Trish goes deep into a rarely discussed but incredibly common postpartum symptom: rage. We're not talking about everyday irritability - this is intense, explosive anger that can feel overwhelming and out of control. If you've ever snapped at your partner over something trivial, slammed doors, or felt fury bubbling up when the baby cries, you're not alone, and you're certainly not a bad mom. Trish, a labor nurse with over 16 years of experience and mom of seven, shares insights on what postpartum rage really is, its potential causes, practical strategies for managing it in the moment, and long-term steps to seek help. Tune in to feel less isolated and more empowered on your postpartum journey.

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Key Takeaways

1. Understanding Postpartum Rage: It's not just anger - it's a sudden, disproportionate fury that can manifest as yelling, slamming things, or feeling out of control. Trish reassures listeners that this is often a symptom of perinatal mood disorders, not a reflection of your character as a mom.
2. Common Causes: Hormonal shifts post-birth, chronic sleep deprivation, constant overstimulation from being needed and touched, lack of support, and underlying anxiety or depression can all contribute. Your body is in survival mode, and rage is its way of protecting you.
3. Immediate Coping Strategies:
4. Acknowledge it out loud: "I'm feeling rage right now - this is a symptom, not who I am."
5. Step away safely: Place baby in a crib and take a break.
6. Regulate your body: Chug ice water, splash cold water on your face, do jumping jacks (if recovery allows), scream into a pillow, or try box breathing (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 6).
7. Long-Term Solutions:
8. Get screened for perinatal mood disorders by your OB or midwife.
9. Prioritize sleep, even in short stretches.
10. Reduce overstimulation: Limit visitors, silence notifications, and carve out quiet time.
11. Meet basic needs: Eat regularly, stay hydrated, and move your body.
12. Seek therapy, ideally from a perinatal mental health specialist.
13. Communicate with loved ones: Use specific scripts like, "I need you to take the baby for 30 minutes" or "I need you to listen without trying to fix it."

Helpful Timestamps:

1. 00:58 Understanding Postpartum Rage
2. 01:25 Causes of Postpartum Rage
3. 02:07 Immediate Coping Strategies

In today’s episode, Trish shares her very first birth story - the birth of her son, Ian, when she was just 17. She’s diving into the naive teenage years, her surprise pregnancy, and the incredible experience of giving birth that laid the foundation for her career as a labor and delivery nurse and sparked her passion for birth advocacy.

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Trish takes you through the details, from finding out she was pregnant, to the struggles and joy of pregnancy, to Ian's dramatic birth. This unscripted, heartfelt retelling is a journey back in time and an insight into why Trish does what she does today at Labor Nurse Mama - with a special shout out to HER labor and delivery nurse that made a huge difference in her birth experience. This episode is a raw, honest look at her early days of motherhood and the pivotal moments that drove her mission to change the birth culture, one birth at a time.

More from this episode:

Does the Midwives Brew Recipe Induce Labor at Home? Read our Top Insider Tips

Helpful Timestamps:

1. 01:15 Early Pregnancy and Family Reactions
2. 03:44 Pregnancy Challenges and Castor Oil Experiment
3. 07:13 Labor and Delivery Experience
4. 11:32 Reflections and Advocacy
5. 12:46 Conclusion and Call to Action

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👩🏻‍⚕️ Perfect for all births- hospital, birth center, or home!

🎧 Includes birth meditations and prayers.

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For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

In this episode of Postpartum Unpacked, Trish gets into the realities of postpartum recovery, with a focus on healing for vaginal births. Trish shares practical tips, emotional insights, and encouragement for new parents navigating the early weeks after delivery. Originally recorded as an Instagram Live, this episode emphasizes preparation, self-care, and setting boundaries to make your healing journey smoother. Whether you're expecting soon or already in the thick of postpartum, Trish reminds you that it's okay to ask for help, feel your emotions, and prioritize rest over perfection.

