Postpartum Better | Postpartum Recovery, Breastfeeding, Mom Overwhelm, Returning to Work, Postpartum Identity
★ TOP 5% GLOBALLY RANKED PODCAST ★Everything they don't tell you to expect — after you're expecting.The birth class covered the baby. The registry covered the nursery. But nobody gave you a roadmap for this — the exhaustion that doesn't lift, the sleep deprivation that builds, the breastfeeding questions nobody warned you about, and the quiet, unsettling feeling that the version of you that you once knew is nowhere to be found.The Postpartum Better podcast picks up where everyone else left off. Every week, your host Chelsea Barbine brings you honest conversations, real strategies, and the support that should have come with the baby...
169. The Relationship Every Mom Forgets to Tend To with Shannon Danielle
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If the most relationship you have is with yourself, why is it so hard to prioritize it?
Most moms skip straight past caring for themselves and go straight to surviving — more coffee, more scrolling, more pushing through. Then they hit a wall and can't figure out why they feel so disconnected from who they are. In this episode, Chelsea Barbine talks with Identity and Empowerment Coach Shannon Danielle, about the real difference between self-love, self-care, and actually caring for yourself. Together they share exactly how small, simple practices can change everything els...
168. How to Create Routine This Fall With Young Kids
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It's September. Everyone's back-to-school routine is all over your feed — the schedules, the sports, the "here's how we're staying on top of it all" energy.
But what if you're still on maternity leave or juggling pregnant life with a toddler home part-time?
In this episode you'll learn:
The three steps for getting the mom mental load out of your head and off your to-do listWhat you might be missing to get the most done in the least amount of timeThe most important step to setting your calendarIf...
167. Pregnant With a Toddler? Emily Higgins on Having Back-to-Back (to Back) Babies as a Working Mom
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Pregnant with your second and wondering how you're going to manage life with two?
In this episode, Chelsea talks with Emily Higgins, a web and app designer who had three babies back to back to back, which inspired her founding of the Mama Mode app and podcast.
Together they talk about:
Postpartum rage and what's actually underneath itThe one comment Emily received at her lowest point in motherhood that completely changed how she shows up for herself and every mom she meetsHow to build a support system out o...166. Why You Don't Need More Postpartum Advice
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There’s no shortage of free postpartum advice. But is more information actually what moms need?
In this episode, Chelsea unpacks why you show up differently when you invest in something, why generic advice can’t account for your unique postpartum experience, and why having a real plan—and support to come back to when things fall apart—matters.
Join the waitlist: postpartumbetter.com/bootcamp
Find a mom walk near you: https://www.themomwalkcollective.com/walks
Disclaimer: The information and stor...
165. How to Close the Leisure Gap Postpartum with Rebecca
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"You get to do it when you make the time."
In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Rebecca — a nurse and a mom of two — to talk about something most people skip over in the postpartum fitness conversation: that getting stronger postpartum was never really about the body. It was about proving to herself, over and over, that she could do hard things.
Rebecca gets real about the difference between the hard of showing up for yourself and the hard of not — and how that choice, repeated daily, is what a...
164. The Future of Postpartum Health Depends on This One Shift
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Trigger Warning: This episode discusses maternal mental health crises, postpartum psychosis, and references the Lindsay Clancy case. Please listen with care.
Maternal mental health conditions have nearly doubled in the past decade. So why are we still only reacting after the fact?
In this episode, Chelsea shares her unfiltered response to the Lindsay Clancy trial — and what she believes it reveals about the gap between having access to resources and actually having support. She breaks down why information alone isn't care, why preparation for postpartum deserves the sa...
163. The Truth About Getting Your Spark Back Postpartum with Pauleanna Reid
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They say one day it'll matter who you marry.
In this episode, Chelsea Barbine sits down with Pauleanna Reid — a mom of two and founder of a wildly successful agency — to talk about something most conversations about motherhood underestimate or completely ignore: that the decisions you make before the baby even arrives are the ones that shape everything after.
Pauleanna breaks down the mom tax — the assumptions, the passed-over opportunities, the quiet ways people start treating you differently the moment they know you're expecting — and why she kept both of her p...
