The Placenta Girl

08/15/2025

I had no idea I was neurodivergent until my kids went to school and I started seeing traits in them—and then myself. If someone had told me five years ago I might be ADHD, I would have laughed. And autistic? No way.

Early motherhood was really fcking hard* for me—and for years, I couldn’t figure out why. Now, it all makes sense.

Perfectionism, being a little of a control freak, people-pleasing… these could be signs that you’re neurodivergent too. And if you’re a parent who’s neurodivergent, you’re more likely to experience a PMAD (perinatal mood or anxiety disorder) than neurotypical moms.

Curious? It’s worth taking a closer look.

Read the full post and let me know what you think.

South Jersey moms: take charge of your postpartum with placenta encapsulation and personalized support. More Than Just the Pills—planning, self-care, and real help for neurodivergent moms.

06/07/2025

06/06/2025

😡😡😡😡

Baby is easy when you’re a useless father and partner.

06/06/2025

I'm not saying all agency owners exploit doulas or birth workers - but this new system I keep seeing in the birth community just doesn't sit right with me.

We have to pay attention. Because if we re not careful, we could end up with a birth support system that's just as patriarchal and commodified as the medical birth system we're trying to dismantle.

As people who care deeply about birth justice, we owe it to ourselves and the families we serve to build something better. Something that's rooted in community, equity, and respect for every woman doing this work.

What are your thoughts?

05/12/2025

I get it — postpartum is hard.
I was living in a vacuum. Major world events came and went, and I had no clue — because I was bleeding, breastfeeding, and barely surviving.
Because postpartum is a fog — you’re hormonal, sleep-deprived, overstimulated, and under-supported. It’s hard to pay attention to the world when you’re leaking fluids from every opening. When your brain is fried. When your baby won’t sleep and your partner thinks he’s “helping.”
But postpartum is political.
How your doctor dismiss your anxiety? Political.
How you were handed a baby and no village? Political.
Sleep training? Political.
Circumcision. Political.
Breastfeeding. Political.
Vaccines? Political.
And when we start to notice these things, it helps us realize:
The capitalist system we are living under is not broken – it is working just as it is intended to work.
You don’t have to become a full-time activist to make a difference, Mama.
Here are small ways to stay aware and reclaim some power:
Follow 1 or 2 accounts that break down political news for moms
Set a weekly reminder to skim headlines from a trusted, non-overwhelming source
Talk to other moms about the broken systems — this is solidarity
Vote in your local elections — especially school board stuff
Speak up at your pediatrician’s office, your OB’s office, your library
You don’t have to do it all. You just have to know: you’re not failing — you’re being failed. And we have more power than we've been led to believe.
🖤 Read the full blog post...

Postpartum isn’t personal—it’s political. Modern moms aren’t failing, they’re being failed. Learn how to reclaim care, autonomy, and community—and what any of it has to do with your placenta.

05/12/2025

Always telling it like it is.

If you’re disappointed by how your family has honored you (or not) this Mother’s Day, let me tell you something you might not hear from anyone else:

You’re allowed to feel disappointed. In fact, you should feel disappointed. Because you matter. Because we denigrate mothers in this sexist world year-round, and you should get one day where the work you do is finally noticed in some small way.

Mothers are allowed to want things, and anyone who tells you otherwise has an agenda of demeaning and disenfranchising you.

https://zawn.substack.com/p/an-open-letter-to-disappointed-mothers

Edited to add:
I am so sad reading all of these stories. If you are a mother, you matter. You matter to me. If you would like me to send you a mother's Day card, email your address to zawn@zawn.net and put "mother's Day" in the subject line. This is for everyone. I want to celebrate you all.

Edit to the edit: I suddenly have a hundred emails that include no address. I started trying to reply to them all but it's overwhelming. If you want a card, you will need to include your address.

04/22/2025

Sleep. It's hard enough when you're a new mom. But add in some ADHD and/or autism and oof.

I've never been able to nap. Not even when I was exhausted from waking every 2-3 hours for 2.5 years.

Whenever anyone told me to "sleep when the baby sleeps," the rage would build up in my gut.

It’s widely accepted that quality sleep is essential for optimal functioning. However, for individuals with ADHD and Autism (or AuDHD, a combined ADHD and autism diagnosis), sleep challenges are common and can significantly impact daily life, focus, and mental health.Sleep Challenges in ADHD and A...

04/22/2025

Must be nice.

10/09/2023

It's flipping awesome that there's now a medication with proven efficacy in treating postpartum depression (PPD). However, when we consider the potential benefits of placenta encapsulation in preventing PPD, it's kind of infuriating to see the lack of research in this area.

Let’s consider the reasons behind it.

It's flipping awesome that there's now a medication with proven efficacy in treating postpartum depression (PPD). However, when we consider the potential benefits of placenta encapsulation in preventing PPD, it's kind of infuriating to see the lack of research in this area. Let’s consider the reas

09/27/2023

Placenta encapsulation, one of my specialties, is really not as wild as it seems. It involves taking a new mom's placenta, dehydrating it, grinding it into a powder, and encapsulating it for her own consumption. This age-old practice has been around for centuries but has increased in popularity among mainstream folks over the last decade or two, thanks in part to Kim Kardashian and the power of social media.

Many of us who have tried it swear by the efficacy of our placenta pills. Yet, skeptics scream about its safety and lack of scientific evidence – even though not a single woman or baby has been harmed by it.

In a world where society often leaves new moms to navigate motherhood alone, many are willing to try anything, especially something created by their own bodies, to enhance their postpartum experience. It's a form of empowerment, giving moms the choice and control over their own well-being.

Many of us who have tried it swear by the efficacy of our placenta pills. Yet, skeptics scream about its safety and lack of scientific evidence – even though not a single woman or baby has been harmed by it. In a world where society often leaves new moms to navigate motherhood alone, many are will

08/30/2023

Your worth is non-negotiable. You deserve to live a life where the load is shared equally, where you're supported, and where your partner is as invested in your family's well-being as you are.

08/29/2023

I’m hyper aware of the way I’m perceived.

And I hate conflict.

And I don’t understand social hierarchy.

I mean, I get the concept, but I don’t buy into it.

Never have.

And that can get tricky in my line of work.

Because I’m constantly rubbing elbows with (and asking for referrals from) professionals who in some cases act as gatekeepers and/or tend to present their personal opinions as facts.

And let’s be honest, some care providers can really get their hair up when challenged by the lay folk.

And that’s exactly what I’m about to do. I’m calling out the care providers here and challenging them to either do more, or promise less.

Maybe it’s not postpartum anxiety, after all.
Maybe it’s betrayal.

Dive into the reality of modern motherhood as I challenge conventional norms and shed light on postpartum anxiety. I argue that it's not just about coping but understanding and taming this beast. With the right support and insights, I empower new parents to navigate this challenging phase with resil