Send us Fan Mail

What happens when the journey into parenthood doesn't look like the pictures? In this deeply moving episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea Myers sits down with Canadian author, editor, and former educator Maegan Blackwell to talk about the reality of severe perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDS).

Maegan opens up about her isolating experience on bed rest, losing a twin during pregnancy, and the terrifying onset of postpartum depression and severe anxiety. She shares the raw details of a major mental health crisis triggered by psychiatric medication mismanagement, her experience in an inpatient behavioral health unit, and the long road to healing.

We also discuss how PMHDS affect the entire family unit, including older siblings. Maegan explains how her own family's healing journey inspired her to write her highly acclaimed children's book, Before and After Baby, to help parents start honest, gentle conversations with their kids about mental health.

This is a powerful, shame-free space for any parent who has ever had a scary thought and wondered, am I crazy? (Spoiler: you aren't, and you are not alone).

Key Takeaways

1. Good Parents Have Scary Thoughts: Intrusive thoughts (like falling down stairs or harm coming to the baby) are highly common symptoms of perinatal anxiety and depression, and they are not a reflection of your character or your desires.
2. The Impact of Medication Mismanagement: A lack of specialized perinatal psychiatric care can lead to severe mental health crises, highlighting the urgent need for better advocacy and dedicated resources for birthing individuals.
3. Healing Involves the Whole Family: PMHDS are not experienced in a vacuum; they ripple through partners and siblings. Honest, age-appropriate communication is vital for helping children process what is happening.
4. The Power of Peer Support: From voluntary community programs like "visiting moms" to finding "pocket besties" online, human connection is one of the most powerful tools for surviving isolation in the postpartum trenches.

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.

Visit our Patreon to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs!

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 happens when you spend five years as a NICU nurse, but find yourself completely left in the dark during your own emergency C-section?

In this episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea sits down with Victoria, a pediatric nurse practitioner and mom of two, to pull back the curtain on the real cost of birth trauma.

Victoria opens up about the anxiety of an unplanned first pregnancy, the agonizing pain of a Pitocin induction, and the terrifying moments inside an operating room where communication completely stopped.

She shares the raw reality of hemorrhaging, dissociating, and the devastating postpartum depression that stole her early bonding time. But the story doesn't end in the dark.

Victoria walks us through her subsequent miscarriage, her fiercely healing unmedicated V-BAC, and how she now uses her pediatric telehealth practice to fiercely advocate for the mental health of birthing individuals.

Key Takeaways

• The Double-Edged Sword of Medical Knowledge: Having a background in healthcare can amplify pregnancy anxiety because you've already seen the worst-case scenarios firsthand.
• The Power of Explicit Communication: Silence from medical staff during a crisis forces birthing individuals to fill the gaps with their worst fears, severely compounding birth trauma.
• The True Cost of Trauma: Birth trauma isn't just physical; it costs parents peaceful bonding time, emotional presence, and mental wellness.
• Healing is Possible, But Varied: A subsequent positive birth experience (like Victoria's unmedicated V-BAC) can be deeply restorative, but it doesn't erase the grief of what was lost the first time around.
• Pediatric Care Includes the Parent: True pediatric advocacy means checking on the mental health of the primary caregivers, not just checking the baby's stats.

Learn More About Victoria:

• Connect on Instagram
• 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.

Visit our Patreon to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs!

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

Life has been lifing lately, and I’m so glad to finally sit down and catch up with you. In this mini-episode of Quiet Confessions, I'm opening up about what's been happening behind the scenes over the past month.

Between stepping down on long-term medications, navigating an uncomfortably loud season with OCD and PTSD, and managing chronic health flares with limited spoons, my capacity has been stretched thin.

I share why I'm learning to focus on being where my feet are, what made a quick trip to Disney World with my mom such an essential reset for my nervous system, and how our neurodivergent family is navigating school transitions and evaluations. Plus, we're officially celebrating the start of Season 8 of Quiet Connection!

Grab your beverage of choice and join me for a gentle reminder that even when your brain is loud, you don't have to navigate it alone.

