Heart and Health Wellness

Heart & Health Wellness Podcast | Episode 52 | Released September 30, 2026

About This Episode

You have a full day ahead. You need to be out the door on time. And your toddler just lost it.

This episode started with a real morning — a Paw Patrol meltdown, a husband who handled it beautifully, and aworking mom therapist who watched the whole thing from the hallway and thought this is exactly what I teach.

Dr. Melissa Welch shares what happened, why it worked, and what you can actually do the next time your child melts down on the morning you have absolutely no margin for error. She also covers how to reset your own nervous system after a hard morning so you can show up for your patients, your students, or your clients as your actual best self.

This one is personal, practical, and grounded in the science of co-regulation. It is for every working mom who has ever walked into a hard day still carrying the weight of a hard morning.

What You Will Hear In This Episode

What is actually happening in your toddler's brain during a meltdown and why reasoning with them in that momentdoes not work.

What co-regulation is and why a calm regulated adult is the only thing that actually helps a dysregulated child shift.

Five practical tips for staying regulated yourself when the clock is ticking and you needed to be out the door five minutes ago.

Why slowing down is almost always faster than fighting the meltdown.

How to let your partner handle it and why that is not the same as giving up control.

Three things to do in the car on the way to work to reset your nervous system after a hard morning so you can actually arrive for the people counting on you.

Free Resource Mentioned In This Episode

The Low Effort High Love Connection Guide — 25 connectionactivities sorted by age from infants through age 10, most under five minutes.Free download: drmelissawelch.com/connect

Book a free Clarity Call with Dr. Melissa Welch — 45 minutes, just you and her, focused entirely on your specific situation: drmelissawelch.com/book

Follow Heart & Health Wellness on Instagram, Threads, TikTok: @heartandhealthwellness

We Are Amma (New Mom Essentials and Gifts for Moms): visit weareamma.com/melissa for 15% off

The Cocoon™: 

https://weareamma.com/pages/shop_cocoon/?snowball=MELISSA

Illusion Dress: ​​

https://weareamma.com/products/illusion?snowball=MELISSA

New Mama Bundle: 

https://weareamma.com/products/nmb/?snowball=MELISSA

SEO Keywords

Toddler Meltdown Before Work,Working Mom Morning Routine, Toddler Meltdown Tips, Co-Regulation Toddler,Working Mom Toddler, Toddler Meltdown Getting Ready, Working Mom MorningStress, Regulate Toddler Emotions, Working Mom Mental Health, Heart And HealthWellness Podcast

Medical Disclaimer

The content shared in this episodeis for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitutemedical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Melissa Welch is sharing herprofessional perspective as a medical family therapist and coach, not as yourpersonal healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified healthcareprofessional regarding any medical questions or concerns.

Mental Health Disclaimer

This podcast is not a substitutefor professional mental health therapy or counseling. If you are experiencingpostpartum depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenges, please reachout to a licensed mental health professional.

Affiliate Disclosure

This episode contains affiliatelinks and sponsored content. Dr. Melissa Welch may earn a commission onpurchases made through the We Are Amma link using code MELISSA at no additionalcost to you. Only products and brands that Dr. Welch personally uses andbelieves in are featured on this show.

Music Credit

Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

Check out Uppbeat for Creators: https://share.uppbeat.io/sv0kftygrzpp

Is Your Mom Guilt ActuallyTrue? How to Stop Carrying Guilt That Was Never Yours

Heart & Health WellnessPodcast | Episode 51 | Released September 17, 2026

Not all mom guilt is the same. Learn how to tell true guilt from false guilt, and what to actually do with each, in this episode's exercise. Grab the companion guide free: drmelissawelch.com/guiltcheckAbout This Episode

Not all mom guilt is the same.Some of it is a real signal pointing to something that needs to change. Andsome of it is borrowed noise from a culture that has never adequately supportedworking mothers.

The problem is most working momstreat it all the same. They try to fix all of it. They sacrifice more. They domore. And it does not get better because you cannot fix something that wasnever broken.

In this episode Dr. Melissa Welchteaches the True Guilt vs False Guilt exercise she uses with every working momshe coaches in week one of the C.A.L.M. Method. You will leave with a fourquestion framework for sorting your guilt and knowing exactly what to do witheach pile.

