In this very first episode of my new podcast, “Grace & Grit: Navigating Postpartum & Parenthood,” I sit down with my good friend Kailee to talk about her pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience, which included her challenges with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and pregnancy and postpartum preeclampsia. We also dove into some interesting facts regarding maternal mental health.

Kailee talked to me about sticking with her ADHD medication during her pregnancy, as well as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a disorder that affects your connective tissue – primarily your skin, joints, and blood vessel walls. People with EDS have overly flexible joints and stretchy skin and can experience several pregnancy complications. Kailee spent her pregnancy advocating for herself and her personal health … so much that she was informing her L&D nurses about EDS during her birth. She felt that she wasn’t listened to during pregnancy and even postpartum, which resulted in her being transported to the ER with postpartum preeclampsia.

Click the image below to listen to the episode on Apple podcasts.