Anna is a mother of two who thought her motherhood and her family might resemble a 90s sitcom. All of that changed when she received completely unexpected and life-changing news after her first daughter's newborn screening. In this episode, Anna shares about the challenges her family faced with 3 open heart surgeries in 4 years, the impact of postpartum depression and anxiety on her husband, and the trust, endurance, and self-love that Anna found in her first year as a mother.

Resources and Links:

Anna on instagram

Lily Evadena Watterworth Facebook Page

Jack's Helping Hand

Caring for Your Mental Health When Your Baby is in the NICU

Jess is a mother and a fertility coach and doula. On this episode, Jess shares about her self-discovery in her first year of motherhood - learning to accept change and be adaptable as a mother, finding clarity, and most of all, finding herself.

We talk about asking for help (everyone should take notes from her neighbor on how to support a new mom!) and the importance of sleep in her healing from postpartum anxiety. 

Resources

Jess's website!

Jess's instagram: @fertilityjess

Fair Play by Eve Rodsky

Managing Postpartum Anxiety and Scary Thoughts

Managing Sleep Deprivation as a New Parent

How to Support a New (or New Again) Mom

Lianna is a Marriage and Family Therapist and mother of two. Unexpected diagnoses for both of her babies in the first days of their lives were a "big curveball". On this episode, Lianna talks about how heartbreak and defeat existed right alongside feeling blessed and loving motherhood. She shares about working through grief in postpartum, caring for medically complex children, and how mindfulness has supported her through the challenges of early parenthood.

Resources:

Learn more about Postpartum Mental Health

Find local mental health support: Postpartum Support International Directory

Online peer support groups: Postpartum Support International Groups

From Lianna:

Instagram: @lianna_huseman

Book recommendation: Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin

Nikki is a mother of three, both by adoption and birth. Nikki describes her motherhood journey as going from “famine to feast” - after 7 years of trying to start a family, Nikki became a mom to three girls under two… in the midst of COVID and a cross-country move. Nikki shares about sleepless nights and loneliness, learning to ask for help, celebration, gaining resilience, and growth. Lots of growth. 

Resources:

Managing Sleep Deprivation as a New Parent

From Nikki:

Taking Cara Babies

The Connected Child by Karen Purvis

Adopted for Life by Russell Moore

Honestly Adoption Podcast

Calm Parenting Podcast

In this episode I’m talking with Melissa about her first year as a young mother of twins. Melissa was so generous in sharing her story and some of the challenges she faced in that first year - including managing extreme sleep deprivation and issues with her own health that increased her anxiety postpartum. She also shares some great insight on the importance of community and keeping your marriage or partnership strong through what she called “one of the hardest years” of her life.

Resources:

Managing Sleep Deprivation as a New Parent

Communication Habits of Successful Couples

Eight Ways to Keep Your Relationship Healthy During Postpartum and Early Parenting