Better Relationships After Baby

Wondering how to choose a prenatal vitamin when every label—and every influencer—says something different? From folic acid versus methylfolate to iron, choline, and DHA, pregnancy preparation can quickly turn into another overwhelming research project.Chelsea Skaggs joins Zawwar Khan, founder of CareNatal, to unpack prenatal vitamin labels, supplement marketing, and the pressure to make the “perfect” choice for your baby. We explore practical questions to bring to your provider and why your budget, nausea, and ability to consistently take a prenatal belong in the conversation.In this episode:• What to look for when comparing prenatal vitamins• Folic acid versus methylfolate—and questions to ask your provider• Where iron, choline, and DHA/EPA appear on the label• What “third-party tested” tells you—and what to ask next• Choosing a manageable format when pregnancy nausea hits• How partners can share the research and mental load before baby arrivesYour prenatal choice is not a measure of how much you love your baby.Find CareNatal through Postpartum Together:https://www.carenatal.com/postpartumtogetherRESOURCES MENTIONEDFree prenatal vitamin research spreadsheet, created by CareNatal:Spreadsheet – CareNatalPREPARE FOR PARENTHOOD TOGETHERExplore Prep for Us, our relationship preparation program for expecting couples:https://www.postpartumtogether.com/prepare-relationship-before-babyDisclosure: Chelsea received CareNatal product samples. Zawwar is the company’s founder. CareNatal’s comparison resources are company-created.This conversation provides general education. Discuss your individual supplement needs with your healthcare provider.

Can you prevent postpartum depression? There is no checklist that can guarantee a new mom will or won’t experience postpartum depression, but there are evidence-based preventive interventions and protective factors couples can begin putting in place during pregnancy.In this episode, Chelsea talks about postpartum mental health through the lens of preparation, partnership, and support. Prompted by the current conversations surrounding the Lindsay Clancy trial and Hayden Panettiere’s public history with postpartum depression, she explores what expecting parents can do before the baby arrives to create a stronger safety net around the postpartum mother.Important: Chelsea is not a mental health clinician, and this episode is not medical advice or postpartum depression treatment. Postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis are also distinct conditions, and postpartum psychosis can require emergency psychiatric care.In this episode, we talk about:Understanding your individual risk factors for postpartum depression during pregnancyWhy you may want to establish with a perinatal mental health therapist before birthBuilding a maternal mental health support team before you need itWhy your partner should be part of your safety net—but not your entire safety netProtecting postpartum sleep and creating opportunities for meaningful restPreventing one parent from automatically becoming the default parentSharing the mental load instead of waiting for mom to delegateQuestions partners can ask beyond simply, “How are you?”Creating a postpartum mental health escalation plan during pregnancyWhat partners can actually own without trying to diagnose or “fix” postpartum depressionWhy functioning does not necessarily mean a new mother is doing wellHow expecting couples can build stronger relational protective structures before their baby arrivesOne of the biggest takeaways:Your partner does not need to own your mental health. They can own more of the environment around you.That can mean protecting opportunities for sleep, bringing food and water without being asked, taking ownership of household responsibilities, managing visitors, learning warning signs, knowing who to contact, noticing meaningful changes, and believing you when you say something does not feel right.Find perinatal mental health support through Postpartum Support International:PSI Perinatal Mental Health Provider Directory | PSI Perinatal Mental Health DirectoryDownload Chelsea’s Postpartum Plan:Postpartum Planning Checklist for Couples | Postpartum TogetherLearn more about Prep for Us:Prep for Us: How to Prepare Your Relationship for a Baby | Postpartum TogetherPrep for Us is Chelsea’s six-week preparation program for expecting couples. It is not postpartum depression treatment. Instead, couples work on the relational structures that can support a healthier postpartum environment—including understanding stress responses, sharing the mental load, protecting recovery, identifying support, communicating needs earlier, and learning how to recognize when something is no longer working.Because we cannot guarantee that a mother will never experience postpartum depression.But we can stop making “hopefully she tells us if she’s drowning” the postpartum mental health plan.