Free Resource Mentioned In ThisEpisode

The Low Effort High LoveConnection Guide — 25 connectionactivities sorted by age from infants through age 10, most under five minutes.Free download: drmelissawelch.com/connect

Book a free Clarity Callwith Dr. Melissa Welch — 45 minutes, just you and her, focused entirely on yourspecific situation: drmelissawelch.com/book

Follow Heart & Health Wellnesson Instagram, Threads, TikTok: @heartandhealthwellness

We Are Amma (New Mom Essentials and Gifts for Moms): visit weareamma.com/melissafor 15% off

The Cocoon™: 

https://weareamma.com/pages/shop_cocoon/?snowball=MELISSA

Illusion Dress: ​​

https://weareamma.com/products/illusion?snowball=MELISSA

New Mama Bundle: 

https://weareamma.com/products/nmb/?snowball=MELISSA

SEO Keywords

Working Mom Guilt, Mom GuiltExercise, True Guilt vs False Guilt, Working Mom Mental Health, Stop Mom Guilt,Mom Guilt Relief, Working Mom Coach, CALM Method, Helping Profession Mom, MomGuilt Healthcare, Teacher Mom Guilt, Heart And Health Wellness Podcast

Medical Disclaimer

The content shared in this episodeis for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitutemedical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Melissa Welch is sharing herprofessional perspective as a medical family therapist and coach, not as yourpersonal healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified healthcareprofessional regarding any medical questions or concerns.

Mental Health Disclaimer

This podcast is not a substitutefor professional mental health therapy or counseling. If you are experiencingpostpartum depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenges, please reachout to a licensed mental health professional.

Affiliate Disclosure

This episode contains affiliatelinks and sponsored content. Dr. Melissa Welch may earn a commission onpurchases made through the We Are Amma link using code MELISSA at no additionalcost to you. Only products and brands that Dr. Welch personally uses andbelieves in are featured on this show.

Music Credit

Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

Check out Uppbeat for Creators: https://share.uppbeat.io/sv0kftygrzpp

The Hidden Weight of Caring forEveryone Else While Someone Else Cares for Yours Heart & Health Wellness Podcast | Episode 50 | ReleasedSeptember 8, 2026

About This Episode

Fifty episodes. Dr. Melissa Welchdid not know if she would get here when she recorded episode one. So beforeanything else she takes a moment to say thank you — to the listeners, theworking moms who shared their stories in The Return series, and everyone whohas walked this journey alongside her.

Then she gets into something thatdoes not get named nearly enough for working moms in helping professions.

You spend your entire day caringfor other people. Your patients. Your students. Your clients. You are present,patient, attentive, and genuinely invested. And the whole time you are doingthat your own child is somewhere else being cared for by someone who is notyou.

That is a very specific kind ofweight. It is not just generic working mom guilt. It is the particular tensionof giving the best of yourself to other people all day and then arriving hometo your own child with whatever is left. And it sits alongside the fact thatyou do not actually want to stop. The work gives you purpose and meaning. Andsometimes that purpose actually intensifies the guilt rather than relieving it.

In this episode Dr. Melissa Welchnames that tension plainly and walks through the C.A.L.M. Method specificallythrough this lens.

Free Resource Mentioned In ThisEpisode

The Low Effort High LoveConnection Guide — 25 connectionactivities sorted by age from infants through age 10, most under five minutes.Free download: drmelissawelch.com/connect

Book a free Clarity Callwith Dr. Melissa Welch — 45 minutes, just you and her, focused entirely on yourspecific situation: drmelissawelch.com/book

Follow Heart & Health Wellnesson Instagram, Threads, TikTok: @heartandhealthwellness

We Are Amma (Gifts for Moms): visit weareamma.com/melissa for 15% off

SEO Keywords

Working Mom Guilt HelpingProfession, Working Mom Burnout, Emotional Labor Working Mom, Nurse Mom Guilt,Teacher Mom Guilt, Therapist Mom, Working Mom Mental Health, CALM MethodWorking Mom, Working Mom Purpose, Meaning Depleted Mom, Heart And Health WellnessPodcast,

Medical Disclaimer

The content shared in this episodeis for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitutemedical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Melissa Welch is sharing herprofessional perspective as a medical family therapist and coach, not as yourpersonal healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified healthcareprofessional regarding any medical questions or concerns.

