Bonds after Baby: Rebuild your marriage, reduce postpartum resentment & guard maternal mental health

Evie Mpras, MS, LMFT
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  • Parenting
  • Updated weekly

You’ve started a family and you’re tired of facing conflict with your partner and loved ones. For the sake of you and your family you want to experience more support and connection. You’ve prepared in so many ways- the supplies, the toys, etc; and despite the fact that you’re doing all the things expected of you, you’re not enjoying enough of the loving connection you hoped for during this special time in your family. You’re sometimes feeling judged and misunderstood. Mom, I’m here to tell you that transitioning to parenthood sets relationships up to struggle. You aren’t alone! The problem is that most resources for Moms doesn’t address the power of healing family relationships. They don’t address how Moms and families can achieve relief much faster by improving connection. But we’re going to change that! Hi. I’m Evie. I’m a mom of two, wife, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and fierce advocate of healthy family functioning. Everyone deserves peace and connection. Moms need more than individual survival tips & our kids need more than activities and toys. When couple relationships & family relationships improve, Moms (and everyone) enjoy more connection, more love, more support. That’s the kind of family dynamic we want to welcome our babies into. Marriage after baby is hard and marriage problems after baby are the norm. I’ve seen too many couples and families regret how much they fought and how lonely they felt, during what could have been a joyous time of bonding. Research and my clinical experience clearly shows that the healthier relationships are, the less anxiety, depression, & struggles parents and children experience. Having a baby is a FAMILY matter, not an individual matter. After helping countless moms, couples, and families start deeply connecting, I’ve learned what patterns hurt relationships and what makes things better. And I’m going to share my knowledge with you! Welcome to the Bonds after Baby podcast. Here you’ll get weekly support and coaching from me- This is going to be a place where you’re struggles will be understood, where you’ll get clarity on why it’s so hard, and receive actionable tips on how to get things to a better place. You can also listen with your partner, mother, mother-in-law, aunt- anyone who wants to learn with you! So grab your headphones and join me here- it’s time for you to enjoy more connection and less conflict during this special time in your family’s life. Want all the resources at your fingertips? I’ll be offering freebie goodies and coaching packages in the near future. Sign up for my email list at www.bondsafterbaby.com to get the goods.

  1. 21 Aug

    Postpartum Dads & Partners: What Moms Can Do when their Struggling Spouse Resists Asking for Help

    The postpartum (and beyond) stage for Dads and Partners can also be very hard. This is tough for new parents and couple relationships because Moms require significant support at this time, and don't have the same reserves during survival mode to care for spouses during an intense adjustment, hormonal ,and physical recovery. The strain of emotional labor at this time can lead to relationship burnout. At least 10% of Dads or partners struggle with postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, adjustment distress, or acute stress disorder in the months after a new child comes into the world. In this episode, I answer a listener question on the topic of what to do when your partner is clearly struggling postpartum but resists getting help. When parents don't get the help they need it affects the family dynamic and whole family system. I discuss: Why many new dads and partners struggle to ask for help when their emotional health is sufferingWhat Moms can and also can't do during this timeSigns your partner may be struggling with emotional regulation, burnout, or emotional flooding after babyHow nervous system regulation impacts marriage communication and relationship conflictPractical ways to approach conversations without escalating defensiveness or reactive behaviorsWays moms can encourage support without depleting themselves Whether you’re navigating emotional availability challenges, emotional labor, and marriage conflict in parent life, this episode will help you build awareness around navigating partner struggles. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: Website Offers @bondsafterbaby This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

  2. 14 Aug

    Financial Decisions & Shared Ownership for Stay-at-Home Moms: Financial Conversation Tips

    Financial discussions can get hard for couples when roles change in the transition to parenthood. Partners should navigate financial decisions, financial stress, and financial fairness with emotional connection and healthy marriage communication. And there should be an emotionally safe foundation to do so! In this episode, I answer a listener question from a stay-at-home Mom struggling to feel like an equal partner in financial decisions after transitioning to one income. I explain how the postpartum transition, invisible labor, and shifting family dynamics can create emotional distance, resentment in marriage, and tension around shared ownership in parenting and partnership. This conversation dives into the reality many couples relationships face during early parenthood — especially when one parent steps away from paid work to care for children, manage the invisible load, and end up having less say in financial matters. Inside this episode: How and why stay-at-home moms often get excluded from financial decisionsThe emotional impact of invisible labor and division of labor in young familiesHow societal expectations and family patterns shape beliefs about money and powerCommon attachment fears and relationship triggers around financesThe connection between emotional regulation and healthy financial conversationsHow couples can build trust and reduce relationship conflict during stressful seasonsPractical ways to create shared ownership and reciprocal effort in marriageHow to ask for emotional support without criticism, shutdown, or defensiveness Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a working parent, or a couple trying to strengthen bonds around money and decision-making, this episode offers practical & compassionate tools for building trust, emotional safety in marriage, and a healthier parenting team dynamic. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: Website Offers @bondsafterbaby This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