How should couples split newborn nights? (And does “sharing the nights” actually mean the same thing to both of you?)In this episode, Chelsea walks expecting couples through several ways to divide overnight newborn care, from split-night shifts and alternating wake-ups to feeder/support-partner roles and evening-and-morning coverage.More importantly, this isn’t about finding the perfect newborn sleep schedule.It’s about making sure both partners understand what they are agreeing to, protecting each person’s basic need for rest, and knowing how to adjust when your original plan stops working.Chelsea covers:Different ways couples can split newborn night shiftsWhether both parents need to wake up for every feedingHow breastfeeding changes nighttime responsibilitiesWhat the non-feeding partner can fully ownHow returning to work affects the conversationWhy paid work and postpartum recovery both deserve considerationWarning signs that your current system isn’t workingHow to avoid sleep scorekeeping and resentmentQuestions to discuss before your baby arrivesHow to safely say, “I’m not functioning well anymore”Why the ability to revise the plan matters more than creating the perfect planOne important reminder from this episode:Teamwork does not always mean doing the same task at the same moment.The goal is to build a system where one person’s sleep, recovery, or needs do not automatically become less important than the other’s.Use these questions after listening:What does each of us imagine nighttime care will look like?How much uninterrupted sleep does each of us need to function?How will feeding affect the division of nighttime care?What can the non-feeding partner fully own?How will we handle nights before a workday?How will either of us say, “I am no longer functioning safely”?When will we review and revise our plan?Prep for Us is Chelsea’s six-week program for expecting couples who want to prepare for more than birth and baby gear.Together, you’ll clarify expectations, understand your stress responses, divide responsibility more intentionally, communicate needs earlier, and create systems that can flex when real life looks different from the plan.Prep for Us: How to Prepare Your Relationship for a Baby | Postpartum TogetherLearn more from Chelsea at Postpartum Together.About Relationship Coaching with Chels + Mike | Postpartum TogetherInstagram: @postpartumtogetherQuestions to discuss with your partnerPrepare for parenthood as a team

Everyone is excited to meet the baby, but that does not mean your first days postpartum need to become a public baby reveal.In this episode, Chelsea talks about how expecting couples can decide when to welcome visitors, distinguish genuine support from added work, and communicate postpartum boundaries without blaming one another or turning one partner into the family “bad guy.”You’ll learn why even loving visitors can feel unexpectedly overwhelming after birth, how to think beyond rigid rules about when family should visit, and what you and your partner should discuss before making promises about your postpartum season.Chelsea also shares a simple formula for communicating boundaries clearly and kindly:Warmth + decision + next stepFor example:“We know you’re excited, and we’re excited for you to meet the baby. We’re not committing to visits during the first week. We’ll reach out once we know how recovery is going.”Later in the episode, Chelsea reflects on approaching ten years of motherhood and shares some of the things that surprised her most about birth, postpartum recovery, hormones, asking for help, feeling touched out, and experiencing resentment toward her partner.Why postpartum visits can become more stressful than expectedThe difference between a visitor and a genuine helperWhy good intentions do not automatically make a visit supportiveHow to decide when family should meet the babyHospital visitors versus visitors at homeProtecting physical recovery, feeding, rest, and bondingWhy you should avoid promising access before you know what recovery will requireHow partners can communicate boundaries to their own familiesWhy couples should use “we decided” languageWhat to say when relatives are disappointed or push backHow unclear family boundaries can create resentment between partnersWhat Chelsea wishes she had known before becoming a motherThe connection between receiving help, nervous-system regulation, and relationship healthInstead of beginning with, “Who is allowed to visit?” ask:What kind of support will help our new family feel safe, cared for, and able to recover?That question can help you make decisions based on your actual needs rather than guilt, family expectations, or pressure to keep everyone happy.The Postpartum Visitor PlanDownload the guide with reflection questions, visitor-planning prompts, and communication scripts for setting expectations with family.https://www.postpartumtogether.com/store/p/boundariesPeri bottle for postpartum recoveryChelsea mentioned how helpful a peri bottle can be during the first days of physical recovery after birth.https://amzn.to/4wt1upCPrep for UsPrep for Us is Chelsea’s six-week relationship-preparation program for expecting couples. It helps partners strengthen communication, understand their stress responses, share the invisible work, clarify expectations, and enter parenthood as a stronger team.Prep for Us: How to Prepare Your Relationship for a Baby | Postpartum TogetherEmail: [email protected]: @postpartumtogetherWebsite: www.postpartumtogether.comYour relatives are allowed to feel disappointed by your boundaries.Your responsibility is not to create a postpartum experience where no one ever feels left out. Your responsibility is to protect recovery, build trust between the two of you, and create enough room to meet your baby without immediately becoming responsible for everyone else’s expectations.

