406 Pregnancy Q&A: Miscarriage, Announcing at 20 Weeks, and Postpartum as an Entrepreneur with Jodie Muir of Root and Bloom Therapy

**Episode 406:** Rain or Shine Podcast
**Hosts:** Kelsey Reidl founder of Rain or Shine Podcast, and Jodie Muir, MSW, RSW, founder of Root and Bloom Therapy

The Month We Stopped Trying Was the Month It Happened

Episode 406: Rain or Shine Podcast
Hosts: Kelsey Reidl, founder of Rain or Shine Podcast and Jodie Muir, MSW, RSW, founder of Root and Bloom Therapy

Quick Summary:

Kelsey sits down with Jodie, founder of Root and Bloom Therapy, for an honest, heartfelt pregnancy Q&A. They cover everything from why Kelsey waited 20 weeks to announce, to the emotional weight of miscarriage, the art of letting go when you're a type-A entrepreneur, and what intentional postpartum self-care really looks like the second time around.

In This Episode:

Why Kelsey waited until 20 weeks to announce her second pregnancy — and the business fears behind the decision
The fear of losing clients when you announce a pregnancy as a self-employed entrepreneur
Kelsey's miscarriage journey and the conception story she wasn't expecting
The importance of "sitting in the pit" with someone rather than rushing past grief
Why her second pregnancy has felt completely different from her first
Preparing mentally and emotionally for birth and postpartum — with a toddler in the mix
Navigating the relationship with her son Freddy during this major family transition
Kelsey's worries this time vs. last time: what's changed and what hasn't
Outsourcing and asking for help — finally
Postpartum self-care rituals: the daily micro-moments that actually make a difference

Watch The Youtube Video

Key Takeaways:

You don't owe anyone your news in real time. Holding sacred moments close — pregnancy, health, family milestones — is a boundary, not a secret. Processing privately first is a gift you give yourself.
Surrendering control isn't weakness — it's wisdom. In fertility, in business, and in parenting, the outcomes we most want rarely come from forcing them.
Grief deserves a witness, not a fixer. When someone is in the pit, what they often need most is someone willing to come sit in it with them — not offer a ladder too soon.
Know your joy list before the fog sets in. Write down the five to ten micro-moments that fill your cup before postpartum arrives, because you won't remember them when you're in the thick of it.
Values aren't static — and that's okay. Checking in weekly with what this season is asking of you is more sustainable than rigidly holding one set of priorities.

Memorable Quotes:

"It was never a secret — there are just parts of life so magical that you want to hold them tight to your heart for a little bit." — Kelsey
"Sometimes what you need is for someone to come into the pit and sit in the pit with you — not try to make you feel better, just help you not feel so alone." — Jodie
"Going back four months, I would not have chosen to process all of that by myself. It was a lot of unnecessary rumination." — Kelsey

Resources Mentioned:

Root and Bloom Therapy: rootandbloomtherapy.ca
Root and Bloom on Instagram: @rootandbloomtherapyservices
Kelsey’ Instagram: @KelseyReidl
Kelsey’s Website: KelseyReidl.com
Kelsey's newsletter: kelseyreidl.com/newsletter
"Surviving Life with a Toddler" Workshop: End of June in Brantford (in partnership with Grant Kids Therapy)

About the Guest:

Jodie is the founder of Root and Bloom Therapy, offering individual and couples therapy with specialized training in perinatal mental health — all things pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood. She is passionate about helping people navigate the emotional complexity of expanding their families, and recently launched workshops in the Brantford area for parents of toddlers.