  3. 31 Jul

    Nighttime Wakeups, Marriage Communication with Emotional Regulation for New Parents

    Who gets up for nighttime wakeups and feedings is a hot potato topic for most new parents. The division of labor becomes a tit for tat, dead-end conversation loop. Couples can use conversations around labor to build emotional safety, improve marriage communication, and strengthen emotional connection even in exhausting seasons of family life. In this episode, I answer a listener question about how couples can discuss nighttime wakeups without arguing, resentment, or emotional distance. I explain why nighttime conflict is rarely just about sleep — and how invisible labor, emotional needs, parenting stress, and relationship triggers often fuel deeper disconnection between spouses during the postpartum transition. Sleep deprivation in early parenthood can quickly push couples into survival mode, especially when emotional regulation is low and the division of labor feels uneven. I cover: Why exhausted parents become reactive discussing nighttime wakeupsHow emotional flooding and nervous system regulation impact conflictWays to ask for help without criticism or shutdown Whether you’re postpartum, adjusting to life with a newborn, or trying to reconnect after months of exhaustion, this episode offers pragmatic, compassionate marriage tips and parenting support for couples who want less fighting and more teamwork through the challenges of motherhood, fatherhood, and family dynamics. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: Website Offers @bondsafterbaby This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

  4. 17 Jul

    The Pursue-Withdraw Sex Cycle: Reducing Pressure and Reconnecting in Marriage after Kids

    It's a familiar tune: desire discrepancy where one partner pursues sex and the other withdraws to the point where it starts feeling like a dead end...and it begins to define your sexual relationship after kids. Why does sex and emotional intimacy feel so hard after becoming parents? Why do so many couples get stuck in the same frustrating cycle after kids? In this episode, I’m breaking down the common dynamic where one partner pursues intimacy while the other withdraws — and how that cycle can create emotional distance, relationship stress, resentment, and disconnection after kids. This cycle usually stems from unmet emotional needs, attachment fears, natural adjustment as a couple, and parenting stress. I explain why this dynamic is rarely about a lack of love or attraction, and more often about emotional safety and protective behaviors. Inside this episode, I cover: The pursue-withdraw cycle in postpartum relationshipsHow emotional flooding and reactive behaviors impact healthy communicationWhy pressure around sex creates emotional distanceThe fears underneath pursuing and withdrawing behaviorsHow curiosity, attunement, and emotional connection help couples reconnect If you’re navigating postpartum intimacy struggles, relationship burnout, parenting challenges, or emotional disconnection after kids, I hope this episode helps you better understand the cycle you may be stuck in — and how to begin finding your way back to each other sexually with more empathy, safety, and connection. Subscribe for more conversations on emotional regulation, healthy relationships, motherhood, parenting, and relationship health after kids. This is the final part of a 3-part series on sexuality after kids. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: Website Offers @bondsafterbaby This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

  5. 3 Jul

    Sex after Kids: How Addressing Emotional Safety & Healthy Communication Helps w/ Physical Intimacy

    Why does sexual intimacy change for couples after kids? Even when we long to be close? In this episode, I explore the barriers to postpartum intimacy, sexual and emotional connection after kids, and what helps build back a healthy sexual relationships in early parenthood. A list of tips doesn't cut it when there are often deeper blocks or relationship dynamic blocks that need to be addressed first in order to create emotional safety that paves the way for physical pleasure. I cover: How division of labor and emotional labor impact desire and relational connectionWhy nervous system regulation and co-regulation matter in postpartum relationshipsThe impact of postpartum anxiety, mom burnout, survival mode, and relationship stress on sexual intimacyWhy expanding the definition of physical intimacy can reduce pressure and strengthen connection You both deserve to experience desire and pleasure in ways that feel emotionally safe and satisfying. This is Part 2 of a 3-part series on sexuality after kids. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: Website Offers @bondsafterbaby This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

  6. 19 Jun

    Postpartum Sex & Intimacy: What New Parents Should Know About Physical Intimacy After Kids

    It's easy to feel insecure or confused about your sexual relationship after baby within yourself, and within the couple relationship. In this episode, I explore the biological and emotional realities of postpartum intimacy, sexual desire after baby, and the effects of sexual adjustments in early parenthood. I discuss how feeding, sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, parenting stress, emotional flooding, and nervous system regulation can impact emotional connection, libido, and marriage communication after kids. Postpartum intimacy changes are completely normal, and certainly not a sign of something "wrong" in the relationship. Couples find relief, however, if they know what to expect and have grace and flexibility rather than panic thoughts and rigidity. I cover: Why breastfeeding and constant caregiving can lead to feeling “touched out”How hypervigilance, exhaustion, and parenting stress suppress sexual desireThe connection between emotional intimacy, nervous system regulation, and postpartum intimacyHow body image struggles and attachment wounds impact sexual connection after babyWhy new dads and partners can also experience postpartum adjustment difficulties, anxiety, and decreased libidoHow emotional distance, fear of rejection, and relationship triggers emerge during early parenthoodThe difference between spontaneous desire and responsive desire in marriageHow couples can reduce panic, strengthen bonds, and navigate postpartum relationship changes together Understanding the biological realities and period of adjustment can relieve postpartum anxiety around sexual intimacy and your physical relationship after kids. This is Part 1 of a 3-part series on sexuality. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: Website Offers @bondsafterbaby This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

