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This week's episode is a little different. I wanted to bring together two moms within the zoo field who have IVF as part of their motherhood journey and let them have the opportunity to share their stories and talk to each other about their journeys. Kaitlyn Fulmer and LeShea Cochu joined me for this dedicated episode on going through IVF as a zookeeper, and I'm so grateful to them for being willing to share such intimate details about their experiences.

Kaitlyn and LeShea both share their journeys to becoming pregnant through IVF. They talk about the timelines and the emotions involved with going through the process as well as how they cope with working while going through such a physical and emotional time.

Both have had support at work and share that that can be critical in helping to feel like one can navigate going through IVF while working. Kaitlyn even shares some of the accommodations her team made for her in regard to working with sea lions who were on birth control.

We also talk about how they both decided how much to share about what they were going through with their coworkers and facilities, as well as how they handle unintended questions and comments from family and friends.

We talk about the financial side of IVF as well, which on a zookeeper budget can be tough. Both LeShea and Kaitlyn share about how they were able to finance IVF, including how much it costs for medication and how frustrating it can be to have to pay for unused medication.

Finally, we talk about the schedule associated with IVF and how both of them were able to work their appointments around lunch schedules and changing work shifts. Kaitlyn and LeShea give some great advice about how they made the rigid schedules of IVF work with their roles at the zoo.

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Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms!

My guest this week is Ricki Roemer, a Supervisor in the Mammals 2 Department at the Caldwell Zoo. At the time of our interview Ricki was freshly postpartum, and believe it or not her baby joined us in the bouncer the whole interview! Her and I had tried to set up an interview quickly before she gave birth, but we didn't make it in time before her second child was born!

Ricki started at the Caldwell Zoo in the bird department, then moved to large mammals. However, while she was on maternity leave, she was promoted to a supervisor role! Along with returning to work postpartum, she returned to a new role, with new responsibilities, new species, and new routines. Ricki and I talk about how she is navigating this whole new world of being a new mom, with two kids now, and in a new role. Part of the new role includes keeping a different kind of mental work list and Ricki and I talk about the different sorts of things that linger in her brain at the end of the day now as a supervisor compared to when she was a keeper.

Ricki and I also talk about the difference between coming back to work after her first child and coming back to work after her second child. Spoiler alert: it's the schedule of trying to find a new routine with two instead of one and getting out the door in the morning!

Finally, we also talk about some of the biggest challenges with having kids in the field - from finances, to schedules, and working holidays. Ricki says she's always been so inspired by others that have made it work (including other moms who have been on this podcast). Ricki's advice to a new mom returning to work is great - give yourself the same amount of time that you were on maternity leave to adjust to getting back to work. I love that because it is so true! We need time to adjust and we have to remember that things will look different in the interim, and that's ok.

Mothering Wildlife links:
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Email: motheringwildlife@gmail.com

Click here to send me a text! Have a story to share or just want to chat? Let's connect - because moms need moms!

My guest this week is Alexis Fitch from Animals Anonymous Apparel! Alexis started her career as a zookeeper, however ultimately decided to leave the field with the birth of her first child and started an amazing apparel company dedicated to making the anonymous animals known.

Animals Anonymous offers a wide variety of apparel, tumblers, decals, and more all designed by Alexis herself with the help of images submitted to her, often by zookeepers, of the animals and species that they work with! Alexis's passion though is education and she feels strongly about spreading the message about species that are less known. She believes that every species has a story worth telling and hopes that her apparel can start conversations about wildlife conservation. In fact, Animals Anonymous has currently donated over $300,000 to wildlife conservation.

Alexis's advice is simple; do the thing and do it scared. From zookeeper, to mom, to small business owner making a difference for wildlife, Alexis believes that if you want to do something you should just dive right in.

We talk about being a small business owner and a mom and how she manages to make both work. Alexis has four children and shares her stories of how she was back to work within days of giving birth, worked as a breastfeeding mom, and how she has managed to grow a business and online presence.

Check out Animals Anonymous Apparel here: animalsanonymousapparel.com

Mothering Wildlife links:
Facebook MotheringWildlifePodcast
Instagram @motheringwildlife
Email: motheringwildlife@gmail.com