The Missing Partner In Postpartum Care: Why Excluding Fathers Harms Maternal Health | Eric Stein EP 241 Postpartum University® podcast

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The Missing Partner in Postpartum Care: Why Excluding Fathers Harms Maternal Health | Eric Stein EP 241

6d ago 30:03

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As a postpartum provider, you already know the postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression epidemic is real. But we are avoiding a massive blind spot. We’re talking about the missing partner in postpartum care—the fathers.

Eric Stein, co-founder of Restorative Roots (the nationwide postpartum meal delivery service), to dive deep into how sidelining the masculine partner is costing maternal health dearly, often fueling postpartum resentment and a profound lack of safety. This isn't just about making dads feel useful; it’s about functional postpartum recovery and safeguarding the mother's entire well-being. Eric shares his raw journey from an unprepared first-time father to a fully present birth partner and why finding a men’s group was the game-changer for his family's harmony. Learn how, as a provider, you can help your clients' family dynamics and foster genuine holistic postpartum health for both parents.

Check out this episode on the blog HERE.

Key time stamps:

01:55: Why most fathers feel unprepared and excluded from postpartum care.
02:22: The cost of sidelining partners: increased maternal anxiety and slow progress.
03:07: Addressing the guilt of partners who can't take time off work.
04:03: Provider tip: Tailor communication to the partner (listener, talker, reader).
06:23: Societal pressure and why men feel pushed out of the birth process.
08:43: The trap of "robot mode" doing vs. the power of being present.
09:48: The missing inter-generational transfer of fatherhood knowledge.
10:18: Addressing postpartum resentment when partners are unsupportive.
14:30: Defining "masculine leadership" as showing up prepared and confident.
15:30: Why partner self-care is mandatory before the baby arrives.
20:41: The #1 intervention: Men's support groups for direct, masculine feedback.
25:59: Call to action: Providers must create or push men's groups for support.

Connect with Eric:

Co-founder of Restorative Roots, (formerly known as Mama Meals) a nationwide postpartum meal delivery company. He spent the last 3.5 years growing their business from weekly pickups out of their garage to nationwide direct-to-consumer frozen delivery right to your door.

Website

NEXT STEPS:

Chapters

1. The Postpartum Care Gap (00:00:00)

2. Meet Eric And Restorative Roots (00:01:02)

3. The Cost Of Excluding Partners (00:02:20)

4. Time Off, Stories, And Societal Pressure (00:04:07)

5. Communication That Actually Reaches Dads (00:06:33)

6. Presence Over Productivity (00:09:23)

7. When Partners Don’t Step Up (00:13:35)

8. Masculine Leadership In Birth (00:15:12)

9. Men’s Groups And Real Support (00:17:16)

10. Building Resources And Next Steps (00:19:15)

11. Partnership, Nutrition, And Regenerative Food (00:28:09)

12. Where To Find Restorative Roots (00:30:22)

13. Closing And Provider Callouts (00:31:06)

243 episodes

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