Why do so many moms feel like failures when their baby won’t sleep “the right way”? In this honest and vulnerable conversation, we dive into the guilt, shame, and societal pressure surrounding baby sleep regression and the unrealistic standards parents face.

When one of us went through a sudden 15-month toddler sleep regression, she tried every sleep training tip recommended by experts and well-meaning friends. Nothing worked—until car rides became the only solution. But even then, the mom guilt crept in: “Am I a bad mother because I can’t get my baby to sleep without this crutch?”

👉 If you’ve ever asked yourself the same thing, this episode is for you.

What We Talk About in This Episode:

• Why baby sleep isn’t a skill to be trained but a biological function
• The emotional toll of sleep regressions on moms
• Reframing “nighttime parenting” as “nighttime nurturing”
• How questions like “Is your baby sleeping through the night?”  fuel shame
• Better ways to support moms during the hardest sleep seasons

Instead of viewing night wakings as failures, we can see them as natural ways our children communicate their needs. Your child isn’t manipulating you; they’re reaching out for comfort—and responding is real parenting work.

If you’re a mom struggling with baby sleep, toddler sleep regressions, or just the overwhelming pressure to “get it right,” this episode will remind you: your worth as a parent has nothing to do with how independently your baby sleeps.

We’d love to hear your story—email us at [email protected]
 or share this episode with another tired mama who needs encouragement.

Check out the book Molly recommended from our FAV local bookstore! 

Nurture Revolution by Greer Kirshenbaum, PhD

And

An awesome influence on socials, Brittany Chambers @goodnightmoonchild

speaking of Brittany..... you need to check out her shop. Her shirts are amazing.

Kirsten's Physical Therapy website

Mama You Belong Instagram

Kirsten's Instagram

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Songs on Spotify

Infertility is one of the most painful and isolating experiences a mother can face. In this raw conversation, we share one mom’s journey of turning pain into purpose—and why sharing real motherhood stories matters for building community and healing. 

Meet Kathleen—craniosacral therapist, licensed massage therapist, breathwork teacher, entrepreneur, founder of Smoke Perfume, and mother to 15-month-old daughter, Pearl—as she navigates a perfect storm of overwhelm. With her husband temporarily incapacitated after breaking both arms, her chronic pain intensifying since childbirth, and the demands of running two businesses, Kathleen offers a raw glimpse into the often invisible struggle of modern motherhood.

In this episode:

- infertility, egg donors, and oysters

- a homebirth transfer and birth date surprise

- modern day motherhood overwhelm and community

This conversation serves as a powerful reminder that behind every mother is a complex story of transformation. Whether you're navigating infertility, birth complications, partner illness, or chronic pain, you're not alone. Sometimes life feels held together by scotch tape and random areas of duct tape—fragile yet somehow functioning. 

Reach out, find your people, and remember that vulnerability shared becomes strength multiplied.

Kirsten's Physical Therapy website

Mama You Belong Instagram

Kirsten's Instagram

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Songs on Spotify

Why don’t we talk more about the pelvic floor? From postpartum recovery to long-term health, moms are often left in the dark about this essential part of their bodies. In this episode, we break the silence and explore what every mother should know about pelvic floor health. 

Pelvic health specialist and physical therapist Kirsten Desmarais, PT, DPT, OCS, shares her journey into pelvic health and explains the interconnectedness of our body systems to the pelvic floor. She details common reasons people seek pelvic floor therapy while debunking myths about what's normal versus common.

• Kirsten's path to specializing in pelvic health began through working with perinatal patients
• The pelvic floor connects to multiple body systems including hips, spine, and visceral organs
• Common reasons for seeking pelvic health care include urinary leaking, pain, pressure sensations, and painful periods
• Pain with intimacy is an undertreated issue that many people suffer with silently due to shame
• The pelvic floor muscles provide stability, control openings, and play a role in intimacy and pleasure
• Postpartum incontinence is commonly accepted as normal when it's actually treatable
• Barriers to seeking care include resources, time, transportation, and insurance limitations
• Pelvic floor function often happens unconsciously, making it easy to disconnect from this area until problems occur

You can find Kirsten through her clinical practice online at empowerorthoandpelvichealth.com or on Instagram at @kirstendesmaraisdpt

Kirsten's Physical Therapy website

Mama You Belong Instagram

Kirsten's Instagram

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Songs on Spotify

Have you ever found yourself spiraling with worry in the middle of the night? You’re not alone. In this vulnerable conversation, we talk about motherhood anxiety, the mental load of moms, and the fears that keep us awake long after our kids are asleep. 

Hot dogs for dinner (AGAIN), and summer mom chronicles. We discuss the challenges of transitioning to summer with school-aged children and the struggles of early motherhood, particularly around sleep deprivation and nighttime parenting.

• Children often struggle with unstructured time after the highly stimulated school environment
• The transition to summer routines typically takes about two weeks as kids and parents adjust
• Many children develop high expectations for constant entertainment and struggle with "boring" days at home
• Nervous system co-regulation between parent and child evolves as children grow
• Parents can experience both comfort and anxiety from physical proximity with their children, particularly at bedtime
• Nighttime parenting often brings feelings of dread, especially for mothers of infants
• Many mothers fantasize about escape scenarios when overwhelmed by sleep deprivation
• The endurance test of early motherhood feels particularly difficult because there's no clear end point
• When we feel like we can't go on, we have to either surrender to the process or maintain hope that things will improve soon
• Most mothers experience a gradual shift toward easier days, though the timeline varies for each family

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with other mamas, subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Remember, when you're feeling alone, you still belong.

Kirsten's Physical Therapy website

Mama You Belong Instagram

Kirsten's Instagram

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Songs on Spotify

Perinatal mental health struggles like postpartum depression and anxiety impact far more moms than we realize. In this powerful interview we discuss the stigma, the silence, and the support moms deserve but rarely get. 

Perinatal mental health specialist Celleste Schnellbach, MS, LMFT, PMH-C of Duluth Perinatal joins us to break down the realities of maternal mental health challenges, offering both professional expertise and personal experience as a survivor of postpartum OCD. She is also the Vice Chair for Pregnancy Postpartum Support International - MN Chapter! 

• Celleste shares her personal journey with postpartum OCD, including terrifying intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
• Perinatal mental health encompasses conditions during pregnancy, post-loss, or the year postpartum
• Common diagnoses include depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorders, birth trauma/PTSD, and psychosis
• The threshold for seeking help should be "whenever something feels off" – you don't need to be suffering to deserve support
• Bringing babies to therapy is not only possible but provides valuable clinical information...don't let that be the barrier to accessing therapy if you need support
• Managing nervous system regulation includes identifying whether you're in hyper-arousal (fight or flight) or hypo-arousal (freeze) states
• Repair after dysregulation is crucial – it's not about perfect parenting but how you reconnect after difficult moments with your kids
• Self-judgment and "shoulds" can prevent mothers from seeking the help they deserve

Looking for support for perinatal mental health concerns? Start here.

For MN specific support, click here.

Would you like to see Celleste as a patient at Duluth Perinatal? Find out more here.

Kirsten's Physical Therapy website

Mama You Belong Instagram

Kirsten's Instagram

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Songs on Spotify

Parenting conversations often leave fathers out—but dads belong too. In this episode, Phil Desmarais and Chad Hilgenberg share their stories of becoming fathers, navigating belonging, and finding their voice in the journey of parenting alongside moms. 

Phil Desmarais is the Director of Performance at Excel North Physical Therapy and Performance in Duluth, MN. 

Chad Hilgenberg is a general contractor and carpenter, and is the owner of Hilgenberg Construction LLC in Duluth, MN. 

Kirsten's Physical Therapy website

Mama You Belong Instagram

Kirsten's Instagram

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Songs on Spotify

Motherhood doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s deeply tied to politics, policies, and cultural expectations. In this episode, we explore why motherhood is political, how moms can find their voice, and why speaking up matters for ourselves and our communities. 

