Bonds after Baby: Rebuild your marriage, reduce postpartum resentment & guard maternal mental health

Why does sexual intimacy change for couples after kids? Even when we long to be close? In this episode, I explore the barriers to postpartum intimacy, sexual and emotional connection after kids, and what helps build back a healthy sexual relationships in early parenthood. A list of tips doesn't cut it when there are often deeper blocks or relationship dynamic blocks that need to be addressed first...

It's easy to feel insecure or confused about your sexual relationship after baby within yourself, and within the couple relationship. In this episode, I explore the biological and emotional realities of postpartum intimacy, sexual desire after baby, and the effects of sexual adjustments in early parenthood. I discuss how feeding, sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, parenting stress, emotional flo...

In this episode, we discuss how queer couples navigate emotional regulation, family dynamics, and relationship conflict after baby arrives. I'm thrilled to be joined by SC Nealy, LPC to discuss the challenges and points of resilience for LGBTQ couples in the transition to parenthood. We cover: the emotional experience of birth and non-birth partners/non-gestational partners facing societal expecta...

Preparing for baby is more than cribs, wallpaper, and diapers. Postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and marriage conflict can be significantly lessened if couples have awareness and realistic expectations on early parenthood. You shouldn't be blindsided in the transition to parenting and growing your family. Today I'm joined by Anastasia Voron, LMHC, to discuss what new parents should know b...

Division of labor is a hot potato for couples, especially new parents in survival mode. When every discussion turns to frustration- or when conversations get avoided, resentment in marriage, relationship burnout , and relationship conflict grows. Reducing stress around household chores can also help reduce postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression. In this episode, MJ Harford and I concrete tip...

How can you and your spouse stay connected in the return to work after maternity leave or parental leave? Adjusting to the transition and re-navigating division of labor can bring significant tension. So how do you get emotional support and stay in each other’s corner when the mental load and invisible load is high, there are identity shifts happening, and you’re both still adjusting to marriage a...

E arly parenthood rocks relationships and can make it feel like you and your spouse are on opposing teams. Many people think postpartum struggles should be treated individually- But real, long-lasting relief comes from getting marriage support.  During a big family transition , exhaustion builds fast. You might even start keeping score without noticing. Over time, that can lead to resentment and e...

How can you and your spouse move beyond solo self regulation to build a parenting partnership where you offer each other lifelines- even when family stress feels overwhelming?  You can both choose verbal reassurance , soft eyes and emotional safety, instead of choosing defensiveness or withdrawal. In this episode, I will walk you through how to help your partner return to a green zone by using co-...

Have you noticed how a simple request at home can quickly turn into tension or defensiveness? When you are carrying invisible labor and going through identity shifts in early parenthood, your system can feel overwhelmed. Emotional dysregulation can take over, and a small conversation can start to feel unsafe. This is common for new parents , especially with new parent anxiety and constant demands....

Are you finding yourself walking on eggshells when asking for help at home? Do simple requests turn into tension or defensiveness? For many couples, conversations about division of labor quickly stop being about chores and start feeling personal. This often intensifies for new parents. When both partners are stretched thin, even small requests can trigger bigger reactions. This is especially true...

Does your home sometimes feel tense and quiet after a disagreement, as if the silence has taken over the room? For many couples, the silent treatment appears when emotions run high and speaking up feels risky. What looks like distance on the surface often reflects deeper relationship conflict that feels overwhelming to face in the moment. This tension can feel especially strong during early parent...

Why can a family visit sometimes leave you feeling tense as a new parent? Maybe someone comments on how you care for your baby, or your communication preference gets brushed aside when you need emotional support.  When you are already exhausted, moments like that can feel heavier than they should, especially when your emotional needs are not being seen. Many parents find themselves navigating fami...

Why does asking for help feel so hard as a new parent? You may feel overwhelmed but still hesitate to reach out because past family patterns taught you to keep your emotional needs quiet, or earlier attempts did not bring the emotional support you hoped for. When needs are shared with care, couples can build trust and begin repairing trust. These moments of openness help strengthen bonds and creat...

