Facing Forward Stories shares real stories from parents and parents-to-be living with chronic illness and disability—highlighting both shared experiences and unique journeys. Through these voices, we offer connection, representation, and encouragement, reminding readers they’re not alone and that there’s no single way to keep facing forward. Diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at just seven years old, Holly has never known life without chronic illness—but she also hasn’t let it stop her from building the family she dreamed of. In her Facing Forward Story, Holly shares how she’s learned to replace perfection with self-compassion, embrace creative adaptations, and show her children…
Author: Editor
Editor
Designed as a companion to your healthcare provider's advice, Mamas Facing Forward endeavors to provide resources, encouragement, and community for parents and parents-to-be living with chronic illness.
Facing Forward Stories shares real stories from parents and parents-to-be living with chronic illness and disability—highlighting both shared experiences and unique journeys. Through these voices, we offer connection, representation, and encouragement, reminding readers they’re not alone and that there’s no single way to keep facing forward. After navigating diagnoses of endometriosis and scleroderma, Kristen has learned that parenting with chronic illness isn’t about doing everything—it’s about focusing on what matters most. In this Facing Forward Story, she shares how embracing flexibility, accepting support, and letting go of perfection helps her raise two daughters while continuing to build meaningful work and…
Facing Forward Stories shares real stories from parents and parents-to-be living with chronic illness and disability—highlighting both shared experiences and unique journeys. Through these voices, we offer connection, representation, and encouragement, reminding readers they’re not alone and that there’s no single way to keep facing forward. When Ali was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 29, she had no way of knowing how much that diagnosis would shape her future—including her journey through motherhood. Now raising two teenage daughters while balancing rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s disease, work, and family life, Ali has learned that parenting with chronic illness requires flexibility, honesty,…
Written by Dr. Antonia Repollet, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Certified School Psychologist Pregnancy and early parenthood bring meaningful change, including shifts in digestive health. For those living with a GI condition or ongoing symptoms, the body may feel more sensitive, less predictable, or more reactive than usual. Much of this can be understood through the gut–brain axis, which is the ongoing communication between the digestive system and nervous system, which becomes especially active during times of transition. From preparing for pregnancy to navigating symptoms during pregnancy and adjusting to parenting, this connection plays an important role in how symptoms show up…
At the age of 14, Laurie Proulx first started showing signs of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Today, Proulx is the mother of two children, and her personal experiences with pregnancy and motherhood led her to spearhead a project with the Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance (CAPA) creating a resource that was the first of its kind – a guide to pregnancy and parenting with arthritis, written for patients BY patients. Once Proulx’s original resource was complete, Mariah Leach from Mamas Facing Forward helped update these resources – based on experiences learned from real patients, updated data on medications, and newer recommendations for…
Amber and Mariah discuss how women with chronic illnesses cope with advice on medication use in pregnancy—especially in light of the confusion around acetaminophen. Mariah shares her experiences with rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy, focusing on changes in medication safety data. They talk about the pressure, stigma, and lack of support for pregnant women, the need for nuanced guidance, and provide resources. Visit About IBD for the full transcript! Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/IBDpodsSpotify: https://bit.ly/AIBDSpotPodcast Addict: https://bit.ly/AIBDPAAll other podcast apps: https://pod.link/1228402052
Researchers from the Da Costa Lab at the McGill University Health Center are looking for new moms and dads in Canada living with autoimmune arthritis to participate in their study. Your participation would help them create resources to support parents like you through the transition to parenthood. If you have a child under the age of 13, currently live in Canada and are interested in taking their survey, see their website: https://ards-parenthood.ca/. You will be thanked for your time with a $15 gift card. Some participants will be contacted for a one-on-one interview. You would receive a $25 gift card for the interview. …
The Pregnancy and People with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions study aims to create new knowledge about perinatal outcomes and care provision in individuals with multiple chronic physical and/or mental health conditions. The. study is now recruiting participants to share their perinatal care experiences among people with multiple chronic health conditions in Ontario. If you are interested in learning more or participating in this study, please see below for more information!
I want to share my experience with blood clots during pregnancy. Though my personal story, I hope that other women can better understand the very real possibility of a blood clot during pregnancy, and perhaps even save a life. Debra Turner Bryant shares here personal experiences with blood clots during pregnancy and offers suggestions for women in similar situations. Real Stories from People Living with Blood Clots Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sometimes kids need help understanding chronic illness and disability, as well as recognizing and processing their own feelings. We hope these topics are an ongoing discussion in your family, and we love to review children’s books that may help you along the way! The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn Emily Clemens received a copy of this book as a gift from Mamas Facing Forward. She was not compensated for this review and all opinions are her own. This book was perfect for preparing to send my daughter off to Kindergarten. It addresses separation and associated fears and provides reassurance that…