Mental Health Disclaimer

This podcast is not a substitutefor professional mental health therapy or counseling. If you are experiencingpostpartum depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenges, please reachout to a licensed mental health professional.

Affiliate Disclosure

This episode contains affiliatelinks and sponsored content. Dr. Melissa Welch may earn a commission onpurchases made through the We Are Amma link using code MELISSA at no additionalcost to you. Only products and brands that Dr. Welch personally uses andbelieves in are featured on this show.

Music Credit

Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

Check out Uppbeat for Creators: https://share.uppbeat.io/sv0kftygrzpp

Heart & Health Wellness Podcast | Episode 49 | Released August 26, 2026

 About This Episode

Most working moms know the feeling. You come home from a full day of giving everything to your patients, your students, or your clients and your partner is on the couch. Or you are the one who always remembers the permission slip and the pediatrician appointment and the fact that you are almost out of pull-ups. And the slow burn of resentment is sitting there underneath everything and you do not quite know what to do with it.

But here is the question nobody is asking. Is the resentment actually about him? Or is it about something bigger — the life you thought you would have, the system that was not designed for working mothers, the grief of a choice you did not really get to make?

Because those are two very different problems with two very different solutions. And confusing them is exactly why the conversation never goes anywhere.

In this episode Dr. Melissa Welch, licensed marriage and family therapist and working mom, walks through the two kinds of resentment working moms carry, introduces the Gottman Four Horsemen framework and what it has to do with the way resentment shows up in your relationship, and gives you a specific script and three practical tips for actually having the conversation with your partner in a way that can go somewhere.

What You Will Hear In This Episode

The difference between situational resentment and relational resentment — and why most working moms are carrying both without knowing it.

The Gottman Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling — and why resentment is the fuel that feeds all of them.

The antidote to each horseman and what they all have in common.

A specific I feel when because what I need script for naming resentment to your partner — one version for situational resentment and one for relational resentment.

Three practical tips for having this conversation well including why your heart rate monitor might be one of the most useful relationship tools you own.

Why taking a break mid-conversation is not stonewalling — and what makes the difference between a healthy pause and never coming back.

Free Resource Mentioned In This Episode

The Low Effort High Love Connection Guide — 25 connectionactivities sorted by age from infants through age 10, most under five minutes. Free download: drmelissawelch.com/connect

Book a free Clarity Call with Dr. Melissa Welch — 45 minutes, just you and her, focused entirely on yourspecific situation: drmelissawelch.com/book

Follow Heart & Health Wellnesson Instagram, Threads, TikTok: @heartandhealthwellness

We Are Amma (Gifts for Moms): visit weareamma.com/melissa for 15% off

Further Reading

John Gottman, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work John Gottman, Why Marriages Succeed or Fail

Medical Disclaimer

The content shared in this episodeis for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitutemedical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Melissa Welch is sharing herprofessional perspective as a medical family therapist and coach, not as yourpersonal healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified healthcareprofessional regarding any medical questions or concerns.

Mental Health Disclaimer

This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health therapy or counseling. If you are experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenges, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Affiliate Disclosure

This episode contains affiliate links and sponsored content. Dr. Melissa Welch may earn a commission on purchases made through the We Are Amma link at no additional cost to you. Only products and brands that Dr. Welch personally uses and believes in are featured on this show.

Music Credit

Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

Check out Uppbeat for Creators: https://share.uppbeat.io/sv0kftygrzpp

HEART AND HEALTH WELLNESS PODCAST

Episode 48 | Released August 13, 2026

About This Episode

You get home around five thirty orsix. There is dinner to make, a bath to run, and a bedtime routine to getthrough. And somewhere in there you are supposed to find meaningful connectionwith your child when you have absolutely nothing left in the tank.

So you do the math and it feelsimpossible. One hour. Maybe less. And you spend half of it feeling guilty abouthow little of it feels like enough.

This episode is about releasingthat guilt. Because after reading through a Reddit thread where hundreds ofworking moms answered the question of what do you do with the hour you haveleft after daycare, Dr. Melissa Welch found the same three things showing upover and over again in the moments moms described as actually working.

It was never about having moretime. It was never about doing something fancy or Pinterest worthy orelaborate. And it was never about being the fun parent every single night.

It was about presence. Proximity.And permission.