162. What I Wish Someone Told Me Before Going From 1-2 Kids
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You "warned" for baby number one. The sleepless nights, the questioning of yourself, how your whole world rearranges overnight. What (almost) nobody warns you about is what happens when baby number two arrives — and it hits somewhere completely different.
Disclaimer: The information and stories shared during this episode is intended to offer general guidance and support. However, every individual's health and circumstances are unique. Before making any significant changes, or if you have concerns about your health, it's essential to consult with your healthcare practitioner.
161. Healthy Mom, Happy Family with Sheridan De La Cruz
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Don’t want to lose yourself after birth? Here are 4 tips on how not to and what to discuss with your husband about supporting you.
In this episode, Chelsea Barbine talks with Sheridan De La Cruz about the steps she took to “be both” a good mom and feel like herself. They dive into conversations she had with her husband when her pregnancy became high risk, how NICU visits impact your postpartum health and the realities of taking care of yourself while taking care of another human being.
Tr...
160. What Millennial Working Moms Can Learn From Gen Z
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You climbed the ladder. You proved yourself. You hit every milestone you were supposed to hit.
Then you had a baby — and going back to that same job, the one you were so good at, suddenly felt impossible.
That's not a career crisis. That's a postpartum identity crisis. In this episode, you’ll learn the chapter to steal from the Gen Z playbook before you quit your job and burn it all down.
Disclaimer: The information and stories shared during this episode is intended to o...
159. 2026 Parents 'Best for Baby' Winner Courtney Boylan: Breast Engorgement, Postpartum Depression and Mother's Intuition
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Courtney kept losing her nipple shield — you know, the clear one that is impossible to find in your diaper bag — so she decided to make her own that was pretty and findable. That one idea turned into a whole company built on a simple belief: postpartum products can be functional AND beautiful, and moms deserve both. In this episode, you’ll hear from mom of 3 and Founder of Le Lolo Courtney Boylan. She shares about her own postpartum journey — the engorgement pain, the fear of leaving the hospital, the sister who told her to trust...
158. What you Need to Know About Budgeting After Baby
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You feel guilty spending money on yourself. You feel guilty when you don't. There's no version of this where you win — until you actually understand why.
In this bonus episode, I break down the budgeting trap almost every postpartum mom is stuck in, and how to finally end the vicious cycle.
Disclaimer: The information and stories shared during this episode is intended to offer general guidance and support. However, every individual's health and circumstances are unique. Before making any significant changes, or if you have concerns ab...
157. The Postpartum Survivorship Bias of “You’ll Be Fine”
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"You'll be fine. You'll figure it out. That's what we all did!"
Survivorship bias is real and it’s affecting postpartum moms every single day. If you’ve ever felt guilty, or “extra” or weak after someone told you that you’ll be fine because they were, this episode is for you.
Disclaimer: The information and stories shared during this episode is intended to offer general guidance and support. However, every individual's health and circumstances are unique. Before making any significant changes, or if you have concerns a...
156. The Second Wave of Postpartum: Going Back to Work Without Losing Yourself
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You finally found your groove… and now it's time to go back to work. Diaper bag packed, hair and makeup done by 8am, and about 20 new things on your plate. If the end of your maternity leave is looming with a pit in your stomach — this one gets real about the "second wave of postpartum".
Disclaimer: The information and stories shared during this episode is intended to offer general guidance and support. However, every individual's health and circumstances are unique. Before making any significant changes, or if you have...
155. You Don't Have Time? Listen to This
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What if feeling like you don't have time has nothing to do with your calendar? Take a listen to learn what it actually means and what to do about it.
Disclaimer: The information and stories shared during this episode is intended to offer general guidance and support. However, every individual's health and circumstances are unique. Before making any significant changes, or if you have concerns about your health, it's essential to consult with your healthcare practitioner.
Next Steps:
DM me on Instagram @p...154. What ChatGPT Got Right (and Wrong) When Planning My Postpartum Recovery
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You know what happens when you ask ChatGPT to plan your entire postpartum recovery? It gets a lot right — AND misses the three things that actually matter most.
In this bonus episode, postpartum health coach and mom of 2, Chelsea Barbine let her curiosity win and ran the experiment so many of you have already tried yourselves. Typed the prompt. Read the plan. Found exactly where it falls apart.
Press play. Then send it to the friend who's asked Chat to plan her whole maternity leave so she doesn't suffer ei...
153. Postpartum Isolation: The Modern Mom Life Sentence
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You know what solitary confinement criminals and many new moms have in common? Isolation.
Think that's dramatic? Take a listen.
In this bonus episode, postpartum health coach, Chelsea Barbine breaks down why postpartum isolation sneaks up on even the most prepared, most social new moms — and what actually closes the gap once it hits.
Disclaimer: The information and stories shared during this episode is intended to offer general guidance and support. However, every individual's health and circumstances are unique. Before making any significant changes, or...
152. Mom Rage, Repair & the 30% Rule with Dr. Moya O'Leary
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You snapped again — over the cup, the shoes, the same question for the ninth time — and then hated yourself for it.
In this episode, Chelsea talks with mom and perinatal psychologist Dr. Moya O'Leary for the conversation that takes the shame out of it.
You’ll learn why:
you only have to get it “right” 30% of the timethe repair after you lose it matters more than never losing itthe four words to give another mom that change everythingThis episode talks openly about postpartum mental health. Please take care o...
151. Working Mom Summer: Why I Stopped Chasing Balance With Two Kids Under Four
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"I don't know how you balance it all." Mama, same — because I'm not.
Two kids under four are home with me all summer while I run my business, and I stopped chasing "balance" a long time ago. Here's the honest truth about why "balancing it all" is a myth that's quietly crushing ambitious working moms — and the reframe that changes everything: motherhood is meant to reshape you, not erase you.
Your permission slip for this summer. Send it to a mom who needs it.
150. You're Not a Bad Mom. You're Sleep Deprived. with Chrissy Lawler MS, LMFT, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant
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You've been told some babies are just bad sleepers. That sleep training is cruel. That you just have to survive the newborn phase and eventually — eventually — you'll sleep again.
What if all of that is wrong?
In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Chrissy Lawler — licensed marriage and family therapist, sleep expert, mom of four girls, and author of the brand new book The Peaceful Sleeper — to talk about the one thing that impacts every single cell, function, and process in your body. Sleep.
In this episode they cov...
149. What Forest Fires Can Teach You About Postpartum
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The most fertile, the most abundant, the most beautiful growth on earth happens after something burns. And you are not the exception to that rule.
If this season feels like a fire — one that’s “burning it all to the ground” — this episode will change the way you see it.
Disclaimer: The information and stories shared during this episode is intended to offer general guidance and support. However, every individual's health and circumstances are unique. Before making any significant changes, or if you have concerns about your health, it's essential...
148. Is Depression Medication During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding "Safe"? with Dr. Erica Borman
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Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of thoughts of self-harm and harm to baby in the context of postpartum depression. Please listen with care.
Is it baby blues or signs of postpartum depression?
In this episode, Chelsea Barbine is talking with Dr. Erica Borman — board certified psychiatrist specializing in reproductive mental health — for the conversation every woman deserves to have before, during, and after pregnancy.
In this episode they cover:
The real difference between baby blues and postpartum depression — and why it mattersThe risk factors...147. How a Mom Walk Saved This New Mom's Life with Jamie Oneal
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What if the thing that saved your life was as simple as a walk?
Today I'm sitting down with Jamie Oneal — founder of the Mom Walk Collective, the force behind the Mile a Day challenge, and as of today, walking 30 miles to raise awareness for maternal mental health. I mean, come on.
Jamie's story starts long before the collective. A traumatic brain injury, a divorce while pregnant, a NICU stay — and a postpartum journey she had to navigate largely alone. What carried her through? Moving her body, finding her peop...
146. What If It Didn't Come "Easy"? with Amy Serafini
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For years you've been told it happens so easily. Conception, birth, motherhood and bonding with your baby. But what if it doesn't?
In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Amy Serafini — IVF mom of two, with her third miracle on the way — to talk about the maternal mental health journey that starts long before baby arrives and lasts well beyond the early years. From infertility and IVF cycles to birth trauma, NICU life, and the fears that can follow you into parenting years later unless healed, this conversation is raw and full...
145. She Didn't Want to Be a Mom — Until She Was One with Julie Gonzalves
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What happens when the woman who never wanted to be a mom becomes one?
In this episode, Chelsea Barbine sits down with Julie Gonzalves — who spent years telling her husband motherhood wasn't for her — until a positive pregnancy test at 34 changed everything.
Together they talk about:
Why maternal mental health starts long before the baby arrivesHow preparing for birth supported Julie when it didn't go according to planWhat postpartum anxiety can feel like, even when you're doing everything "right"And the fears new moms carry quietly — especially around return...144. Deloitte's Parental Leave Cut: The Conversation Nobody Is Having
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Deloitte US just cut parental leave from 16 weeks to 8. And while everyone is outraged about the number — nobody is talking about what the number was never solving for in the first place.
In this episode, I'm going there.
Because maternity leave isn't the finish line. It's the starting line. And most companies — even the ones getting praised — are completely missing the mark.
Next Steps:
DM me on Instagram @postpartumbetter143. Infertility, IVF & Postpartum: What If Motherhood Doesn’t Feel How You Expected? with Lauren Dewey
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For many women, the transition into motherhood—especially after years of trying—can feel different than expected.
In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Lauren Dewey—mom of two and founder of Brooksybox—to talk about her journey through infertility, navigating IVF alongside her career, and what it really felt like to step into postpartum after years of trying to conceive.
Lauren shares:
the loss of control that comes with trying to conceivethe identity shift after baby and redefining success beyond careerthe emotional reality of returning to work—and what h...142. Why You Need to Write a Job Description for Yourself (and Your Husband)
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One of the most common questions Chelsea gets from the moms she coaches is simple: how do you and your partner actually divide responsibilities at home? In this episode, she shares the exact three-step activity she walks every client through — a practical, low-pressure exercise that brings clarity to one of the quietest sources of tension in new parenthood. No rigid systems, no judgment. Just a starting point that works for this season.
Disclaimer: The information and stories shared during this episode is intended to offer general guidance and support. However, every in...
141. C-Section to VBAC: What This Physical Therapist Didn't Expect About Her Second Postpartum with Dr. Jen Fraboni, PT, DPT
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Most moms think postpartum gets easier the second time around.
You've done this before. You know what's coming. You're prepared.
But that's not how it works.
In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Dr. Jen Fraboni — Doctor of Physical Therapy and mom of two — who is one of the most trusted women's health educators online, and yet her second postpartum still humbled her.
You’ll learn:
The difference between Jen’s c-section and vaginal birth recoveriesWhat blindsided her most with the one-to-two transition What pelvic floo...140. What If You Miss It? The Truth About Baby Milestones & Going Back to Work
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What if you miss it?
The first step.
The first word.
The moment everyone tells you you’ll never get back.
For so many working moms, the fear isn’t just about milestones—
it’s about what those moments mean.
Does it still count if you weren’t there?
Will your baby feel it?
Are you choosing your career over your child?
In this episode, Chelsea breaks down the real reason this fear feels so heavy—and the belief shift that changes...
139. The Best Mommy + Me Postpartum Workout Class for Moms with Rachael Bridgens
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Mommy & me classes are supposed to make things easier…
so why do they so often feel like the opposite?
If you’ve ever:
Left a class more stressed than when you arrivedSpent the entire time bouncing, feeding, or stepping outOr skipped it altogether because it just didn’t feel worth the effort…this episode is going to hit.
Because what if the problem isn’t you…
it’s the setup?
In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Rachael Bridgens—mom of two, pre and postnatal Pi...
138. Why Your Baby Isn’t Sleeping—And Why ‘Trying Everything’ Isn’t Working with Baby Sleep Coach Ann Marie Harriger
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You expect your baby to sleep.
Everyone says they will.
So when they don’t?
You’re left questioning everything.
In this episode, Chelsea sits down with baby sleep consultant and mom of 3, Ann Marie Harriger, to unpack what’s really going on when sleep isn’t working—and why trying to “fix everything” might be the exact reason you feel stuck.
This conversation will help you release the pressure, understand your baby more clearly, and finally feel like you have a plan.
In this episod...
137. Tongue Ties in Babies: How to Know if a Release Is Right for Your Baby with Kelsey Swope OTD, OTR/L, CLSP
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Thinking about a tongue tie release for your baby — but not sure if it’s actually necessary?
In this episode, I’m joined by occupational therapist Kelsey Swope, owner of Baby Basics OT, to break down what parents should really know about tongue ties.
We talk about feeding challenges, reflux, body tension, baby milestones, and why the common advice to “wait and see” can sometimes leave families stuck and struggling longer than necessary.
If you’ve been feeling like something is "off" — or just want to better understand wha...
136. What to Eat After Baby: A Postpartum Chef’s Guide to Fourth Trimester Nourishment with Rachel Popik
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Are freezer meals really enough for postpartum?
In this episode, postpartum health coach Chelsea Barbine sits down with Rachel Popik, founder of Stay Doughy, to talk about one of the most overlooked parts of postpartum recovery: how moms are actually supposed to feed themselves once the baby arrives.
Because yes, freezer meals can help.
But they only go so far.
Chelsea and Rachel unpack the invisible labor of feeding yourself postpartum—from deciding what to eat, to grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning up—and why this burd...
135. Is This Normal? Newborn Feeding Questions Every Mom Asks with Ashley Feeley, IBCLC
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Are you constantly wondering if your baby is actually getting enough—or if feeding is “supposed” to hurt this much?
In this episode, Chelsea Barbine sits down with lactation consultant Ashley Feeley to unpack the biggest points of confusion families face in the early days of feeding—especially when you’re sleep-deprived, overwhelmed by advice, and trying to figure out what’s normal (and what’s not).
You’ll learn:
How often should a newborn eat? (Is every 30–90 minutes normal?)Is my baby getting enough milk? Signs to look for beyond th...134. How to Create A Realistic Postpartum Workout Plan with Kat Bright
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The internet loves a simple rule: “Wait 6–8 weeks, then get back to working out.”
But real postpartum life isn’t that simple.
In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Kat Bright, a perinatal trainer (and athlete for life), to talk about returning to movement in the first year postpartum—without the bounce-back pressure, guilt, or all-or-nothing mindset.
Kat shares why postpartum fitness shouldn’t be about shrinking or “undoing” birth. It’s about rebuilding strength on your terms: more resilience, more vitality, and a body that feels like home again.
...
133. How to Protect and Navigate Your Relationship After Baby with Jaclyn Zeal, LMFT
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Have you ever finally gotten the baby down…
looked at your partner…
and wondered, “Will this ever feel easy — or even fun — again?”
You love each other.
You chose each other.
But right now?
You’re exhausted. Maybe even a little distant.
If you have, first of all — you’re not alone.
Postpartum changes everything.
Your body. Your sleep. Your identity. Your capacity.
And because of that… your intimacy, too.
In this episode, Chelsea talks with marriage and family therapist, Ja...
132. Are Your "People-Pleasing" Habits Sabotaging Your Postpartum? with Leah Andreoni, MA, LMFT, PMH-C
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If you’ve always been the “easygoing one,” the helper, the yes-girl… postpartum can feel like the moment where that identity starts to crack.
Suddenly, everyone has opinions. Everyone wants time. And you’re left managing exhaustion, recovery, emotions, and a brand-new mental load—while still worrying about disappointing others.
In this episode of Postpartum Better, Chelsea Barbine is joined by perinatal therapist and mom of 2 Leah Andreoni, MA, LMFT, PMH-C - to discuss why boundaries aren’t selfish postpartum—they’re protective, and why people-pleasing can quietly sabotage yo...
131. Listen to This Before You Open Instagram Again
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I don’t know who needs to hear this but… postpartum isn’t your “crashout” season — it’s your comeback season.
Lately, I’ve been seeing content that frames postpartum as something to survive through venting, numbing, and “just getting by.” Those moments are real — but they’re not the whole story.
In this episode, Chelsea Barbine talks about why postpartum can feel like rock bottom — and how those moments often become the doorway to your breakthrough.
Not in a toxic-positivity way.
In a what you surround yourself with actu...
130. Are You Breaking Generational Patterns — or Passing Them Down? with Cathy Heller
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What if the way you mother has been shaped by things you learned long before you ever became a mom?
In this episode, Chelsea Barbine is sitting down with Cathy Heller — renowned teacher, top-ranked podcaster, bestselling author and her personal mentor.
You'll learn why your children are here to reflect your growth, your healing, and your capacity to receive more than you ever thought possible.
If you’ve ever wondered why certain moments in motherhood feel so triggering… or so healing… this episode will change the way you see...
