Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Better Relationships After Baby
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to Choose the Best Prenatal Vitamin: What Matters—and What You Can Stop Stressing About | 21 Oct 2026 | 00:20:58 | |
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 Your prenatal choice is not a measure of how much you love your baby.
RESOURCES MENTIONED PREPARE FOR PARENTHOOD TOGETHER Disclosure: 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. | |||
| How to Reduce the Risk of Postpartum Depression During Pregnancy | 19 Aug 2026 | 00:19:36 | |
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:
One 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: Download Chelsea’s Postpartum Plan: Learn more about Prep for Us: Prep 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. | |||
| Newborn Night Shifts: How to Split Overnight Care With Your Partner | 12 Aug 2026 | 00:18:02 | |
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:
One 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:
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 Together Learn more from Chelsea at Postpartum Together. About Relationship Coaching with Chels + Mike | Postpartum Together Instagram: @postpartumtogether Questions to discuss with your partner Prepare for parenthood as a team | |||
| Visitors After Baby: How to Set Boundaries With Family Postpartum | 29 Jul 2026 | 00:28:25 | |
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 step For 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.
Instead 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 Plan Download the guide with reflection questions, visitor-planning prompts, and communication scripts for setting expectations with family. https://www.postpartumtogether.com/store/p/boundaries Peri bottle for postpartum recovery Chelsea mentioned how helpful a peri bottle can be during the first days of physical recovery after birth. Prep for Us Prep 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 Together Email: chelsea@postpartumtogether.com Instagram: @postpartumtogether Website: www.postpartumtogether.com Your 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 Need a Doula? Cost, Benefits, and What a Doula Does | 22 Jul 2026 | 00:31:21 | |
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 A 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 | |||
| Best Pregnancy Classes for First-Time Parents: What You Actually Need | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:20:33 | |
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 Prep 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 | |||
| How to Not Lose Yourself in Motherhood (Finding Yourself Again After Kids) | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:37:50 | |
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:
Chelsea also shares research from the Motherly State of Motherhood Report, which reveals that:
If 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:
This 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: If you'd like the guided worksheet that accompanies this workshop, send Chelsea a quick email and she’ll send it over. Email: chelsea@postpartumtogether.com | |||
| Emotional Safety After Baby: How Parenthood Changes Your Relationship | 16 Feb 2026 | 00:26:45 | |
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-offerings We talk about: If 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-offerings
Find our current offerings including small groups, relationship prep for expecting couples + relationship support for current parents: postpartumtogether.com/current-offerings | |||
| The Empty Stocking Isn’t About the Stocking | 30 Dec 2025 | 00:36:39 | |
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. It’s a grounded conversation about:
We 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. In 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 registration Threads referenced: This 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 Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect (What Actually Matters for Parents) | 24 Dec 2025 | 00:17:49 | |
Baby’s first Christmas can come with a lot more weight than most people talk about. 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. | |||
| One Sure Way to Eff Up the Holidays for Your Family | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:36:18 | |
The number one way to tank the holidays for your family isn’t burnt rolls, forgotten gifts, or a crooked tree. It’s walking into every room wound tight, resentful, and pretending your energy isn’t affecting anyone. In this episode, Chelsea and Mike break down what kids actually remember about the holidays (hint: not the matching pajamas) and why your nervous system becomes the emotional backdrop of the season. Drawing from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, Gottman’s research, and Polyvagal Theory, they explain how kids store emotional memories more deeply than the details of any event. You’ll hear real-life stories, honest confessions, and simple tools to help you pause before you snap, breathe through triggers, and become more of a thermostat than a tornado. Plus, they’ll walk you through practical ways to share the holiday mental load, so you’re not carrying 99% of the invisible prep while resenting everyone else. If the holidays feel heavy, you’re not failing. You’re just carrying too much alone. Let’s change that. In this episode, we talk about:
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| Day 10: The Wrap-Up — A Lighter, More Connected Holiday Starts Here | 28 Nov 2025 | 00:09:12 | |
ou made it to the final episode of our 10-day Holiday Mental Load Series, and that says something meaningful about who you are as a partner and a parent. In today’s wrap-up, we look back on everything you’ve covered: And most importantly, you now have the language, tools, and clarity to share the load instead of silently carrying it alone. In this episode, we talk about: 👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough You deserve a holiday that feels connected, not chaotic. | |||
