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In this powerhouse episode, Chelsea sits down with Rachell Dumas—a registered nurse, maternal health advocate, and the founder of the nonprofit A Light After Nine. 

Rachell shares her "tumultuous" four-year journey to motherhood, which was marked by five pregnancy losses and a constant battle against a healthcare system that dismissed her pain.

Rachell recounts the devastating experience of losing a baby at 15 weeks during her own gender reveal and the subsequent diagnosis of cervical insufficiency. From flying to Texas for life-saving surgery while "a baby was falling out" of her to navigating two recent brain surgeries for a neurological medical mystery, Rachell describes her life as "Jumanji"—never knowing what the next level will bring. 

Now, she is using her "nurse jargon" to code an app called HEARD, designed to help patients bridge the communication gap with providers and save lives through better advocacy. 

• A Light After Nine (Nonprofit): alightafternine.org
• HEARD App: https://myheardapp.com/
• Instagram: @alightafternine 

🔑Key Takeaways

• The Power of Advocacy: Even as an experienced critical care nurse, Rachell found herself dismissed by providers during life-threatening pregnancy complications.
• Cervical Insufficiency: Rachell explains this condition where the cervix is too weak to carry a baby full-term, requiring surgical interventions like a cerclage.
• Intentional Presence: During her final successful pregnancy, Rachell used therapy and mindfulness to "exercise the muscle" of staying present, despite intense PTSD from previous losses.
• "Jumanji" Resilience: Rachell describes the feeling of surviving one trauma only for another—like a neurological crisis and brain surgery—to be "released," requiring constant movement and perseverance.
• HEARD: Rachell is developing an app to teach patients "healthcare jargon," ensuring meaningful interactions with providers during increasingly short appointment windows. 

HEARD is currently looking for beta users. Sign up and you will be entered into a raffle for $100.

✅ Beta App Link: theheardapp.com📝 Beta Evaluation Form: https://forms.gle/gZpfsbsEAFrdw3zB6

💬Sound Bites

• "I was all critical care saving lives... Maternal health was not even remotely on my radar at all."
• "What y'all are saying is normal, but losing three babies now is not normal."
• "I was told, it's nor

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.

Odd Moms On Call is a podcast for moms navigating the chaos of current events. Join our diverse panel of moms from across the U.S. and Canada, breaking down how politics, policies, and culture impact our families—and how we talk to our kids about them. Honest, unfiltered, and insightful, we're making sense of the world, one conversation at a time. 

Listen on BuzzSprout!

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 

Send us Fan Mail

In this week’s Quiet Confession, Chelsea opens up the floor for some Q&A and explores the complex intersection of self-care and trauma recovery for parents.

While traditional self-care often fails for those with postpartum PTSD or medical trauma, Chelsea shares their personal evolution from identifying "maladaptive" coping habits to discovering "glimmers" that actually reset the nervous system.

They discuss why former "comforts" can become triggers and how to build a realistic support system after life-altering health crises. 

Tune in for a guide on reclaiming joy while navigating chronic illness and psychiatric recovery.

Key Takeaways

• The Post-Trauma Pivot: Chelsea explains that self-care practices used before a health crisis (such as certain TV shows) can unintentionally trigger flashbacks or anxiety post-trauma.
• Glimmers Over Triggers: While triggers induce panic, "glimmers" are micro-moments—like a specific tea ritual or fresh air—that help reset and regulate the nervous system.
• Communication is Critical: Reclaiming time for yourself requires looking inward to understand your specific needs and then clearly communicating them to your partner or village.
• Building the Village: Chelsea highlights that since support isn't always automatic, parents must be intentional about asking for help to carve out even 15-minute windows for rest.
• Protecting Mental Energy: Shifting from heavy content to light, easy-to-digest media is a strategic way to protect mental energy during chronic illness flares.

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.

Odd Moms On Call is a podcast for moms navigating the chaos of current events. Join our diverse panel of moms from across the U.S. and Canada, breaking down how politics, policies, and culture impact our families—and how we talk to our kids about them. Honest, unfiltered, and insightful, we're making sense of the world, one conversation at a time. 

Listen on BuzzSprout!

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 

Send us Fan Mail

What does it mean to raise children while carrying the weight of despair, and to find healing in unexpected places? In this episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea sits down with Betti Rooted Lionheart, a mother, shamanic healer, and facilitator of “The Work That Reconnects.”

Betti opens up about her early conviction never to have children, her experiences with traumatic birth and a lifelong fistula injury, and the path that led her to shamanic practice, despair work, and a new sense of belonging. 

With raw honesty, she shares how she’s modeled healing and resilience for her teenage sons, how she navigates abandonment wounds, and why she believes every parent deserves permission to feel all their emotions.

