Grace Ragsdale: From Postpartum Darkness to Helping Other Mothers Heal
In this deeply honest and powerful episode, I sit down with Grace Ragsdale, BSN, RN, to talk about a postpartum experience that nearly cost her everything.
After becoming a mother, Grace entered a season of overwhelming sadness, crushing exhaustion, chronic doubt, and emotional pain that eventually led to inpatient care. At her lowest point, she struggled to find the will to keep going. But one thought cut through the darkness: her daughter only has one mom. No one else could replace Grace as her mama, love her in exactly the same way, or walk beside her through this life.
That realization helped Grace make one of the bravest decisions of her life: to ask for help.
Her story didn't end in that hospital. It became the beginning of a completely different life.
Grace fought her way toward recovery, rebuilt her relationship with herself and her family, and eventually turned what she learned into a mission to help other women navigate the postpartum years with more support, preparation, connection, and hope.
Today, Grace is a postpartum recovery coach and the creator of a 12-week postpartum recovery program designed for women who are pregnant or anywhere from 0–4 years postpartum. Her work is rooted not only in her professional background as a nurse, but in the lived experience of knowing how frightening and isolating postpartum mental and emotional struggles can become.
In this conversation, we talk about the realities of postpartum mental health, inpatient treatment, motherhood, identity, asking for help, rebuilding your life, movement and yoga, community, nutrition, networking, and the resources Grace discovered along the way.
This episode is especially important for mothers, expecting mothers, partners, family members, and anyone who wants to better understand what postpartum recovery can really look like.
Connect with Grace Ragsdale
Richmond, Virginia
Instagram: @megangrace.ragsdale.bsn.rn
https://www.instagram.com/megangrace.ragsdale.bsn.rn
Resources mentioned in the episode:
A Brighter Birth Collective — A great resource for moms!
https://www.abrighterbirth.com/
3S Yoga — where Grace practiced yoga during her recovery:
https://www.3syoga.com/
CoFlow RVA — another Richmond community and wellness space Grace loved:
https://www.coflowrva.com/
Julia Bedulia — Richmond yoga instructor offering community yoga, including free yoga events at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts:
https://www.instagram.com/juliabeduliaa/
Vegan Club RVA / Lauren Z. Ray — a Richmond vegan community Grace has been involved with:
https://www.laurenzray.com/vegan-club-rva
Two Twelve Referrals — a business networking resource mentioned during our conversation:
https://www.twotwelvereferrals.com/
RVA Baddiez — a Richmond community known for bringing women together through free group walks and social events:
https://www.instagram.com/rvabaddiez/
Content note: This episode includes an open discussion of postpartum depression, suicidal thoughts, inpatient mental-health treatment, and severe emotional distress. Please listen with care.
If you are struggling after having a baby, you do not have to wait until things become unbearable to reach out for professional support. Asking for help can be the first chapter of an entirely different story.
Grace also offers FREE 45-minute phone consultations for women who want to talk through what they’re experiencing, learn more about her postpartum recovery approach, or see whether her 12-week program is the right fit. There’s no need to have everything figured out before reaching out — this is simply a chance to connect, ask questions, and explore what support could look like for you.
You can schedule your free 45-minute consultation with Grace today here:
https://calendly.com/megangraceragsdale/strategy-call?utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3&month=2026-08
