Chaos with Karen and Ciara

Chaos With Karen & Ciara
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Chaos with Karen and Ciara is a fun, honest podcast from two mums of four navigating the madness of family life. Karen, a paediatric nurse and baby expert, and Ciara, a midwife and feeding specialist, blend real-life stories with practical advice. Expect relatable chats, expert tips, laughs, and zero judgement — because even with the knowledge, parenting is still chaos.

  1. 3d ago

    S3 E6 Skincare Through Motherhood: What Actually Works? With Dr Emma Fanning

    This week we are joined by medical doctor and dermatologist Dr Emma Fanning for a brilliant conversation about all things skincare — from pregnancy and postpartum right through to perimenopause and beyond! Our skin goes through so many changes throughout our lives, but with endless products, complicated routines and conflicting advice online, how do we know what we actually need? Dr Emma helps us cut through the noise, bust some common skincare myths and understand which products and ingredients are worth considering at different stages of life. We chat about: ✨ Skincare during pregnancy and breastfeeding — what to use and what to avoid ✨ Postpartum skin changes and managing hormonal breakouts ✨ Perimenopause, ageing skin and how our skincare needs change ✨ Quick, realistic skincare routines for busy mums ✨ The pros and cons of popular skincare products and ingredients ✨ Caring for C-section scars and stretch marks ✨ Teenage skincare and when young people should start using skincare products ✨ The best skincare approach for different ages and stages of life Whether you're pregnant, newly postpartum, navigating perimenopause or simply wondering if your skincare products are actually doing anything, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you make informed choices. No complicated 10-step routines, no pressure to look a certain way — just an informative, down-to-earth conversation about looking after your skin through every stage of motherhood. 🎙️ **Skincare Through Motherhood: What Actually Works? With Dr Emma Fanning** As always, plenty of laughs, honest conversations and the usual chaos! You can find Emma at her clinic Le Formulaire in Dublin 2 and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/le.formulaire?obrf=ZXJ2bnYwcmgybmll We also mentioned resources for safe medication when breastfeeding https://www.e-lactancia.org/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/ https://infantrisk.com/

  2. Oct 22

    S3 EP5 Is This Normal? Baby Milestones, Weight Gain & When to Worry with Dr Sean Armstrong

    This week on Chaos with Karen and Ciara, we're joined by neonatologist and paediatrician Dr Sean Armstrong for a really informative and reassuring conversation about baby development, weight gain and what is actually normal. As parents, it's so easy to worry about whether our babies are reaching their milestones, gaining enough weight or developing at the same pace as other babies. But how much variation is normal, and when should we be concerned? We chat to Dr Armstrong about developmental milestones, understanding growth charts and centiles, weight faltering, and the different reasons babies might not gain weight as expected. We also discuss when parents can feel reassured, when further assessment might be needed, and how to navigate concerns about a baby's growth without unnecessary panic or pressure. This episode covers:

  3. Oct 8

    S3 E4 Years of Pain, Finally a Diagnosis: Michelle’s Endometriosis Story

    This week on Chaos with Karen and Ciara, we’re joined by someone very special — Karen’s sister, Michelle — who shares her deeply personal journey with endometriosis, fertility and finally getting the answers she had been searching for. Michelle experienced incredibly painful and heavy periods from just 11 years of age. For years, she lived with symptoms without knowing why, until her journey to start a family in her 30s eventually led to an endometriosis diagnosis. She talks openly about what it was like to spend so many years in pain without a diagnosis, the frustration of not feeling heard, and the emotions that came with finally having an explanation for what she had been experiencing for so long. We also hear about Michelle’s fertility journey, the impact endometriosis has had on her life, and what it means to continue navigating life with a chronic condition. It’s a raw, warm and incredibly important conversation about women’s health, fertility, advocating for yourself and the importance of listening when women say something isn’t right. For anyone living with endometriosis, struggling to get answers about their health, going through fertility challenges — or supporting someone who is — this is an episode not to be missed.