What You Will Hear In ThisEpisode

Why the hour after daycare feelslike such a ridiculous squeeze and why that feeling is completely valid andcompletely common.

What hundreds of working moms onReddit actually do with that limited window after pickup and what three thingskept showing up in the moments they described as meaningful.

Why connection was never abouthaving more hours — it was about what you do with the ones you already have.

Real examples from real momsincluding the one who colors hearts on scratch paper for ten minutes, the onewho lets her toddler stand on a step stool while she cooks, and the one wholies on the floor next to her son's room with the door locked just in case shefalls asleep.

Why seven to eight minutes ofintentional one on one time is actually enough to build meaningful connection —and what that looks like on a Tuesday night when you are completely depleted.

Why perfection was never theassignment. It was just showing up.

The Three Things That Actually Work

Presence — Phone out of sight. No exceptions. You do not need moretime if you are actually in the time you already have.

Proximity — Not big productions. Just closeness. Your toddler onyour lap at dinner. Standing on a step stool watching you cook. Lying next toyou while you rest on the floor. It counts.

Permission — Stop treating ordinary moments like they do not count.Cooking counts. Bath time counts. A crayon and some hearts on scratch papercounts. Watching a show together with your arm around them counts. You do notneed a plan. You just need to be there.

Free Resource Mentioned In ThisEpisode

The Low Effort High LoveConnection Guide — 25 connection activities sorted by age from infants throughage 10, most under five minutes long, built around presence, proximity, andpermission. Free to download at drmelissawelch.com/connect

Links & Resources

Download the free Low Effort HighLove Connection Guide: drmelissawelch.com/connect

Book a free Clarity Call with Dr. Melissa: drmelissawelch.com/book

Follow Heart & Health Wellnesson Instagram and Threads: @heartandhealthwellness

We Are Amma (mentioned in this episode): weareamma.com/melissa | use code MELISSA for 15% off

Mental Health Disclaimer

This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health therapy or counseling. If you are experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenges, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Affiliate Disclosure

This episode contains affiliate links and sponsored content. Dr. Melissa Welch may earn a commission on purchases made through the We Are Amma link using code MELISSA at no additionalcost to you. Only products and brands that Dr. Welch personally uses andbelieves in are featured on this show.

Music Credit

Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

Check out Uppbeat for Creators: https://share.uppbeat.io/sv0kftygrzpp

HEART AND HEALTH WELLNESS PODCAST

Episode 47 | Released July 21, 2026

Why Back to School is Harder Than Anyone Warned You It Would Be – And What to Do About It.

You were probably told it getseasier once they start school. Like the hard part was the baby and toddleryears and once they hit kindergarten you would finally catch your breath.

And then they started school. Andit did not get easier. It just got different. And in some ways harder. Andnobody warned you about that part.

This episode is for the workingmom who is about to head into back to school season and needs someone to tellher what is actually coming and how to handle it. Especially if you are inhealthcare, education, or another helping profession where back to school isnot just your child's transition — it is yours too.

Dr. Melissa Welch walks throughwhy this season is one of the most emotionally loaded times of the year forworking moms, what the research actually says about why it does not get easierat kindergarten like everyone promised, and five strategies you can use rightnow before September hits.

Five Strategies For This Season

One: Lower the finish line. Thereis no season where it all clicks into place. Redefine what good enough lookslike for this fall specifically. Not for the next ten years. Just forSeptember.

Two: Name the mental load outloud. Not I am overwhelmed. Specific and concrete. This week I am managingthese things and I need help with these specific things. Naming it changes whatis possible.

Three: Build one morning anchor. Aritual that signals to your nervous system that the transition is happening andit is okay. A song. A phrase at the door. A few minutes alone in the car. Sameevery day.

Four: Give yourself permission tofeel the resentment. Resentment tells you something is out of balance and aneed is not being met. Get curious about what it is pointing to instead ofpushing it down and piling guilt on top of it.

Five: Ask for help before you hitthe wall. Not after. Not when you are in tears on a Tuesday morning in October.Now. Before the season starts. While you still have enough capacity to bethoughtful about what you actually need.