🔑 Key Takeaways

1. Despair can start early. From childhood, Betti carried deep grief for the planet and humanity, which shaped her view of motherhood.
2. Birth trauma has lasting effects. A severe tear during home birth left Betti with a lifelong fistula injury and marked a personal rock bottom.
3. Community dreams are hard to sustain. Her efforts to build intentional community often clashed with isolation and burnout.
4. Healing begins with reclaiming voice. Through shamanic soul retrieval, Betti began to step into her power and speak her truth.
5. Parenting and healing intertwine. She has modeled openness, spiritual connection, and resilience for her teenage sons, inviting them into the journey.
6. All emotions are valid. From rage to despair to joy, Betti believes in expressing emotions fully, even inviting her kids to witness her rage practice. 

🎧 Soundbites

1. “I grew up in despair about what humans were doing to the earth — and thought I’d never have children.”
2. “A traumatic birth injury left me with a fistula that doctors still don’t have answers for — ten years later.”
3. “Shamanic practice gave me back my voice — and with it, my power.”
4. “Every emotion is valid. Rage, despair, joy — all of it belongs.”
5. “I want my kids to see that doing what feeds me doesn’t mean I’m abandoning them.”
6. “What if, instead of stopping our kids’ tantrums, we sat down and tantrumed with them?”

 To learn more about Betti, visit her website.

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.

Odd Moms On Call is a podcast for moms navigating the chaos of current events. Join our diverse panel of moms from across the U.S. and Canada, breaking down how politics, policies, and culture impact our families—and how we talk to our kids about them. Honest, unfiltered, and insightful, we're making sense of the world, one conversation at a time. 

Listen on BuzzSprout!

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 

Send us Fan Mail

In this intimate "flare day" confession, Chelsea records from their couch to discuss a fundamental shift in how they are approaching the new year. Moving away from traditional resolutions, Chelsea shares why their word for 2026 is "Believe"—specifically, the belief that they are worthy of good things, joy, and comfort despite the chaos of the world.

Tune in to hear why saying "yes" to yourself is actually one of the best things you can do for your family.

Key Takeaways

• Energy as a Finite Resource: Inspired by a Taylor Swift quote, Chelsea discusses the importance of being protective and intentional about where you spend your mental and physical energy.
• The Power of "Believe": The theme for the year is centered on believing in one's own worthiness of care and the existence of "glimmers" even during heavy times.
• Reclaiming Body Relationship: Chelsea shares the experience of doing a boudoir shoot with photographer Megan to heal a fractured relationship with a body impacted by chronic illness.
• Realistic Self-Care: Self-care isn't about being "super mom"; it's about filling your own cup so you have the mental capacity to be present and invested in your family's lives.
• Strategic Planning for Joy: For those who are planners, Chelsea suggests budgeting time and money for the "scary things" you've been putting off, rather than waiting for the "right time".
• The Multi-Layered "Yes": Saying "yes" to personal desires is about more than the activity itself—it's about the feeling of being seen, respected, and empowered.

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 

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In this episode, I'm connecting with fellow Vermonters and parenting podcasters Mike and Meghann Oquendo, hosts of Pondering Parenthood, to talk about the journey from educators to parents, the grief and chaos of early parenthood, and the deep work of reconnecting to themselves, to each other, and to their joy.

From miscarriage and pandemic birth stories to sleepless nights, relationship strain, and rediscovering glimmers, Mike and Meghann share their honest, funny, and deeply relatable story of what happens when love meets exhaustion, and how healing comes from community, therapy, and gratitude.

🗝️ Key Takeaways

• Parenthood brings both joy and grief—and it’s okay to feel both.
• Early parenting can feel isolating, but community and honesty create healing.
• Bonding doesn’t always happen instantly; connection grows through time and presence.
• Practicing gratitude and therapy helped Mike rediscover joy in fatherhood.
• It’s okay to step away when overwhelmed—both babies and parents need regulation.

💬 Soundbites

1. “Having a kid is not all joy. It’s a lot of joy and it’s also a lot of grief and mourning—and that’s okay.” — Mike
2. “Sometimes the safest thing you can do is put your baby down and walk away.” — Meghann
3. “I didn’t start really enjoying being a dad until six months ago.” — Mike
4. “This podcast brought back a piece of my purpose I thought I’d lost.” — Meghann
5. “Parenting isn’t a checklist anymore. It’s presence.” — Mike

Check out Pondering Parenthood on Instagram, and listen wherever you get your podcasts! 

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 

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*This episode discusses topics realted to Postpartum Psychosis, including delusional thinking and psychiatric hospitalization.

In this episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea sits down with Willemijn De Bruin, a world traveler, public health researcher, and mother of two, to discuss her unexpected journey through postpartum psychosis. Willemijn opens up about her traumatic first birth, her two psychiatric hospitalizations in the UK, and the painstaking road to recovery that took nearly a year.