| Day 9: Supporting Each Other Through Mixed Holiday Emotions | 27 Nov 2025 | 00:10:15 | |
Today we’re talking about something almost every new parent experiences during the holidays, but few couples actually prepare for: Mixed emotions. Because December isn’t just joy and magic. And partners don’t always feel the same way at the same time. In this episode, we unpack: This is one of the most human, heartfelt conversations of the series, and it’s designed to help couples feel safer, softer, and more connected during a season that often feels emotionally overwhelming. 👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough Mixed emotions aren’t the problem. | |||
| Day 8: How to Have a Holiday Huddle — Talk First So You Don’t Fight Later | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:11:08 | |
Today we’re breaking down one of the most powerful tools for reducing resentment, confusion, and emotional overload during the holidays: the Holiday Huddle. A Holiday Huddle is a simple 10-minute weekly check-in that helps couples stay aligned during December — before the stress, assumptions, and misunderstandings hit. In this episode, we walk you through the exact Holiday Huddle process we teach inside the Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough, including: This is the tool that keeps couples grounded, connected, and prepared — so you’re not running on last-minute panic or silent resentment. 👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough Ten minutes. | |||
| Day 7: Gift Logistics + Special Extras — Share the Load Before the Wrapping Paper | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:07:04 | |
Today we’re digging into one of the biggest (underestimated) parts of the holiday mental load: Gift logistics and all the special extras that come with December. Because gifts aren’t just gifts. And most of that invisible planning ends up sitting in one partner’s brain until it leads to resentment and overwhelm. In this episode, we cover: This episode takes the weight off the “Chief Gift Officer” role many parents fall into — and helps couples build a gift plan that feels clearer, calmer, and actually joyful. 👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guide Gifts don’t have to drain you. When you share the load, they get a whole lot lighter. | |||
| Day 6: Holiday Safety + Travel Prep — Protect Your Sanity (and Your Schedule) | 24 Nov 2025 | 00:07:18 | |
Welcome to Day 6 of our 10-Day Holiday Mental Load Series for new and expecting parents. Because holiday travel is no longer “grab your bag and go.” And usually, one partner is carrying all of this in their head. In this episode, we break down: This episode is all about lowering the pressure, creating clarity, and stepping into travel as a team — not hoping one person magically remembers everything. Your step-by-step guide for: 👉 Download it here: When you plan together, travel becomes calmer — and so does the rest of the season. We’ll break down the emotional + logistical weight behind gift giving and how to share it fairly. Subscribe so you don’t miss it. NEXT EPISODE: Day 7 — Gift Logistics + Special Extras | |||
| Day 5: Self + Sanity — Protecting Your Capacity During the Holidays | 23 Nov 2025 | 00:08:39 | |
Today we’re talking about the part of the holiday mental load that almost no one prioritizes, but absolutely every new parent needs: your own capacity, needs, and sanity. Most new parents end up pushing their own needs to the bottom of the list, which leads to burnout, resentment, and that “I’m holding everything together by a thread” feeling. In this episode, we cover: This episode is part of our 10-day series helping couples replace holiday overwhelm with connection, clarity, and teamwork—especially during the busiest season of early parenthood. 👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guide Your needs matter. Your bandwidth matters. And your sanity is worth protecting...especially in December. | |||
| Day 4: Emotional Labor + Holiday Expectations — The Hidden Load That Drains New Parents | 22 Nov 2025 | 00:08:09 | |
Episode 4 of 10: Emotional Labor + Holiday Expectations (Holiday Mental Load Series) Today we’re talking about the invisible part of the holiday mental load that hits new and expecting parents the hardest: emotional labor and expectations. Because when you’re the parent managing the vibe of the room, the tension between relatives, your own overstimulation, your baby’s needs, and everyone’s expectations… the holidays can feel more like emotional gymnastics than family fun. In this episode, we dive into: This episode is part of our 10-day series helping couples replace holiday overwhelm with connection, clarity, and teamwork. 👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guide Your emotional wellbeing matters, and the holidays feel lighter when you both understand the load you're carrying. | |||
| Day 3: Event Schedules + Seasonal To-Dos — How to Stop Overscheduling Your December | 21 Nov 2025 | 00:08:23 | |
Today we’re talking about the part of the holiday mental load that drains new parents faster than anything else: the nonstop event schedule and the endless seasonal to-do list. Because once you have a baby, every outing suddenly comes with extra logistics, emotional load, nap timing stress, overstimulation concerns, and a very real question: In this episode, we break down: This episode is part of our 10-day series designed to help couples replace holiday tension with teamwork, clarity, and connection. 👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guideYour full holiday brain dump, event-planning prompts, category breakdowns, and weekly Holiday Huddle worksheet are inside: Let’s make this season lighter, calmer, and more aligned with what actually matters to your family. | |||
