chelsea barbine (00:04.93)
Welcome to Postpartum Better, the go -to podcast for expecting a new mom's navigating life after birth. Hi, I'm Chelsea Barbine, wife, mama, yogi, postpartum health coach, and your new mama friend. Together, we're covering topics like postpartum recovery, maintaining your mental and physical health, finding your identity as a new mom, and rekindling your relationships. Get ready for expert tips

actionable advice and heartfelt conversations with other moms who just get it. The health and happiness of the world resides in us mamas. It's time to postpartum better.

chelsea barbine (00:48.984)
So at the start of summer, I announced a series of workshops that were coming to the CORE Care Cultivate community. And the first workshop that we held, I co -facilitated it with a fellow mama friend of mine. Her name is Melina Kane. She's also a professional organizer and life coach. I highly recommend you guys just, if you haven't, if you don't know Melina,

Well, first of all, she's been a guest on the podcast before. She joined me for a very, my God, like heartfelt, vulnerable conversation that I released as part of the May Maternal Mental Health series. Highly recommend going to listen to that, no matter where you're at in your motherhood journey. Also, look her up because Malena is...

I mean, we're all one of a kind. Don't get me wrong. But truthfully, Melina has such a unique approach to her professional organization. I'll say like methodology in general, like her services, given her life coaching background experience as well. And also, she's a mom. She's got young kiddos. She gets it. I highly recommend looking her up.

I'll drop her information in the show notes for this. But she and I collaborated on a workshop together with the shared belief that summer, at least for moms, summer is the marathon of holidays. And we had this really great, tangible,

like a very tactical conversation, right, around how to support moms in literally not just like surviving this three month stretch, but truly like actually taking summer back, like enjoying summer for ourselves. And it's so funny now. One, I definitely implemented a lot of things that she shared throughout the workshop. I feel like you can even take it into like day to day.

chelsea barbine (03:09.632)
life like outside of summer. was, again, guys, she's so good. But I'm like sitting here at the end of summer thinking back and I'm like, my God, little did I know, like the legit marathon that I was running. And I mean, at that point, you know, I just found out that I was pregnant. So I like really didn't know, like I knew, but like I really didn't know, especially when I like reached out to her. like, my God.

Chelsea, just the hug, the hug. Also, girlfriend, fucking made it. And I'm laughing because I don't think you guys, I will ever learn my lesson to carve out more space for myself. Like, I'm saying this and I'm like, no.

I've gotten better, but and I can be a procrastinator. Like I perform very well under pressure. And this past week, thank God for the second trimester energy. Let me just say, okay, but this past week,

We were celebrating, yes, we are celebrating, we were technically, it's no longer week 19, but celebrated week 19. So many feels officially being halfway there, you guys, my God. But alongside of that, also celebrating the wrap up of the June cohort for the Cultivate crew. And with that, snuck in the final two workshops for the series.

and also like had family vacation. Like, what? bananas, bananas. But I will say, looking back, I'm

chelsea barbine (05:17.91)
It was such a great week. It was such a feel good week. And I think as much of like the giving, giving, giving that I did, right? And like pouring into the wrap of the cohort and even growing this like little human, like there's just, there was so much, I'll say like balance in it because I allowed myself to receive so deeply. And I think that that's,

Like I'm sitting here and I'm just like reflecting on this and my God Chelsea like yes, like I. I truly do believe that I am walking the talk of how I coach. Mamas and it feels so like it feels so good like one to. Feel the authenticity right and like the deep rooted belief that like.

This possibility of enjoying pregnancy, enjoying postpartum is there to be living it myself. But then also to feeling so deeply that the methodology, it fucking works. It's not just a one and done, this worked for me once, here's a strategy, go. It's time and time and time again. Yes, proof in the freaking pudding.

Anyways, we celebrated a lot this week. Again, we are officially in the halfway of baby number two incubating, is just like bananas. Movement is definitely picking up. mean, still no one feeling from the outside. I can feel from the outside, which I love. And I think it's definitely helped me bond and connect more. I don't know, you guys. Part of me wonders if it's like,

Again, full transparency, as awful as it sounds, like keeping up with a toddler, not blaming any of the some Frankie, but just the reality of it is my focus isn't just on me and like, again, the physical of the pregnancy. It's like so many other areas. But also too, think like I kind of wonder like not knowing the gender, like if because I don't know if this is a boy or girl, like it's like a little bit harder for me to like connect.

chelsea barbine (07:41.45)
If that makes sense, maybe I'm just being a little like wacko. I don't know. And I'm not going to lie, there was a part of me that really wondered that in thinking about, again, that preparation for the transition after like after birth, if like not finding out was going to add a layer of complexity with like any sort of like feeling of like disconnect, which if any of you have been surprised or you not found out the gender until delivery, let me know.

