Feeling overwhelmed but nervous to ask your partner for more help? You’re not the only one. Many of us worry that asking for support will be taken as nagging—or that it somehow cancels out our appreciation.

In this episode, Chelsea breaks down how gratitude and asking for help can coexist—and why they must in a healthy relationship. You'll learn why appreciation actually boosts follow-through (yes, it’s backed by research) and how to communicate your needs without resentment or tension.

What you’ll learn:

• A step-by-step framework for asking for help clearly and kindly

• The science behind why appreciation increases cooperation

• Word-for-word phrases to help keep conversations productive

• Tools to navigate defensiveness or pushback from your partner

You don’t have to keep carrying more than your share. This episode will give you the tools to speak up and strengthen your connection at the same time.

💬 Want to feel more confident in these conversations?
Grab my FREE Communication Scripts designed to help you ask for what you need—without guilt or shutdowns:
👉 www.postpartumtogether.com/communication-scripts

Let’s keep the convo going! DM me on Instagram @chelseabrookeskaggs and share your biggest takeaway.
Interested in coaching? Email me at [email protected] to explore what support could look like for you.

Feeling like you carry the mental and emotional weight of your home while your partner coasts? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to keep doing it all.

In this episode, Chelsea is joined by Sandi Konta, certified Fair Play facilitator and founder of Done Being Good, to explore how couples can create more equity at home. Together, they break down the ways women often become unintentionally complicit in imbalance—and how the Fair Play method helps reset expectations, roles, and communication without nagging or scorekeeping.

You’ll learn:

• Why stepping back is often the first step to your partner stepping up

• How to shift household dynamics without resentment

• Tools for redistributing the mental load with clarity and compassion

• Small but powerful changes that lead to more connection and partnership

Whether you're parenting, partnering, or just plain tired of doing it all—this conversation will help you move from overload to shared ownership.

🎁 Want help navigating these convos at home?
Download Chelsea’s free Communication Scripts to get the words for those hard-but-important talks:
👉 www.postpartumtogether.com/communication-scripts

🎧 Grab Sandi’s Free Fair Play Workshop:
👉 donebeinggood.com/fairplay

📲 Follow Sandi on Instagram: @donebeinggood

Does it feel like you and your partner are just running the house and raising kids… but missing the connection you once had? You’re not broken—this “roommate phase” is incredibly common after baby. But you don’t have to stay stuck there.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

• Why so many couples shift into logistics mode

• What causes the distance (and how to name it without blame)

• Simple ways to bring back curiosity, play, and real connection

• How to create small, intentional moments that help you feel like partners again

You deserve more than tag-teaming diapers and dishes. Let’s rebuild the relationship you want—without needing a week away or fancy plans.

✨ Grab the free 50 At-Home Date Ideas download and start reconnecting today:
www.postpartumtogether.com/at-home-date-download

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe and share this with someone else who’s craving more than just “co-parenting.” 💛

This isn’t just another episode—it’s a heart-to-heart invitation. 💛

Becoming a mom shifts everything: your routines, your relationships, your identity. It’s no wonder so many women say, “I don’t feel like me anymore.” If you’re feeling stretched thin, lost in the shuffle, or just not as confident as you once were, this space is for you.

I'm inviting you to The Confident Mom Reset—a small, intimate group coaching experience for new and seasoned moms alike. Together, we’ll explore how to:

• Rebuild your confidence in who you are

• Set boundaries without guilt

• Redefine balance for this season

• Speak up for your needs in motherhood and partnership

This is your chance to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and be surrounded by women who get it. 🌿

✨ Want a free resource while you consider joining? Download the 3 Days to Better Communication audio series—because confidence and communication go hand in hand:
www.postpartumtogether.com/audio-series

🎧 Tune in for all the details, and if this speaks to you, let’s talk. Email me at [email protected] or send me a DM on ⁠Instagram⁠. Spots are limited and your reset starts here. ✨

Mom rage is real—and you're not the only one feeling it. 😔
If you've ever slammed a cabinet, yelled louder than you meant to, or felt so overwhelmed it scared you, this episode is for you.

In this honest conversation, we're unpacking what mom rage really is, where it comes from, and why it deserves so much more compassion and understanding. Mom rage isn't about being a bad mom. It's often about untreated exhaustion, unmet needs, unprocessed grief, and invisible emotional labor. You’re not failing—you’re under-supported.

I’m sharing my personal experience with mom rage—how it caught me off guard, the shame spiral that followed, and what I’ve learned about managing these big feelings with more grace (and fewer outbursts). Let's bring this out of the shadows and give it language, tools, and space.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• What mom rage actually is (and what it’s not)

• How fear, grief, and sadness often wear the mask of anger

• Why your unmet needs are valid and important

• The connection between rage and the mental load of motherhood

• How to start releasing guilt and finding real support

You’re not broken—you’re overwhelmed, overstimulated, and carrying more than one human should. Let’s talk about it and start to shift the cycle.

💬 Want a practical tool to communicate what you need before the boiling point? Grab my free Communication Scripts to handle hard conversations with more clarity and less blow-up:
www.postpartumtogether.com/communication-scripts

✨ When you're ready to go deeper, coaching is here to help you move through these big life shifts with more ease and emotional support. ⁠Schedule your free meet-and-greet here⁠:
https://www.calendly.com/chelseaskaggs/coaching-exploration

rying to conceive can feel like a rollercoaster—filled with hope, pressure, and so many emotions. 🌀
And while everyone talks about ovulation trackers and timing, few talk about the relationship strain TTC can cause.

