Better Relationships After Baby

Wondering how to choose a prenatal vitamin when every label—and every influencer—says something different? From folic acid versus methylfolate to iron, choline, and DHA, pregnancy preparation can quickly turn into another overwhelming research project. Chelsea Skaggs joins Zawwar Khan, founder of CareNatal, to unpack prenatal vitamin labels, supplement marketing, and the pressure to make the “perf...

Can you prevent postpartum depression? There is no checklist that can guarantee a new mom will or won’t experience postpartum depression, but there are evidence-based preventive interventions and protective factors couples can begin putting in place during pregnancy. In this episode, Chelsea talks about postpartum mental health through the lens of preparation, partnership, and support. Prompted by...

How should couples split newborn nights? (And does “sharing the nights” actually mean the same thing to both of you?) In this episode, Chelsea walks expecting couples through several ways to divide overnight newborn care , from split-night shifts and alternating wake-ups to feeder/support-partner roles and evening-and-morning coverage. More importantly, this isn’t about finding the perfect newborn...

Everyone is excited to meet the baby, but that does not mean your first days postpartum need to become a public baby reveal. In this episode, Chelsea talks about how expecting couples can decide when to welcome visitors, distinguish genuine support from added work, and communicate postpartum boundaries without blaming one another or turning one partner into the family “bad guy.” You’ll learn why e...

Do you really need a doula (and what do they actually do?) In this episode, Chelsea breaks down the practical, emotional, and relational role of a birth doula. You’ll learn how doulas support labor, what they do not do, how much they commonly cost, when payment is usually due, and when hiring one may be especially helpful. Chelsea also explains the deeper reason doulas can matter: birth was never...

What classes should first-time parents actually take before the baby arrives? In this episode, Chelsea breaks down the most common options, including hospital childbirth classes, Lamaze, HypnoBirthing, the Bradley Method, infant CPR, breastfeeding education, lactation support, and newborn-care classes. You’ll hear how to decide which classes are worth your time, what hospital-based classes may lea...

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, Who even am I anymore? A lot of women have and they tell me about it, which is why I hosted this free workshop and now I'm letting you in on it too. It's not because you don’t love being a mom, but because somewhere between the diapers, the planning, the emotional labor, and taking care of everyone else… pieces of you started to fade into the...

This one’s a little different. No outline. No formal teaching. Just a real coffee-chat between us about something that keeps coming up in our work with couples: Emotional safety. Find our current offerings including small groups, relationship prep for expecting couples + relationship support for current parents: postpartumtogether.com/current-offerings We talk about: – Why internal safety matters...

Every year after Christmas, the same conversation resurfaces: moms waking up to empty stockings and the internet rushing in with advice to leave, rage, or declare the relationship doomed. But what if the stocking isn’t the real issue? In this episode, we slow the moment down and talk honestly about why this seemingly small disappointment hits so hard for so many moms and what it actually reveals a...

Baby’s first Christmas can come with a lot more weight than most people talk about. The pressure to make memories. The logistics. The overstimulation. The quiet grief when it doesn’t look the way you imagined it would. In this episode, Chelsea and Mike talk honestly about what babies are actually learning during the holidays and why it has far less to do with gifts, photos, or traditions, and far...

The number one way to tank the holidays for your family isn’t burnt rolls, forgotten gifts, or a crooked tree. It’s walking into every room wound tight, resentful, and pretending your energy isn’t affecting anyone. In this episode, Chelsea and Mike break down what kids actually remember about the holidays (hint: not the matching pajamas) and why your nervous system becomes the emotional backdrop o...

ou made it to the final episode of our 10-day Holiday Mental Load Series, and that says something meaningful about who you are as a partner and a parent. You’ve shown up with intention, reflection, honesty, and a desire to make this season lighter for everyone in your home, including yourself. In today’s wrap-up, we look back on everything you’ve covered: • Home + hosting• Family logistics• Event...

Today we’re talking about something almost every new parent experiences during the holidays, but few couples actually prepare for: Mixed emotions. Because December isn’t just joy and magic. It’s overstimulation, nostalgia, grief, pressure, expectations, family dynamics, exhaustion, and the ache of wanting the holidays to feel a certain way… while navigating a very tender season of parenthood. And...

