In Today's Issue:
🔥 Behind the Scenes: Running a Movement, and a Business—Without the Hustle
đź’¬ Can Talk Therapy Be Effectively Delivered by Non-Specialists?
🧠New Study Links Maternal Anemia to Lasting Changes in Child Brain Development
📜 We Just Made History—And It’s Because of YOU.
There’s this idea that in order to run a business, lead a movement, and do all the things, you have to hustle yourself into the ground. That burnout is some kind of badge of honor. That if you’re not running on fumes, you’re not doing it right.
I can assure you—that is not the case. At least, not anymore.
I look back at the early years of Postpartum University® and I can still feel the pressure I put on myself. The launches that drained me. The masterclasses that left me hoarse for days. The post-launch exhaustion so intense that I’d have to disappear into hibernation for a week just to recover.
And you know what? It wasn’t because of the workload. It was because of the pressure—the pressure to be successful, the pressure to do more, the pressure to constantly find that one last strategy that would move the needle.
But here’s what I’ve learned: Pressure does not create impact. Alignment does.
Fast forward to today, and things look very, very different. There’s still hard work, but there’s no hustle.
Over the past few months, Postpartum University® has undergone a massive transformation. We’ve closed programs that no longer served us, removed dead weight, revamped every single email, webpage, and funnel (shoutout to my marketing genius, Rachel—you’re the real MVP).
We launched a brand-new website.
We updated the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Program, adding new trainings, fine-tuning the curriculum, and ensuring that this remains the gold standard in postpartum health.
And now, we’re about to host one of the biggest masterclasses to date—the 4 Stages of Postpartum Depletion.
A masterclass doesn’t just happen. It’s not just me showing up on Zoom and delivering a talk.
There are weeks of research—reviewing slides, chopping material, adding new findings, making sure it’s perfect. There’s an entire system behind it—replay pages, exclusive gifts, email invitations, sequences, start dates, button pushes, and tech updates (because you know something always breaks last minute).
It’s a lot.
And yet, I love this process. I’ll do it again and again because it’s that important. Because you, this community, are important.
Tomorrow is the big masterclass live day (is it really here already?!). Plus the waitlist for the Postpartum Nutrition Certification opened yesterday and is practically sold out. WHEW.
And when it’s all done, I’m taking a few days off. Not because I’m burnt out. But because I believe in resting just as much as I believe in working.
I’ve already cleared my calendar. I’ll be binging Netflix, drinking nettle tea in my favorite robe (the one my kids will probably remember me by), cross-stitching, reading with my littles, and taking naps.
And when Monday rolls around? I’ll be back, ready to continue changing postpartum care—one provider, one training, one mother at a time.
Because that’s what sustainable impact looks like.
I’ve learned the hard way that how we do our work matters just as much as the work itself.
And I want to invite you to reflect on that for yourself.
➡️ Where in your life or practice are you holding onto pressure that doesn’t actually serve you?
➡️ Where are you confusing hustle with impact?
➡️ What would change if you built a business or practice that supported you as much as you support others?
It’s so easy to get caught in the trap of “more, more, more”—but what if your greatest success wasn’t in doing more… but in doing what actually matters?
Tomorrow, I’ll be leading you through one of the most important trainings I’ve ever created. The 4 Stages of Postpartum Depletion isn’t just about research and strategy—it’s about a shift in how we approach postpartum care. It’s about redefining what’s possible for our clients and for ourselves.
Will you be there? Will you be part of the movement that changes everything?
If you haven’t signed up yet, do it now: www.PostpartumU.com/Masterclass
And in the meantime, tell me: What’s one thing you can shift this week to move away from pressure and closer to impact? Reply to this email—I want to hear from you.
đź’¬ Can Talk Therapy Be Effectively Delivered by Non-Specialists?
A recent Nature Medicine study suggests that trained non-specialists—such as nurses, midwives, and doulas—can effectively deliver talk therapy to pregnant and postpartum mamas experiencing depression and anxiety. (Especially to combat the shortage of trained providers). The SUMMIT Trial found that women showed significant symptom improvement regardless of whether therapy was provided by a specialist or a non-specialist.
🧠New Study Links Maternal Anemia to Lasting Changes in Child Brain Development
This new study reinforces what we’ve long suspected—maternal health during pregnancy has lasting effects on a child’s brain development. Researchers found that children born to mothers with anemia had smaller brain structures even at age 6–7, highlighting the critical need for better prenatal care and nourishment. A powerful reminder that nutrition is key and can shape lifelong outcomes.
📜 We Just Made History—And It’s Because of YOU.
I have to take a moment to say THANK YOU.
We just shattered every record for our Postpartum Nutrition Certification launch after years of doing this work. Nearly 1,000 people joined the waitlist, and when the doors opened, the program almost completely sold out—before we even announced it publicly.
This is more than just numbers. It’s proof that the postpartum revolution is here. That providers like you are DONE with outdated systems. That you’re ready to step up, change lives, and be part of something that actually makes a difference.
🔥 If you’re still on the fence, there’s good news. 🔥
We’re opening a few more seats exclusively for those who attend the masterclass tomorrow. If you feel the pull but haven’t taken the leap yet, join us there—we just might have a spot for you.
👉 Reserve your seat here: www.PostpartumU.com/Masterclass
Also—this week on the podcast, I sat down with Bryn, who shares how understanding nutrition through this certification changed everything for her life and her business. Her story is exactly why this work matters.
🎧 Listen now: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/from-solo-doula-to-thriving-agency-how-postpartum-nutrition-changed-everything-bryn-noe-ep-205/
(And dropping this here because it’s too good not to share🖤)
We are here to change postpartum care—without the burnout, without the grind, and without the outdated rules that no longer serve us.
This work isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what actually matters. And that starts with showing up in a way that sustains you, too.
And if this resonated with you, hit reply—I’d love to hear what shifts you’re making to build a practice and a life that actually works for you.
With Love,
Maranda Bower
CEO & Founder of Postpartum University®
www.PostpartumU.com