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What’s Inside this episode:

1. Tips for managing physical changes like bleeding & swelling
2. Permission to feel your emotions
3. What to expect for bleeding (Lochia)
4. Bodily changes and fluid shifts
5. The importance of rest and self-care
6. Tools for healing: ice packs and padsicles
7. Perineal care essentials
8. Setting boundaries with visitors
9. Emotional realities of new parenthood

More from this episode:

Checkout Labor Nurse Mama’s Postpartum Recovery Essentials Amazon List

Helpful Timestamps:

1. 00:42 Postpartum Preparation
2. 01:14 Encouragement and Support for New Moms
3. 04:52 Understanding Postpartum Bleeding
4. 10:43 Managing Postpartum Discomfort
5. 16:25 Setting Boundaries and Handling Visitors
6. 20:04 Emotional Challenges and Seeking Help
7. 22:02 Essential Resources and Final Tips

Join the #1 Birth Course for Confident Birth!

Over 15,000 women have used our classes to prepare for birth with the knowledge and tools provided by a Labor Nurse.

💻 Self-paced and lifetime access

👩🏻‍⚕️ Perfect for all births- hospital, birth center, or home!

🎧 Includes birth meditations and prayers.

🌍 Women all over the world have loved our classes.

✅ Start now

Join The Birthpod ™ course

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Trish welcomes Shari Stamps, the founder of Navigating Parenthood and mama of six, for an enlightening conversation about craniosacral therapy and trauma release. Shari, an integrative wellness practitioner with over a decade of experience, specializes in supporting families with evidence-based tools for lactation, infant sleep, craniosacral therapy, oral ties, postpartum prep, and more. Trish and Shari break down the importance of preparing for postpartum, and understanding and addressing emotional and physical traumas that can affect both moms and babies.

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They discuss everything from craniosacral therapy, breastfeeding challenges, and the impact of trauma to practical home care routines. Shari emphasizes the critical role of connection and presence in parenting and offers insightful advice for nurturing both mother and child. This episode is a must-listen for all parents and caregivers navigating the complexities of early parenthood.

More from Shari Stamps:

• Visit https://www.navigatingparenthood.com/
• Connect with Shari on Instagram: @navigatingparenthood
• Grab her course: Your Baby’s Tie Care Bestie

Helpful Timestamps:

• 00:00 Welcome Shari Stamps from Navigating Parenthood
• 02:14 The Importance of Pre-Birth Planning
• 04:53 Emotional and Physical Patterns in Parenting
• 09:52 Birth Experiences and Consent
• 13:40 Craniosacral Therapy and Infant Care
• 19:42 The Impact of Birth Trauma
• 22:39 The Importance of Infant Connection
• 29:12 Navigating Parenthood and Business
• 32:43 Resources for Parents

Join the #1 Birth Course for Confident Birth!

Over 15,000 women have used our classes to prepare for birth with the knowledge and tools provided by a Labor Nurse.

💻 Self-paced and lifetime access

👩🏻‍⚕️ Perfect for all births- hospital, birth center, or home!

🎧 Includes birth meditations and prayers.

🌍 Women all over the world have loved our classes.

✅ Start now

Join The Birthpod ™ course

Join The Calm Labor Confident Birth Course

Connect w/ Trish:

On Instagram

On YouTube

For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

In this eye-opening episode, Trish tackles a topic that often leaves new moms feeling isolated and ashamed: postpartum OCD and intrusive thoughts. If you've ever been haunted by scary "what if" scenarios about your baby - like dropping them or something terrible happening - you're not alone, and you're not a bad mom. Trish shares her own experiences, breaks down what postpartum OCD really is, how it differs from depression or psychosis, and offers actionable steps to seek help and break the cycle. This episode is a lifeline for moms struggling in silence, emphasizing that these thoughts are common, treatable, and don't define you.