Today we’re breaking down one of the most powerful tools for reducing resentment, confusion, and emotional overload during the holidays: the Holiday Huddle. A Holiday Huddle is a simple 10-minute weekly check-in that helps couples stay aligned during December — before the stress, assumptions, and misunderstandings hit. Because most holiday conflicts aren’t about what happened . They’re about not t...

Today we’re digging into one of the biggest (underestimated) parts of the holiday mental load: G ift logistics and all the special extras that come with December. Because gifts aren’t just gifts. They’re:• Lists• Budgets• Shipping timelines• Teacher gifts• Stockings• Matching pajamas• “Who already bought what?”• “What’s developmentally appropriate?”• “Did we go overboard or not enough?” And most o...

Welcome to Day 6 of our 10-Day Holiday Mental Load Series for new and expecting parents. Today we’re digging into a part of the season that becomes shockingly heavy once you have a baby: holiday safety and travel prep. Because holiday travel is no longer “grab your bag and go.” It’s car seats, sleep setups, feeding supplies, backup outfits, weather checks, medicine bags, chargers, toys, kid snacks...

Today we’re talking about the part of the holiday mental load that almost no one prioritizes, but absolutely every new parent needs: your own capacity, needs, and sanity. Because when you’re navigating the holidays with a baby, even the “simple” things can feel overwhelming. Lights, noise, disrupted routines, pressure to be everywhere, overstimulation, emotional labor, family dynamics… it all comp...

Episode 4 of 10: Emotional Labor + Holiday Expectations (Holiday Mental Load Series) Today we’re talking about the invisible part of the holiday mental load that hits new and expecting parents the hardest: emotional labor and expectations. This is the stuff no one sees ,but absolutely everyone feels. Because when you’re the parent managing the vibe of the room, the tension between relatives, your...

Today we’re talking about the part of the holiday mental load that drains new parents faster than anything else: the nonstop event schedule and the endless seasonal to-do list. Because once you have a baby, every outing suddenly comes with extra logistics, emotional load, nap timing stress, overstimulation concerns, and a very real question: “Is this even worth it for our family right now?” In thi...

Today we’re unpacking the part of the holiday mental load that drains new parents faster than wrapping paper and sugar crashes: logistics and family coordination. Because once you become a parent, December is no longer just a month—it’s an entire operation. Travel planning, nap windows, meal timing, driving routes, RSVPs, “who’s hosting what,” and navigating multiple sides of the family… it adds u...

Welcome to the first episode of our 10-day Holiday Mental Load Series—created for new and expecting parents who are overwhelmed by the mental load of December. Today we’re breaking down the invisible work behind holiday home prep and hosting from the decorating, cleaning, planning, meal prep, to the emotional labor that usually falls on one partner. In this episode, we’ll cover: • Why home + hosti...

You love your baby. You love your partner. But the holidays hit, and suddenly you’re the one tracking gifts, outfits, nap schedules, travel plans, and everyone’s feelings… while your partner is getting praised for bringing one pie. In this episode, Chelsea and Mike break down the mental load of the holidays for new parents —especially moms who are carrying the invisible work of making everything “...

Modern parenthood wasn’t meant to be a solo project, yet so many new moms and dads are trying to figure it out in isolation. We scroll, read, and listen to every parenting podcast, but at the end of the day, it still feels lonely. The truth is, no amount of information can replace the transformation that happens in community. In this episode of the Better Relationships After Baby Podcast , Chelsea...

When a new baby arrives, the whole family’s nervous system changes. In this episode, we’re talking about what helps families thrive in the postpartum season, especially how dads and partners can become the steady, emotionally present anchor their home needs. We break down: What it means to be anchored, not stoic (emotional presence vs. emotional shutdown) Why nervous system regulation and co-regul...

We're pulling back the curtain. This is our real planning convo on how we align language, debate “steady vs. stoic,” and map the tools before we get into a weekly podcast episode. It’s messy, honest, and meant to bring you right in the room with us. This isn’t a polished episode; it’s the actual conversation we had to plan Tuesday’s show. We hash out what “steadiness” really means (not robotic...