| Day 2: Holiday Logistics + Family Coordination — The Plan That Prevents December Blowups | 20 Nov 2025 | 00:08:04 | |
Today we’re unpacking the part of the holiday mental load that drains new parents faster than wrapping paper and sugar crashes: logistics and family coordination. Because once you become a parent, December is no longer just a month—it’s an entire operation. Travel planning, nap windows, meal timing, driving routes, RSVPs, “who’s hosting what,” and navigating multiple sides of the family… it adds up quickly. And usually, one partner ends up carrying the whole thing mentally. In this episode, we cover: This episode is part of our 10-day series designed to help couples replace tension with teamwork during the busiest season of early parenthood. 👉 Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough guide Let’s make December feel more manageable and more connected. | |||
| Day 1: Home + Hosting — Your Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough Begins | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:05:39 | |
Welcome to the first episode of our 10-day Holiday Mental Load Series—created for new and expecting parents who are overwhelmed by the mental load of December. Today we’re breaking down the invisible work behind holiday home prep and hosting from the decorating, cleaning, planning, meal prep, to the emotional labor that usually falls on one partner. In this episode, we’ll cover: This series is designed to help you feel more supported, more aligned, and more like a team through the busiest season of early parenthood. Download the free Holiday Mental Load Breakthrough—the brain dump guide, category breakdown, and weekly Holiday Huddle prompts we reference in every episode: | |||
| The Mental Load of the Holidays: A Survival Guide for New Parents Who Are Tired of Doing It All | 18 Nov 2025 | 00:36:47 | |
You love your baby. You love your partner.But the holidays hit, and suddenly you’re the one tracking gifts, outfits, nap schedules, travel plans, and everyone’s feelings… while your partner is getting praised for bringing one pie. In this episode, Chelsea and Mike break down the mental load of the holidays for new parents—especially moms who are carrying the invisible work of making everything “magical” while feeling unseen, overextended, and resentful. You’ll hear real examples from couples they coach, why this season is so triggering, and concrete ways dads/partners can finally get off the sidelines and step into true teamwork. You’ll also hear exactly how to use our holiday mental load template so you’re not just venting—you’re getting that invisible work out of your head, onto paper, and divided fairly.
Throughout the episode, Chelsea walks you through how to use the holiday mental load template as a conversation starter with your partner—so you can name what’s on your mind, divide responsibilities, and build a holiday rhythm that feels lighter and more connected.
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| Why Every Parent Needs a Mom Group or Dad Group: The Science of Connection | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:47:55 | |
Modern parenthood wasn’t meant to be a solo project, yet so many new moms and dads are trying to figure it out in isolation. We scroll, read, and listen to every parenting podcast, but at the end of the day, it still feels lonely. The truth is, no amount of information can replace the transformation that happens in community. In this episode of the Better Relationships After Baby Podcast, Chelsea and Mike dig into the power of group connection — why real change happens faster when parents have support, accountability, and belonging. They unpack what science and psychology show us about group learning and why joining a Mom Group or Dad Group can radically shift how couples communicate and cope in early parenthood.
Chelsea and Mike also share personal stories from their own experience running online parent groups for the past five years. From the first-time mom who finally said, “I’m not broken , I just needed other women who get it,” to the new dad who realized that he didn’t have to fix everything, just show up...these are the moments that remind us we were never meant to do this alone. Research continues to show that new parent support groups lower rates of postpartum depression and anxiety for both mothers and partners. Group coaching allows couples to learn and practice new skills in a safe, encouraging environment. Unlike anonymous online threads, a guided virtual group combines real relationships, evidence-based tools, and accountability that actually creates growth. In a season where life can feel like a blur of bottles, diapers, and exhaustion, having a space that’s just for you, one that helps you regulate, reflect, and reconnect, isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. Chelsea and Mike explain how postpartum coaching helps couples after baby rebuild their foundation. When stress runs high, our brains go into survival mode — fight, flight, or freeze. But in a group setting, you learn how to interrupt those patterns, communicate effectively, and show up as teammates instead of adversaries. It’s where you can practice the conversations you’ve been avoiding, get feedback from peers who are in the same season, and walk away with language you can use that same night at home. If you’ve ever ended the day back-to-back with your partner, each on your phones, wondering why connection feels so hard, then this episode is for you. Whether you’re an expecting couple, new parents in the thick of it, or a few years in and still trying to find your rhythm, community is the missing piece most families are craving. Chelsea and Mike’s Mom Group (Mondays at 7PM ET) and Dad Group (Tuesdays at 7PM ET) are small, virtual groups designed for real-life parents who want practical tools, a sense of belonging, and conversations that go deeper than social media highlight reels. Week One is free so there's no pressure, no performance, just a chance to see what it feels like to be part of a community built around growth and honesty. Tune in and learn why the future of strong families starts with strong communities. Questions? Email us chelsea@postpartumtogether.com online parent group | mom group | dad group | new parent support group | virtual parent group | postpartum coaching | couples after baby | postpartum relationship coaching | parenting after baby | online parenting community | group coaching for parents | postpartum connection | support for new dads | support for new moms | |||