Do you really need a doula (and what do they actually do?)In this episode, Chelsea breaks down the practical, emotional, and relational role of a birth doula. You’ll learn how doulas support labor, what they do not do, how much they commonly cost, when payment is usually due, and when hiring one may be especially helpful.Chelsea also explains the deeper reason doulas can matter: birth was never historically something couples were expected to navigate entirely alone. A doula can bring experienced, nonmedical support into the room while helping your partner feel more confident and less responsible for carrying everything.Inside this episode:• What a birth doula does• The difference between a doula, midwife, OB, and nurse• Common doula costs and payment timelines• When insurance, Medicaid, or HSA/FSA funds may apply• Situations where a doula may be especially useful• How doulas support both the birthing person and partner• Why a doula does not replace your partner• Questions to ask when interviewing a doula• Where to search for doulas in your area• How birth support can protect connection during a stressful experienceA doula cannot guarantee a certain kind of birth, but they can help you feel more informed, supported, and grounded as plans unfold.This episode also explores how preparing for birth is connected to preparing your relationship. Inside Prep for Us, expecting couples learn how to communicate under stress, clarify support needs, share responsibility, and enter parenthood as a stronger team.Check out the related blog post here (including an easy download of questions to ask when choosing a doula). www.postpartumtogether.com/blog/do-you-really-need-a-doula

What classes should first-time parents actually take before the baby arrives?In this episode, Chelsea breaks down the most common options, including hospital childbirth classes, Lamaze, HypnoBirthing, the Bradley Method, infant CPR, breastfeeding education, lactation support, and newborn-care classes.You’ll hear how to decide which classes are worth your time, what hospital-based classes may leave out, and why finding a lactation professional before birth can make those early feeding days much easier.Chelsea also names the class most couples never think to take: preparation for the relationship transition.Because couples can spend hours learning how to swaddle a baby and almost no time learning how to handle the 3 a.m. disagreement about whose turn it is.This episode will help expecting parents prepare not only for birth and newborn care, but also for communication, mental load, stress, roles, and becoming parents as a team.Topics include:• Best classes for first-time parents• Hospital birth classes vs. independent birth education• Lamaze, HypnoBirthing, and the Bradley Method• Infant CPR and newborn-care classes• Prenatal breastfeeding and lactation support• Preparing your relationship before baby• Dividing responsibilities after birth• Communication and mental load for new parentsPrep for Us helps expecting couples prepare for the relationship transition into parenthood so they can communicate clearly, share the load, and stay connected after the baby arrives.Prep for Us: How to Prepare Your Relationship for a Baby | Postpartum Together

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, Who even am I anymore? A lot of women have and they tell me about it, which is why I hosted this free workshop and now I'm letting you in on it too.It's not because you don’t love being a mom, but because somewhere between the diapers, the planning, the emotional labor, and taking care of everyone else… pieces of you started to fade into the background.In this episode, walk with me through a recorded workshop on how to not lose yourself in motherhood. This isn’t about rejecting the role of mom. It’s about understanding that motherhood is only one part of who you are and your family benefits when the rest of you is alive and well too.You'll walk through the emotional and cultural pressures many women feel after becoming mothers, including the invisible expectations to sacrifice everything, the mental and emotional exhaustion many moms carry, and why reconnecting with yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary.Inside this episode, you’ll explore:Why so many moms feel like their identity disappears after having kidsThe societal pressures that quietly push women into martyr-modeThe difference between loving motherhood and losing yourself in itHow to reconnect with parts of yourself that existed before babyQuestions to help you rediscover what makes you feel alive againChelsea also shares research from the Motherly State of Motherhood Report, which reveals that:Time for themselves is the most depleted area of wellbeing for moms70% of mothers report feeling lonelier than they expectedNearly half of mothers describe themselves as managing but stressedIf you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or like your own voice has gotten quieter in this season of life you’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not stuck there.If this episode felt a little too relatable, the next step might be Confident Mom Reset.Confident Mom Reset is a small-group, six-week experience for moms who want to reconnect with themselves and rebuild confidence in their voice, boundaries, and priorities.Together you’ll work through things like:Reconnecting with what you actually wantUnderstanding your energy and what drains itSetting boundaries without guiltLearning to hear your inner voice againCreating a version of motherhood that doesn’t erase youThis is not another course you watch alone at midnight. It’s a guided experience with real conversations and real shifts happening alongside other moms who get it.The next group begins March 18th, and you can grab the early bird rate ($50 off) if you enroll before the 15th.You can learn more or reserve your spot here:postpartumtogether.com/confident-mom-resetIf you'd like the guided worksheet that accompanies this workshop, send Chelsea a quick email and she’ll send it over.Email: [email protected]

