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When we picture our path to parenthood, very few of us imagine sitting beside an incubator in the NICU, undergoing multiple rounds of IVF, or turning to surrogacy to bring a child home. In this heartwarming and deeply honest episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea connects with children’s book author Emily Rosen to explore what happens when your journey to becoming a parent looks completely different than you planned.

Emily opens up about the sudden 34-week delivery of her son, Max, the heavy emotional toll of his 16-day NICU stay, and the postpartum anxiety that followed. She shares how channeling her grief and waiting into creativity inspired her children’s book, Waiting for Max, designed to help older siblings process a brother or sister’s NICU stay. Emily also opens up about her subsequent three-year struggle with infertility, endometriosis, and navigating surrogacy to welcome her daughter, Eva.

If you’ve ever felt isolated by birth trauma, struggled with your mental health, or felt like your body betrayed you during the journey to grow your family, this conversation is a gentle, supportive reminder that you aren’t alone.

Key Takeaways:

• The Weight of the NICU: Why even a brief stay in the NICU can trigger intense postpartum anxiety, guilt, and birth trauma for perinatal individuals.
• Reclaiming Control in Crisis: How small routines, like reading books daily or printing physical photos, can help parents feel connected to their baby amidst medical chaos.
• Using Creativity as Therapy: How processing grief and waiting through writing led Emily to create a book that gives young siblings a gentle voice during a high-stress medical event.
• Navigating Complex Infertility: The emotional roller coaster of IVF, endometriosis, chemical pregnancies, and making the decision to pursue surrogacy.
• Making Peace with the Unexpected: Learning to heal from the envy and sadness of a broken dream while fully embracing the unique path that brought your children home.

Soundbites:

• "The wait felt like forever. Whether you're there for two days or two months, it's really unbearable not getting to be with your baby at home like you thought you would."
• "Motherhood should come with a therapist. Life should come with a therapist, but motherhood especially."
• "If you're in a NICU experience or any difficult experience, creativity is a great way to process and express how you're feeling."
• "She was the last embryo we could use, and it feels like she was meant to be our child. I remind myself that I have Eva, and she's the baby I'm supposed to have."
• "Whatever you're going through or you went through, you aren't alone. Other people have been there and are ready to support you."

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Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of postpartum psychosis, severe PMHDS, suicidal ideation, medical trauma, and high-profile legal cases involving harm to children.

In this episode of Quiet Confessions, Chelsea is joined by their husband, Ben, for an intimate look at the reality of perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDS) and the systemic gaps in care. Sparked by recent high-profile headlines surrounding the Lindsay Clancy trial, Chelsea and Ben pull back the curtain on how media narratives reduce complex medical crises to sensationalized stories while ignoring the realities of postpartum psychosis.

They discuss the critical difference between specialized perinatal support and general psychiatric units, the stark lack of resources nationwide, and why caregiving partners must play an active role in advocating for birthing individuals.

Key Takeaways

• Media vs. Reality: Media coverage of severe PMHDS often focuses on sensational headlines rather than highlighting the medical reality of postpartum psychosis.
• Systemic Gaps: Specialized inpatient care for perinatal mental health is severely lacking across the country, leaving families to navigate a broken, reactive system.
• Postpartum Psychosis as an Emergency: Postpartum psychosis is a temporary, treatable medical emergency that requires immediate intervention and safe, specialized care.
• The Partner's Role: Partners and caregivers are a crucial line of defense; educating non-birthing individuals on PMHDS is essential for proper advocacy and safety.

This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels.

Visit our Patreon to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs!

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 Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health?
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When you’re a high-achieving attorney and licensed therapist, you think you’ve got the research and prep work handled. But as guest Paula Yost discovered, pregnancy and parenting don’t care about your schedules or degree titles.

In this episode, Paula shares her journey through two high-risk pregnancies, a sudden bilateral cleft lip and palate diagnosis, premature menopause at 34, and a terrifying bout with severe preeclampsia that nearly took her life. 

We’re talking about the subtle signs of preeclampsia, the intense mental toll of the NICU, and the overwhelming guilt birthing individuals carry when a pregnancy goes off-script. 

If you’ve ever looked at your child and wondered, "What did I do wrong?", this conversation’s for you. You didn't do anything wrong, mama. Let’s talk about it.