Key Takeaways

• Being where your feet are: How anchoring yourself into the present moment can reduce the tug-of-war between the past and the future when navigating OCD and PTSD.
• The realities of medication changes: Stepping down psychiatric medications isn't linear, and managing symptom spikes requires immense grace, patience, and clear communication with loved ones.
• Protecting joy as a survival tool: Why visiting places that calm your nervous system isn't frivolous, it's a vital, cup-filling priority for chronic illness recovery.
• Neurodivergent family advocacy: Celebrating big wins in middle school transitions while starting new pediatric evaluation journeys with open eyes and support.
• Community gratitude: Celebrating four years and eight seasons of safe, judgment-free storytelling on Quiet Connection.

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 happens when you are a seasoned mental health professional, but postpartum reality completely unravels you? In this episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea sits down with licensed therapist and perinatal mental health specialist Kayce Hodos.

Together, they drop the professional masks to dive into the messy, unglamorous truths of parenthood.

Kayce opens up about her personal battle with severe anxiety, the toxic narrative around "natural" breastfeeding, the isolation of early parenthood, and why standard medical screening tools like the Edinburgh scale often miss the mark.

Whether you are struggling with feeding choices, grieving your past self, or just trying to get a four-hour block of uninterrupted sleep, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone, and you don't have to pretend everything is fine.

Key Takeaways

• Mental Health Training Gaps: Even experienced therapists often receive little to no formal training on perinatal mental health disorders during their standard education.
• The Power of 4 Hours: Getting four consecutive hours of uninterrupted sleep can be a neurological game-changer for a perinatal individual in crisis.
• Reframing "Good Motherhood": Feeding choices—whether formula, pumping, donor milk, or combo-feeding—do not define your worth or skill as a parent.
• Grief Beyond Loss: Transitioning into parenthood involves a real identity shift and grieving the person you were before kids, which is completely valid.
• Flaws in Standard Screenings: Brief postpartum check-ins and quick questionnaires often allow struggling parents to mask their pain, highlighting the need for warm, direct support.

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

The change of seasons in New England is stunning, but for those of us living with chronic illness, it often brings a difficult wave of physical and mental hurdles.

In this episode of Quiet Confessions, I’m catching up with you straight from my recliner to share what’s been happening behind the scenes.

From navigating a brutal flare cycle and tapering down off psychiatric meds to wrestling with heavy mom guilt, I’m getting completely honest about where I’ve been and why things have been a bit quiet lately.

I’m talking about the pressure to prove my worth through constant productivity, how kids see us when we can’t give them everything we want, and what it really means to embrace "couch parenting." Plus, I give a quick update on where the podcast is headed as we wrap up Season 7 and gear up for Season 8!

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you’re falling short, let this episode be your gentle permission slip to slow down, rest, and grant yourself some grace.

Key Takeaways

• Redefining Productivity: Your worth as a parent and a human isn’t tied to how many household chores you check off or how much you accomplish in a day.
• The Reality of Tapering: Discontinuing perinatal mental health medications is a slow, difficult process that impacts both physical and emotional well-being.
• Navigating "Couch Parenting": Being present for your kids from your bed or recliner still creates deeply meaningful, connected moments.
• Releasing the Guilt: Choosing rest over hustle when you're unwell isn't selfish—it's essential for taking care of the people you love.

Soundbites

"My husband has been amazing at reminding me that my worth isn't defined by my productivity."

"When I can show up as my best self, I'm making these incredible connections with people... those connections have been honestly getting me through some really difficult times."

"If you need to rest, rest. If you need to take a break, take a break. I'll see you when I see you."

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 episode of Quiet Connection, I'm joined by tech professional, author, and nonprofit founder, Cheri Bergeron.

Cheri opens up about her decade-long journey through infertility, the agonizing loss of two children to rare genetic conditions, and the shocking legal battle that followed when an outdated state law threatened her family.

We discuss the hidden gaps in fertility testing, the crushing reality of infant loss, and how she used trauma-informed therapies like EMDR to heal and rebuild.

Cheri's resilience, candor, and fierce advocacy offer a powerful reminder that while the path to parenthood doesn't always match the fairy tale, you're never alone in rewriting your story.

