Chaos with Karen and Ciara

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 lifeWhether 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=ZXJ2bnYwcmgybmllWe also mentioned resources for safe medication when breastfeeding https://www.e-lactancia.org/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/https://infantrisk.com/

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:

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.

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!

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 🎧