Have you ever felt like a simmering pot, when the smallest thing is enough to make you boil over? That experience often called mom rage can feel confusing and heavy. You love your family deeply, yet you find yourself reacting in ways that surprise you. Then the guilt sets in, and the shame cycle begins. So many moms think it is a personal flaw, but it is not. This is about your family system, your...

Does it ever feel like you and your partner are just passing ships in the night, trading a baby for a cup of coffee and a few hours of sleep? Do you find yourself wondering if this heavy parenting stress is just your new normal? When you are in the thick of survival mode, that deep emotional connection you used to have can feel like a lifetime ago.  In this episode, I am sharing a simple shift tha...

Are you sitting in the same room as your partner while feeling like you are on two different islands? Feeling unseen while you handle the invisible labor of motherhood is a signal that you need more attunement. Distance is often a result of a culture that makes new parents feel isolated. While postpartum recovery is often viewed as a physical process, the actual challenge is navigating shifting fa...

Does it seem like you are handling motherhood well, looking calm on the outside, while inside you are on high alert, replaying worries, and carrying tension you cannot switch off? Many assume this is just part of being a new mom, but it can be a sign of postpartum anxiety and a cue that your emotional health needs support, especially when the mental load never ends. When your body gets stuck in hi...

Have you ever sat wide awake at 2:00 AM feeling a seething rage while your partner sleeps peacefully and you are still waiting for a chance to shower? This heavy sense of postpartum resentment is a sign that you are carrying the mental load and emotional labor entirely on your own. It is common to feel like an exhausted mama when the invisible load of the household leaves you feeling alone in thes...

Pregnancy anxiety and postpartum anxiety isn't getting any easier with the current political climate. Maternal mental health is affected by external stressors and the kind of relationship support we receive through the stress. You're inundated by disturbing and unsettling information and images daily- and you care, AND you also need to be OK for yourself and your kids. In this episode, I'm going t...

It's Maternal Health Day, and I want women to receive the concrete information that is missing from the conversation ( & partners/family members/friends who are helping Moms ) as they go through fertility treatments, pregnancy, and postpartum recovery. Moms deserve pregnancy support and postpartum support. Unfortunately, experts aren't discussing one of the biggest protective factors for women...

Family cut-offs are getting more common these days. There's often strong opinions on either side- either it's awful or it's totally justified. Truth is, the reality is more complicated. Oprah's podcast had a discussion about adult parent-child estrangement, and I want to share what I think was missing from a generally helpful discussion. In this episode I'll: give my reaction to the podcast as an...

In this episode, I'm offering 3 concrete co-parenting tips walking into the New Year. This is, however, an Anti-New Years- New Years post! Let's challenge the idea that we need to be different- but rather that we need to connect more with the strengths we already have inside. Instead of focusing on what we lack or striving for perfection, the episode emphasizes recognizing and building on existing...

This holiday episode is not a guide for gifts or juggling holiday plans- it gets to the core of what truly brings the joy of the season- inner peace and connection. Working with hundreds of couples and parents, I consistently see a tendency to avoid tough feelings in an effort to escape reality and curate an idealized version of the season. The thing is, this usually makes people and relationships...

Couples face many challenges in pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. Marriage after baby is no joke. I bet you are familiar! After working with hundreds of parents, I've noted that a Simple Mind Shift can make all the difference for couples navigating conflict. When couples make the shift into realizing conflict is an opportunity for Meaning Making, relationships deepen and everyone feels...

Experienced Doulas get a keen window into the experiences, struggles, and triumphs that Moms, Partners, and Couples go through in the transition from pregnancy to birth and postpartum. In the 4th episode of my Birth Trauma Series, I'm thrilled to welcome Hehe Stuart , owner of Tranquility by Hehe - a maternity concierge service supporting Moms and Couples in their birthing and postpartum journey....