CRISTINA ROSE 0:04
Hey friends, welcome to this week’s episode of “Not Your Momma’s Podcast” and today I’m excited we have Dr. Danielle Wright an OBGYN mom and CEO dedicated to transforming the postpartum experience for moms and dads with the passion for bridging the gaps in postpartum care. Dr. Wright is the driving force behind honey coaching, a comprehensive support platform designed to sweeten the journey through the fourth trimester. Danielle, it is such an honor to have you on and you know what I think we forget about women in the fourth trimester. You know, it’s almost like there’s only three you know, trimesters, but we are so lacking support, and I think in American women,for their fourth trimester. And so what are some common challenges new parents face during that postpartum period? And how can they navigate them effectively?
DANIELLE WRIGHT 1:00
Yeah, I think the biggest challenge that both the mom and dad face in the postpartum period, is just simply not having the proper support channels to help them navigate and transition into their new roles as parents, yeah, then new roles, they have new responsibilities. Especially if you’re a first-time parent, you don’t exactly know how to do it, you’re just kind of guessing. And you can second guess yourself a lot. And that whole process can bring about a lot of anxiety. And some specifically navigating again, that transition is just one of the biggest things that we fall short on in terms of the postpartum healthcare system right now. We have a lot of consult services; I think that they’re absolutely fantastic. They are needed to help with lactation support to that immediate time. Postpartum, knowing how to take care of your infant diaper changes that type of thing, but my psychological, you know, side of things. Yeah, there’s room for improvement.
CRISTINA ROSE 2:08
Yeah, well, I know, when I had my first son, it knocked me off my feet, like adjusting and having to do all these things. And I had a little bit of like, postpartum depression, I would cry, like, out of nowhere, like, I couldn’t even leave my house. I was like, I just can’t leave like it was, it was a lot, you know, I mean, I was able to wrap my head around it and push through, but it’s like, I wish I had more support, women like you to help really navigate them. So as an OBGYN and a mom, you know, what advice do you have for couples, you know, trying to maintain like, a healthy relationship while adjusting to the Parenthood because I know, that was also something that was a challenge, you know, and my relationship at the time, too.
DANIELLE WRIGHT 2:53
I think that you, I don’t think that this is talked about enough, like, I so I think that my husband and I, we were kind of like walking blindly into these new roles, and figuring out, you know, how to be parents and figuring out the rest of the responsibilities within our new roles, figuring out how to do those, well. There’s some days when most of the burden and the housework fell on me, and the days when it fell on my husband, and we didn’t have any guidance in terms of helping us understand that that’s okay. So, I think that just having open lines of communication, stating your needs in that relationship very plainly, stealing your mental state very plainly, in doing check ins with each other to make sure that you’re doing okay, because first of all, leaks are really rough. No one actually says that enough. It’s time. Yeah. And then also be very, be very intentional about connection. It’s easy to kind of get swept away in the rhythm of, you know, q4 feeds, you know, q4 diaper changes and you just lose, again, that connection with your partner and even the desire to connect because you’re busy doing other things, right?
CRISTINA ROSE 4:14
Yeah. Keep the Baby Alive. You know, and it’s just like, Oh, my goodness, I gotta focus on this.
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DANIELLE WRIGHT 5:36
Yeah, so the importance of the Mental Health say, of the mom and dad that, you know, the importance of that can’t be overstated. A mom and a dad that’s mentally healthy in order to create an environment for that infant to thrive? Yeah, well, you know how to facilitate that. It first starts with a good support system that support them, you know, can be those two that that duo. But also, you know, having friends that can reach out and check in on having colleagues that can reach out and check on you, neighbors, really great neighbors, you know, establishing beforehand that go to babysitter, especially, you know, for my military parents who don’t, who live in areas where there’s no family around, just go ahead and like set up, you know, again, a good babysitter that you can tap into periodically, so you can take that break, that is definitely needed. And then I will also put a plug in for the Postpartum Support international hotline, there, I don’t know their number off the top of my head. But whenever you’re in a situation where you just feel really overwhelmed, and you need to talk to someone right now about, you know, whatever you’re dealing with in the postpartum period, that’s a really great resource that anybody can use. And they can get in with someone who can help you on the mental wellness side of things as well.
CRISTINA ROSE 7:05
Oh, that’s good. I didn’t even know that they had a hotline for that. I could have used that. So I want to I want to talk about, you know, honey coaching, you know, and your program and things like that. And can you address to the audience, you know, the specific needs and challenges that moms face, like, how is honey here for them?