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CLEANED & EDITED TRANSCRIPT FOR SHOW NOTES
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Kelsey: Hey, Visionaries. Welcome back to the podcast. This is a crazy episode — I'm nervous, scared, and excited all at once.
A couple of weeks ago, around my 21-22 week pregnancy mark, I shared the news with the greater online community. Which is still so wild to say, because I genuinely feel like a regular girl living in a small town. I've been an entrepreneur for nine years, and somehow I've built this personal brand around adventure and living a visionary life. I love hiking, mountain biking, and having my feet in the dirt. I'm not glamorous or your typical influencer — I'm just myself.
One of the things that has come through most authentically over the last few years is my journey into motherhood — whether that was sharing a miscarriage, my birth story that ended with an ambulance at 11:30 at night on Christmas Eve, or now, this pregnancy. I want to share more about the miscarriage that happened before this conception, the emotions wrapped up in trying, wanting it so badly, having it taken away, and then the absolutely wild story of how we conceived the month we weren't even trying.
In this episode, we're keeping it light. I promise to share more in depth about this journey at some point, but today is all about joy. I got to sit down with my new friend Jodie — founder of Root and Bloom Therapy (rootandbloomtherapy.ca) — for a pregnancy Q&A, and it was so much fun.
I'm officially excited to share that we are expecting our baby at the end of summer. We are so overjoyed. Freddy is blissfully clueless — as two-year-olds tend to be — and we're soaking in this special time with him.
I'll still be working with clients in small capacities right up until the end of summer — SEO projects, website projects, and finishing up my one-on-one clients in the growth package. Then I'll be temporarily stepping back. I make no promises about how long — I called my last one a "maternity experience," so you know how I roll.
Thank you, Jodie. You are a beacon of light. Let's get into it.
[TOPIC SHIFT: Waiting 20 Weeks to Announce]
Jodie: Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited for this conversation — especially because going into a second pregnancy is such a different experience. Let's start with the announcement. You waited 20 weeks to share the news, which you also did with Freddy. What was behind that decision?
Kelsey: I think I've always danced back and forth between how much to share. I feel like I have to share a lot about my life and my thought leadership around marketing — but I also want to protect things that feel sacred.
With both pregnancies, I've felt this pull to process inward first. To hold that magical moment of knowing big changes are coming, to connect with my baby, and to share it with my husband and son before bringing it to the world. It was never a secret — there are just parts of life so magical that you want to hold them close for a little while.
There was also a practical piece: we don't see friends and family every day, and I wanted to tell close people in person. I love the intimacy of sharing a life update when you're shoulder to shoulder with someone, rather than blasting it online.
Jodie: That is so important. And choosing to expand your family is such an intimate thing. When you start telling people, a million opinions get thrown at you right away — so I'm glad you had time to process on your own first.
Kelsey: Yes! And one thing I didn't mention — as a business owner, I also wondered: when is the right time to share? What if it changes people's perception of working with me? A lot of people tell me that's crazy — that someone wouldn't hire a website or SEO strategist because she's pregnant. But in my mind, there might be a hesitation if someone knows I'm going on mat leave. I had that fear with Freddy too.
What I ultimately saw was that it didn't negatively impact my business. Maybe a couple of people moved on, but the majority of clients were supportive and it didn't affect their decision to work with me. It might be a very real and legitimate fear for other entrepreneurs, though.
Jodie: Absolutely. In relational work — whether that's marketing, therapy, or any client-facing role — that is a real concern. And there's also that element of not wanting clients to feel "duped." There's a parasocial element in online business that adds pressure to decisions like this.
Kelsey: That's such a good point. I actually had a recent situation where a client had already signed and paid, and then asked if we could extend the contract. I had to tell her I was pregnant and that I had a hard stop coming. I worried about whether I'd misled her — but having an honest conversation resolved everything. She was wonderful about it. I think the lesson is: be transparent, but don't over-explain yourself.
Jodie: And that need to over-explain so often comes from a root of people-pleasing. I'm proud of you for prioritizing yourself in that decision.
[TOPIC SHIFT: Conception Journey & Trusting the Process]
Jodie: With this pregnancy, how did it compare to your first? Did you notice any difference in symptoms or how it felt?
Kelsey: It's funny because the month my husband and I basically threw up our hands and said "we're not trying this month," I was travelling and away during the key days. I genuinely thought about rearranging my trip, but my husband said to just go enjoy it and we'd try again next month. And somehow — that was the magical month.
I think the common thread between both my pregnancies is that when I stopped trying to control everything and genuinely surrendered to the process, that's when it happened. My nature to analyze and manage every detail was not helpful. It was truly a lesson in trusting the universe.
Jodie: Sometimes letting go is exactly how things are meant to work out. And especially with your type-A tendencies — that control can extend into birth planning and postpartum planning too. When you're trying to control the uncontrollable, it leads to panic and stress. Being able to activate that type-B side, even a little, makes a real difference.
Kelsey: So true. And looking back, I can now see how all the timing worked in our favor. But I want to say to anyone going through that journey right now: it is impossible to see that in the moment. When month after month you experience disappointment, it just doesn't make sense. People can try to reassure you, and they mean well, but you can't hear it in that moment.
I remember I would even look up YouTube videos of women talking about miscarriage, asking myself, "Is this normal?" I was so grateful to those strangers on the internet — and to my friends who had gone through it too — who could just sit with me in it.
The whole experience really built a muscle of resiliency. Women are truly incredible. Every single child on this earth is a miracle.
[TOPIC SHIFT: Grief, Loss & Having Someone Sit in the Pit With You]
Jodie: Those micro-moments of grief are so real — the "if only that pregnancy had followed through, I would have been this far along" thoughts. And when it comes to pregnancy loss specifically, it's such a taboo topic. The well-meaning people in our lives often want to move through it quickly — "there's always next month!" — when sometimes what you really need is for someone to come sit in the pit with you. Not try to fix it. Just help you not feel so alone.
Kelsey: That is exactly it. With both of my miscarriages, the people I called first were the ones I knew had gone through pregnancy loss themselves. The moment I went through it, those were the people I wanted. And I think that's exactly why I share this kind of thing online — in small doses. Because if it means that someone in the pit can reach out and know there's someone who's been there too, that matters.
I think 30 or 40 years ago, this wasn't talked about. My mom went through some really traumatic birth experiences and never spoke about it — none of her friends did. And she carried that shame, guilt, and loneliness for a long time. She and I talked about that before she died. That experience is something I think about a lot — that "push it down" mentality leads to lifelong wounds. I never want to perpetuate that.
Jodie: Absolutely. And sometimes people experience really complex emotions around pregnancy loss — sadness, anger, and sometimes even relief if the timing was difficult — which can bring on guilt of its own. Being able to sit with someone who won't judge any of those emotions is incredibly healing. When you keep shoving feelings aside, they build and build until they come out in ways that are much harder to manage. That stress also has physical impacts — including on fertility. It's all deeply connected.
[TOPIC SHIFT: Headspace Going Into This Birth]
Jodie: What is your headspace going into this birth? Are you doing anything differently to prepare, mentally and emotionally?
Kelsey: Honestly, I feel like I haven't fully sunk into this pregnancy yet. With Freddy, I had the space to just be present — check my app every week, think about what fruit he was, nap when I wanted. This time, life is so full with a toddler that I almost have to be intentional about stopping and connecting with this baby.
My goal from here on out — knowing there are four months left — is to carve out five to ten minutes in the morning for meditation. To slow down and think about the changes I want to make, to my life, my business, my routines. Maybe invest in a birthing course again — not to relearn everything, but to have that dedicated space where I can enjoy being pregnant. Otherwise, these nine months will just fly by.
[TOPIC SHIFT: Prioritizing Freddy Through the Transition]
Jodie: A lot of parents going into their second child worry most about their relationship with their toddler. How are you planning to prioritize that relationship during the pregnancy and once the baby arrives?
Kelsey: Honestly? I have no idea. When I had Freddy, it was winter, we were snowed in, and it was just the two of us completely focused on our new little one. This time is going to look completely different. I can already sense it — the constant activities, kinder music, the bike park — and figuring out how all of that works with a newborn is something I'm just going to have to figure out in real time.
I hope to carve out that one-on-one time easily, but I also know there's probably going to be a "divide and conquer" mentality that kicks in, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that yet. I think it'll be a learning-in-real-time opportunity.
Jodie: That's a really healthy way to approach it. I always encourage parents going through this transition to do regular "temperature checks" — pausing to ask, is this guilt I'm feeling rooted in a genuine value misalignment, or am I setting unrealistic expectations for myself? That distinction is everything. And building self-compassion is the most important thing you can bring into postpartum.