Connect with Cheri:

• Website: CherisChoice.com
• Author Site: CheriBergeron.com
• Book: Mission Motherhood: Writing a New Fairy Tale of Love and Family (Available on Amazon)
• Social Media: Instagram and LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

• Male Fertility Testing is Essential: Standard fertility protocols often fail to screen men thoroughly for genetic abnormalities, leaving birthing individuals to carry unnecessary physical and emotional burdens.
• The Importance of EMDR Therapy: Processing trauma and PTSD through specialized therapies like EMDR can help integrate painful memories and restore peace after profound loss.
• Flaws in Presumed Father Laws: Outdated family laws can allow ex-partners to claim parental rights over donor-conceived children, highlighting the need for systemic legal reform.
• Rewriting the Fairytale: Family creation doesn't need to look traditional to be deeply meaningful and complete.

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.

Visit our Patreon to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs!

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 we picture our path to parenthood, very few of us imagine sitting beside an incubator in the NICU, undergoing multiple rounds of IVF, or turning to surrogacy to bring a child home. In this heartwarming and deeply honest episode of Quiet Connection, Chelsea connects with children’s book author Emily Rosen to explore what happens when your journey to becoming a parent looks completely different than you planned.

Emily opens up about the sudden 34-week delivery of her son, Max, the heavy emotional toll of his 16-day NICU stay, and the postpartum anxiety that followed. She shares how channeling her grief and waiting into creativity inspired her children’s book, Waiting for Max, designed to help older siblings process a brother or sister’s NICU stay. Emily also opens up about her subsequent three-year struggle with infertility, endometriosis, and navigating surrogacy to welcome her daughter, Eva.

If you’ve ever felt isolated by birth trauma, struggled with your mental health, or felt like your body betrayed you during the journey to grow your family, this conversation is a gentle, supportive reminder that you aren’t alone.

Key Takeaways:

• The Weight of the NICU: Why even a brief stay in the NICU can trigger intense postpartum anxiety, guilt, and birth trauma for perinatal individuals.
• Reclaiming Control in Crisis: How small routines, like reading books daily or printing physical photos, can help parents feel connected to their baby amidst medical chaos.
• Using Creativity as Therapy: How processing grief and waiting through writing led Emily to create a book that gives young siblings a gentle voice during a high-stress medical event.
• Navigating Complex Infertility: The emotional roller coaster of IVF, endometriosis, chemical pregnancies, and making the decision to pursue surrogacy.
• Making Peace with the Unexpected: Learning to heal from the envy and sadness of a broken dream while fully embracing the unique path that brought your children home.

Soundbites:

• "The wait felt like forever. Whether you're there for two days or two months, it's really unbearable not getting to be with your baby at home like you thought you would."
• "Motherhood should come with a therapist. Life should come with a therapist, but motherhood especially."
• "If you're in a NICU experience or any difficult experience, creativity is a great way to process and express how you're feeling."
• "She was the last embryo we could use, and it feels like she was meant to be our child. I remind myself that I have Eva, and she's the baby I'm supposed to have."
• "Whatever you're going through or you went through, you aren't alone. Other people have been there and are ready to support you."

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

Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of postpartum psychosis, severe PMHDS, suicidal ideation, medical trauma, and high-profile legal cases involving harm to children.

In this episode of Quiet Confessions, Chelsea is joined by their husband, Ben, for an intimate look at the reality of perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDS) and the systemic gaps in care. Sparked by recent high-profile headlines surrounding the Lindsay Clancy trial, Chelsea and Ben pull back the curtain on how media narratives reduce complex medical crises to sensationalized stories while ignoring the realities of postpartum psychosis.

They discuss the critical difference between specialized perinatal support and general psychiatric units, the stark lack of resources nationwide, and why caregiving partners must play an active role in advocating for birthing individuals.

Key Takeaways

• Media vs. Reality: Media coverage of severe PMHDS often focuses on sensational headlines rather than highlighting the medical reality of postpartum psychosis.
• Systemic Gaps: Specialized inpatient care for perinatal mental health is severely lacking across the country, leaving families to navigate a broken, reactive system.
• Postpartum Psychosis as an Emergency: Postpartum psychosis is a temporary, treatable medical emergency that requires immediate intervention and safe, specialized care.
• The Partner's Role: Partners and caregivers are a crucial line of defense; educating non-birthing individuals on PMHDS is essential for proper advocacy and safety.

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.

Visit our Patreon to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs!

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