Links & Resources

Book a free Clarity Callwith Dr. Melissa — 45 minutes, just you and her, completely focused on yourspecific situation: drmelissawelch.com/book

Follow Heart & Health Wellnesson Instagram and Threads: @heartandhealthwellness

We Are Amma (mentioned in this episode): weareamma.com/melissa | usecode MELISSA for 15% off

Sources Referenced

Center for American Progress —misaligned school and work schedules research

Greenberg and Ladge, MaternalOptimism: Forging Positive Paths Through Work and Motherhood Forbes — 20Expert-Backed Back-To-School Strategies For Working Moms

Medical Disclaimer

The content shared in this episodeis for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitutemedical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Melissa Welch is sharing herprofessional perspective as a medical family therapist and coach, not as yourpersonal healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified healthcareprofessional regarding any medical questions or concerns.

Mental Health Disclaimer

This podcast is not a substitutefor professional mental health therapy or counseling. If you are experiencingpostpartum depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenges, please reachout to a licensed mental health professional.

Affiliate Disclosure

This episode contains affiliatelinks and sponsored content. Dr. Melissa Welch may earn a commission onpurchases made through the We Are Amma link using code MELISSA at no additionalcost to you. Only products and brands that Dr. Welch personally uses andbelieves in are featured on this show.

Music Credit

Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

Check out Uppbeat for Creators: https://share.uppbeat.io/sv0kftygrzpp

HEART AND HEALTH WELLNESS PODCAST

Episode 46 | Released July 14, 2026 

Why Working Moms Feel Guilty No Matter What They Do — And the Four-Step Method That Actually Helps 

If you just finished The Return series and something in those six conversations felt uncomfortably familiar — if you found yourself listening to Terrica, Shauntia, Jordan, or any of thewomen and thinking yes, that is exactly me — this episode is for you.

Every single woman in that series was smart, capable, and deeply committed to both her career and her child. Andevery single one of them was carrying guilt that had absolutely nothing to do with anything she actually did wrong.

If you have ever typed "why do working moms feel so guilty" into Google at eleven o'clock at night when you should be sleeping, you are not alone. That guilt has a name. There isa reason for it. And there are real, practical strategies you can use to do something about it.

In this episode Dr. Melissa Welch walks through the C.A.L.M. Method — the four-step framework she uses with everywoman she coaches — and shows exactly how it addresses the biggest pain points working moms in healthcare, education, and other helping professions face over and over again.

Key Takeaways

Working mom guilt is a values collision happening in real time in your body, not a sign that you are doing something wrong.

Depleted mom syndrome is real. It is the kind of bone deep exhaustion that comes from giving everything to everyone and leaving nothing for yourself. Sleep does not fix it. A framework does.

Secure attachment comes from quality time, not quantity of time. You being present and regulated and engaged during the hours you do have together matters far more than the number of hours on a clock.

For moms of faith: the guilt you feel is not God telling you that you are failing. Proverbs 31 describes a woman who provides for her household, runs businesses, oversees her team, and takes care of her family. She is not choosing between her work and her faith. Neither do you have to.

You already know how to extend grace. You do it every single day in your career. The goal is to turn it back on yourself.

Links & Resources

Book a free Clarity Call with Dr. Melissa Welch drmelissawelch.com/book

Follow Heart & Health Wellness on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Threads: @heartandhealthwellness

We Are Amma (mentioned in this episode): weareamma.com/melissa | use code MELISSA for 15% off

Medical Disclaimer

The content shared in this episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Melissa Welch is sharing her professional perspective as a medical family therapist and coach, not as your personal healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or concerns.

Mental Health Disclaimer

This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health therapy or counseling. If you are experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenges, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Affiliate Disclosure

This episode contains affiliate links and sponsored content. Dr. Melissa Welch may earn a commission on purchases made through the We Are Amma link using code MELISSA at no additional cost to you. Only products and brands that Dr. Welch personally uses and believes in are featured on this show.

Music Credit

Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

Check out Uppbeat for Creators: https://share.uppbeat.io/sv0kftygrzpp

Working Mom Guilt, Why Do WorkingMoms Feel Guilty, Depleted Mom Syndrome, What Do Working Moms Struggle With,Working Mom Mental Health, C.A.L.M. Method, Working Mom Coach, What Does GodSay About Working Moms, Working Moms in Healthcare, Working Moms in Education,Heart and Health Wellness Podcast

This is episode six of The Return, and it might be my favorite conversation in the whole series.