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Key Takeaways

• Understanding Postpartum OCD: It's a perinatal mood disorder involving obsessions (unwanted, disturbing thoughts about harm to your baby) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors to ease anxiety, like constant checking or excessive cleaning).
• The Science: Postpartum hormones and sleep deprivation amp up your brain's protective mode, turning normal vigilance into a stuck alarm system that fuels the OCD cycle.
• Getting Help: Speak up to a trusted person, seek a perinatal mental health specialist trained in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, consider safe medications, and explore trauma therapies like EMDR. Shame and silence only worsen it - treatment works!
• For Partners and Family: Approach with empathy, avoid shaming, and encourage professional help without enabling compulsions.

Resources Mentioned

• Postpartum Support International – For support and resources on perinatal mood disorders.
• International OCD Foundation – Find OCD specialists and learn more about treatment.
• Alicia's Online Support – Postpartum Therapist.
• Join Calm Mama Society – Labor Nurse Mama's community for postpartum support, where moms can share openly without shame and be a part of a community that gets it.

More from Postpartum Unpacked:

• What No One Tells You About Navigating Postpartum Emotions with Meredith Waymire
• Setting Boundaries With Family to Protect Your Postpartum Recovery
• Leaving the House with a Newborn (What No One Told Me)

Helpful Timestamps:

• 01:47 Understanding Postpartum OCD
• 02:10 Common Obsessions and Compulsions
• 04:18 Postpartum OCD vs. Postpartum Psychosis
• 08:06 Impact of Birth Trauma
• 10:02 Seeking Help and Treatment Options
• 12:33 Support and Encouragement

Join the #1 Birth Course for Confident Birth!

Over 15,000 women have used our classes to prepare for birth with the knowledge and tools provided by a Labor Nurse.

💻 Self-paced and lifetime...

Today, Trish breaks down one of the most frightening aspects of early pregnancy: spotting and bleeding. Drawing from her personal experiences (six pregnancies, plus her daughter's recent journey) and her professional expertise as a nurse who has supported thousands of women, Trish explains how knowledge can empower listeners and prevent unnecessary panic. She emphasizes that up to 25% of women experience this, and most pregnancies proceed healthily. Trish breaks down the three types of bleeding, their causes, and when to seek help, all without fear-mongering. Whether listeners are currently spotting or simply preparing, she encourages saving this episode for peace of mind and confidence.

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Leave a review and include your Instagram username for a chance to win our monthly raffle!

Key Highlights:

• Why Bleeding Happens (and Why It's Often Okay): Trish covers causes like implantation (the embryo burrowing in), hormonal shifts, a sensitive cervix (from intimacy or exams), or a subchorionic hematoma. Most cases resolve naturally!
• Type 1: Implantation Spotting: Light pink/brown discharge, brief (hours to 2 days), occurring around 6-12 days post-conception. It's a positive sign of pregnancy - no cramping involved.
• Type 2: Cervical Irritation Bleeding: Bright red turning brown, often triggered by sex, exams, or constipation. It stops quickly (within 24 hours) and lacks severe pain.
• Type 3: Concerning Bleeding - The 5 Red Flags to Watch:
• 1. Heavy flow (soaking a pad hourly), bright red lasting >24 hours
• 2. Severe cramps/abdominal pain,
• 3. Passing tissue/clots
• 4. Dizziness/fainting
• 5. Shoulder pain

These concerning bleeding symptoms require immediate attention - Trish advises calling a provider or going to the ER with this script: "I'm X weeks pregnant with [describe color/amount] bleeding and [any symptoms]. I need an evaluation."

What to Do If It Happens: Trish urges always contacting your provider, tracking on a pad, noting symptoms, and advocating firmly - don't accept dismissal! She recommends resting, hydrating, nourishing the body, and seeking support.

Helpful Timestamps:

• 01:34 Understanding First Trimester Bleeding
• 02:23 Common Causes of Early Pregnancy Bleeding
• 03:47 Subchorionic Hematoma
• 05:58 Types of First Trimester Bleeding
• 06:09 Implantation Spotting: Early Signs of Pregnancy
• 08:03 Cervical Irritation: Common and Harmless
• 10:44 When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
• 15:11 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Join the #1 Birth Course for Confident Birth!