Key Takeaways

• Preeclampsia Awareness: Preeclampsia’s the number one physical health threat for birthing individuals in the US, yet so many aren’t taught the subtle symptoms (like early swelling or sudden, sharp neurological pain).
• Releasing Maternal Guilt: When medical complications or birth differences arise, birthing individuals almost always blame themselves. Realizing that conditions like preeclampsia or cleft palates aren’t "your fault" is the first step toward healing.
• The Power of Community: Whether it’s a spouse who stays calm in a crisis, a friend who gets tested to donate specialized neonatal blood, or a compassionate doctor who speaks truth into your fear—your support network is your anchor.
• Advocating for Early Intervention: Access to occupational therapy, speech therapy, and early childhood resources shouldn’t be dictated by your socio-economic status. Protecting our zero-to-five population needs to be a legislative priority.

• Website: paulayost.com
• Instagram: @paulayost_author

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 Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

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What happens when bringing a new life into the world triggers a complete break from reality, leaving you isolated in a system that wasn't built to give you the care you need?

In this episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea sits down with registered nurse, mother, and advocate Sarah Savage. Sarah shares her story of an emergency premature birth, a sudden cord prolapse, and the chaotic descent into mania and postpartum psychosis that followed.

Together, Chelsea and Sarah unpack the reality of delusional thinking, the deep shame attached to general psychiatric hospitalizations for birthing individuals, and the systemic failure of healthcare systems that separate new parents from their newborns. 

Sarah talks openly about hitting rock bottom, stopping her medications, facing severe suicidal ideation, and the slow, brave process of rebuilding her relationship with her son, Mickey.

If you've ever felt completely lost in the dark after birth, or if you're navigating the heavy weight of birth trauma and PMHDS, this conversation will remind you that your story isn't over and joy is still waiting for you on the other side.

• Recognizing the Onset of Postpartum Psychosis: How postpartum psychosis can present as hyper-energy, rapid speech, decreased need for sleep, and delusional or "magical" thinking rather than just harm-based thoughts.
• The Systemic Gap in Maternal Mental Health: Why the US medical system fails birthing individuals by placing them in general psychiatric units that separate parents from their infants and lack basic postpartum physical care.
• Overcoming Postpartum Shame: How the shame of being away from your baby or needing psychiatric intervention can linger long after physical recovery, and why self-compassion is crucial.
• Rebuilding the Parent-Child Bond: Understanding that bonding with your baby doesn't always happen instantly after trauma, but can be built step-by-step through grace and time.

This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels.

Visit our Patreon to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs!

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 Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

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When Cat Carnell walked into her ten-week ultrasound expecting to hear a heartbeat, she was met with two words that shattered her world: "I'm sorry." What followed was a confusing, painful, and deeply isolating journey through a missed miscarriage—a type of pregnancy loss where the body continues to hold onto the pregnancy without showing typical signs of loss.

In this episode of Quiet Connection, Cat opens up about the harsh physical reality of taking medication for pregnancy loss, the overwhelming hormonal drop that left her feeling completely "soulless," and the dark humor and unique coping mechanisms (including a giant Jeep duck!) that helped her process her grief. 

Cat and Chelsea dive deep into the taboo conversations surrounding reproductive health, the gaps in medical communication, and why we need to talk about the physical and emotional realities of loss so no birthing individual feels crazy or alone.

Key Takeaways

• What a Missed Miscarriage Actually Is: Understanding why the body holds onto a pregnancy after it has ended and why medical providers need to explain what is happening rather than just apologizing.
• The Reality of Medical Management: The gap between how healthcare providers portray loss management pills (as "just bad period cramps") and the actual, intense physiological experience.
• The Perinatal Mental Health Crash: How dramatic hormonal shifts after a loss can trigger severe perinatal mental health struggles, leaving birthing individuals feeling detached or soulless.
• Coping Through Connection & Humor: Why unconventional outlets—from life coaching and bodywork to driving a Jeep with a massive duck—are valid, powerful steps in reclaiming yourself after loss.

This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels.

Visit our Patreon to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs!

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 Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

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When you envision bringing a child into the world, nobody prepares you for the possibility of walking through the double doors of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The flashing lights, the constant hum of monitors, and the physical barrier of an isolette can leave birthing and perinatal individuals feeling isolated, helpless, and completely detached from the experience they imagined.

In this episode of Quiet Connection, I'm sitting down with Julie Hatch, a seasoned Pediatric and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years of experience in the NICU. Julie shares what it's truly like on the front lines of infant intensive care, from the sudden rush of high-risk admissions to the quiet, profound moments where parents and nurses carry hope for each other. 

