Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karissa Whitman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Karissa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Becoming a mother is life-changing in ways you can never fully prepare for. I knew motherhood would bring joy, challenges, and a whole new identity shift, but I didn’t expect to feel like a part of me was missing—like I had lost the creative, driven version of myself. I loved being a mom, but I also had this deep, constant feeling that I needed something more—a way to pour into myself beyond the day-to-day of raising little ones. Coming from a background in Emergency Veterinary Medicine, I really missed the challenges working in an ER setting brought, but I knew I didn’t want to go back to that while raising a family.

Eventually, I started a blog, Mom After Baby, with no real background in blogging or content creation. I had no roadmap, no promise of success—just a passion for sharing what I was learning in motherhood and a gut feeling that other moms needed a space like this, too. It wasn’t an easy decision. Putting myself out there, investing time — hello late nights after the kids went to sleep (and honestly, a lot of trial and error) into something with no guarantee of success was terrifying. But I kept going.

Slowly, that blog grew. It became more than just a creative outlet—it became a space for supporting and educating other moms. That growth led to starting a social media page, where I connected with an even bigger community. Then came brand partnerships—something I never could have imagined when I first started writing blog posts from my kitchen table during naptime. And today? This risk I took on myself has grown into a business that helps provide a little extra for my family.

But here’s the thing—none of this would have happened if I let fear hold me back. And that’s what I want other moms to know: taking a risk on yourself is always worth it. Even if you fail, even if it takes longer than you hoped, even if the path looks different than you expected—there is something incredibly powerful about stepping into what excites you, what challenges you, and what helps you grow.

So if you’re sitting on an idea, a passion, a dream—take the risk. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have it all figured out. But you do have to believe that you are worth betting on. Because you are.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m Karissa! I’m a mom of two from Southern California, a content creator, and the founder of Mom After Baby, a space where I share the full picture of motherhood—the humorous, the challenging, and the precious moments that make up this wild ride.
My journey into content creation started in a way I never expected. After becoming a mom, I found myself struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety. On top of that, I had this deep feeling that I was missing something more—something that allowed me to reconnect with me outside of motherhood. I started my blog as both an outlet and a way to connect with other moms who might be feeling the same way. I wanted to find my community—my people—and create a space where we could be real about the highs and lows of motherhood.
One of my core values has always been transparency. When I first started exploring motherhood content online, I felt overwhelmed by the picture-perfect version of motherhood that so many people seemed to portray. But my experience? It was messy, exhausting, beautiful, and hard. I wanted to make sure that whenever I shared online, I wasn’t just showing the highlight reel—I was also sharing the raw, relatable moments that make motherhood real.

While content creation is now a big part of what I do, my professional background is actually in veterinary medicine. I worked as an ER/ICU vet tech for over five years in a prestigious specialty and emergency hospital. I absolutely loved what I did, and while I do miss it some days, I’ve found ways to stay involved in small ways while prioritizing being a mom and growing my brand.
Another big part of my life is being a firefighter wife. My husband is a firefighter medic, which brings its own set of unique challenges to family life—long shifts, unpredictable schedules, and sometimes feeling like I’m in a solo-parenting season more often than not. But that also allows me to connect deeply with so many moms in similar situations—those who are balancing motherhood with little support, those who feel like they’re carrying the weight of it all, and those who just need someone to say, I see you, and I get it.

Through Mom After Baby, I create content that helps moms feel supported, educated, and seen. From postpartum recovery to toddler meltdowns, from juggling mom life with personal identity to sharing products that make life easier, my goal is to help other moms navigate this journey with more confidence and less guilt. I’ve also had the opportunity to partner with brands I truly love—sharing products that I personally use in my home and with my family, making it easier for other moms to find things that actually work for them.

What am I most proud of? The incredible community that has formed around Mom After Baby. Seeing moms come together, support each other, and feel less alone because of something I’ve shared—that is everything to me.

If there’s one thing I want people to take away from my platform, it’s this: You’re not alone in this motherhood journey. You don’t have to have it all together. And if you ever need a reminder that you’re doing a damn good job—even on the hard days—I’m here to tell you that you are.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the connection it allows me to build with other moms. When I first started Mom After Baby, it was simply an outlet—something just for me. But over time, I realized that my words, my experiences, and even my struggles were resonating with other moms who felt the same way.

There is nothing more fulfilling than getting a message from a mom saying, “I thought I was the only one who felt this way, but your post made me feel seen.” Or when someone tells me that something I shared—whether it’s a personal story, a piece of advice, or even a product recommendation—made their motherhood journey just a little bit easier.

In fact, I’ve had a few moms even share with me how reading my blog inspired them to start their own! I think there is so much power in who we connect with and allow ourselves to lean into that inspiration. So yeah, I’d say all of the above is a reward I never anticipated experiencing and am incredibly grateful for.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When I first started on social media, I had no strategy, no big vision—I was just a mom who needed an outlet. I had gone through postpartum depression and anxiety, and I felt like there weren’t many people talking about the real side of motherhood.
So that really led the way I focused on building my audience: through honesty. Through saying the things so many moms were thinking but didn’t always feel comfortable admitting out loud. I never worried about being “perfect” online—I just wanted to be real. I talked about postpartum struggles, solo parenting while my firefighter husband worked long shifts, the chaos of raising toddlers, and the hilarious, unfiltered moments that come with being a mom.
But the biggest thing that grew my community? Actually engaging with my audience. I never treated social media or my blog like a one-way street. When moms commented on my posts, I responded. When they messaged me, I messaged back. I took the time to connect because, at the end of the day, my platform isn’t about me—it’s about us. It’s about creating a space where moms feel seen, understood, and supported.
Lastly, being mindful about bringing value to my readers — whether you’re reading an article from me about what to pack in your hospital bag, or how to set up a fun Easter sensory activity — I always try to make sure my content adds value to someone’s day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.momafterbaby.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mom.afterbaby
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momafterbaby
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karissa-whitman/
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/momafterbaby

Image Credits

Erinn Mae @ https://www.instagram.com/erinnmaephotography

Myself @ Karissa Whitman | www.momafetrbaby.com