Relationship After Baby: Why It Feels Hard—and How to Reconnect

Dear Dr. Tracy

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Most expecting parents prepare everything for baby—birth plan, hospital bag, freezer meals, nursery, car seat—but rarely prepare their relationship.
Clinical psychologist and couples therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish explores the realities of the postpartum relationship—from mental load and sleep deprivation to resentment, disconnection, and shifts in intimacy after birth. She’s joined by Dr. Cassidy Freitas, LMFT (San Diego–based, mom of three, host of Holding Space), who specializes in supporting millennial parents through pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting.

This conversation normalizes that hard ≠ bad and that relationships move through seasons. When it’s hard, it’s a signal to get support, strengthen co-parenting, and rebuild connection—not a verdict on the marriage.

What they cover (no fluff):

Why “a baby brings us closer” is a myth for many couples
Postpartum mental health: postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression (including partner/dad depression)
Communication skills and repair after conflict when you’re exhausted
Values-based parenting and co-parenting teamwork
Generous interpretation and soft start-ups to reduce blame
Intimacy after baby and micro-connection rituals that fit real life
Boundaries with in-laws/grandparents and navigating extended family

Need structured help? For on-demand tools to share the mental load, improve communication, and feel like a team, explore Be Connected.

Dr. Cassidy’s private practice website
Follow Dr. Cassidy on Instagram
Listen to Holding Space

RESOURCES:

Preorder my new book! You, Your Husband, and His Mother

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