24. The Truth About Postpartum: Milk, Mood & Mothering with Sarah Glenn

Written By Emma Goff

Today’s episode is a conversation with Sarah Glenn, founder of Lactation Station & More and Mothering the Mother. Sarah is a mother of seven, grandmother of eleven, and has spent over three decades supporting families through pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and the often-overlooked realities of postpartum.

We talk about what many parents feel but don’t always have language for: how hormones shift postpartum, how breastfeeding can impact cycles and fertility, why supply changes throughout the day, and what mental health support can look like when you’re in the thick of it.

Sarah also shares what she’s seeing after 35 years in perinatal care — including why community matters more than ever, and how simple questions (like “Do you have an appetite?”) can be surprisingly important clues in early postpartum mental health.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Why postpartum can feel like “warm, fuzzy chaos” — and why that’s normal

  • Breastfeeding hormones (prolactin + estrogen) and what that means for fertility

  • Why some cycles return at 8 weeks while others don’t return for months (even with similar breastfeeding patterns)

  • How baby sleep changes and nursing patterns can shift bleeding/spotting and ovulation attempts

  • Milk supply fluctuations throughout the day (and why “I’m empty” isn’t actually how milk works)

  • Early postpartum mental health signs to watch for — including appetite, connection, and feeling “disconnected”

  • The fear many parents carry about being honest (rage, intrusive thoughts, overwhelm)

  • D-MER (dysphoric milk ejection reflex): what it can feel like and why it’s not your fault

  • Why finding one reputable resource (and stepping away from the internet spiral) can change everything

  • Sarah’s community offerings: Mom Circle, Newborn School, and Mothering the Mother support

Sarah’s reminder: your body isn’t failing you — it’s communicating. And support doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

Connect with Sarah Glenn:

  • Website: lactationstationandmore.com

  • Find Lactation Station & More on Facebook + Instagram
    (You can also reach out by call/text/email through her site.)

The Trolley Room
Thanks to The Trolley Room for their space to record. This flexible, multi-purpose rental spaces perfect for professionals, creatives, and community events. https://thetrolleyroom.com and follow them on Facebook

Emmamma Resources + Links:

Emma Goff
Previous

25. From Survival Mode to Presence: Matrescence, Rage, and Repair with Sami Garrett
Next

23. Your Gut Is Your Second Hormone Gland: How Digestion Shapes Hormones, Mood & Cycles with Rachel Einbinder