In this thought-provoking and timely episode, we briefly explore the intricate relationship between motherhood and the current socio-political landscape. We reflect on the internal conflicts faced by mothers as we care for our families amidst a world filled with distressing events. 

Emphasizing the importance of open dialogue, we challenge the tendency to overlook the emotional burdens we carry and the impact of societal issues on our well-being.

We address the silence surrounding significant societal challenges and how it often stems from a lack of direct experience. 

We encourage mothers to acknowledge that privilege should not hinder our responsibility to speak up against injustice. And, acknowledge some of the reasons why staying silent may be easier for many. Through introspection, we highlight the need to find our voices and confront oppressive systems, reminding us that motherhood is inherently political. 

We conclude with a call to action: by embracing our power and resisting silence, we can drive meaningful change for ourselves and our communities.

Here are some resources related to the content of this episode:

Motherwhelmed by Beth Berry - a book addressing the overculture, mother role, and many deeply rooted things that can influence silence and/or action.

Never called your reps before? This will make it SUPER easy 5 Calls app 

Chamber of Mothers - a non-partisan group focused on empowering moms in advocacy for paid leave, affordable childcare, and maternal health.

Kirsten's Physical Therapy website

Mama You Belong Instagram

Kirsten's Instagram

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Songs on Spotify

What does “nervous system regulation” even mean when you’re a mom pulled in a million directions? We unpack the buzzword, talk about overstimulation, stress, and what finding calm looks like in the middle of messy, real-life motherhood. 

Hint: Is it really regulating or is it us policing ourselves? 

Our discussion begins with a candid reflection on exhaustion and coping methods, transitioning into the pressures society places on mothers in relationship to their ability to “regulate”. We, then, confront the disparity between curated social media portrayals of parenting and the often chaotic reality, emphasizing the need for support and understanding (and for unfollowing unhelpful accounts).

Delving into practical strategies for managing overstimulation, we offer insights on creating a more manageable environment and grounding exercises. We identify that these are simply tools to bring us back into a place where we can be present while knowing that this may not be possible for us at times. We also address the stigma surrounding seeking help, highlighting the necessity of compassion and self-care. 

Concluding with actionable tips, we encourage listeners to integrate personal coping mechanisms into their routines in order to see what works for them, reminding them that “regulation” isn’t the end goal, utilizing tools and seeking centeredness/groundedness while embracing life's chaos is a continuous journey.

We hope our stories and ideas resonate with you and your own struggles with dysregulation, sensory overload, and the “shoulds” around the topic of the nervous system. 

Here are some resources you might find useful!

Ambient music - environmental shift to ground yourself during times of sensory overload

Need a little more or different support with the auditory overload of motherhood?? Here is an option for noise reducing ear buds Loops - NOT an affiliate 

Pregnancy Postpartum Support International - Perinatal mental health resources including support groups, registry of providers, and so much more (your state may have their own resources too! MN is Pregnancy Postpartum Support MN)

Kirsten's Physical Therapy website

Mama You Belong Instagram

Kirsten's Instagram

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Songs on Spotify

Welcome to Mama You Belong—a podcast about the real, messy, and beautiful journey of matrescence. In our first episode, we share our own stories, why we started this podcast, and how we hope to build a community where every mom feels she belongs. 

Kirsten, a physical therapist and birth doula shares her personal experiences with perinatal mental health challenges, including the impact of a traumatic pregnancy loss and parenting a neurodivergent child.  

Molly, a mental health therapist, offers insights from her journey through infertility and the realities of postpartum life. We discuss the concept of matrescence, acknowledging the transformational and often tumultuous nature of becoming a mother. 

(Read the book on matresence with us for future episodes) 

Our candid conversation aims to illuminate the feelings of inadequacy many mothers face when fitting into societal expectations and to foster a sense of belonging within our community. 

Through shared stories and expert insights, we seek to empower mothers by creating a supportive space for connection and understanding in their unique journeys.

Kirsten's Physical Therapy website

Mama You Belong Instagram

Kirsten's Instagram

Molly's Instagram

Molly's Songs on Spotify