| Anchored, Not Stoic: How Dads Can Steady the Postpartum Home | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:57:33 | |
When a new baby arrives, the whole family’s nervous system changes. In this episode, we’re talking about what helps families thrive in the postpartum season, especially how dads and partners can become the steady, emotionally present anchor their home needs. We break down:
This conversation is for dads, partners, and anyone who wants to understand how emotional steadiness and nervous system awareness can transform postpartum relationships. Stay to the end for a short behind-the-scenes chat about how parenting, research, and humanity are evolving (and why this generation of parents has the tools to do it differently.) Resources mentioned: • DadVantage small group for dads • Previous episodes on co-regulation & nervous system work postpartum dads | postpartum relationships | emotional regulation | nervous system | co-regulation | anchored presence | steady partner | postpartum marriage | new parents | fatherhood | emotional connection | postpartum support | relationship after baby | breathing exercises | Wim Hof method | nervous system reset | mindful parenting | present father | postpartum mental health | mom and dad teamwork | emotional awareness | postpartum communication | gentle fatherhood | modern dad | postpartum coach | relationship coaching | family nervous system | calm parenting | parenting after baby | postpartum tips | |||
| Behind the Scenes: How We Talk About Emotional Steadiness (Without Sounding Stoic) | 02 Nov 2025 | 00:28:57 | |
We're pulling back the curtain. This is our real planning convo on how we align language, debate “steady vs. stoic,” and map the tools before we get into a weekly podcast episode. It’s messy, honest, and meant to bring you right in the room with us. This isn’t a polished episode; it’s the actual conversation we had to plan Tuesday’s show. We hash out what “steadiness” really means (not robotic, not shut down), talk nervous system regulation and “anchored presence,” and decide how to communicate it so both partners feel seen. You’ll hear how we align language, challenge each other’s angles, and turn lived moments into something you can try at home. Drop a quick DM or reply with your favorite takeaway.
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| Where a New Kind of Manhood Begins | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:11:10 | |
In this solo episode, Mike Skaggs — co-founder of Postpartum Together — speaks directly to the men stepping into fatherhood, partnership, and purpose in a changing world. He shares a vision for a new kind of manhood—one built not on control or performance, but on presence, steadiness, and love. Drawing from his own experience in the NICU with his daughter, Mike reflects on what it means to protect through presence, to lead through calm, and to anchor your family through the chaos of postpartum life. This episode explores nervous system regulation, emotional safety, and how men can practice the strength that steadies everything else. Because your family doesn’t need a perfect man—they need a present one. Learn about working with Mike + Chelsea: Postpartum Together Offerings Book a free connection call with us
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| Why You’re Snapping (and How to Stop): Dysregulation, Co-Regulation, and Early Parenthood with Manu Brune | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:46:15 | |
Early parenthood can fry your nervous system. Hello overstimulation, zero bandwidth, and snapping at your partner or kids. In this conversation, Chelsea and parent coach Manu Brune break down what co-regulation actually looks like between partners and with your baby, and how small, body-based tools help you move from survival mode to a livable rhythm. We name the signs of dysregulation (short fuse, shutdown, spirals), why routines can help or hurt, and how to use simple anchors—breath, movement, flexible rituals—to bring your system back online. We also talk about the pressure to do it all, and why community lets you “borrow calm” when yours is gone. If you’ve thought, “I should be handling this better,” this episode shows you how to build capacity instead of guilt. More about Manu and Beyond Birth Basics: Insta: Beyond Birth Basics: Parenting Reimagined (@beyondbirthbasics) • Instagram photos and videos Website:Beyond Birth Basics | Coaching in Columbus, OH Preorder her book: Book | Beyond Birth Basics Work with Postpartum Together: Insta:Chelsea Skaggs || Relationship Coach for Parents (@postpartumtogether) • Instagram photos and videos Current Offerings:Chelsea Skaggs Coaching Book a free connection call : Calendly
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| What This Dad is Most Afraid Of | 14 Oct 2025 | 00:27:08 | |
Becoming a dad after a baby arrives can shake a man to his core. In this episode, Mike opens up to share fears, emotions, and invisible battles many fathers face in the postpartum season. From feeling like they’re on the outside looking in, to wondering if they’re enough, we unpack what’s really going on behind the quiet moments and unspoken worries. We explore why presence matters more than perfection, how provision without connection can feel like absence, and what it looks like for dads to build their own parenting playbook. Whether you’re a new father, a partner trying to understand him, or someone supporting a growing family, this conversation will give you insight into the emotional landscape of modern fatherhood and how dads can thrive, not just survive, in this new role. Listen if you’ve ever wondered:
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything you can for your family but still wondering if it’s enough, you’re not alone. Keywords: fatherhood, postpartum, emotional connection, presence, family dynamics, inadequacy, parenting challenges, support for dads, mental load, parenting playbook | |||
| The Stories We Tell Ourselves (Pt. 2): Emotional Safety, Sex, and Finding Yourself Again After Baby | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:24:29 | |
In this second part of The Stories We Tell Ourselves series, Chelsea and Mike get into how the stories we carry in early parenthood shape connection, intimacy, and identity. You’ll learn:
Whether you’re feeling stuck in survival mode or missing the spark in your marriage, this episode offers real talk and practical tools to help you feel like a team again. Keywords: emotional disconnection after baby, intimacy after baby, postpartum marriage help, matrescence, new parent identity, nervous system regulation, relationship coaching, postpartum relationship advice Mentioned past episodes and links: Regulation and the Nervous System Emotional or Physical Connection, Which Comes First? Book a connection call with us here to learn more about how we support pregnant, postpartum, and current parents in their relationships. | |||
| The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Repairing Conflict After Parenthood Begins | 30 Sep 2025 | 00:25:09 | |
Conflict after a baby is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to break your relationship. In this episode, Chelsea and Mike go deeper than their Babies & Bumps workshop to unpack the real difference between couples who thrive and those who drift apart: Repair. You’ll hear:
If you’ve ever felt like parenting is heavier because you’re not on the same team or you want to make sure your teamwork is solid before the baby arrives, this episode is for you. 🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned:
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| NICU Stories and Support: Emily Rosen’s Waiting for Max | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:44:07 | |
When your newborn goes to the NICU, nothing feels “normal.” In this honest conversation, author and creative director Emily Rosen shares the 16-day NICU journey with her son Max, the grief of leaving the hospital without your baby, and the small lifelines that help you keep going. We talk day-to-day NICU rhythms, supporting partners, what friends can actually do, and why Emily wrote Waiting for Max—a children’s book that helps siblings (and grown-ups) understand NICU life with hope, not fear. If you’re in it now or love someone who is, this one’s for you. Preorder: Waiting for Max TikTok @Emily.Rosen.Creative Guest: Emily Rosen — author of Waiting for Max, creative director, mom of two.
Timestamps Schedule a connection call with Chelsea: Calendly.com/chelseaskaggs/connection-call | |||
| The Invisible Load: How to See It, Share It, and Stop Resentment Before It Starts | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:36:57 | |
Ever feel like your brain has 27 tabs open—and none of them can close? We kept having the same fight about chores, schedules + who does what… so we built a system to fix it (Get it here!) That’s the invisible load of parenthood: The endless mental and emotional labor that keeps a family running but often falls on one parent without ever being named. In this episode, Chelsea and Mike break down:
Whether you’re pregnant and wondering how to prepare, or already in the thick of diapers and daycare forms, this conversation will help you shift from scorekeeping to true teamwork. Use this guide we use with our clients to show the mental load, divide responsibilities, and finally get on the same team. invisible load, mental load, cognitive labor, parental burnout, postpartum marriage, communication after baby, emotional labor, default parent, resentment in relationships, sharing household labor, postpartum relationship help, new parents support, relationship coaching, better after baby, parenting teamwork, marriage after kids, postpartum couples counseling, how to share the mental load, overwhelmed mom, dad involvement after baby | |||
| Why Parents Fight Differently: Processing Styles in Marriage After Baby | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:27:59 | |
Tired of having the same fight on repeat with your partner? One of you wants to hash it out right now, the other goes silent, and suddenly you’re not even arguing about the actual issue anymore. You’re arguing about how you argue. Sound familiar? In this episode, Chelsea and Mike break down processing styles in marriage after baby—external vs. internal processors—and why these differences get louder when you’re tired, stressed, and stretched thin as new parents. You’ll hear how this dynamic showed up in their own relationship, why stress and flooding make small clashes spiral, and the simple tools couples can use to break the demand–withdraw cycle. Whether you’re an exhausted parent feeling stuck in the same arguments or a couple who wants to grow stronger after baby, this conversation will help you:
Because your baby deserves parents who don’t just survive parenthood, but thrive together. Book an connection call with us: Calendly Get our go to questions for a 5-min daily check-in: 5 Questions to Stay Connected to Your Partner — Chelsea Skaggs Coaching 👉 Tune in now and start building healthier communication in your marriage after baby.
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| Marriage Under Pressure: What We Would’ve Fixed Before Becoming Parents | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:27:28 | |
Early parenthood has a way of putting every crack in your relationship under a spotlight. In this candid conversation, Chelsea and Mike pull back the curtain on the pain points they faced after having kids and the lessons they wish they’d learned sooner. From buried baggage that resurfaces under pressure to communication breakdowns and the mental load that nearly pulled them apart, they share the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the hope that comes with learning to work as a team. If you’ve ever thought, “Why didn’t anyone tell us it would be this hard?” this episode is for you. You’ll walk away with real-life insights and tools to help you save some heartache and start building the kind of connection that lasts through sleepless nights, identity shifts, and big transitions. Resources
PS: If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who’s in the trenches of early parenthood. And if you loved it, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review — it helps more couples find the support they need to thrive, not just survive, after baby. | |||
| From People-Pleasing to Peace: Rewriting the Rules of Family Life | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:22:14 | |
Are you constantly saying “yes” when you really want to say “no”? Together, they share how learning to set boundaries, stop overscheduling, and get clear on your values (instead of everyone else’s rules) can completely change the tone of your home. You’ll hear real stories about:
If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, stuck in “good mom” or “good spouse” mode, or unsure how to align as a family, this episode will give you a refreshing and practical perspective. ✨ Want to go deeper? Join Chelsea and Mike’s Rewrite the Rules Workshop — a live, donation-based virtual event designed to help you uncover your core family values and use them as your compass for time, energy, and money decisions. Reserve your spot in the next workshop here: Postpartum Together Events Learn more about Postpartum Together Coaching | |||
| Shoot the Shit Sessions: Fatherhood, Presence, and the Micro-Griefs of Parenting | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:22:26 | |
On this off-the-cuff parenting podcast episode, Chelsea and Mike get real about fatherhood, parenting grief, and the pressure to be present. From crying at the bus stop to reflecting on kids growing up and what it means for your marriage, this conversation covers micro-griefs in parenting, dads and emotions, and communication in parenting. If you’re a mom or dad navigating parenting transitions and wanting to build stronger parent connection in your relationship, you’ll find yourself nodding along. 🔗 Book your free parent connection call here: calendly.com/chelseaskaggs/connection-call | |||
| Why You Can’t Do Motherhood Alone: Building Your Village, Ditching Guilt, and Finding the Right Support {Guest: Stephanie Fornaro, Hello Nanny} | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:49:46 | |
Motherhood was never meant to be a solo act. We explore the emotional, relational, and practical layers of building your support system, from financial independence and partnership dynamics to the difference between nannies and family assistants. Stephanie shares her personal journey of overcoming guilt around getting help, and how her mission is empowering parents to thrive, not just survive. Whether you’re navigating postpartum, juggling toddlers, or simply craving more presence in your parenting, this conversation is your permission slip to drop the “do it all” mindset and start creating your own village. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
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| Rupture, Repair, and the Nervous System: Why Connection Builds Resilience | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:21:26 | |
Is your stress response a sign you're failing, or a sign you're human? In this episode, Chelsea and Mike get real about what stress is actually trying to tell us and how it impacts connection in relationships. We'll explore how everyday tension can become a source of strength if we know how to come back to safety, together. You’ll hear:
Plus, the one question that can transform your relationships: If you’ve been stuck in reactive conversations, missed signals, or simmering resentment, the first step back to each other might be simpler than you think. 🎁 Download the Reconnection Kit—with 8 free communication scripts—to make your next hard conversation easier (and more productive). Learn more about working with us here.
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| You Can’t Fix a Relationship from Fight or Flight: Conflict, Co-Regulation & Repair | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:29:50 | |
“Let’s just figure it all out right now…” In this episode of Better Relationships After Baby, Chelsea and Mike get honest about why trying to fix your relationship during fight-or-flight doesn’t work and what to do instead. You’ll learn:
This is the next step after last week’s viral episode on feeling touched out. Together, they unpack what stress really does to our relationships and how to build safety, repair, and teamwork in the hard moments. “You can’t fix a relationship in fight-or-flight. But you can come back stronger.”