We break down the reality of hospital environments, debunking common misconceptions about who ends up in the NICU and why. Beyond the technical machinery, Julie reminds us that a parent’s energy and unconditional love are deeply felt by their little ones, even through the porthole of an incubator.

If you've ever felt robbed of those initial bonding moments, or if you're currently navigating the uncertainty of a medical journey with your child, this conversation offers a gentle reminder: taking care of your own mental health isn't a luxury, it's essential. Hope isn't something you have to carry alone.

Key Takeaways

• The NICU is a Built-In Village: While terrifying, the NICU creates an unexpected community of nurses, social workers, and fellow parents who support one another through shared trauma and triumph.
• Hope is a Vital Tool: When medical answers aren't immediate, holding onto hope, or letting your care team hold it for you, helps carry you through the hour-by-hour uncertainty.
• Parental Energy Transcends Physical Touch: Even when a baby is too fragile to be held, your calm presence, voice, and energy send powerful signals of safety and love.
• Self-Care is Not Failure: Prioritizing your own mental health and rest as a parent directly impacts your child's wellbeing. You can't pour from an empty cup.
• Bridging Eastern and Western Medicine: Western medicine saves lives in acute crises, but Eastern practices like acupuncture offer crucial support for long-term stress, PMHDS recovery, and nervous system regulation.

Don't forget to visit Vermont Birth Network to learn more about connecting with perinatal and postpartum practitioners in Vermont!

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 Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

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In this episode of Quiet Connection, host Chelsea Myers sits down with Hilary Hodge, author of the upcoming book The Art of Parenting While Sick. Living in the beautiful Loire Valley of France, Hilary navigates the daily, often invisible grind of severe asthma and adrenal insufficiency while raising her five-year-old son.

Chelsea and Hilary dive deep into the unique realities of being a perinatal individual with a chronic illness. They unpack the heavy, constant weight of mom guilt, flip the script on what an "able" parent looks like, and share why parenting from the couch can actually be a beautiful space for deep connection. 

Hilary also shares highly practical, life-saving advice on how to create a family medical emergency plan, prepare young kids for unpredictable hospital stays, and demystify daily medications without creating fear. 

Whether you're navigating a lifelong disability, a new diagnosis, or just general parenting overwhelm, this episode will remind you that you're doing a wonderful job and your journey matters.

Key Takeaways

• The Chronic Illness Superpower: Perinatal individuals managing disabilities often develop a unique parenting superpower. They give up perfectionism early on, master flexibility, and raise incredibly resilient, empathetic children.
• Reframing "Parenting from the Couch": You don't have to chase your toddler across a playground to be an amazing parent. Slower, low-mobility moments create intentional, high-quality spaces for emotional connection.
• The "Fire Extinguisher" Emergency Method: Just like practicing fire safety, walking your children through a 5-minute plan for 911 calls or flare-up days removes the chaos and anxiety from actual medical crises.
• Demystifying Medications: Keeping kids safely informed about medical gear (like nebulizers or pillboxes) satisfies their natural curiosity and prevents them from viewing your illness as a scary, unspeakable secret.
• Healthcare Systems Compared: Hilary notes how France's healthcare system provides immense, low-cost structural support for long-term conditions and birth recovery, though the US remains highly progressive in its open conversations surrounding mental health care.

Soundbites

• "Maybe disabled parents are more fit to be parents. They're more creative. They're more resilient. They're so used to being flexible... They've given up on perfectionism years ago."
  
  
• "This parenting from the couch thing could actually be a blessing... there's so much that you can do from home."
  
  
• "Our kids have only ever known us this way. That empathy is a superpower that's built into our kids because this is the life that we live."
  
  
• "It's like a fire extinguisher. If there's a grease fire, it's pandemonium because no one remembers how to use it. But if you take five minutes to walk through it ahead of time, when it happens, it's so much less chaotic."
  
  
• "I was just sobbing, 'I just want to be a mom. I can't take care of my kids.' And my therapist said, 'Why can't you? You are a mom.' You can keep parenting from the bed, even if you feel awful."

Support the show

 Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

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In this episode of Quiet Confessions, Chelsea takes a step back from personal musings to focus on advocacy and education surrounding perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDS). Recording from their late grandmother’s house, Chelsea reflects on channeling their hero's legacy to make others feel seen, loved, and valued.

Chelsea explains the range of PMHDS, covering topics like perinatal depression, anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, postpartum rage, substance use disorder, and postpartum psychosis. They address common misconceptions, detailing the vital differences between intrusive thoughts in perinatal OCD and the true break from reality seen in postpartum psychosis. Chelsea stresses that PMHDS are treatable, recovery is 100% possible, and lifting the weight of silence can be the first step toward healing.