DANIELLE WRIGHT 7:27
Definitely. So in my own postpartum journey, I just felt like there were a lot of resources available. But it was, it was just different companies. And it was like, it was overwhelming for me even just to navigate the postpartum space and all the resources that are available. So if there is any, you know, mom or dad who’s like me and just want something that’s condensed, that’s what honey coaching is. So I’m trying to create an ecosystem that has community that you can just come in right before you deliver, and you can stay there and write it out all the way to 12 months postpartum. Never, you need a resource like someone to talk about infant care, physical recovery, intimacy. Any of those things, if you need an expert to talk to, you know, we have that available, and you just happen to it when you need it. We just kind of want to be very comprehensive toolkit that someone a parent has in their back pocket. So that really just to decrease exacerbations of postpartum anxiety and depression. Like we can’t eliminate it. Because I feel like postpartum anxiety and depression is really dependent on environmental things that maybe are a little bit out of our control. But what we can do is be proactive, give you the tools, resources, build a community to help you cope with those things.
CRISTINA ROSE 8:54
And you know, what, it’s so important community is really important. And I think we forget about that, you know, we get so wrapped up in our day-to-day tasks and things that we need to do. You know, we’ve always been creatures of community and growing together and stuff. So and I think it’s important. And I love the work that you’re doing. Because, like we mentioned a little bit earlier, like, I think women, especially in America, like are totally forgotten about in the fourth trimester. And it is like probably the hardest one, you know, because we’re adjusting to new life, even if you’ve already had, you know, it’s like your second child or your third it’s still hard like adjusting, you know, to like a growing family and all that. Hey, they’re amazing listeners. I’ve got something super special to share with you today. Have you ever felt like there’s just not enough hours in the day to juggle everything, from family to business and everything in between? Well, if you have you are not alone, our incredible author Jill knows exactly how you feel she’s on a mission to help supermoms like you and me develop their own personal time management framework. No more Mom Brain for getting appointments or feeling like you are drowning in responsibilities. Jill’s book, happy, healthy and wise is not your typical self help guide. It’s a treasure trove of hard won with wisdoms for human perspective, offering unique, effective and thought provoking ways to change your life. And the best part is, it’s not difficult, time consuming or scary. So you can grab your book on Amazon or head over to Jill’s website, www dot Jill wright.ca. Trust me, this is a game changer and you don’t want to miss it. So before we dive into the power mom Chronicles, is there anything else you’d like to sprinkle on top of our conversation?
DANIELLE WRIGHT 10:55
I don’t think so I guess you can follow for brand awareness. I’m really using Instagram so you can follow me at honey coaching. I’m on Tik Tok it too, but it’s not really as great. And then my website is Hello team.com
CRISTINA ROSE 11:16
Perfect. All right, Danielle. It’s time for the power mom Chronicles and I cannot wait to know what your answers are. So my first one to you is who and what inspires you?
DANIELLE WRIGHT 11:25
Okay, so I will say 1,000% My mom inspires me and my mom, she can I say like very strong words versus like, peachy. That’s okay. Yeah. My mom is was badass. She, you know, started her own business. When I was in elementary school. It was a business that did occupational therapy, physical therapy for children in lower income families in Atlanta, Georgia. And I think that’s really how, honey evolved. That’s a part of it. Just seeing her, you know, do this mission driven work? Yeah. And so 1,000% that, that that’s who I’m just trying to be. That’s the energy that I I kind of feed off of, and that’s why I am who I am today.
CRISTINA ROSE 12:21
Oh, I love that great answer. And then my second one to you is what’s the essential part of your daily routine?
DANIELLE WRIGHT 12:29
My essential part, okay, so at the end of the day, once I put my daughter down, and once I’m done working on things for honey coaching, this is not relaxing, but it helps me mentally I have to get the living room and kitchen in like tiptop, spotless shape.
CRISTINA ROSE 12:50
I know I hate waking up to a messy kitchen.
DANIELLE WRIGHT 12:53
When I wake up, I’m like, This is great. And then you know, it gets messy again. But whatever, that helps me like mentally and I’m gonna keep doing that.
CRISTINA ROSE 13:02
No, I like that good answer. And then what is something you wish you knew when you were younger?
DANIELLE WRIGHT 13:09
I wish I would have known just to have more fun. Like, if I could go back to college, I would have party more because life is too short to worry and stress out and in though, you know, when I was in that particular moment in my life, I was worried about getting to medical school, I was worried about getting the grades, and at the end of the day, I would have done that stuff regardless. Because I am not someone who wouldn’t achieve those things. But yeah, I should have party more. Like it didn’t have to be so serious.
CRISTINA ROSE 13:42
And the best advice you’ve ever received.
DANIELLE WRIGHT 13:46
Oh Sign up for LinkedIn premium.
CRISTINA ROSE 13:54
That’s a good one. Well, Danielle, thank you so much for coming on this week’s episode of “Not Your Mommas’s podcast”. It was such an honor to have you on all of her links are down below in the show notes. Don’t be shy. Go say hi. And let’s all support each other and, you know, find your community. Thank you so much.
DANIELLE WRIGHT 14:05
Thank you.