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Irina Gonzalez, journalist, toddler mom, and the host talks with three-time return guest Kelly Fitzgerald Junco. She is a writer and sobriety advocate. In her previous two episodes, she talked with us about pregnancy anxiety and postpartum grief. This time, she comes on to give us an update about what the past year of the pandemic has been like while living in Florida, the difficulty of finding a daycare that fits her family's safety requirements, and what it's like to work on accepting your postpartum body during a pandemic. Please take the Pandemic Parenting in 2022 survey to share what's been going on in your life and don't forget to sign up for the Pandemic Mama newsletter for more. Plus, make sure you follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents who have had a baby in the past couple of years, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

March 11, 2022, officially marks the two-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a pandemic. In this special retrospective episode, host Irina Gonzalez, a journalist and toddler mom, catches up with some of our favorite podcast guests to see what they have been up to in 2021. Check out how parents who had babies in 2020 are feeling today, whether we've all been able to avoid getting COVID, how our pandemic toddlers are doing, the exhaustion and isolation that still exists for many of us, and who had a second baby in 2021! Plus, check out previous episodes with these guests: S1, EP2: Welcoming a Third Baby During the Pandemic with Lauren Wellbank S1, EP3: How the Pandemic Changed this Adoption Story with Jesus Triviño S1, Ep4: Pregnancy Anxiety During the Pandemic with Kelly Fitzgerald Junco S1, EP 27: The Grief of Postpartum in the Pandemic with Kelly Fitzgerald Junco S1, EP11: The Grief of Having a Baby During a Pandemic with Kaitlyn S1, EP13: Escaping New York City During the Partner Ban with Hannah Howard S1, EP14: The Long-Term Trauma of Giving Birth Without Your Partner with Elaine S1, EP18: The Freak-Out Moments Happened Postpartum with Amanda McCracken S1, EP19: The Importance of Size Inclusion in Birth and Postpartum with Emily Goodstein S1, EP24: Finding Normal in the Chaos of a Pandemic with a 5th Baby with Nancy Sanchez S1, EP25: How We Parent in the Pandemic One Year Later Please take the Pandemic Parenting in 2022 survey to share what's been going on in your life and don't forget to sign up for the Pandemic Mama newsletter for more. Plus, make sure you follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents who have had a baby in the past couple of years, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

Season 2 of Pandemic Mama is here! Irina Gonzalez, journalist, toddler mom, and the host gives us an update on why the podcast disappeared for almost an entire year and what she's been up to since. In this episode, Irina discusses moving cross-country during the pandemic, feeling hopeful about the vaccine and then hopeless as COVID variants struck, and the mental health struggles of a parent with a child under five years old. Plus, a look at what Season 2 is all about. Please take the Pandemic Parenting in 2022 survey to share what's been going on in your life and don't forget to sign up for the Pandemic Mama newsletter for more. Plus, make sure you follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents who have had a baby in the past couple of years, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

Our first return guest! Irina talks with Kelly Fitzgerald Junco, a writer and blogger behind The Sober Señorita, and a new mom who first appeared in Episode 4 of Pandemic Mama. They talked about her birth story, figuring out breastfeeding, and the many forms of grief she is dealing with today. Plus, how she is getting used to her postpartum body after being an athlete for the past several years. Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

Irina talks with Adam, an engineer, amateur podcast editor, new dad, and her husband! They talked about the stress he felt in the last weeks of pregnancy, what happened during the birth from his perspective, and how this last year has been with their baby Rio. Plus, all of the decision fatigue and how they have conquered baby sleep issues. Sort of. Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

In this very special episode of the Pandemic Mama podcast, Irina asked some of the past guests to share what they have been up to since their episodes aired and reflect on the last year of parenting as we recognize and mourn a full year of living in the COVID-19 pandemic. But not all the stories are sad! There are stories full of grief, longing, some happiness, renewed hope, and even a silver lining or two. Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

Irina talks with Nancy Sanchez. She is a stay-at-home mom of five girls. They talked about her induction on the day after the pandemic was announced last year, how up and down the fourth trimester was, and how it’s been difficult to enjoy this past year.  Plus, why homeschooling was the right choice for her and her girls this year. Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

Irina talks with Jenn Chowdhury. She is a journalist, writer, and new mom They discussed the crazy story of how she moved in with her boyfriend, celebrated her birthday, went into lockdown, and found out about her unexpected pregnancy — all within a few weeks! Plus, the difficulty of balancing being a working mom with spending time with your baby and your own self-care needs. Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

The Pandemic Mama herself Irina Gonzalez joins for a very special bonus episode to make some quick announcements about the future of the podcast, a change in episode timing, and a VERY special new segment! You won't want to miss this. Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

Irina talks with Shamiko Reid. She is a first-time mom, blogger, and podcaster. They discussed her history of depression and why it was difficult to feel happy about her pregnancy at first, missing out on a baby shower and seeing family, and how much therapy has helped her during this difficult time. Plus, the coping skills she has learned to deal with her perinatal depression. Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

Irina talks with Blaire Briody, a freelance writer, author, and soon-to-be new mom. They discussed her multiple miscarriages, getting a hypothyroidism diagnosis, and why she thinks everyone should get preconception counseling. Plus, how her pandemic worries have taken over all other pregnancy anxieties. Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support

Irina talks with Nathalie Walton, a new mom and the CEO of Expectful, the leading meditation app for hopeful, expecting, and new parents. They discussed the struggle to get into a routine with a new baby, how common breastfeeding challenges are in the first week of a baby’s life, and how Nathalie found better rest and more sleep through meditating. Plus, how she developed a warrior mentality when she became a mom! Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to [email protected]. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pandemicmamapod/support