What if the kindest thing you did for your family was to slow down? We pressed pause on the weekly grind, and it opened a deeper conversation about postpartum: the messy middle between birth and “back to normal” that no one prepares you for. As therapists and moms, we compare notes on what actually helps—logistics that lower mental load, support that shows up, and simple habits that bring your nervous system back online.

We walk through concrete tools: how to use Aeroflow to secure an insurance-covered breast pump and replacement parts, why regular pump part swaps can improve output, and how a quick blood pressure check can catch rising postpartum preeclampsia. We demystify lactation support—request the hospital’s IBCLC, try Lactation Network for covered visits, and remember that your feeding plan should serve your mental health, not the other way around. For C‑section recovery, we swear by shower chairs, pillow bracing for coughs and laughs, slow movement, and even chewing gum to ease trapped gas.

Then we get honest about postpartum mental health. PMADs are common, intrusive thoughts can be egodystonic, and safety is the north star: put the baby down, breathe, step outside, and return when regulated. Social support is the strongest protective factor, so we share how to tap Postpartum Support International’s free online groups and their Connect PSI app, including options for dads, LGBTQ+, and Spanish speakers. We also talk sleep realities—yes, many families co‑sleep—and how to make the safest choices you can sustain without drowning in shame or exhaustion.

If you’re craving fewer rules and more relief, this episode is your permission slip. Expect clear steps, warm validation, and a reminder that small changes—opening a window, taking a walk, prepping freezer burritos—can shift an entire day.

We’re moving to a biweekly cadence to bring you more thoughtful conversations, plus upcoming guests and a series on the many paths to motherhood. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s in the thick of it, and leave a review to help more parents find these tools. Your village starts here.

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