Key Takeaways

• PMHDS Affect Many: One in five perinatal individuals and one in ten partners experience a perinatal mental health disorder.
• Beyond Stereotypical Depression: Perinatal depression isn't always crying; it can present as feeling completely numb or going through the motions while feeling detached from yourself.
• Hypervigilance and OCD: Perinatal OCD often involves intrusive thoughts coupled with compulsive rituals (like counting baby's breaths or rigid schedules) aimed at quelling extreme anxiety.
• Understanding Postpartum Psychosis: Postpartum psychosis involves a true break from reality, including hallucinations and delusions. Chelsea clarifies that many delusions center on intense protection rather than harm.
• Recovery is Possible: All perinatal mental health disorders are temporary and treatable with appropriate support, medical care, and professional intervention.

If you or someone you love is navigating a perinatal mental health disorder, resources are available:

• Visit Postpartum Support International to connect with local providers, specialized support groups, and trained peer mentors. 

This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels.

Visit our Patreon to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs!

Support the show

 Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

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In this episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea sits down with Jessica Hill, co-founder of The Parent Collective. Jessica opens up about her transition into motherhood while living overseas in London, where an unexpected medical scare with her newborn sparked a season of hypervigilance and postpartum anxiety. 

We talk about the raw grief of adding a second child, the stark differences between maternal care systems in the UK and the US, and why having a built-in peer cohort is the ultimate antidote to early parenthood isolation. 

Whether you're in the trenches of the newborn phase or navigating life with teenagers, this conversation is a beautiful reminder to extend yourself some grace. 

Key Takeaways

• The Reality of Maternal Systems: The UK maternal health model builds community and continuous care through midwives and home visits, whereas the US system often leaves perinatal individuals feeling clinical and isolated after birth.
• The Trap of Maternal Gatekeeping: Postpartum anxiety and hypervigilance can cause us to tightly control routines, which unintentionally shuts out partners who are simply trying to bond in their own way.
• Grieving the Shift to Two: It’s completely normal to feel deep grief during a second pregnancy over losing the exclusive, uninterrupted bond you share with your first child.
• Community is Postpartum Medicine: Having a cohort of peers who are in the exact same seasonal trenches (diaper blowouts, sleep regressions) reduces the risk of PMHDS and shields against isolation.

Support the show

 Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health?
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With the Lindsay Clancy trial dominating headlines right now, the media is full of sensationalized coverage that instills fear and demonizes birthing individuals in crisis. But sensationalism doesn't save lives; truth, proper medical training, and early intervention do.

In this episode of Quiet Confessions, I'm stepping away from our scheduled series to address the reality of postpartum psychosis (PPP). 

I share the crucial differences between intrusive thoughts and psychotic delusions, break down the staggering lack of PMHD training in maternal healthcare, and unpack why criminalizing medical emergencies fails everyone. 

If the current news cycle has felt heavy or triggering, this conversation is here to give you facts, validate your feelings, and remind you that you are never alone.

• Resource Links Mentioned in Episode:
  • Postpartum Support International (PSI): postpartum.net
  • National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)
  • Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
  • Emergency Support: Call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.

Key Takeaways

• The Reality Behind the Numbers: Postpartum psychosis occurs in 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 births. Extreme tragic outcomes occur in only 2% to 4% of cases, primarily when individuals are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or improperly treated.
• Delusions vs. Intrusive Thoughts: Intrusive thoughts are unwanted and jarring, but you recognize them as separate from yourself. Delusions in postpartum psychosis represent a complete break from reality where the belief feels entirely real.
• Systemic Healthcare Failures: OBGYNs, midwives, and PCPs receive almost no required training on PMHDs. A single six-week postpartum checkup is nowhere near enough to monitor birthing individuals.
• Prescription Risks & Rapid Changes: Bouncing between complex psychiatric medications without proper oversight can escalate a crisis rather than resolve it.
• Why Silence is Dangerous: Staying silent out of fear perpetuates shame and keeps parents from seeking help. Open conversations and systemic healthcare reform are what truly save lives.

*Correction: There is excellent PMHD training available through Postpartum Support International, but it is not required when obtaining initial licensure for mental health professionals or medical professionals.

This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels.

Visit our Patreon to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs!

Support the show

 Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health?
Send Chelsea a message on PodMatch