Shauntia is a special education teacher who has spent the last six years working with K through 12 students, and for the past several months she has been doing it entirely virtually, logging into classrooms across the country from her home.She went to a fine arts school and majored in drama. She has a sister twenty years younger than her. She is full of surprises, and they kept coming throughout this conversation.

But what surprised me the most was something she did not share right away. About a third of the way into our conversation, it came out naturally that Shauntia is a single mom, co-parenting with her daughter's father. And once she said it, everything she had already told me took on a completely different weight.

She went back to work eight weeks after having Drew. She took a pay cut to gain the flexibility of working virtually, knowing she could not rely on anyone else to pick up the slack if she did not provide for her daughter herself. In thisconversation she talks about what it means to retrain your mind when motherhood does not look like what you imagined. She talks about leaning on faith and a deeply loyal friend group who let her feel her grief without letting her staythere. And she shares the advice she has for every working mom and every single mom trying to figure out how to do this without losing herself in the process.

She also wrote a book about her experience called Held by Grace, written while she was pregnant, and she shares more about it at the end of this episode.

This conversation is honest, warm, and is going to mean so much to every mom listening, but especially to the single moms out there who do not always see their experience reflected in conversations like this one.

This is the sixth and current final episode of The Return, a series within Heart and Health Wellness where real working moms share the unfiltered truth about going back to work after having a baby.

Resources and links mentioned:
Virtual teaching platform Shauntia mentioned — great for certified teachers looking for flexibility: https://www.elevatek12.com/online-teaching-jobs/

Shauntia's book, Held by Grace (book and workbook): https://a.co/d/04KiGD1u

Follow Shauntia on Instagram and Threads: @heyits_wonshay
Follow Shauntia on TikTok: @tia_talks_
Follow Shauntia on Facebook: Shauntia Dyson

 If this episode resonated with you:
Share it with a working mom or single momin your life who needs to hear it today. And if you have a story to tell, come find me on Threads or Instagram. The Return is still accepting guests and your story deserves to be heard.

Book a free Clarity Call → drmelissawelch.com/book

Follow Heart & Health Wellness on Instagram: @heartandhealthwellness

 We Are Amma — beautiful jewelry and quality gifts madefor just for moms. Use code MELISSA for 15% off → weareamma.com/melissa

The content shared in this episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitutemedical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Melissa Welch is sharing her professional perspective as a medical family therapist and coach, not as your personal healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or concerns.

This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health therapy or counseling. If you are experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenges, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

This episode contains affiliate links and sponsored content. Dr. Melissa Welch may earn a commission on purchases made through the We Are Amma link using code MELISSA at no additional cost to you. Only products and brands that Dr. Welch personally uses and believes in are featured on this show. 

Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

Check out Uppbeat for Creators: https://share.uppbeat.io/sv0kftygrzpp

HEART AND HEALTH WELLNESS PODCAST

The Return: Working Mom Interview Series

Episode 44 | Released June 23, 2026

About This EpisodeThis one really got me in the feels. I want to be honest with you about that before you press play.

Jiana is a pediatric ICU nurse who works the weekender position at a level one hospital in Cleveland — two overnight shifts every weekend so she can be home with her daughter all week long. Her almost one year old just got her first pair of glasses and somehow that detail alone will tell you everything you need to know about who Jiana is as a mom.

But to get here she walked through 18 months of infertility while caring for the sickest children imaginable. A traumatic birth. Postpartum depression and anxiety. Couples therapy. A complete restructuring of her work schedule. And the quiet ongoing reality that when she is ready for another baby, she will have to go back to full time for six months first just to qualify for maternity leave again.

In this conversation Jiana talks about what it felt like to try to get pregnant while watching what she watches at work every day. She opens up about postpartum anxiety, why therapy was non-negotiable from the very first weeks, and the creative scheduling decisions she and her husband made to maximize time at home without sacrificing income. And she shares what life actually looks like now, almost a year out, including their first date night since October.

Jiana held nothing back. What came out the other side is one of the most grounded and quietly hopeful conversations in this entire series.

This is episode five of The Return, a podcast series within Heart and Health Wellness where real working moms share the unfiltered truth about going back to work after having a baby. New here? Go back and start with Terrica from episodeone.