your experiences because I'm kind of curious with that. I want to be hopeful and be like, no, it's fine. I'm just like in my head. like, know, as like a postpartum health coach, like my whole business is on the preparation of like, what is that life after baby comes home? And it's like, I don't even know. Like, I'm not able to like actually visualize it. Am I putting myself at a disadvantage? Interesting thought. There's that.

but truthfully, like also in celebrating, you know, that halfway point, I'm also, we had our, like I said, the, the workshops, one was like human design related and the other one was setting, loving boundaries with others. Such juicy conversations, you guys. my God. Such a positive of truthfully like running your own business and getting to choose things to focus on that you're like so into.

I say that and that might sound like a little like, but my God, I just had a flashback of bridesmaids. It's like she's talking with Helen, the friend. She's like, you do. It's not meant to be like that, I swear. But truthfully, you guys, the stuff that I don't know, it's like, I assume, you know, you're here. We have shared interests, shared qualities, values, beliefs, all the things. Not all, we're not the same exact person, but like it's kind of.

cool to like, I don't know, like create these offerings and these events with like knowing that I am excited to attend them. how, you know what I mean? Like, I don't know, how could others not be? Again, if we are aligned in other areas of life, they truly were, they were so much fun and so, so, so supportive. But we also had the last mama meetup.

chelsea barbine (10:07.95)
of the June cohort and again, just like in the space of like reflection, you know, like how much growth obviously, you know, I'm like thinking right now about like where I'm at in pregnancy and how much has changed over the past week, but also just, my God, the past, you know, 12 weeks, like alongside of these moms and just, I feel like it's so freaking cool. Like for that, for the June cohort, and then there's going to be another one in September.

Like how freaking cool it is to be doing it alongside of them, like truthfully. Like I've got a lot of first time moms, I got a lot of second time moms and it's like, I don't know, to, know, some are expecting, some are like postpartum already, but it's, there's just this, this really, it's like a, I didn't even know. It's like not even like a secret sauce. I feel like that's the elements of the Cultivate crew itself. You know, like having that boxer thread and stuff.

So we're staying connected between the weekly calls. there's just such a special energy with these cohorts of just doing it with them. And it was just such a beautiful experience to get to celebrate those moms and their growth and.

feel like a shared excitement in celebrating my own too and like reflecting. And it's funny, I remember before I launched the Cultivate crew, like before it was even announced that like this was going to be an offer for moms, right? That I was offering group coaching. I remember being with a group of moms and I don't remember how it came up, but like maybe we're just kind of sharing like what we did and whatnot.

One, I must have said something about like, you know, being like a friend, like a mom friend. Like I want women to have more mom friends that are supportive in their growth, right? Because I feel like this is a whole nother conversation, but the, we as humans, it is a human fundamental requirement to feel a sense of connection, to feel a sense of belonging.

chelsea barbine (12:28.614)
And it is so important that that connection is supportive for us. Like it is a mutually beneficial energetic exchange, right, for it to be, have that positive effect of like what we want and like worthwhile and support us in our growth and all the things. Anyways, I remember, I remember sharing about that and like wanting to like help.

co -create this space for moms who like wanted a better postpartum life for themselves. Like whether it was better than their moms, better than their sisters, or better than their first or their second, like whatever. I remember one of the moms who was there was like, no, but Chelsea, like you can't actually expect to like become friends with them, right? Like they're your clients. Like how is, how, I don't know, isn't it like not, that's like unprofessional. And I remember sitting there and being like, yeah, I never really thought about that, like thought about it like that. But I don't know, I'm just,

This is I want moms to feel supported and like I feel the best way to welcome them to feeling like they can show up as their most authentic raw selves is for them to feel like I'm their friend because I ultimately like, right? That's that's what we do, at least with our good friends. Like that's what I want for them. And I want them to feel like their friends and.

cared for and held and nurtured by the other moms in the group. Right? Isn't that like, and I remember now I'm just thinking, like, I actually feel like I did it and it worked out. like, you know, it's again, the proof of it not just being a one -time fluke of like, it happened the first time, it was great and it happened this time. And I just continue to feel like I am gaining more mom friends like throughout it. And I hope to think that they're

gaining each other throughout it. So even if we don't stay in touch that like they have each other, like they've linked arms with at least one other mom. I just, it just feels so, so good. I can't help but believe that like, again, like I'll admit, yes, I have been very blessed to have a smooth conception, a smooth pregnancy thus far. Obviously there's still like the whole other half to come and I don't know what the future holds, but

chelsea barbine (14:50.326)
I can't help but think that like, I feel so good because I'm acting in places of alignment. Like I'm actually walking the talk. I'm cultivating this postpartum life that I want. Like I want to set up these connections. I want to set up, you know, these routines, these lifestyle habits. I just, I don't know. just, feels...

