In this powerful episode of the Womb & Word Podcast, host Kim sits down with Brittany Maffitt, a licensed psychotherapist and founder of Worthy to Live Therapy, to unpack the truth about postpartum mental health.

From postpartum depression and anxiety to OCD and birth trauma, this conversation goes beyond surface-level awareness and dives into the real emotional experiences mothers face — often in silence.

💔 Many women don’t just struggle physically after birth — they struggle mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What PMADs (Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders) actually include
• The difference between postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, and psychosis
• Why many women feel like they are “failing” instead of recognizing symptoms
• Subtle signs of postpartum mental health struggles that families often miss
• What postpartum OCD really looks like (intrusive thoughts & compulsions)
• How birth trauma impacts mothers emotionally — even months later
• Why bonding with your baby doesn’t always happen instantly
• The truth about postpartum rage and hidden depression
• How faith and therapy can work together in healing
• Why every family should prepare mental health support before birth

💡 Real Talk Moments You Don’t Want to Miss:

💔 “1 in 8 women experience postpartum depression”😔 “You don’t feel like a statistic… you feel like you’re failing”🖤 “When moms look at birth photos, they see survival — not celebration”⏳ “Bonding doesn’t run on a clock”🤍 “You can love your baby and still struggle in motherhood”

🤍 About Our Guest:Brittany Maffitt is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in perinatal mental health, reproductive trauma, and complex PTSD. She is the founder of Worthy to Live Therapy and supports women through the emotional realities of motherhood.

📲 Follow Brittany:Instagram: @worthytolivetherapy

🎙️ About Womb & Word Podcast:

Womb & Word is a safe space where we:🌿 Educate on maternal health & advocacy📖 Share real and unfiltered motherhood experiences✨ Provide expert and faith-based guidance

Whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, or supporting a mother — this podcast is for you.

📲 Follow & Connect:Instagram: @WombAndWordPodcast📩 Email: womanwordpod@gmail.com

📣 Join the Conversation:

👍 Like this video💬 Comment your thoughts or experience🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations on maternal health

⚠️ Disclaimer:This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider.

What if the difference between a safe birth and a traumatic one… came down to the questions you didn’t ask?

In this powerful and eye-opening episode of the Womb & Word Podcast, host Kim breaks down the critical questions every expecting mother must ask — your provider, your hospital, and even your doula — before stepping into the delivery room.

Backed by real data and lived experience, this episode dives deep into the maternal health crisis, exposing the gaps in care, the importance of advocacy, and why being informed is no longer optional — it’s essential.

This is not just an episode…
This is preparation. This is protection. This is power.

🔹 The top 5 questions to ask your OB, midwife, or provider
🔹 What your hospital isn’t telling you about interventions & C-section rates
🔹 How to choose a provider who respects your birth preferences
🔹 The truth about doulas and how they support your birth experience
🔹 What “low intervention birth” actually means
🔹 How hospitals handle postpartum care (and what to look out for)
🔹 Why implicit bias & anti-racism training in hospitals matters
🔹 How to advocate for yourself before, during, and after birth

This episode reveals the must-have contacts you need before labor:

📞 Labor & Delivery Unit direct number
📞 After-hours OB / Midwife contact
📞 Patient Advocacy Office
📞 Charge Nurse / Nursing Supervisor
📞 Hospital Risk Management / Compliance
📞 Medical Records Department
📞 Hospital Ethics Line
📞 State Health Department & Licensing Board

👉 These numbers could protect your voice, your rights, and your experience.

💬 “It doesn’t matter your age, income, or education… the risk is still higher.”
💬 “This is a system that continues to fail to listen, protect, and respond.”
💬 “This is not just another motherhood podcast — this is advocacy.”
💬 “Faith and advocacy can coexist.”

Womb & Word is more than a podcast — it’s a movement.

We create a space where women are:
🌿 Educated on maternal health & birth advocacy
🌿 Empowered through real stories & expert insight
🌿 Guided through pregnancy, birth & postpartum with faith

Whether you’re pregnant, planning, or learning — this is for you.

🌐 Website: velahaven.com
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/velahaven
🎙️ Podcast IG: instagram.com/wombandwordpod
🎵 TikTok: tiktok.com/@velahaven
📧 Email: hello@velahaven.com
📩 Podcast Email: womanwordpod@gmail.com
▶️ YouTube: / @kimmariedoula

If this episode spoke to you:

👍 Like this video
💬 Comment your thoughts or experience
🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations on maternal health

maternal health awareness, questions to ask before giving birth, hospital birth tips, pregnancy preparation checklist, birth advocacy, doula support during labor, C-section rates explained, maternal mortality rates US, Black maternal health crisis, labor and delivery tips, postpartum care in hospitals, birth plan questions, pregnancy education podcast

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for personal medical decisions.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🚨 CRITICAL: Numbers Every Pregnant Woman Should Have💡 Real Talk Moments You Don’t Want to Miss:🤍 About Womb & Word Podcast:📲 Follow & Connect:📣 Join the Conversation:🔎