Kelsey: Yes — and my values genuinely shift week to week. One week my core value might be health, because my energy is depleted and I can't show up for anyone. The next week it might be peace at home, so I outsource more and ask for more help. And when the baby arrives, maybe it's quiet family time — not saying yes to every activity, just bopping around together as a family. Asking yourself "what is this season asking of us?" is something I try to come back to constantly.
Jodie: That flexibility is so important. You can't do everything, and expecting yourself to do it all perfectly sets you up for guilt and shame that isn't deserved. You're doing your best through something you've never done before.
[TOPIC SHIFT: Biggest Worries — Then vs. Now]
Jodie: What was your biggest concern going into having Freddy, versus your biggest concern going into this birth?
Kelsey: With Freddy, it was 100% about how to prepare my business for mat leave. I had been building it for seven years and there wasn't a clear blueprint for how to do it. I spent so much energy worrying about perfecting the handoff. And ultimately, everything was fine. Clients were understanding, the world didn't end, and I was still available in small ways when genuinely needed.
Going into this mat leave, I still have that worry — "what if everything falls apart?" — but my mind has been put at ease by knowing it's okay to press pause. You can come back in six months or 12 months and start building again. And honestly, becoming a mom makes you a different, better version of yourself. That's a different kind of momentum.
This time, the bigger worry is the return to work with both a toddler and a baby. How that stretches my time and introduces more unpredictability. I am not great when I have to cancel on someone — that's genuinely my worst nightmare. So I think the fear is being stretched too thin. But I also know I have the tools. I'll take it day by day, check in with myself, and make sure I'm not jumping back too fast.
Jodie: And do you feel more willing this time to reach out for help or outsource?
Kelsey: Absolutely. With Freddy I thought I had to be superwoman. When he was about eight months old and I was ramping work back up, I realized I desperately needed to start outsourcing things I never thought I would — grocery delivery, online shopping instead of driving somewhere, asking for more help from my husband. Simple things. But that's when I learned: figure out where your time is best spent in this season and spend accordingly.
Jodie: I love that. And that's the permission a lot of moms need — including permission to shove the kids' clothes in the drawer unfolded.
Kelsey: Guilty! One hundred percent.
[TOPIC SHIFT: Postpartum Self-Care & Filling Your Cup]
Jodie: What were the biggest things that helped you stay connected to yourself during postpartum with Freddy, and what are you hoping to build in this time around?
Kelsey: The single most helpful thing was protecting the hobbies and rituals I had before kids — the ones that truly lit me up. I think the key is building those habits in before baby arrives, so they're already part of the rhythm. And then committing to maintaining some version of them even in postpartum.
For me, that was returning to movement. Fitness classes with other mamas. And every Thursday night: mountain bike club. I sat down with my husband and said, "Can Thursday nights be mine?" And even if I was too tired to ride, I'd go sit at Starbucks for an hour, drink a tea, and just be alone. That two-hour block once a week made an enormous difference.
When you're spending time away from your baby, make it count. Make it something that genuinely revives your spirit, your independence, your sense of self.
Jodie: And that conversation with your partner — making it non-negotiable from the start, not asking permission but planning together — that's huge.
Kelsey: Yes. Beyond that, the smaller daily rituals mattered just as much. Walking the dog, cooking a healthy meal, 10 minutes by the fire with a meditation in my earbuds. Driving to the coffee shop with Freddy and buying myself an espresso — for someone else that might sound small, but that is genuinely soul-fueling for me.
I think we all have a running list of five to ten micro-moments of joy that don't cost much, don't require travel, and just bring us back to wholeness. The goal is to know what's on that list before you're in the fog of postpartum — because in that fog, you can forget who you even were before.
Jodie: Write it down and put it somewhere visible. I work with moms who genuinely can't remember what they did for fun before having children. That pre-planning is everything.
Kelsey: Exactly. And now I'll be even more intentional about it with two.
Kelsey: Jodie, this has been so fun. Before we wrap up, can you tell everyone where they can find you?
Jodie: Absolutely! You can find me on Instagram at Root and Bloom Therapy Services, or at rootandbloomtherapy.ca. We offer individual and couples therapy with specialized training in perinatal mental health — all things pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood. And we're so excited to be launching a workshop at the end of June here in Brantford called "Surviving Life with a Toddler," in partnership with Grant Kids Therapy, an occupational therapist. It's going to be essential for anyone in the thick of the toddler years.
Kelsey: We are putting all of that in the show notes. Thank you so much, Jodie. You are incredible at what you do, and I'm so grateful our paths crossed.

406 Pregnancy Q&A: Miscarriage, Announcing at 20 Weeks, and Postpartum as an Entrepreneur with Jodie Muir of Root and Bloom Therapy