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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.

Real moms. Real talk. Zero sugarcoating.
Join Odd Moms On Call as we tackle parenting in a world on fire—one hot take, eye roll, and belly laugh at a time.

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 a text

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.

Real moms. Real talk. Zero sugarcoating.
Join Odd Moms On Call as we tackle parenting in a world on fire—one hot take, eye roll, and belly laugh at a time.

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 a text

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 a text

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 Mother by Brandi Carlile (A reflection on the mess and beauty of parenthood)
• Support Resource: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988)

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.

Real moms. Real talk. Zero sugarcoating.
Join Odd Moms On Call as we tackle parenting in a world on fire—one hot take, eye roll, and belly laugh at a time.

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 a text

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

Send us a text

From missing Thanksgiving and family parties to navigating the "reentry anxiety" of the holiday season, this episode explores the intentional boundaries Chelsea and their husband have set to protect their health while raising two "neuro-sparkly" children. It is a candid look at the intersection of parenting, disability, and the profound impact of simple acts of consideration from friends and community members.

🗝️Key Takeaways

• The High Stakes of Common Viruses: For those who are immune-compromised and chronically ill, a simple virus can result in weeks of total isolation and physical exhaustion.
• Adrenal Insufficiency & Steroid Stress: Chelsea details the "nightmare" of having to increase steroid intake to help their non-functioning pituitary gland fight infection, leading to intense physical and "ragey" symptoms.
  
  
• Medical PTSD Triggers: Being confined to bed due to illness can be deeply triggering for those with medical trauma, often mirroring the isolation of a difficult postpartum recovery.
• Leaning into the Village: Recovery requires a radical acceptance of help. Chelsea shares their journey of becoming better at asking for support from family and their husband for daily tasks they physically could not perform.
  
  
• Intentional Health Boundaries: Living as a chronically ill parent involves strict hygiene protocols, such as masking in specific settings, using hand sanitizer, and teaching kids about germ safety to limit exposure.
  
  
• The Impact of Consideration: Small gestures, like a friend proactively putting on a mask without being asked, can take a massive emotional weight off a chronically ill person's shoulders.

💬Sound Bites

• "A virus is a very different experience when you are immune-compromised... even the tiniest cold becomes this ridiculously long exile from my own life."
• "I had to up my steroids... which was its own nightmare of physical symptoms and ragey symptoms."
• "Anytime I am super sick and I can't leave my bed, it is incredibly triggering for me. I get flashbacks."
• "I'm still on day three of a horrible headache... since my pituitary tumor, I will get a migraine that'll usually last the day, then a lingering headache for three or four days."
• "When people take the initiative and don't get offended or don't even make it a thing... it takes a huge weight off my shoulders."

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 a text

In this honest and energizing conversation, Chelsea is joined by Sarah Johnston: entrepreneur, infertility warrior, and proud parent of a rainbow-loving toddler. Sarah shares her winding path to motherhood through infertility and IVF, the mental toll of a complicated pregnancy, and the terrifying postpartum OCD symptoms that followed.

Together, they unpack everything from generational perfectionism and reparenting, to toddler meltdowns and the joy of rainbow birthday parties. This episode is an ode to vulnerability, community, and the radical act of showing up as your full self in parenting, even when you're still figuring it out.

To learn more about Sarah, visit her Instagram or Website!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Parenthood often brings unexpected challenges that don’t align with our expectations—and that’s normal.
• Infertility and pregnancy loss are emotionally devastating, especially when the cause is “unexplained.”
• Intrusive thoughts (especially postpartum) are common, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
• Reparenting ourselves is part of parenting our children—especially for those raised in perfectionist or emotionally repressed environments.
• Community and connection, even with “internet strangers,” can be lifelines in times of isolation.
• Empowering children with emotional language and autonomy helps build resilience and mutual respect.
• There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting—each child is unique and deserves a responsive, not a rigid parent.

🔊 Soundbites:

• “Connection is powerful—and you are not alone.”
• “My intrusive thoughts were terrifying. I thought, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ But the truth is, they’re common—and treatable.”
• “Motherhood made me undo a lifetime of perfectionism.”
• “My brain goes: ‘Throw him down the stairs.’ It’s not what I want—it’s my brain screaming ‘DANGER!’”
• “I asked my three-year-old what kind of birthday party he wanted. He said, ‘Rainbow. All the colors.’ And that’s exactly what we did.”
• “You can be deeply grateful and still really struggle. Both can be true.”
• “Parenting is common and unique. It’s hard, and it’s beautiful. It’s both.”

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 a text

In this episode, Chelsea connects with Dr. Sandra Fernandes, a family physician turned burnout coach, for a candid conversation about how motherhood shattered her carefully planned life. Sandra opens up about her experience with multiple ectopic pregnancies, breastfeeding struggles, pandemic-era burnout, and the quiet expectations that nearly broke her.

As a physician, Sandra knew the risks. As a mom, she felt every loss. Her story is one of strength, identity shifts, and learning to sit with discomfort when the path forward isn’t clear. From navigating postpartum pressure to discovering nervous system regulation, this episode is a gentle invitation to slow down, get honest, and remember: you are not alone.

To learn more about Sandra, visit her website or Instagram.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Perfectionism and checklists don't prepare you for the emotional chaos of parenthood.
• Ectopic pregnancies are rare but deeply traumatic—Sandra experienced two.
• Breastfeeding challenges can consume the postpartum period and trigger feelings of failure, even in medical professionals.
• Burnout can be physical, mental, and emotional—and it often goes unrecognized until it’s overwhelming.
• Nervous system regulation and mindset work can provide real tools for healing, even outside of a clinical diagnosis.
• Social media can be both a blessing and a source of deep comparison and anxiety.
• The “village” doesn’t always exist—you have to build it, and it often comes from unexpected places.
• You are not failing. You are overwhelmed by a culture that asks too much of parents—especially mothers.

🔊 Soundbites:

• “Motherhood is a crash course in learning to let go of control.”
• “I didn’t have postpartum depression—but I wasn’t okay.”
• “There’s this whole group of moms who don’t meet the criteria for a diagnosis, but they’re still silently struggling.”
• “We say it’s just a season—but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it alone.”
• “Start feeling comfortable with the uncomfortable. That’s where the real growth happens.”
• “I knew all the things as a doctor—but I was drowning as a mom.”
• “It wasn’t until I lost my job during COVID that I realized I was already burnt out.”

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