When you’re a new mom, there are a lot of things you need: sleep (a lot more of it!), a hearty meal to fuel you for all that physical labour, and a hot shower. Just one rung higher on the hierarchy of needs: someone to talk to (who really really gets what you’re going through) and probably a bra for whatever new and strange shape your boobs are in.

At The Fourth, a maternity and nursing shop and community in Edmonton, you can get both. Iris’s vision for The Fourth was born from her own personal experience in pregnancy and postpartum—after feeling a lost sense of identity when wearing maternity clothes that weren’t her style and later feeling isolated and not knowing where to look for community when she needed it with a newborn. Today, we’re talking about The Fourth, Iris’s journey to build it, and how she’s supporting moms through all the stages of pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.

(Kasandra’s note: Jenna and I joined many a moms’ group through The Fourth on our mat leave and can personally attest to what an incredible community resource Iris has created!)

In this episode, we talk about:

• Iris’s postpartum journey and how that brought her to open a retail space and community
• Baby doesn’t need a new onesie - you need a new bra!
• The initial vision for The Fourth, and how that’s transformed over the last 4 years
• How The Fourth supports moms beyond moms’ group in building community
• Iris’s tips for creating a baby registry that cares for you, too (yes, you can do this!)
• Some encouragement for moms out there who might be feeling isolated or scared to come into a big group
• What’s next for Iris and The Fourth?

In this episode, we reference:

• The Fourth's website
• The Fourth's instagram

And P.S., here’s a Black Friday nudge to shop local—The Fourth has a 15% off everything sale today!