  7. 5 Jun

    LGBTQ Parenting & LGBTQ Couple Relationships Postpartum: A Conversation with SC Nealy

    In this episode, we discuss how queer couples navigate emotional regulation, family dynamics, and relationship conflict after baby arrives. I'm thrilled to be joined by SC Nealy, LPC to discuss the challenges and points of resilience for LGBTQ couples in the transition to parenthood. We cover: the emotional experience of birth and non-birth partners/non-gestational partnersfacing societal expectationsthe importance of parenting support & and relational connection during early parenthood.the effects of extended family relationships & building community We also spend some time learning about SC Nealy's latest book on religious trauma Healing Sacred Wounds that will be released in August! Whether you’re navigating queer parenthood, postpartum recovery, emotional distance, or the challenges of building a strong parenting team, this conversation offers compassionate relationship advice and support for LGBTQ+ families adjusting to life after baby. SC Nealy is a therapist, author, and LGBTQ+ advocate. They specialize in trauma/religious trauma, complex PTSD, LGBTQIA+ issues, and couples and family therapy. Outside of their work, SC identifies as gender fluid and queer/lesbian. They’re a parent of three, co-parenting with their wife and ex-husband. Nealy's latest book Healing Sacred Wounds is available for pre-order now! Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: Website Offers @bondsafterbaby This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

  8. 29 May

    What New Parents Should Know Before Baby: Mindset Shifts, Marriage Tips & the Postpartum Transition

    Preparing for baby is more than cribs, wallpaper, and diapers. Postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and marriage conflict can be significantly lessened if couples have awareness and realistic expectations on early parenthood. You shouldn't be blindsided in the transition to parenting and growing your family. Today I'm joined by Anastasia Voron, LMHC, to discuss what new parents should know before bringing home baby. Anastasia is a Maternal Mental Health Therapist, who is launching the motherhood center Doma on June 13th. Doma integrates multi component care for new mothers. She is also mom to a 2 year old daughter. Whether you are in the pregnancy stage or post-birth, we get into topics that are always valuable and helpful to consider: realistic expectations of self and othercouple communicationPMADS (postpartum mood disorders) and Matrescence (hormones, brain changes, body changes, healing journey)role changesextended family dynamicscommunication toolsBuilding up outside support systems Whether you are preparing for your baby, navigating the postpartum relationship, or wanting better parenting support and marriage support, this episode offers grounded advice and practical tools from two therapists to help you move from survival mode towards grace, family connection, and a healthier couple bond through the realities of motherhood and parenting. Follow updates for the launch of Doma on Anastasia's IG. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: Website Offers @bondsafterbaby This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.

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You’ve started a family and you’re tired of facing conflict with your partner and loved ones. For the sake of you and your family you want to experience more support and connection. You’ve prepared in so many ways- the supplies, the toys, etc; and despite the fact that you’re doing all the things expected of you, you’re not enjoying enough of the loving connection you hoped for during this special time in your family. You’re sometimes feeling judged and misunderstood. Mom, I’m here to tell you that transitioning to parenthood sets relationships up to struggle. You aren’t alone! The problem is that most resources for Moms doesn’t address the power of healing family relationships. They don’t address how Moms and families can achieve relief much faster by improving connection. But we’re going to change that! Hi. I’m Evie. I’m a mom of two, wife, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and fierce advocate of healthy family functioning. Everyone deserves peace and connection. Moms need more than individual survival tips & our kids need more than activities and toys. When couple relationships & family relationships improve, Moms (and everyone) enjoy more connection, more love, more support. That’s the kind of family dynamic we want to welcome our babies into. Marriage after baby is hard and marriage problems after baby are the norm. I’ve seen too many couples and families regret how much they fought and how lonely they felt, during what could have been a joyous time of bonding. Research and my clinical experience clearly shows that the healthier relationships are, the less anxiety, depression, & struggles parents and children experience. Having a baby is a FAMILY matter, not an individual matter. After helping countless moms, couples, and families start deeply connecting, I’ve learned what patterns hurt relationships and what makes things better. And I’m going to share my knowledge with you! Welcome to the Bonds after Baby podcast. Here you’ll get weekly support and coaching from me- This is going to be a place where you’re struggles will be understood, where you’ll get clarity on why it’s so hard, and receive actionable tips on how to get things to a better place. You can also listen with your partner, mother, mother-in-law, aunt- anyone who wants to learn with you! So grab your headphones and join me here- it’s time for you to enjoy more connection and less conflict during this special time in your family’s life. Want all the resources at your fingertips? I’ll be offering freebie goodies and coaching packages in the near future. Sign up for my email list at www.bondsafterbaby.com to get the goods.

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