  4. Oct 1

    S3 EP2 Dry Robes, Breastfeeding & Keyboard Warriors

    This week on Chaos with Karen and Ciara, it's just the two of us catching up on everything from dry robes and WhatsApp groups to Ed Sheeran, breastfeeding in public and the wonderful (and sometimes not-so-wonderful) world of social media! We get into a conversation about influencers criticising breastfeeding in public, the pressure to have an opinion online, and whether it's ever worth getting involved in the comments section. We also open up about the other side of putting yourself out there — online trolling, confrontation, and the very real anxiety that can come with reading negative comments about yourself. And of course, there's plenty of the usual chaos that comes with being two working mums with eight children between us!

  5. Sep 24

    From NICU to Newborns with Neonatologist & Paediatrician Dr. Seàn Armstrong

    This week on Chaos with Karen & Ciara, we’re joined by Neonatologist and Paediatrician Dr Seán Armstrong 🎙️ We chat about life as a neonatologist and some of the more difficult parts of the job, including when a baby needs to go to NICU and the impact that separation can have on mum, baby and the whole family. We also get into some of the most common worries in those early months. What actually is CMPA? What’s the difference between reflux and colic? When should you be concerned and when is it just part of figuring out your new baby? And as a dad himself, Seán shares some lovely advice for dads navigating those newborn days too. There is SO much information thrown at parents now. This episode isn’t here to add to the overwhelm. It’s about giving you clear, reassuring information and helping you feel a little more supported along the way. ❤️ Listen in to this week’s Chaos with Karen & Ciara 🎧

  6. Sep 17

    We are back....and the chaos continues!

    We’re back for Season 3 and, unsurprisingly, the chaos continues! 😂 After a summer break, Karen & Ciara have a LOT to catch up on. In this episode, we chat about what we’ve been up to over the summer, the reality of returning to work, and somehow find ourselves covering everything from women in sport and the GAA to Sydney Sweeney and Oprah… and plenty more in between. Expect the usual honest chats, strong opinions, laughs, tangents and absolutely no guarantee we’ll stay on topic. 😂 Grab a cuppa, stick in the headphones and catch up with us. Season 3… here we go! 🎧❤️ Chaos with Karen & Ciara New episodes every Thursday.

  7. Jul 16

    S2 EP 6 Style, Confidence and Motherhood with Justine King

    This week on Chaos with Karen and Ciara, we're joined by fashion stylist and mum of two, Justine King, for a warm and inspiring conversation about motherhood, confidence and rediscovering your personal style. We chat about dressing through pregnancy, finding clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident postpartum, and why taking a little time for yourself can have such a positive impact on how you feel. Justine also shares her own motherhood journey, including her experience of home birth, raising two boys, and balancing family life with running her own business. In this episode we discuss: • Finding your style during pregnancy • Dressing your postpartum body with confidence • Why what you wear can influence how you feel • Home birth and Justine's birth experiences • Motherhood, identity and self-confidence • Building a wardrobe that works for real life You can find Justine on Instagram @justinekingxx https://www.instagram.com/justinekingxx?igsh=bHBqcnZpcXcwdXFn This is an honest, uplifting conversation about embracing the different seasons of motherhood, letting go of perfection, and remembering that looking after yourself isn't about vanity—it's about feeling like you again. As always, no judgement, just honesty.

  8. Jul 9

    S2 EP5 Choking or Gagging? Parenting Fails, Sibling Rivalry.

    This week on Chaos with Karen and Ciara, we're answering some of the questions parents ask us most often. Karen shares practical, evidence-based advice on: • The difference between gagging and choking • When a fever is a cause for concern • When to manage your baby's illness at home and when it's time to seek medical attention Alongside your parenting questions, we're also chatting about the lighter side of family life—our own parenting fails, the reality of sibling rivalry, and the moments that remind us none of us have it all figured out. Whether you're looking for reassurance about your baby's health or simply want to laugh along with the chaos of raising children, this episode has a bit of everything. As always, no judgement—just honesty.

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About

Chaos with Karen and Ciara is a fun, honest podcast from two mums of four navigating the madness of family life. Karen, a paediatric nurse and baby expert, and Ciara, a midwife and feeding specialist, blend real-life stories with practical advice. Expect relatable chats, expert tips, laughs, and zero judgement — because even with the knowledge, parenting is still chaos.

Information

  • Creator
    Chaos With Karen & Ciara
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Chaos With Karen & Ciara
  • Show Website
    Chaos with Karen and Ciara

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