Episode 18: Motherhood, Mental Health and Career

Hi there freemoms and welcome to the show today. The thing I love most about hosting this podcast is getting to speak with women all over the country who have been transformed by motherhood. Many of my guests are experts in their field fighting for women’s rights or professionals who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of our physical and mental health. Once in a while, I get to meet someone who does both - a person who has been radically changed by motherhood and who has used that experience to actually help other women lean into a role that they hadn’t been able to imagine before. 

In my experience, having kids has always been at odds with professional success. As much as we want to advance in our careers, society tells us to “step aside ladies, go raise the kids. Money is the man’s work now.” But the more I’m surrounded by inspiring women, the more I find myself in the company of people who, instead of letting their careers take a backseat, have actually used motherhood to catapult into a new way of working. The change is not without its challenges though, as the identity shift of being a mother while also balancing a professional life, navigating emotional changes in a partnership, and getting our heads around the world we’re currently grappling with can absolutely take its toll. 

So, as mothers, where are we in terms of life, career, and taking care of ourselves? How can we set ourselves up for change that actually feeds our needs and supports us as we age? That’s what we are going to talk about today.

With me is Jessica Vanderberg, Co-Founder and Clinical Director of The Alliance Center, a Connecticut-based mental health center that’s solely focused on supporting mothers through life’s major transitions. As a full-spectrum doula, childbirth educator, social worker, and a mom, Jessica has dedicated her life to the mental health of women as they navigate pregnancy, motherhood, and parenting.