The Sisterhood Blog.
Where Mental Health Support Meets the Perinatal Village — Across Seattle, Kitsap & Washington State.
Welcome to The Sisterhood Blog, our therapist-created resource for moms navigating the complex and often invisible parts of modern motherhood — plus everything you need to know about the local village that helps.
The Sisterhood Blog includes:
Therapist-written articles by Dr. Julie Franks, DSW, LICSW, on mom’s mental health — including postpartum anxiety, burnout, boundaries, and the emotional labor of early motherhood
First-hand interviews with the incredible doulas, lactation consultants, sleep coaches, and other perinatal professionals serving families across Seattle, Kitsap, and Washington State
Real Providers. Real Stories. Real Support for Washington Moms.
Because no mom should have to navigate this alone.
Meet Rebecca McCann, RN and IBCLC — Personalized Lactation Support for Moms in Gig Harbor, Kitsap County, and Across Washington
Rebecca McCann, IBCLC, RN helps you feel more confident with feeding—starting in pregnancy. Learn about her personalized, judgment-free lactation support for moms in Kitsap County, Gig Harbor, and beyond navigating latch pain, pumping, bottle feeding, and weaning
How to Break Free from the Mom Comparison Trap on Social Media
Social media makes it easy to compare yourself to other moms—and feel like you’re falling short. Here’s how to quiet the noise and trust yourself.
How New Moms Can Trust Their Gut When Everyone Has Parenting Advice
Drowning in parenting advice? Discover how to sort out mom worry from real intuition, tune out the noise, and make confident choices that actually work for you and your baby—all with practical tips you can use today.
Should I Take a Mental Health Day During Pregnancy? Why It’s Not Selfish—It’s Strategic
Pregnancy is overwhelming—mentally, physically, emotionally. Learn why rest isn’t selfish, how to spot signs of burnout, and where to find support when it’s too much to carry alone.
Meet Desiree Baird, Pediatric Sleep Coach and Rest Advocate — Helping Washington Moms Find Better Sleep
Meet Desiree Baird, a certified pediatric sleep consultant based in Washington, who specializes in helping local moms navigate sleep challenges for their babies and toddlers. With a passion for providing personalized sleep support, Desiree works with families in Washington to create custom sleep plans, address common issues like night wakings, bedtime struggles, and nap resistance, and help moms find the sleep solutions they need. If you're a mom in Washington struggling with sleep challenges, Desiree's expert advice and tailored approach can help you and your baby get the rest you deserve.
Why Doomscrolling Feels So Addictive for Anxious Moms (And What to Do About It)
Doomscrolling feels like a way to quiet your mind, but often ramps up anxiety for new and expecting moms. This blog unpacks why — and offers simple, doable ways to support your nervous system instead.
Motherhood Isn’t What You Expected - And That’s Okay.
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.
Overwhelmed by the Mental Load? Here’s What to do.
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.
How to Tell the Difference Between New Mom Worry and 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).
Hydration While Breastfeeding: Simple Homemade Electrolyte Drink for Nursing Moms
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: Printable Cards for Mother’s Day or Anytime
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.
Toddler Suddenly Hates the Bath? Here’s What Might Actually Help
Your toddler loved bath time—until they didn’t. This guide offers calm, compassionate tools for parents facing sudden bath refusal, with tips grounded in emotional safety and playful support. Written by a therapist for moms.
I’m a Therapist and I Still Missed My Postpartum Anxiety
I’m sharing my story with postpartum anxiety (PPA) to remind you that you’re not alone—and that even a therapist specializing in maternal mental health can miss the signs in herself. In this post, I walk you through the risk factors, symptoms, and what helped me heal. If you’re struggling with postpartum anxiety, there is hope—and postpartum counseling can truly make a difference.
How to Keep Yourself Calm During a Toddler Tantrum
Tantrums are part of toddlerhood, but they can leave you feeling overstimulated and stuck in survival mode. This post shares practical tools to help you stay calm and grounded—even when everything feels like too much.
Interview with Dr. Julie Franks, Maternal Mental Health Therapist at Nurturing the Sisterhood — Supporting Kitsap and Seattle Moms.
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 Called a Control Freak a Red Flag for Maternal Anxiety?
Feeling like you have to be in charge all the time? It might not be a personality flaw — it could be anxiety. This blog explores how control can be a coping strategy for moms navigating postpartum and maternal anxiety, and offers tools to help you interrupt the cycle with clarity and compassion.
What to Say (and Not Say) After Pregnancy Loss: How to Deal with Insensitive Comments and Unhelpful Advice
Grieving a miscarriage is hard enough—dealing with insensitive comments makes it harder. Here’s how to protect your peace and respond with clarity.
Can I Tell My Therapist I Cosleep? What Every Bedsharing Mom Needs to Know
Afraid to tell anyone that you cosleep—including your therapist or pediatrician? You’re not alone. Bedsharing is more common than it seems—and talking about it safely can ease the fear, guilt, and pressure so many moms carry around baby sleep.
Journaling for Moms: Boost Confidence and Self-Compassion in Just Minutes a Day
Here are 5 easy ways you can try journaling as a mom — plus a free printable to help you build confidence, reflect on your day, and feel more grounded.
How to Make Mom Friends During Maternity Leave in Kitsap County, WA
You’re not the only new mom hoping to find your village. Here’s how to make real-life mom friends during maternity leave — plus local Kitsap, WA spots where moms actually meet each other.
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