpartum period (which lasts at least 2 years), yet many women go without this mental health support because it feels taboo. Learn about the stigma behind therapy for moms + the ways therapy can help you build confidence, reduce struggles like postpartum depression or anxiety, and find your groove in motherhood.
How to Talk to Your Partner About Sharing the Invisible Labor of Caring for the Household After Kids
The stress of caring for the household should be a shared task between all of the adults (and kids!) in the household, but it often falls to mothers. The invisible and unpaid labor of caring for the family leads many moms to unnecessary burnout and overwhelm. Learn Dr. Julie’s tips for talking to your partner about this part of the mental load & how to use the strategy of delegation to get your partner’s practical support with the tasks you want help with.
Are My New Parent Jitters Actually Postpartum Anxiety?
Whether you’re a first time mom or becoming a parent again, having a new baby is bound to bring up a wide range of emotions that may impact your mental health. Yet many new mothers don’t realize that their fears, worries, and concerns about their baby or their new role as a mother go beyond the normal new parent jitters and rise to the level of Postpartum Anxiety (PPA).
A Simple Breastfeeding Hydration Drink Recipe
Staying hydrated while you’re breastfeeding a newborn isn’t easy, especially if you’re not a big fan of water or are looking to avoid artificial dyes and preservatives. This inexpensive, homemade rehydration drink for breastfeeding moms recipe is my go-to when I need to increase my liquid and electrolyte intake. You can drink this throughout your nursing journey and it’s safe for your toddler or preschooler if they happen to take a sip from your cup.
Love Notes for Mom
A free mother’s day printable to help take the stress out of mother’s day gifting. This fill in the blank “love notes for mom” template lets your kids create a heartfelt, homemade, and frugal gift for mom, grandma, or any other special mother figure that’s sure to be cherished for year to come.
Tips to Overcome Toddler Bath Time Fears
If your toddler is suddenly afraid of taking a bath, you might be wondering how you can support your toddler and make bath time fun again. In this post, Dr. Julie shares her top tips for supporting your toddler with his or her bath time anxiety using simple, play-based and emotional regulation strategies that honor your toddler’s feelings and help your child feel safe and supported.
The Signs and Signals of Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) that my Medical Team Missed
In this vulnerable post, Dr. Julie gives a primer in the risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options for Postpartum Anxiety (PPA). She also gets vulnerable and shares her own experience with Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) and identifies the risk factors, warning signs, and signals of PPA that her expansive team of medical professionals overlooked when she was a new mom. She shares so that you know that you’re not alone, and that even an expert in women’s mental health is not immune to Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD).
How to Keep Yourself Calm During a Toddler Tantrum
Tantrums are a developmentally normal rite of passage that all children go through, but they are stressful and anxiety-provoking for parents. Learning to stay calm during a tantrum is not easy, but it’s important because it gives you the chance to respond instead of react. In this post, Dr. Julie shares her top tips for reseting your expectations around tantrums and the phrases she uses to keep calm and collected when a tantrum hits.
Easter Basket Fillers for Toddler Boys & Girls
Easter is just around the corner, and we understand how stressful it can be to put a thoughtful Easter basket together. From allergy-friendly chocolates to books to art projects, there’s something here for every family. Shop Dr. Julie’s Easter basket stuffer finds for babies, toddler boys, and toddler girls.
Therapy that’s Just for Washington Women who are Navigating Infertility, Pregnancy, Postpartum, or in the Early Years of Motherhood
Nurturing the Sisterhood, a boutique therapy practice that’s just for women who want to become mothers, pregnant and postpartum women, and women in the early years of motherhood, celebrates the grand opening of its Bainbridge Island, Washington office! Founder and maternal mental health therapist Dr. Julie Franks shares the reason this practice is needed in Kitsap County, why it serves women throughout Washington State, and clinic’s judgment-free approach to therapy and support for women seeking pre-conception planning, coping with pregnancy loss, undergoing fertility treatment, and/or women who are pregnant, postpartum, and in the early years of motherhood.
Is Being Known as a “Control Freak” a Red Flag for Mom Anxiety?
We miss an important opportunity to support women when we don’t recognize that being known for being a “control freak” is often a sign of postpartum or maternal anxiety. In this post, Dr. Julie explains the way control is fueled by anxiety, the cycle of anxious control, the costs of using control to manage your anxiety, and 4 strategies to help you let go.
How to Respond to Insensitive Comments about Pregnancy Loss
Women who experience a miscarriage, stillbirth, or lose a pregnancy deal with insensitive comments from people who don’t know what to say or have uninformed beliefs about pregnancy loss. In this post, Dr. Julie shares her personal story with recurrent miscarriage & gives you strategies to use as you respond to hurtful comments after you’ve experienced pregnancy loss.
Can I Tell My Therapist that I Cosleep with my Child?
Moms who decide not to sleep train struggle with the judgment of choosing to cosleep. The fear of being shamed or reported for bedsharing keeps many moms from telling the truth at their pediatrician and therapy appointments. Maternal mental health expert and therapist Dr. Julie Franks speaks to the fears about being honest about bedsharing or cosleeping + what to do if a therapist or medical provider doesn’t support your approach to baby sleep.
“Is it Anxiety or is it Just Motherhood?”A Workshop to Empower Moms
It’s not easy to get a clear understanding of your mom anxiety. Why? Anxiety and the sister emotions of stress, burnout, anger, rage, and overwhelm are so common that many moms question their mental health symptoms. Even medical providers get confused. As a result, many moms don’t get the support they need in motherhood. Learn all about Dr. Julie’s crash course that’s designed to help moms understand their anxiety & advocate for the care they need to feel better.
How to Improve Your Confidence with Simple Journaling Exercises that are Just for Moms
Journaling is one of the best ways you can cultivate self kindness. compassion, and confidence as a mom. Finding the style of journaling that works for you is essential. In this blog, I talk about my own journey with a journal, offer 5 different journal styles to try, and give you access to my FREE printable journal template.
5 Tips for Making New Mom Friends on Your Maternity Leave
New (and new again!) moms can feel isolated in the early weeks of motherhood but struggle to talk the negative impacts of their loneliness. Developing friendships with other new mothers is an important strategy for ending this social isolation and improving your mental health. Get my top 5 tips for making new friends during your maternity leave + my curated list of spaces to find mom friends in Kitsap County, Washington.
How to Quickly Calm Down When the Stress Hits
Are you struggling when the stress hits? Learn how to calm down quickly & effectively using this the simple “1-2-3, Brand New Me" technique. It’s perfect for busy moms who need a simple way to reduce stress and improve well-being in less than 60-seconds.
Curate Your Social Media Feed: 10 Instagram Accounts to Support Your Motherhood Journey
There are many upsides to social media use for moms, but only when the social media accounts you’re following don’t make your mom stress and anxiety worse. Learning to “curate your feed” with supportive and qualified mom influencers who align with your parenting values and improve your mom community. Plus, get Dr. Julie’s recommended list of the 10 Instagram accounts every pregnant woman or new mom needs to follow.
Is it Selfish to Say “No” to Intimacy When You’re a Touched Out Mom?
Learn how to deal with the challenges of postpartum sex as a touched-out mom. Learn about the many reasons new parents lack intimacy & follow a roadmap for effective communication & boundary setting around sex & intimacy in your relationship.
How to Find the Perfect Therapist: A Guide for Moms
Struggling to find a therapist who understands the challenges of motherhood? Look no further. Learn how to find a qualified perinatal therapist and why it's essential for effective therapy. Plus, get tips on choosing the right therapist for you and your family.
🎧 PODCAST EPISODES
