Postpartum mental health struggles can be frightening and confusing, not only for the mom experiencing them but also for the spouse and family trying to understand what is happening. And when a crisis like postpartum psychosis enters the picture, it can turn a family’s world upside down.

In this episode, I’m joined by Amanda and Colby Taylor, authors of From Playgrounds to Psych Wards, to hear their deeply personal story of navigating postpartum psychosis, hospitalization, and the long road toward healing. Amanda shares how a traumatic birth at 32 weeks, a baby in the NICU, and extreme sleep deprivation preceded her mental health crisis. Colby shares what it was like to recognize that something was wrong with his wife and how he learned to support her through the uncertainty.

We also talk about the complicated intersection of faith and mental health, the role of professional care and community in healing, and how a crisis can affect both partners in a marriage. Their story is an honest reminder that healing takes time, asking for help matters, and families don't have to walk through difficult seasons alone.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “gut microbiome” everywhere lately—but what does it actually mean, and why does it matter for your baby?

In this episode, Dr. Savita Srivastava, a Yale-trained gastroenterologist and microbiome specialist, breaks down the science behind your baby’s developing gut microbiome and how those first 1,000 days can influence immune and metabolic health.

We talk about pregnancy, birth, breast milk, C-sections, combination feeding, formula, introducing solids, antibiotics, and even letting your baby get a little messy outside. Most importantly, Dr. Srivastava brings a message that moms need to hear: you don't have to do everything perfectly to support your baby's health.

Motherhood can be something you prayed for deeply—and still leave you wondering, “Where did I go?”

In this conversation, Alexis opens up about her experiences with postpartum anxiety, depression, and rage after the births of her two children, including the moment she realized she needed to tell her husband what was really going on and reach out for professional help.

We talk about the pressure to “bounce back,” the grief that can come with becoming a new version of yourself, mom guilt, social media comparison, and what it looks like to find your identity again—not by becoming who you were before motherhood, but by allowing God to shape who you're becoming.

When you hear “pelvic floor therapy,” you might immediately think of Kegels. But pelvic floor physical therapy is about so much more than strengthening one group of muscles.

In this episode of A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast, I’m talking with Dr. Abby Andres, a physical therapist who specializes in obstetric and pelvic floor care, about what moms really need to know about pelvic health before, during, and after pregnancy.

Dr. Abby brings a trauma-informed approach to her work, recognizing that pelvic health can be deeply personal and that past experiences, birth trauma, pain, and even shame can affect how a woman experiences treatment. We talk about how to know when a symptom is something worth getting help for, what pelvic floor therapy can actually address, and what postpartum recovery should look like in those early weeks.

Preparing for birth can bring a whole mix of emotions. You may feel excited to meet your baby, but also nervous about labor, pain, the unknown, or whether your birth will go according to plan.

In this episode of A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast, I’m talking with Christian birth doula and childbirth educator Jaimie Johnson about how we can prepare for birth physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—without allowing fear to take over.

Postpartum moms need more than a meal train and a quick “How’s the baby?”

They need to be seen, supported, and cared for, too.

In this episode of the A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast, Danielle talks about some of the ways the church can unintentionally make postpartum motherhood harder—including expecting moms to return to “normal” too quickly, asking them to serve before asking what they need, and sometimes offering spiritual answers to problems that also require practical support.

Because postpartum moms may need prayer and sleep.

They may need Scripture and a meal.

They may need to trust God and ask for help.

These things are not opposites.

Supporting a postpartum mom is spiritual ministry—and the church has an opportunity to become a place where mothers don't have to pretend they're okay or carry the weight of motherhood alone.

And while we don't want to place unrealistic pressure on moms to maintain a perfect spiritual routine, we also don't want mothers to believe that their relationship with God has to disappear during this season.

So what does it actually look like to spend time with God when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, and barely have time to shower?