In this episode, I’m joined by Erin McCaffrey Crespo, a fertility expert and doula, for a raw and supportive convo about how to stay emotionally and physically connected with your partner when trying to conceive starts to feel more like a job than a joy.

Together, we unpack:

• How to maintain real intimacy when sex becomes scheduled

• The surprising myths about fertility—and what actually matters

• Practical ways to reconnect emotionally and sexually

• Why open communication is the relationship tool you can’t skip during TTC

Whether you're actively TTC, thinking about it, or supporting a partner or friend on the journey—this episode is filled with comfort, clarity, and no-BS support. 🤍

🎧 Listen in for insights that will help you protect your bond, preserve pleasure, and feel less alone in the process.

✨ BONUS: Get my 50 At-Home Date Ideas download for ways to reconnect with your partner beyond the fertility calendar.
www.postpartumtogether.com/at-home-date-download

Connect with Erin:
Website: https://www.thrive-doula-services.com
Instagram: @thrivedoulacolumbus
Use code CHELSEA for $50 off her services.

Ever feel like you're speaking a different language than your partner—especially in the thick of raising kids? 🙃
You're not alone. Misunderstandings in relationships after becoming parents are extremely common, but often go unspoken. This episode breaks down why it happens and what you can actually do about it.

We’ll dive into:

• The real reasons partners start to feel misunderstood (spoiler: it’s not just “bad communication”)

• How exhaustion, mental load, and assumptions build quiet resentment

• A personal story of how one tiny comment turned into a big argument—and what it taught me

• Three practical tools to reconnect without needing hours of therapy or a perfect schedule

You’ll walk away with tangible ways to feel seen, heard, and supported—even when parenting life is loud, messy, and overwhelming. 💬

✨ Want a simple way to start shifting the dynamic? Download my Communication Upgrade Scripts to feel more confident in everyday conversations:
www.postpartumtogether.com/communication-scripts

🎧 Press play and start bridging the gap between feeling misunderstood and feeling truly connected again.

Do you find yourself constantly justifying, explaining, or defending your choices in conversations—especially with your partner? That pattern has a name: JED (Justify, Explain, Defend), and it could be silently damaging your communication.

In this episode of Better Relationships After Baby, Chelsea breaks down what JED is, how it shows up in relationships, and why it often leads to frustration or disconnection. Inspired by insights from Dr. Elizabeth Winkler on The Shadow and the Light podcast, this episode offers a clear, compassionate look at what’s really going on when you feel the need to over-explain.

You'll learn:
🧠 Why JED is a defense mechanism rooted in fear and past experience
💬 How it fuels tension and misunderstanding in relationships
🛠️ Mindful strategies to shift your communication from defense to connection

Whether you’re tired of feeling like you have to prove yourself, or you just want to have more grounded, intentional conversations, this episode will help you take a powerful first step.

✨ Ready to ditch defensiveness and speak with confidence? Download my Communication Scripts to navigate tough conversations with more clarity and less conflict:
www.postpartumtogether.com/communication-scripts

🎧 Tune in now and start rewriting your communication patterns—without all the over-explaining.

What’s the real secret to deeper connection, lasting trust, and stronger intimacy with your partner? In this episode, we unpack the foundational role of emotional safety—what it is, how it breaks down, and how to rebuild it when things feel off.

We’ll talk about how common patterns like criticism, defensiveness, and emotional avoidance can quietly erode your connection—and what to do instead. I’ll walk you through simple, actionable strategies: how to practice active listening, why predictability builds trust, and how small habits like expressing gratitude can shift the dynamic between you and your partner.

You’ll learn:

• Why emotional safety is essential for meaningful connection

• How trust is built (and rebuilt) through consistency

• Ways to repair and strengthen intimacy after conflict

If you’re ready to feel more seen, heard, and supported in your relationship, this episode will meet you where you are—with tools you can use right away.

👉 Want help finding the right words in hard moments?
Download my free Communication Scripts to help you express your needs with clarity and confidence: www.postpartumtogether.com/communication-scripts

Why does talking about money feel so hard—and why does it lead to so many fights in relationships?

In this episode, Chelsea is joined by money mindset coach and financial educator Shannon Brown Ward to unpack one of the most common relationship stressors: finances. From childhood beliefs to budgeting breakdowns, they explore how our earliest money experiences shape the way we communicate with our partner today.

You’ll hear practical tools for getting on the same page financially—whether you’re paying off debt, trying to align on future goals, or just want to stop the tension when the bills come up. Shannon and Chelsea share real-life strategies for things like:

• Creating a budget without shame or restriction

• Avoiding lifestyle creep as your income grows

• Prioritizing connection (yes, even budget-friendly date nights)

You’ll also hear why even small steps like saving $25/month can lead to major progress—and how to reframe money conversations so they’re grounded in teamwork, not tension.

Ready to make money a point of connection, not conflict?
Start with my free Communication Scripts to help you express financial needs and navigate tough conversations:
👉 www.postpartumtogether.com/communication-scripts

Connect with Shannon:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

LinkedIn

Podcast - Middle Class to Millions