This one’s a little different.No outline. No formal teaching. Just a real coffee-chat between us about something that keeps coming up in our work with couples: Emotional safety.Find our current offerings including small groups, relationship prep for expecting couples + relationship support for current parents: postpartumtogether.com/current-offeringsWe talk about:– Why internal safety matters before communication skills– What happens when dads don’t feel emotionally safe either– The myth that you have to be everything for your family– Why modern couples are drowning without a “village”– How trust actually gets built (and rebuilt) after babyIf you’ve felt disconnected, overwhelmed, or unsure how to support each other in this season, this conversation will land.Because strong families don’t happen by accident. They’re built by people willing to go first emotionally.Find our current offerings including small groups, relationship prep for expecting couples + relationship support for current parents:⁠ postpartumtogether.com/current-offerings⁠postpartum relationshipmarriage after babyemotional safety in marriagemental load in parentingnew dad emotional supportfatherhood emotional presencenervous system in relationshipstrust after babycouples communication after babyvillage support for parentsFind our current offerings including small groups, relationship prep for expecting couples + relationship support for current parents:⁠ postpartumtogether.com/current-offerings⁠

Every year after Christmas, the same conversation resurfaces: moms waking up to empty stockings and the internet rushing in with advice to leave, rage, or declare the relationship doomed.But what if the stocking isn’t the real issue?In this episode, we slow the moment down and talk honestly about why this seemingly small disappointment hits so hard for so many moms and what it actually reveals about mental load, visibility, inherited patterns, and modern partnership.We read real posts from moms, talk through the full spectrum of reactions (from “it was an honest miss” to “this has been happening for years”), and explore why the empty stocking often becomes a quiet test of recognition, effort, and shared responsibility.This isn’t a hate-on-men episode.And it’s not a “just get over it” one either.It’s a grounded conversation about:Why this moment feels bigger than giftsHow inherited family patterns show up at holidaysWhen disappointment is information—not a verdictWhy “just tell him what you want” often doesn’t workHow couples can respond without blowing things up or sweeping it under the rugWe also share what actually helped us have one of our most connected Christmases yet and what we see help couples repair moments like this instead of letting resentment calcify.If this episode stirred something up and you want help having the conversation underneath the disappointment, we created a free guide called The Stocking Was the Symptom—a calm, honest conversation guide for couples who don’t want this moment to define their marriage.👉 postpartumtogether.com/stocking-problem-convo-guideIn this episode you'll also hear: A men’s group Mike is hosting on January 12th focused on emotional regulation, visibility, and showing up as a teammate at home👉 Link to men’s group registrationThreads referenced: @eliseoras@crfreund@sidneyraz@sheisapaigeturner@omgskrThis conversation is for parents who feel disappointed but not done—who believe growth is possible and want a better way forward.

Baby’s first Christmas can come with a lot more weight than most people talk about.The pressure to make memories. The logistics. The overstimulation. The quiet grief when it doesn’t look the way you imagined it would.In this episode, Chelsea and Mike talk honestly about what babies are actually learning during the holidays and why it has far less to do with gifts, photos, or traditions, and far more to do with tone, pace, and safety. We unpack how parental calm shapes a baby’s nervous system, why “making it special” often turns into performance, and how couples can protect their energy (and each other) during high-pressure seasons.This isn’t an episode about lowering your standards or forcing gratitude. It’s a permission slip to let this Christmas be real, slower, and more human, and to trust that presence matters more than perfection.If this season is highlighting exhaustion, resentment, or the need for clearer communication between you and your partner, this is exactly the kind of work we support couples with.You can learn more or connect with us at postpartumtogether.com.