Over 15,000 women have used our classes to prepare for birth with the knowledge and tools provided by a Labor Nurse.

💻 Self-paced and lifetime access

👩🏻‍⚕️ Perfect for all births- hospital, birth center, or home!

🎧 Includes birth meditations and prayers.

🌍 Women all over the world have loved our classes.

✅ Start now

Join The Birthpod ™ course

Join The Calm Labor Confident Birth Course

Connect w/ Trish:

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On...

Meredith's passion for the postpartum space began after experiencing a difficult pregnancy, postpartum, and transition into motherhood.

She realized that there was an abundance of resources for pregnant women, but a significant lack of resources for women in the postpartum phase.

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She soon realized her skills as an occupational therapist uniquely suited her to support women in this phase of life.

As an occupational therapist, She helps people accomplish everyday life activities that they both need and want to do.

Being a mother is a role that impacts all areas of our lives, and as mothers, we must continually adjust to changing daily life and routines as our children grow. It can be hard to take care of and prioritize yourself as a mother, and can be isolating to feel like you are the only one struggling with this.

Her special mission is to empower women to take care of themselves while caring for their children and create a source of connection for mothers who are in similar life stages.

Join us as we chat about all things postpartum!

More from Meredith Waymire:

• www.selfcareot.com
• Follow her on Instagram @selfcare_ot

Join the #1 Birth Course for Confident Birth!

Over 15,000 women have used our classes to prepare for birth with the knowledge and tools provided by a Labor Nurse.

💻 Self-paced and lifetime access

👩🏻‍⚕️ Perfect for all births- hospital, birth center, or home!

🎧 Includes birth meditations and prayers.

🌍 Women all over the world have loved our classes.

✅ Start now

Join The Birthpod ™ course

Join The Calm Labor Confident Birth Course

Connect w/ Trish:

On Instagram

On YouTube

For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

In this powerful birth story episode, Trish sits down with a VBAC Lab student, Kelly Coy, a physician assistant and new mama to baby Carter (who makes a few adorable cameo coos!). Kelly opens up about her traumatic first birth - an unnecessary 38-week induction that ended in a 3-day labor, C-section, postpartum hemorrhage, and a grueling 7-day hospital stay - and how that experience lit a fire in her to prepare differently the second time around.

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Even as a medical professional herself, Kelly felt unprepared to advocate against a system that pushed induction too soon. Determined to have the redemptive VBAC she knew her body was capable of, she joined The VBAC Lab before she was even pregnant (classic Type-A move!) and soaked up every lesson, hangout, and community conversation.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why she chose to decline baby aspirin despite provider pressure (and how that decision played out)
• How the monthly VBAC Happy Hours gave her the confidence and community she needed to navigate tricky decisions
• The night her water broke on its own at 40+1, a 36+ hour labor, laboring in the tub, and an 8-cm epidural that only halfway worked
• The surreal moment she reached down and pulled her son Carter onto her chest herself
• The massive difference in recovery between her C-section and this vaginal birth (yes, even with second-degree tears)
• Why mindset, processing previous birth trauma, and knowing your “why” are absolutely everything when chasing a VBAC

Kelly’s one-word review of The VBAC Lab?

“Empowering.”

If you’re a mama dreaming of a redemptive VBAC, this episode will leave you fired up, educated, and ready to fight for the birth you deserve.

More from this episode:

• Join the VBAC Lab
• Join the Calm Mama Membership

Join the #1 Birth Course for Confident Birth!

Over 15,000 women have used our classes to prepare for birth with the knowledge and tools provided by a Labor Nurse.

💻 Self-paced and lifetime access

👩🏻‍⚕️ Perfect for all births- hospital, birth center, or home!

🎧 Includes birth meditations and prayers.

🌍 Women all over the world have loved our classes.

✅ Start now

Join The Birthpod ™ course

Join The Calm Labor Confident Birth Course

Connect w/ Trish:

On Instagram

On YouTube

For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services