She also shares her courageous decision to have a second child despite the risks, how she built a preventative strategy and support system, and the healing birth that followed. Now an outspoken advocate for maternal mental health, Willemijn combines her lived experience with her professional background to raise awareness and push for systemic change.

This episode is a testament to resilience, recovery, and the power of speaking out.

To learn more about Willemijn, visit her Instagram or Website.

If you or a loved one is facing maternal mental health challenges, please use the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA) or the Postpartum Support International Warm Line (1-800-944-4773). You can also call or text 988 if you are in immediate crisis.

If you suspect you or your loved one is experiencing Postpartum Psychosis, please seek treatment at your nearest emergency department. 

🗝️ Key Takeaways

• Postpartum psychosis can happen to anyone—even without prior mental health history.
• Hospitalization in mother-baby units can save lives, but access remains limited globally.
• Relapse is possible, but recovery is also possible—it often takes a year or more.
• With preventative planning and strong support systems, second pregnancies can be healing.
• Advocacy and storytelling are powerful tools to reduce stigma and improve healthcare systems.

💬 Soundbites

1. “I never thought it could happen to me—and then I suffered postpartum psychosis.” 
2. “My partner saved my life by insisting something was wrong when I couldn’t see it.” 
3. “Recovery doesn’t end when you leave the hospital—that’s when it begins.” 
4. “Postpartum psychosis can happen to anyone. It’s not rare. It’s one to two in a thousand births.” 
5. “I owned my story early on. Speaking about it openly was part of my healing.” 

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.

Odd Moms On Call is a podcast for moms navigating the chaos of current events. Join our diverse panel of moms from across the U.S. and Canada, breaking down how politics, policies, and culture impact our families—and how we talk to our kids about them. Honest, unfiltered, and insightful, we're making sense of the world, one conversation at a time. 

Listen on BuzzSprout!

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 

Send us Fan Mail

In this timely solo session, Chelsea steps away from the recording studio to check in from their living room. Recorded via phone while watching for the school bus, this episode is a "solidarity session" for any parent feeling the weight of the world. 

This isn't a political episode, but a human one. Chelsea explores the strange cognitive dissonance of performing "normal" tasks like laundry and packing lunches while navigating a world that feels scary and uncertain.

If you are currently in a place of despair, grief, or exhaustion, this episode is a gentle reminder that being present for yourself and your children is the bravest thing you can do right now.

🔑Key Takeaways

• The Reality of Continuous Illness: Chelsea’s household remains in a cycle of sickness, with their youngest currently fighting the flu while Chelsea continues their own complex recovery.
• Parenting Through Collective Heavy: There is a shared feeling of uncertainty and fear in the current climate that makes everyday chores like laundry feel surreal and difficult.
• Solidarity Over Solutions: This episode offers no easy answers or political debates; instead, it provides a space for parents to feel seen in their struggle to exist as humans right now.
• Rest as Resistance: For those living with chronic illness and disability, prioritizing rest and self-care is a vital necessity for functioning as a parent.
• Small Acts of Bravery: Chelsea reminds listeners that simply being present and taking care of basic needs for themselves and their children is an act of courage during times of chaos. 

💬Sound Bites

• "If it feels really, really hard to exist as a human, let alone a parent, you are 100% not alone." 
• "This is not the environment that we thought we would be raising our children in." 
• "It feels really strange to do the normal things like make breakfast or pack lunches... what am I doing when there is so much chaos going on?" 
• "Being present and taking care of me and taking care of my kids is above all else the bravest thing I can do right now." 
• "Rest is resistance... I can't function if I'm not well, and my kids need me to function." 

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.

Odd Moms On Call is a podcast for moms navigating the chaos of current events. Join our diverse panel of moms from across the U.S. and Canada, breaking down how politics, policies, and culture impact our families—and how we talk to our kids about them. Honest, unfiltered, and insightful, we're making sense of the world, one conversation at a time. 

Listen on BuzzSprout!

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 

Send us Fan Mail

Motherhood rarely looks the way we imagined. For Melissa, it meant recovering from a C-section, navigating digestive issues and IBS, caring for a chronically ill husband, and raising a daughter during the COVID-19 pandemic, all while grieving the loss of her parents.

In this conversation, Melissa shares her journey of balancing caregiving with motherhood, managing her own health, and finding joy in simple practices like journaling, coloring, and walking. With honesty and faith, she shows us how building a “toolbox” of self-care practices can help parents hold both grief and joy at the same time.

