The final weeks of pregnancy bring a whirlwind of physical changes, emotional shifts, and mental preparation. While you may feel joyful and ready to meet your baby, you might also be uncomfortable, restless, or even a little nervous about labor. Whether this is your first or fifth baby, learning how to care for your body,… Read More Coping Skills & Comfort Techniques for the Third Trimester and Labor
Childbirth is a deeply personal experience—but for survivors of sexual trauma, it can also bring unexpected triggers, fear, or vulnerability. If you’ve experienced sexual trauma, know this: you are not alone, and your voice, body, and choices matter—especially during labor and birth. This post is here to remind you that you have the right to… Read More Advocating for Yourself During Childbirth After Sexual Trauma: Understanding Your Rights, Choices, and Coping Tools
The final weeks of pregnancy can be a unique blend of excitement, discomfort, and anticipation. As your due date approaches, your body is working hard to prepare for birth—but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through the discomfort. Whether you’re counting down the days or hoping baby arrives just a little sooner, here are… Read More Finding Comfort at the End of Pregnancy: Resources & Techniques for the Final Stretch
An in-depth look at Dr. Nicole Pensak’s groundbreaking guide for navigating motherhood with compassion and science Motherhood can be beautiful—and it can be overwhelming. For new moms who find themselves anxious, uncertain, or not quite like themselves, Dr. Nicole Pensak’s book, Rattled: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain,… Read More Rattled: A Must-Read for Every New Mom Navigating Anxiety
If you’re a full-time working mom of a toddler, you know the juggle is real. Between daycare drop-offs, work deadlines, laundry piles, tantrums, and maybe remembering to eat lunch—it’s a lot. At The Birth Chat and Barksdale Missions, we believe in honest conversations and practical support. We see you trying to do it all, and… Read More Work-Life Balance for Moms with Toddlers: Real-Life Tips for the Working Mama
Few topics spark as much debate in parenting circles as breastfeeding versus formula feeding. Whether you’re a first-time parent or welcoming another baby into your family, you may feel pressure from society, social media, or even well-meaning friends and family regarding how you should feed your baby. Let’s start by stating one simple truth: Fed… Read More Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding: The Only Right Choice Is What Works for You
Are you a first-time mom? Maybe you’re currently expecting? Or perhaps you’re trying to conceive? No matter where you are on this journey, it’s never too early or too late to start thinking about the joys, challenges, and surprises that come with becoming a parent. Everyone has their own opinion about how you should feed… Read More What No One Tells You About Being a First-Time Mom
First, please know that you are not alone in this very difficult journey. Losing a child is a traumatic situation that no one is prepared for. As a grief therapist, the best advice I can give you at this moment is to allow yourself to feel every emotion that comes throughout this journey. You do… Read More Infant Loss
Bringing a baby into the world is one of the most transformative experiences in a person’s life, but the postpartum period—often referred to as the fourth trimester—can be just as challenging as pregnancy and birth. New mothers need rest, healing, and support as they recover physically and emotionally while bonding with their newborns. This is… Read More The Essential Role of Postpartum Support: Why Every New Mom Deserves Help
Written by Nneka Hall (01/2018; Edited by Dr. Ashley Barksdale (03/2025) February is Congenital Heart Defect awareness month. 1 in 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect. In the United States, nearly 400,000 babies are born with a congenital heart defect each year. [Read Part 1 Here] Providing Support to the Family Symone… Read More Matters of the Heart – Heart Defects in Infancy (Part 2)