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

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

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

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

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

Key Takeaways

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

Soundbites

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

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

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

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Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health?
Send Chelsea a message on PodMatch

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

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

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

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

Connect with Cheri:

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

Key Takeaways

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

This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels.

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

Support the show

Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health?
Send Chelsea a message on PodMatch

Send us Fan Mail

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

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

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

Key Takeaways:

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

Soundbites:

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

Support the show

Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health?
Send Chelsea a message on PodMatch