• Caregiving is both a calling and a challenge. Melissa’s professional and personal experiences highlight the toll caregiving takes, and the need for support.
• Postpartum recovery doesn’t have an expiration date. Even years later, healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually is valid and important.
• The pandemic compounded isolation. Melissa became a new mom while caring for her husband during COVID-19, amplifying stress and burnout.
• Self-care isn’t selfish. From journaling to coloring with her daughter, Melissa models simple ways to integrate peace into daily life.
• Faith and community are anchors. Spiritual practice, church groups, and online communities became lifelines in seasons of loss and overwhelm.
• Peace is proactive. As Melissa shares, finding peace requires intentional effort, not passive waiting. 

• “Caregivers are often told to pour from an empty cup — but I refuse to be a statistic.”
• “Postpartum recovery doesn’t stop at six weeks. Sometimes it takes years — and that’s okay.”
• “My daughter has never known life without caregiving, but I want her to also know joy.”
• “Finding peace isn’t passive. It’s active, intentional, and sometimes uncomfortable.”
• “Coloring with my daughter isn’t just playtime — it’s healing time.”
• “Even in seasons of grief, you can still choose joy.”
• “Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s survival.”
• “Every parent deserves to know: you are seen, and you matter.”

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 

Send us Fan Mail

This week, Chelsea steps away from their typical format to "try again" at a moment they’ve replayed for twenty years. At sixteen, Chelsea met their hero, Brandi Carlile, and was left stumbling over words, unable to express the profound impact of her music. 

Now, in their late 30s, navigating life as a disabled, non-binary, and chronically ill parent, Chelsea uses this space to pen an open letter to the artist who has been the "steady hand" on their shoulder through every storm.

Chelsea reflects on how Brandi’s discography served as a lifeline during mental health mayhem, gender identity journeys, and the "pitch black void" of perinatal mental health struggles. From psychiatric hospitalizations to living room concerts with their "neuro-sparkly" children, Chelsea shares how specific songs like The Mother, The Joke, and The Story helped them navigate the specific shame and beauty of being a disabled mom. 

This episode is a raw testament to the power of art to save a life hundreds of times over.

🗝️Key Takeaways

• The Impact of Art on Survival: Chelsea credits Brandi Carlile’s music as a primary reason they are "still breathing" after two decades of mental and physical health challenges.
• Navigating Disability and Motherhood: Being a disabled mom involves a "specific kind of mess" that requires relying on others to carry a load you wish you could carry yourself, often accompanied by heavy guilt and shame.
• Music as a Clinical Tool: Chelsea recounts singing lyrics softly at the suggestion of kind nurses to survive endless nights during psychiatric hospitalizations.
• Identity and Duality: Through their journey as a non-binary and queer individual, Chelsea found comfort in the idea that one can be "mainstream and a misfit at the same time".
• Vulnerability as Light: Instead of hiding "broken parts," Chelsea discusses learning that these vulnerabilities are what actually "let the light in". 

💬Sound Bites

• "How do you tell a person in 30 seconds behind a merch table that they are the reason that you're still breathing?"
• "I've spent much of my life in a body that feels like a house on fire."
• "Being a disabled mom is a specific kind of mess. It means relying on everyone else to carry the load I wish I could carry."
• "Your music reminds me that right isn't a straight line."
• "Our stories don't mean anything if we've got no one to tell them to."

Links & Resources

• Music Highlight: The Mot

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.

Odd Moms On Call is a podcast for moms navigating the chaos of current events. Join our diverse panel of moms from across the U.S. and Canada, breaking down how politics, policies, and culture impact our families—and how we talk to our kids about them. Honest, unfiltered, and insightful, we're making sense of the world, one conversation at a time. 

Listen on BuzzSprout!

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 

Send us Fan Mail

When Amy became a mom, she thought she had to “grin and bear it.” Instead, she found herself battling exhaustion, anxiety, and postpartum rage that left her terrified of her own reactions. 

In this raw and compassionate conversation, Amy shares what it felt like to lose control, the turning point that led her to accept medication, and how she found her way back to herself. We also talk about cultural stigma, the importance of support networks, and why giving kids honest language around emotions matters.

Whether you’ve experienced postpartum rage yourself or love someone who has, this episode is a powerful reminder that naming our struggles is the first step to healing.

• Postpartum rage is common but often overlooked — and deserves recognition and support.
• Accepting medication is not failure; it can be a lifeline.
• Cultural attitudes toward mental health still impact how we seek help.
• Parenting without a “village” leaves many mothers isolated and vulnerable.
• Honest conversations with children about emotions help break generational cycles of silence.

• “I was terrified I was going to hurt my kids — and that’s when I knew I needed help.”
• “Taking Lexapro didn’t make me a failure. It made me a better mom, a better wife, and a better me.”
• “Most grown adults can’t handle their emotions — why do we expect parents to always hold it together?”
• “We all deserve at least one person we can fall apart with, snot bubbles and all, without judgment.”
• “Postpartum rage isn’t an official diagnosis, but it is very, very real.”

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