I was struggling with postpartum anxiety and didn't know it. I’m neuro-spicy, but didn’t know it. I was pushed to my breaking point, struggling on the inside so badly that I didn't even know I was struggling (if that makes sense to you, I’m sorry.) And I yelled at my baby. My rainbow baby who was conceived via IVF, who I wanted so desperately. I yelled at him.

Yes. WAKE HIM UP. Because it is not okay that you’re the only one waking up at night. It’s just not. It doesn’t matter that you’re breastfeeding. It doesn't matter that he has to work tomorrow. It doesn't matter how hard it is to wake him up. It doesn't matter what kind of an asshole he’ll be when you do wake him up. Just wake him up. Because it’s not okay that you’re the only one waking up at night.

I remember being so excited for my then-husband to get home because then I’d get a break and be able to take a shower but the break never came and rarely did the shower and I'm still not really sure whose fault that was but it doesn't matter now because we’re divorced.

Excessive self-isolation, comparison and self-judgment, information overload, overextending yourself, neglecting self-care, avoiding getting help, excessive monitoring, over-committing and overbooking, and ignoring your physical health — these are all things that you might do that could have a negative impact on your postpartum experience.

Overcoming maternal gatekeeping requires a conscious effort – it requires open communication, it requires you to be brave, it requires you to admit that, yes you might have been sucked into the patriarchy – even as a hardcore feminist badass woman – you still may have these qualities. And it’s tricky because all of this could be latently hanging out in your psyche and not show itself until after your baby arrives, while you're in the trenches of new motherhood. But I’m telling you – if you’re committed to keeping your relationship strong, maintaining a sex life, and enjoying motherhood to the fullest, you must commit to doing this work.

Motherhood. It can be such a mind*uck.

And I don’t know about you but I’ve just about had it with the unrealistic expectations and harmful narratives that have us beating ourselves up on the regular. From the pressure to be the "perfect mom" to constantly feelings comparing ourselves to what we see on social media, these narratives can leave us feeling like absolute $hit.

As a new mom, you might find yourself caught in a whirlwind of emotions and responsibilities, and it's completely normal to miss your old life. Do not feel guilty about it.

As an anxious mom who lost her first baby, and went on to give birth to two IIVF miracles, I struggled so much during the newborn and infant stages. It was hard for me. But I never wanted to admit it because I felt like I should just be grateful.

Unfortunately, yep. In today's world (here in the US, at least), most of us are building our own villages of support. It’s super lame, and yes, assembling a postpartum support team adds another thing to the already-long to-do list, but if you don’t do it, no one shows up. And that, I can promise you, sucks way worse than having to build the village. But not to worry. I'm here to help you start the process and find the right people to join your team.

I’ve been working as a placenta encapsulation specialist since 2012 and have processed nearly 1500 placenta into “vitamins” during that time. And about a year ago, I started wondering more about the validity of my claims that "#placentapillswork.

So I sent out an anonymous survey to my past clients, and the results kind of shook me.

My postpartum sucked. If only I’d known then what I know now.

Something I hear often is, “My lactation consultant said I should wait a few weeks before taking my placenta pills because she said it could interfere with milk production.”

WHAT?!?!? Mind Blown.

No. This is inaccurate advice and it’s basically negating the investment you made in your placenta pills.

Some care providers insist on telling their clients that they should not consume their placenta if they test positive for GBS. Let’s explore why.

Here are 18 “lies” about placenta encapsulation that you likely believe.

I hate Mother’s Day. Absolutely hate it.

It's tough for me to admit this, especially because I work with new moms and most of you who are reading these blog posts of mine are probably not jaded yet by the day. I want to be happy for you and celebrate with you, but I'm still so stuck in my own struggle.

I was shit at creating boundaries when I first became a mom. Hell, I don’t think I had even heard the term “set boundaries” until my kids were already elementary age. Looking back, I see how my lack of boundary-setting skills caused me so much unnecessary stress when my babies were little.

As a Postpartum Mindset Coach, I specialize in helping new moms develop a more positive and confident mindset. Through my coaching program, you'll learn how to reparent yourself, develop greater self-awareness, and cultivate a greater sense of self-compassion. By doing so, you'll be better equipped to navigate the ups and downs of parenthood and build strong, healthy relationships with your children.

Fortunately, there are many ways to prepare for the postpartum period to avoid or reduce postpartum anxiety. One of the most effective ways is to create a support system, whether it be through family, friends, or a community of other new mothers. Talking with someone who has gone through a similar experience can help ease any fears or concerns and provide a sense of camaraderie and understanding.

Recently, I learned about nesting parties, and I was blown away by the idea. I wish I had known about them earlier! A nesting party would have been brilliant for preparing for postpartum life. If you're pregnant right now and want to set yourself up for success, consider pairing a nesting party with a baby registry through Be Her Village.

I never knew I had anxiety until I became a mom. Looking back now, as my first baby is closer to leaving me than he is to diapers, I'm really angry that no one saw it. Instead of compassion and empathy, I was met with judgment. People judged the way I raised my baby and judged me for my inability to handle his crying.