What do you do when motherhood feels challenging—when it doesn’t come as naturally as you expected? This episode was inspired by honest conversations in my prenatal yoga classes, where some students shared fears about entering parenthood. One even admitted, “I don’t know if I’m very maternal.” That vulnerability struck a chord, and I knew we needed to explore it further.
In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I sit down again with Paige Bellenbaum, LCSW of The Motherhood Center, for a deep and heartfelt conversation. We talk about the emotional complexities of becoming a parent, especially when expectations and reality don’t align. We dive into the guilt, shame, and comparison that can arise during this transition—and how examining your own values can help shape a more authentic and supported experience of parenthood.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating, supporting, or anticipating the emotional journey into motherhood.
In this episode, you will learn:
- About Paige and what led her to focusing on the perinatal community
- How to support someone whose reality of motherhood is different than what they expected
- What to do when the shift to motherhood doesn’t feel natural
- Ways to stop the spiral of comparison that may happen between new moms
- How mothers can start to identify their own strengths and values that they bring to their unique experience of motherhood
- How to slowly build confidence in mothering
- Some signs it may be time to reach out for help
- One final tip or piece of advice Paige would like to offer new and expectant parents
- Where you can find her work
**Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com
About Paige:
Paige Bellenbaum, LCSW is the Founding Director and Chief External Relations Officer at The Motherhood Center of New York. Paige attended UCLA as an undergraduate and received her MSW from the Columbia School of Social Work. For 20 years, Paige worked in the non-profit sector, holding senior leadership positions at Hamilton Family Center Homeless Shelter, The Partnership for the Homeless, Habitat for Humanity, and Settlement Housing Fund. She has worked in the field of public policy, advocacy, community organizing, and direct practice with disadvantaged communities including homeless families and incarcerated young adults. She has held several appointed and elected political positions including the District Leader of Brooklyn’s 52nd Assembly District.
After her first child was born, Paige suffered from severe postpartum depression and anxiety that nearly ended her life. However, once she began to heal, she became committed to fighting for PMAD education, screening, and treatment so that no more women would have to suffer silently. She drafted legislation in New York State championed by State Senator Liz Krueger, mandating hospitals to provide education on PMADs and strongly encouraging screening of all new and expecting mothers. This bill was signed into law in 2014. She has continued to be an outspoken maternal mental health advocate and clinician and uses her story as a tool for change.
Paige works closely with multiple New York City agencies on maternal mental health best practices and policies, including the NYPD, DOHMH’s Maternal Hospital Quality Improvement Network, the Nurse-Family Partnership, and the Administration for Children’s Services. She was a member of the NYC Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and currently sits on the NYS Maternal Mental Health Working Group. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, NPR, PBS Newshour, Fortune, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
Connect with Paige:
Websites:
www.providers.themotherhoodcenter.com
Instagram: @themotherhoodcenter
Check out similar Yoga| Birth| Babies episodes:
- Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder and Postpartum Depression(PMAD): Exploring the Differences, Signs & Causes
- Postpartum- The Things They Don’t Tell You About! with Tina Goldstein
- When You Suspect a Friend or Loved One is Suffering from PMAD
- Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE
- If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!
To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center
