We are excited to announce the first episode of Season 2 of our podcast, So Glad You Asked with Dr. Ruta Nonacs and Allie Hales. 

In this episode, we sit down with Nicole Pensak, PhD, a psychologist and the author of Rattled: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain, for an honest and compassionate conversation about matrescence, postpartum anxiety, and the difficult question so many new mothers ask themselves: 

Is what I’m feeling normal?

Although we hear a great deal about postpartum depression, anxiety after the birth of a child is incredibly common — and often overlooked. Some degree of worry is absolutely normal when caring for a newborn. But for many women, anxiety becomes more intense and persistent, interfering with daily functioning and making it difficult to fully enjoy the experience of motherhood.

Research on postpartum anxiety has expanded significantly in recent years. Some important findings to consider:

• One out of every five women experiences at least one type of anxiety disorder during pregnancy or the postpartum period
• Postpartum anxiety disorders may be even more common than postpartum depression
• About two-thirds of women with PPD also experience significant anxiety symptoms
• Diagnosis and treatment rates for postpartum anxiety remain low, in part because awareness and screening are inconsistent

One of the challenges in recognizing postpartum anxiety is that it often develops alongside the very real and very normal challenges of early motherhood, including:

• Feeding concerns 
• Learning how to care for a newborn
• Sleep deprivation, and a vicious cycle in which anxiety disrupts sleep, and lack of sleep further intensifies anxiety symptoms
• Unrealistic expectations about motherhood

In our conversation, Nicole Pensak helps unpack several important topics, including:

• How to distinguish normal new-parent worries from symptoms of postpartum anxiety
• Why so many women struggle silently with anxiety during the postpartum period
• The concept of matrescence and the profound emotional and identity shifts that occur when becoming a mother
• How unrealistic expectations and self-pressure can intensify anxiety
• How women can seek support and feel less isolated during the transition to motherhood

This episode offers practical insights, reassurance, and validation for anyone navigating the complicated emotional terrain of new motherhood. Whether you are a new parent yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply interested in maternal mental health, we hope you’ll join us for this important conversation.

—Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD