Bonds after Baby

Need Help Dealing with Political Stress? How to Calm the Nervous System for Yourself and Your Kids

Pregnancy anxiety and postpartum anxiety isn't getting any easier with the current political climate. Maternal mental health is affected by external stressors and the kind of relationship support we receive through the stress. You're inundated by disturbing and unsettling information and images daily- and you care, AND you also need to be OK for yourself and your kids. In this episode, I'm going to give you concrete tips on how to calm your nervous system for your own sake, and for your kids. I'll: * briefly share the science of how political stress impacts pregnant and postpartum moms (and all moms!) * xxplain why “just tuning it out” often doesn’t bring relief * describe how co-regulation and emotional safety calms the nervous system * outline simple, evidence-informed ways parents can reduce overwhelm without disconnecting So you can have an authentic reaction to what you are seeing, while also staying connected to yourself and your kids. I'm here to offer compassion and practical tips during this incredibly stressful time of external stressors. Your nervous system is responding to real stress in a vulnerable season—and support matters!

What Experts Don’t Tell You About Maternal Health: Pregnancy and Postpartum Support You Deserve

It's Maternal Health Day, and I want women to receive the concrete information that is missing from the conversation (& partners/family members/friends who are helping Moms) as they go through fertility treatments, pregnancy, and postpartum recovery. Moms deserve pregnancy support and postpartum support. Unfortunately, experts aren't discussing one of the biggest protective factors for women as they go through medical treatments and recovery: Relationship Health. In this episode I share how relationships deeply impact Maternal Health, from partner dynamics and family support to isolation and conflict. I break down why emotional safety matters as much as practical help—and how relationship stress can increase postpartum anxiety, depression, and make physical recovery harder. I offer concrete examples on how Moms can be truly supported during medical processes, including fertility challenges, pregnancy or birth complications, postpartum recovery, and medical uncertainty. Relationship support and attunement is extremely protective for mothers. SUBSCRIBE to the podcast & Let me know your thoughts in the comments section! Sign up to my email list on my website [http://www.bondsafterbaby.com/] for updates & free resources for your family. This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

My Take on the Oprah Podcast re: Family Cut-Offs; I Have Opinions.

Family cut-offs are getting more common these days. There's often strong opinions on either side- either it's awful or it's totally justified. Truth is, the reality is more complicated. Oprah's podcast had a discussion about adult parent-child estrangement, and I want to share what I think was missing from a generally helpful discussion. In this episode I'll: * give my reaction to the podcast as an LMFT working with adult-parents & children * share the relevance of this situation for people in the stage of pregnancy, postpartum & early parenthood * & share important perspectives when evaluation such decisions This episode invites listeners to move beyond black-and-white narratives and toward more grounded, supported decisions about family relationships. There are certainly justified cut-offs in the face of relentless emotional manipulation and hostility! Yet there is still so much nuance and possibility in a variety of other kids of family dynamics. SUBSCRIBE & Let me know your thoughts in the comments section! Sign up to my email list on my website [http://www.bondsafterbaby.com/] for updates & free resources for your family. This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

3 Co-Parenting Tips for the New Year: Tap into the Strengths you Already Have!

In this episode, I'm offering 3 concrete co-parenting tips walking into the New Year. This is, however, an Anti-New Years- New Years post! Let's challenge the idea that we need to be different- but rather that we need to connect more with the strengths we already have inside. Instead of focusing on what we lack or striving for perfection, the episode emphasizes recognizing and building on existing strengths. Drawing from solution-focused therapy, I share three key approaches: * noticing what’s already helping * identifying exceptions to challenges, & * using the “miracle question” to inspire hopeful, realistic change. Connect with your inner strength, choose collaboration over judgment, and prioritize connection—not perfection—this is the foundation for healthier parenting & co-parenting. Get the relief you deserve. SUBSCRIBE & Let me know your thoughts in the comments section! Sign up to my email list on my website [http://www.bondsafterbaby.com/] for updates & free resources for your family. This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

Parents Holiday Guide: Make Space for the Joy AND the Pain

This holiday episode is not a guide for gifts or juggling holiday plans- it gets to the core of what truly brings the joy of the season- inner peace and connection. Working with hundreds of couples and parents, I consistently see a tendency to avoid tough feelings in an effort to escape reality and curate an idealized version of the season. The thing is, this usually makes people and relationships more tense. It's not actually helpful. So what is? In this episode, I'll share * why it's hard to be fully present for all our feelings as parents during the holidays * an example from a couple I worked with last year, who experienced the relief of facing difficult feelings * how facing pain opens the path for more joy This is a shortie but a goodie. SUBSCRIBE & Let me know your thoughts in the comments section! Sign up to my email list on my website [http://www.bondsafterbaby.com] for updates & free resources for your family. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*