It was so freaking good. It was so good. So good. And I will say, I'm sure, you know, like moving forward, I probably wouldn't recommend or like choose to repeat, like balancing the wrap up of, you know, the cohort, like literally butting up with like family vacation. Like I took the last Cultivate crew call like while away.

But it was just, I just feel so appreciative that it's so aligned in what I'm doing day to day. And it also just doesn't, it doesn't feel like work, you guys, to be totally honest. I know what I'm doing is like, it's so supportive. And I say that because I know when I am coaching, I'm like, wow, that was actually a really good idea. I should think about doing that for myself later. You know what I mean? It's like helping them to get to their own solutions. It helps me ultimately like,

coach myself through it all. It's freaking hard, you guys. I just, again, even without all of the physical challenges, and I want to hold space for moms who are going through that or they're nauseous their entire pregnancy or they're super sick or they develop conditions while pregnant, I'm holding the space for that. And also acknowledging that this pregnancy has been hard in its own way. I'm going to get to my...

call with the doula soon and like an update on OB providers. like, it's been, it's been a lot. And as I've shared, you know, there's been its own, its own challenge and like my relationship and things. mean, God, I was just reflecting last week on like how much I feel like I've missed Colin. And I got to tell you again, as like bananas, I felt like we were even more like opposite ends of the spectrum right before vacation with that last final like push of

chelsea barbine (17:16.705)
wrapping up the cohort and packing for vacation and all the things. We were like, God, vacation could not have come at a more beautiful time for us. Yes, we were with our extended family. And I say extended, I don't know about you guys, but once you have your own kids, I look at that as our immediate family. That's not to say that I don't look at my parents and my siblings and stuff like that as close to us or immediate family. But then there's an even more immediate family. You know I'm trying to say?

yes, we spent time with them. So it wasn't like it was just me, Colin, Frankie, like there was more of us. Yes. But we still carved out time for just the three of us and just going to the playground and like on walks into the beach and like just going to get ice cream, like things like that, that we did that I just, we so needed, so needed. like Colin and I even to like carving out time for ourselves. Like we always go down over my birthday.

fucking love it. I love the beach. is my favorite, favorite, favorite place. One of my favorite places. And we usually like, we're very blessed. have family down there so we get to sneak away with like, we have childcare all set up to go. So we have that as like protected date night time while we're away. But we actually this, this trip we snuck out during one of Frankie's like nap times.

And my God, I was laughing with Colin. I like, feel like I'm like living on a teenage dream. Like we took his parents' bikes up to the beach. We like rode up there and like we got our stuff, you know, and minus like, this isn't a sound off, but minus the pregnancy. Felt like I was living on my teenage dream. We're like biking up to the beach and it's like, we're just so carefree and like it's just us and we get up there and like we just like set up camp for a couple of hours and

He was just like, what, like you imagine like music playing too? I'm like, yeah, have you not watched the rom -coms? Like I'm like laughing, obviously he's my husband, but it just was like cute to be like, again, just so playful, like riding up, you know, I was like just envisioning like, my God, like going up to the beach with my boyfriend. Like, it was just funny. But again, like we had that time to like connect and like just talk and.

chelsea barbine (19:39.918)
Of course, even when we were out to dinner, we talked about more serious stuff and reflected on the past year for us, but for me and even thinking goal setting for the next year and me as a multi -dimensional being and a multifaceted person. Of course, I'm talking about personal growth and stuff, but also too about for our family and for the business and all the things.

It was just so, I don't know, I felt like as much as I gave, gave, gave this week, especially leading into right before vacation, it was so balanced with the abundance of receiving that I was open to. And it felt good, it really felt good. I will say sleep wasn't the greatest. Again, we were sharing.

you know, some quarters with a lot of people. So it wasn't like, I don't know, we were navigating that. But all and I'm just getting more uncomfortable when it comes to sleeping. And I sure as hell was not bringing down that pregnancy pillow because this bed was even smaller. It was just, I don't know, was feeling the baby move more. And again, just like being in like my favorite place and just actually feeling like I'm putting in the work to like

I know, like create this life that I want for myself, like in motherhood, like with kids, with the family. Like it's just, it's amazing. It really is. And with that, we still have, you know, one more trip closing out the summer with, before we like really transition into fall. I'm so freaking excited, but also like so appreciative for this next week in between. Like need a beat, you know? I'm like, wah!

we've been all over the place. And I'm sure that that has something to do with like being the being all over the place, like back and forth, back and forth. I'm like definitely noticing this huge urge to like start like full blown nesting. And like, I don't know, it feels super early to be doing that. But I also know how my energy has been. I should probably start doing it in piecemeal. I shared,

chelsea barbine (22:04.824)
at least I think I shared, I'm like definitely following my own method as I'm like preparing for the second one. Now that I like have it like truthfully like step by step, I step like the framework, I'm doing it. It's really freaking exciting. Although I think I'm gonna go like slightly out of order. And there's a part of me that's like, really wanna just lean into the bedroom space right now. I don't know, maybe that's partially too with like that desire for like

the connection and time together and the relationship. I'm just like listening very intuitively to myself, but kind of crossing two birds off with, know, two birds, one stone kind of thing with the bedroom, like mine and Colin's bedroom, just to help like sleep, like sleep environment. But then also to, again, just like the environment in general. And knowing that like we're not, I mean, we're going to have the baby with us for the first God knows how long. Frankie was with us for

the first eight months. So not rushing to transition Frankie into a new bedroom or reset the nursery or anything. I'm really going to lean into our space and making it the most supportive for us while having room for the baby too in there. So I think I'm going to do that this weekend. I'm going to talk with him about it. But that's feeling really, I don't know, I'm just.

They all in the high vibes guys, this second trimester like woo and then also like the, okay, I need to start getting stuff done. Because I know, I know, I know, know when fall hits, it's just gonna like fly on by. Speaking of, we had a really great call, I say we, really me, Colin was kind of like trimming in from the background. So funny how he's like still very involved, but like it's just funny how like laid back I feel like I've been. This time with like the planning essence of like,

I don't know. Just we've been through it and just kind of talking through it versus like both feeling like we got to be in the courses and the prep and all the things at the same time. But we had a great conversation with the doulas. We have decided that we're going to, I think I mentioned this before, but one of the doulas in the pair that we were with the first time is actually expecting again. So there is

chelsea barbine (24:30.818)
The one who was actually there for us with Frankie's delivery has been paired with another doula. So we're going to connect with them and then we're going to connect with another pair who have one of them happens to be the owner and then who she's partnered with. So we're going to do that. But also had a very honest conversation with the owner about, you know, everything that's been going on. She's kind of like have heard.

bits and pieces just in passing out yoga and stuff like that. But just what we've been going through and she had a really wonderful recommendation, made the call and guys, it's officially happening. Switching practices, it feels so scary and yet so right. And I can't help but think that like the fact that they had an appointment available

the same week that I was gonna be going for my next one with my, now they're my old provider. I guess they're technically current, so I haven't had the appointment yet. The fact that they had an opening is just like, I don't know, I just felt like that was a sign from God in the universe being like, okay, it's like we're not even missing a beat, you're gonna keep on going. And it's funny, because it's also part of me again, it's like that I'm so nervous to commit. It's like, am I gonna be like,

I know, like what is it, like speed dating, like OB providers? Like, God, I hope not. Dear God, I hope not. Guys, please, please, please send all of the energy for good.

just like a good, I don't know, like a very reassuring, like, this is a hell yes transition, you know? That's been it, you guys. That's been it. holy moly, officially halfway there. I, all the feels, all the feels we have, I will share.

chelsea barbine (26:39.954)
one more cohort before I officially transition into like a maternity leave type energy. So really excited to lean into that. And like I said, more bonus workshops to come. Like bonus workshops isn't like for those who are in that crew, but like I did with the June one. But I've been starting some

starting some conversations with some co -leads and they are going to be juicy. keep an eye out for all of those coming your way. They've got to be coming your way soon. my God, I hope. Literally this cohort launches like now, it feels like. It's going to be good. We're pushing along and fingers crossed not be taking a podcast hiatus. That's my intention of like one more cohort.

lean in, do it, prep for myself, and get way ahead on podcast episodes so you guys continue to have them at least every Saturday. Obviously, are going to eventually, this is like a limited series. It's going to be done. But you can always come back to them each pregnancy. Let's be real. I think I will. If we decide, I'm like, God, probably should. Let me have the second before I even think about the third.

I don't know if they're gonna be really neat to like listen back to these one day. Maybe the kids will do. I don't know. That could be kind of fun. All right, guys. Good energy. We are almost through the marathon of the summer. Hang tight.

chelsea barbine (28:25.464)
Thank you for joining me for this episode of Postpartum Better. If you're inspired by this conversation to help yourself or another mom navigate life after birth, take a minute to leave me a review on Apple Podcast, and then share this episode with someone who could use the virtual hug. The health and happiness of the world resides in us mamas, and I'm so proud to be doing Postpartum Better with you. Until next week, with care, Chelsea.