Today we’d like to introduce you to Shir Barton.
Hi Shir, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in San Diego and then ventured up the coast to attend UC Santa Barbara, where I earned my degree in Psychology. After college, I moved to Los Angeles and began my career at an investment firm, spending nearly a decade there in several roles spanning administration, business analysis, operations, and project management. Eventually, I settled in Orange County with my husband, and in February 2023, we welcomed our son, Jonah.
Becoming a mother brought an unexpected and profound identity shift for me. I had always been very career-driven, but once I became pregnant, my priorities shifted almost overnight from being solely career-focused to wondering what I could do that would still allow me to be the present and involved mom I wanted to be. After Jonah was born, I felt a strong pull to stay home with him so I did a complete 180 from full-time working professional to full-time stay-at-home mom. While I feel incredibly fortunate that I was able to be home with him for the first 18 months of his life, it was also the most challenging period of my life. I had a traumatic birth experience followed by a difficult year battling postpartum anxiety.
Before having my son, I truly thought I had motherhood all figured out. I have many nieces and nephews and therefore felt prepared, but once Jonah arrived, I was completely overwhelmed. I felt isolated, uncertain, and lost. That’s when several neighbors and friends told me about New Mom School, which had already been operating in Newport Beach since 2012. I was hesitant at first as I was feeling so overwhelmed that it was often a challenge for me to merely leave the house. However, with my husband’s encouragement, I decided to attend and give it a chance. I started with the Newborn class when my son was just six weeks old, and it truly became a lifeline. The community of moms, all with babies the same age, made me feel seen and understood, and the education I received from all of the visiting experts that came to speak with us each week was eye-opening. I had never even heard of a pelvic floor therapist before, and I learned that so many of the symptoms I was experiencing weren’t “just part of motherhood” like I thought. The pediatric sleep coach, the occupational therapist, and all the other specialists gave me tools and knowledge that completely changed how I navigated early motherhood. I then went on to take the Infant class and again found community, connection, and invaluable guidance.
Shortly after completing the series, I got an email that New Mom School was franchising. My immediate reaction was: “This is my dream.” It felt like the perfect combination of my personal experience, my new passion for postpartum education, and my professional background in business operations. However, at the time Jonah was only 5 months old and we were still living in Orange County, navigating the early stages of motherhood. A few months later, my husband and I decided to move back to my hometown of San Diego to be closer to my family.
As we began preparing for Jonah to start preschool, we started thinking about what going back to work might look like for me. The idea of opening a New Mom School had never left my mind so I submitted an inquiry and began the discovery process. I was initially so excited but soon became worried that I might lose the opportunity after finding out that there were other prospects also looking to open locations in North County San Diego. I was devastated and assumed I had missed my chance, but then the corporate team called to let me know they wanted to move forward with me. It was a moment of total clarity and excitement, and I knew that opening a New Mom School was exactly what I was meant to do.
I signed the franchise agreement in August 2024, and we officially opened our doors in April 2025. It has been the most beautiful full-circle experience going from a mom who desperately needed community to now being able to create that space for others. It is truly one of the greatest honors of my life to support new moms and help them find the connection, education, and confidence they deserve on their postpartum journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road! The early postpartum period was one of the most challenging times of my life. As I mentioned before, I had a traumatic birth experience and battled postpartum anxiety, which made even the simplest tasks like leaving the house feel overwhelming. I was mentally and physically depleted. Functioning day to day felt like a struggle, and thinking about the future felt completely out of reach.
Finding New Mom School was a turning point. Attending the classes gave me exactly what I needed: support, education, and a sense of community. I no longer felt so alone and I began to feel more confident. I finally understood that I wasn’t failing, I was simply in the thick of something incredibly hard. This entire experience planted the seed for what would eventually become this business.
Now, I find myself on the other side. Still a mom and still navigating the chaos, but also running a business that comes with a whole new set of challenges. As a first-time business owner, the learning curve has been steep. From finding the right location for the studio to overseeing renovations, hiring staff, managing finances, learning a brand-new registration system, and planning a grand opening event from scratch. I was figuring it all out as I went, often with my toddler in tow, and there were many moments when I felt completely in over my head.
Taking care of myself has also been an ongoing struggle. Balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship means there’s always something demanding my attention, and it’s all too easy to put my own needs last. Staying healthy, active, and mentally well while managing both roles is one of the hardest parts of the journey.