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| Touched Out: What Your Nervous System Is Trying to Tell You | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:25:57 | |
Ever felt like you want a connection, but the thought of one more person touching you makes your skin crawl? You’re not cold. You’re not broken. You might just be touched out. In this episode, Chelsea and Mike dig into what’s really happening when physical affection feels like too much, especially in the postpartum season. Using Polyvagal Theory as a framework, they explore how your nervous system responds to chronic stress, the mental load, and overstimulation. They talk about:
This isn’t about fixing your partner. It’s about understanding yourself, offering compassion, and having new language to break old cycles. Want to dive deeper into the science? Ready for simple ways to rebuild connection at home? Curious about the card deck we mentioned? This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt close, but also miles apart, and wants a better way back to each other. | |||
| How to Spot Emotional Distance After Baby + Rebuild Together | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:34:23 | |
You’re in the same room, but it feels like miles apart. In this episode, Chelsea and Mike get real about the signs of emotional disconnection that show up after having a baby, often quietly and gradually. From scorekeeping and silence to intimacy struggles and the nervous system overload no one warns you about, they unpack what drifting apart really looks like and why it’s not a sign you’re broken. If you’re sitting on opposite ends of the couch, wondering how you got here—or how to get back—this episode is for you. You’ll hear:
📥 Grab the free Conversation Starters for Tired Parents: 💬 Want our help rebuilding together? Join our 6-week couples coaching program: https://postpartumtogether.com/welcome You’re not alone. And you don’t have to stay disconnected. Tell us what you thought of the episode: chelsea@postpartumtogether.com | |||
| The World Is on Fire, But We’re Still Parenting | 25 Jun 2025 | 00:21:21 | |
When the world feels like it’s burning politically, socially, & emotionally, what do we do as parents? In this episode, Chelsea and Mike get honest about what it means to raise kids in today’s tense climate and why your home might just be the most powerful place of resistance. From stress-induced doomscrolling to boundary-setting in your own house, they unpack how overwhelmed couples can protect their peace, raise emotionally intelligent kids, and reclaim joy as an act of radical parenting. This conversation explores:
Whether you’re at a protest or simply trying to keep your home a refuge, this episode is your reminder: You are doing something powerful just by raising kind kids in a heavy world. 💬 Let us know what resonated most. And if you're looking for tools to lighten the load, grab our Mental Load List Template. If you're wanting to create a home environment of refuge, but your tension with your partner is getting in the way, let's talk about how our guided couples' support can help you make it a reality. | |||
| HOW You Talk About the Mental Load Matters | 19 Jun 2025 | 00:21:03 | |
<<GET THE FREE MENTAL LOAD LIST TEMPLATE: https://chelseaskaggs.kit.com/9116bb8436>> Once we learned about the mental load, we thought we were on the same page. But that first conversation? It brought up more frustration than clarity. In this episode, we share how our first attempt to talk about the mental load went sideways, the common mistakes couples make in these moments, and the small shifts that helped us move from blame to real teamwork. This episode is audio from a live chat between Chels + Mike. Should we start a "Mornings with Chels and Mike" segment? Let us know! | |||
| We Didn’t Know What the Mental Load Was—But It Was Ruining Our Connection | 18 Jun 2025 | 00:31:33 | |
<https://chelseaskaggs.kit.com/9116bb8436>> For the first 4 years of our parenting journey, we didn’t know what the mental load was, let alone how deeply it was impacting our connection, our communication, and our resentment. In this honest conversation, we share what our relationship looked like before we had the words, how the invisible labor kept building tension, and what shifted when we finally named it. Whether you're new to the idea of the mental load or you're trying to help your partner understand it, this episode gives you language, validation, and a behind-the-scenes look at how one small vocabulary change can create big relational shifts. 🔗 Mentioned in this episode:
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| Why We Almost Gave Up on Our Marriage — And Why We Didn’t | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:29:47 | |
From postpartum rage to career stress to spiritual deconstruction, we’ve walked through some serious identity earthquakes and nearly walked away from our marriage. We know what it’s like to sit in silence at the end of a long day, feeling more like roommates than partners. To wonder if things will ever feel good again. To carry the mental load, the emotional labor, and the resentment that builds when no one talks about what’s really going on after the baby. This conversation kicks off a new chapter in our marriage, in our business, and on this podcast. We’re sharing the honest truth about the hard seasons, the awkward conversations, the near misses... and the daily work it took to move from disconnection to reconnection. Whether you’re in the newborn fog, navigating toddler chaos, or just feeling like the spark is gone, this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone, and it is possible to find your way back. 💡 Inside this episode:
✨ NEW: Get our free Reconnection Kit for Couples — practical tools to help you rebuild emotional intimacy and get on the same page again (without needing hours of free time or a perfect mood). 🎉 Meet Mike: This episode also marks the official welcome of Mike as a business partner at Postpartum Together and co-leader of our mission to help couples create better relationships after baby. You’ll hear more from both of us on this show and in our coaching work as we serve couples who are ready to stop surviving and start growing again. 🔔 Follow for more: Subscribe to the Better Relationships After Baby podcast and follow us @PostpartumTogether for weekly tools, convos, and connection to support your real-life relationship. 📩Get on our email list for weekly tips: https://chelseaskaggs.kit.com/74eecf429d | |||
| Stop Self-Sabotaging: The 3 Ways You’re Blocking Your Own Joy | 11 Jun 2025 | 00:13:43 | |
If your emotional hangover keeps crashing your good days, or your confidence lives and dies by your partner’s mood… we need to talk. This one’s coming in hot with equal parts spicy and supportive. In this tough love episode, I'm channeling my no-BS grandma to call out three common ways women self-sabotage in relationships and life:
If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in a loop of doing the same things and expecting different results, this episode is your wake-up call and your warm hug. We’re not here to stay small. We’re here to break cycles and expand our capacity for more joy, connection, and confidence. Let’s go. If you recognized yourself in any of this, it’s time to stop circling the same drain. Book a clarity coaching call and let’s get you unstuck, because the patterns aren’t going to change unless you do something different. www.calendly.com/chelseaskaggs/coaching-exploration | |||
| Stop Nagging, Start Connecting: How to Get Your Partner to Actually Talk to You | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:19:50 | |
Feel like you're the only one trying to keep the conversation (and the relationship) alive? In this episode, Chelsea Skaggs breaks down how to get your partner to open up and communicate—without nagging, resentment, or repeating yourself 100 times. We’ll talk about why your partner may be emotionally shut down, how gender conditioning plays a role in communication breakdowns, and how to use curiosity, timing, and real-life scripts to shift the dynamic in your relationship. If you’re craving deeper connection, less defensiveness, and way fewer one-sided convos—this episode is for you. 💬 Topics include:
Grab Chelsea’s free Communication Scripts for Couples here: Communication Upgrade Scripts | Enhance Communication Today — Chelsea Skaggs Coaching communication in marriage | |||
| Touched Out & Overwhelmed: What Moms Can Do When They’re Maxed Out on Physical & Emotional Demands | 20 May 2025 | 00:27:19 | |
Feeling touched out as a mom is so real — and so under-talked about. Host Chelsea Skaggs (mom, relationship coach, and author of upcoming release: Talk Like a Team) shares her personal story of being physically and emotionally maxed out after baby #2, the guilt she had around asking for space, and the empowering communication shifts that helped her find herself again. You'll learn:
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, working mom, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you name what you’re feeling, normalize the need for space, and give you tools to reconnect with yourself and your people. 💬 Plus, don’t miss the FREE Communication Upgrade Scripts to help you express your needs clearly and kindly. Get the link in the show notes. https://postpartumtogether.com/communication-scripts
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| Why Your Vacation Feels Like More Work (And How to Fix It as a Team) | 13 May 2025 | 00:17:19 | |
You planned the trip. Packed the bags. Hoped for rest. Sound familiar? In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many family vacations leave one parent drained (usually you), and how to shift the dynamic before, during, and after the trip — so both of you get a break, feel seen, and actually enjoy your time away. We’ll talk about:
Because vacation should be a break for both of you. 💬 Want to go deeper? Learn more about Relationship Blueprint Mapping — my private session for couples ready to ditch autopilot and build a rhythm that actually works. Catch the blog post (with the questions you need to be asking before your trip) here: www.postpartumtogether.com/blog/why-your-vacation-feels-like-more-work-and-how-to-fix-it-as-a-team | |||
| Spring Clean the Emotional Clutter: The Hidden Blocks Holding Your Relationship Back | 06 May 2025 | 00:22:13 | |
In this episode of Better Relationships After Baby, we’re not just opening the windows and scrubbing baseboards—we’re clearing out the emotional dust bunnies that quietly build up in your relationship. Inspired by a junk drawer declutter (spoiler: it wasn’t even my stuff), I’m diving into the invisible messes—like unspoken expectations, unchosen roles, and the quiet resentment that chips away at your connection. You'll hear real talk about:
Plus, I’ll walk you through 3 core emotional blocks and give you reflective questions to get honest about what’s taking up space in your relationship. 💬 Want to do a little spring cleaning of your own? Download the free Spring Cleaning for Your Relationship Checklist in the show notes—your permission slip to reset, reconnect, and release what’s no longer working. This isn’t just about feeling less stressed—it’s about feeling more like a team. 🧼 Let’s clean house—emotionally speaking. | |||