*******Follow Jiana on Instagram: @juniekpeppo

Book a free Clarity Call → drmelissawelch.com/book

Follow Heart & Health Wellness on Instagram: @heartandhealthwellness

We Are Amma — beautiful jewelry and quality gifts madefor just for moms. Use code MELISSA for 15% off → weareamma.com/melissa

If this episode resonated with you:Share it with a working mom who needs to hear it today. And if you have a story to tell, come find me on Threads or Instagram at Heart and Health Wellness. The Return is still accepting guests and your story deserves to be heard.

The content shared in this episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitutemedical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Melissa Welch is sharing her professional perspective as a medical family therapist and coach, not as your personal healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or concerns.

This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health therapy or counseling. If you are experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenges, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

This episode contains affiliate links and sponsored content. Dr. Melissa Welch may earn a commission on purchases made through the We Are Amma link using code MELISSA at no additional cost to you. Only products and brands that Dr. Welch personally uses and believes in are featured on this show.

Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter

Check out Uppbeat for Creators: https://share.uppbeat.io/sv0kftygrzpp

 Episode Chapters02:47 Life as a Pediatric ICU Nurse06:18 Returning to Work After Maternity Leave09:46 Navigating Relationships and Emotions13:17 The Importance of Therapy and Support16:59 Balancing Work and Family Life20:56 Family Dynamics and Proximity23:19 Navigating Grandparent Involvement25:29 The Impact of Infertility on Motherhood31:37 Balancing Work and Family Life38:09 Finding Beauty in Chaos43:11 Sharing the Journey of Motherhood44:46 Introduction to Gianna's Journey45:12 Invitation for Working Moms to Share Their Stories

HEART AND HEALTH WELLNESS PODCAST

The Return: Working Mom Interview Series

Episode 43  |  Released June 16, 2026

How to Protect Your Maternity Leave Before You Need It

This episode is a lot. In the best possible way, but I want to be honest with you before you press play.

Jordan is the co-founder and director of operations for Virtual Office Partners in Arizona, mom to 15-month-old Waylon, and someone who survived more in her first year of motherhood than most people could imagine. An emergency C-section with no anesthesia. A son with an undiagnosed tongue and lip tie that led to months of breastfeeding struggles and permanent damage. A boss who called the day after Christmas, two weeks postpartum, and never really stopped. And being let go at 10 weeks, right when she needed stability the most. But here is the thing about Jordan. She tells this story with grace, self-awareness, and even laughter in places. And the advice she gives on the other side of it is some of the most practical, clear-eyed wisdom in this entire series.

In this conversation Jordan talks about what it actually felt like going back to work 13 days after an emergency C-section, before she could even stand up straight. She walks through the grief cycle of returning to work, denial, bargaining, and the long road to acceptance. She shares why she believescommunicating expectations in writing before maternity leave begins is the single most important thing a working mom can do. And she talks about how being let go ironically gave her the time to bond with her son that she never got thechance to take the first time around.

She also introduces a flamingo metaphor that completely reframed how I think about postpartum recovery, and what it means to get your pink back.

This episode is heavy in places. It is also one of the most hopeful conversations in the whole series, because Jordan did not just survive this. She used it to become the kind of leader she needed and did not have.

This is episode four of The Return, a podcast series where real working moms share the unfiltered truth about going back to work after having a baby. If you have not listened to the earlier episodes, go back and start with Terrica's story from episode one.

Resources & Links

Virtual Office Partners: https://virtualofficepartners.comEmail Jordan: [email protected]Follow Jordan and VOP on Instagram and Facebook

Work with me

Book a free Clarity Call (not sure how much longer you can keep doing this? Start here) → drmelissawelch.com/book

Follow Heart & Health Wellness on Instagram: @heartandhealthwellness

We Are Amma — beautiful jewelry and quality gifts madefor just for moms. Use code MELISSA for 15% off → weareamma.com/melissa

The content shared in this episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Melissa Welch is sharing her professional perspective as a medical family therapist and coach, not as your personal healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or concerns.

This podcast is not a substitute for professional mental health therapy or counseling. If you are experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, or any mental health challenges, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

This episode contains affiliate links and sponsored content. Dr. Melissa Welch may earn a commission on purchases made through the We Are Amma link using code MELISSA at no additional cost to you. Only products and brands that Dr. Welch personally uses and believes in are featured on this show.

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