Even now, the road is messy. I have days where I question everything and feel like I’m doing it all wrong. But I keep going, not because it’s easy, but because I know how deeply New Mom School is needed. I remind myself daily that I’m building something that truly matters, not just to me, but to the moms who walk through our doors feeling the same way I once did: overwhelmed, uncertain, and in need of support.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about New Mom School Encinitas?
New Mom School is a postnatal education and community support program dedicated to fundamentally changing the way new moms are cared for. Our expert-led classes help moms navigate the challenges of early motherhood while building community and confidence.
We offer in-person classes that provide both expert guidance and a community with other moms in the same stage of motherhood. At a time when so many programs have shifted to digital platforms, we’re proud to offer a welcoming space where moms and babies gather face-to-face to learn, grow, and connect.
We offer four core class series:
-Newborn Class for First-Time Moms (0–3 months): A safe, supportive space for new moms to navigate the fourth trimester alongside other women with babies born the same month.
-Newborn Class for Second-Time Moms (0–3 months): Tailored support for moms balancing life with a new baby and an older child, in a space just for mom and the new baby.
-Infant Class (3–6 months): A natural next step focused on developmental milestones, maternal identity, sleep, feeding, and more. This class is open to both first and second (or third and beyond!) time moms.
-Rising Toddler Class (6–12 months): A blend of play-based learning and expert-led discussions for all of our moms and their increasingly curious and mobile babies.
Expecting moms can pre-register for our Newborn classes, offering a risk-free way to secure their spot as classes tend to fill quickly. We provide a full refund if cancellations are made at least five days before the start date.
Additionally, we host a free weekly Breastfeeding Support Group every Thursday at 10:30 AM, open to the entire community and facilitated by our in-house International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
Our program is unique in three main ways:
1) Our Newborn classes are organized by the babies’ birth dates so that all babies in class are born in the same month. Ensuring that all participants are navigating the same developmental stage creates a uniquely supportive environment where moms can benefit from the most empathetic, understanding people as possible: other moms going through exactly the same thing. A 5-week-old and a 5-month-old have vastly different needs and we believe moms deserve support tailored to their unique season.
2) We offer a mom-centric approach with topics carefully chosen to help fill the gap of postpartum care, empowering women to feel knowledgeable and confident during this transitional period. Our curriculum covers postpartum healing and pelvic floor health, attachment and bonding, identity shifts, relationship changes, postpartum anxiety and worry, and navigating work-life choices, among others.
3) Throughout each series, professionals visit our classes to share their expertise on a wide range of essential postpartum topics. These sessions give moms direct access to certified specialists they may not have otherwise encountered. These experts can make a meaningful impact during the transition to motherhood, and the opportunity for personalized questions and in-depth discussion adds incredible value. Accessing this level of expertise individually would often come at a much higher cost, and by bringing these professionals directly to our community, we ensure that every mom has the support and guidance she deserves, making the journey into motherhood less overwhelming and more empowering.
We’re proud to be a trusted name in postpartum care, known for creating a safe, empowering space where moms can show up exactly as they are. Our commitment to offering research-based information and supporting maternal mental health sets us apart and builds a community moms return to again and again.
New Mom School is more than a class – it’s a lifeline. We offer real, tangible support through the most transformative season of a woman’s life.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First and foremost, my husband has been my biggest champion. From the moment I shared this idea with him, he has supported me every step of the way. From the early planning and prepping of the studio to the late nights organizing class schedules and everything in between, his encouragement has given me the confidence to pursue something I feel deeply passionate about.
I’m grateful to the New Mom School corporate team for providing support and guidance throughout the process of bringing this vision to life. I’m especially thankful to them not only for creating such a meaningful and impactful concept in the first place, but also for trusting and empowering me to bring it to life in my own community. It’s a huge honor for me to be part of this mission!
I also can’t say enough thank you’s to the other New Mom School franchisees! These inspiring women launching their own locations across the country have been an essential part in my journey. We’ve leaned on each other, shared resources, brainstormed ideas, and celebrated wins together. Being part of this network, a community of women united in supporting and uplifting new moms everywhere, is truly powerful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://newmomschool.com/encinitas-ca
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newmomschool_encinitas/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/new-mom-school-encinitas-encinitas-2
Image Credits
Grand Opening Photos by Renata Terra Lutz
