THE MILK

Twelve weeks postpartum is supposed to feel like a turning point, but what if it feels… weirder? I’m officially past the “fourth trimester,” and I still don’t feel magically restored. My hormones are doing their own thing, my anxiety flares when I try to control the uncontrollable, and just when I think our routine is set, my baby changes the rules again. If you’ve ever wondered why postpartum recovery doesn’t come with a clear end date, you’re going to feel seen here. I share what’s hard right now, what’s getting better, and the mindset shifts that help me stop racing my own recovery. 
I talk honestly about the pressure to bounce back and why I don’t buy the idea that postpartum is a competition. We get into the real factors that shape healing, including birth recovery, mental health, and baby temperament. I also share my decision to stop breastfeeding and pumping at eight weeks, how a cow’s milk protein allergy influenced that choice, and the practical antibody insight that helped me release a ton of feeding guilt.
Then we zoom into the day-to-day: inconsistent newborn sleep, developmental leaps, treating reflux, nap refusal, babywearing exhaustion, and the comparison trap when other babies “sleep through the night.” I also tell the story of flying alone with my newborn, what I packed, what surprised me, and why traveling with a baby can actually build confidence. If you’re in the messy middle of postpartum anxiety, body changes, and identity shifts, hit play, then subscribe, share with a mom who needs it, and leave a quick review with your biggest 12-week postpartum surprise.

More Of What's Discussed:
• redefining postpartum as a long season, not a deadline 
• letting go of bounce back pressure and postpartum comparison 
• stopping breastfeeding at eight weeks, processing mom guilt, choosing what works 
• navigating cow’s milk protein allergy, pumping and storing milk for antibodies, leaning on formula 
• newborn sleep reality, leaps, reflux symptoms, and what changed after medication 
• crib nap refusal, babywearing fatigue, and why “sleep when the baby sleeps” can feel impossible 
• flying solo with a baby, what helped, and how people actually respond 
• the 12-week “in between” stage: not survival mode, not fully yourself 
• body changes, body indifference, postpartum workouts for strength, and shifting personal style 
• healing not being linear, and celebrating the wins you’ve already earned 

As always, DM me with any questions, anything you want to hear about on the podcast, any special guest you want to hear from. xo Tayla
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
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Two hours of sleep will tell you the truth faster than any journal ever could. At eight weeks postpartum, I’m sharing where I’m actually at: exhausted, deeply in love with my baby, and fully aware that having three kids four and under is stretching me in ways I didn’t expect. If you’re in the newborn trenches, I want you to hear this clearly: struggling can exist right next to gratitude, and you don’t have to pretend you’re fine to be a good mom. 

We get into the hard logistics and the emotional weight of postpartum life with a baby who has reflux, fights naps, and prefers contact naps in the carrier. I talk about learning Scarlette has a cow’s milk protein allergy, the trial-and-error of finding a formula that works, and trying reflux medicine while we wait for real relief. I also share the not-talked-about-enough stuff: newborn gas around weeks six to eight, the “newborn bubble” popping after the first month, and why simply getting out of the house can be a mental health lifeline during postpartum recovery. 

Then we pivot to two stories that sum up motherhood perfectly: my chaotic attempt at newborn photos in San Diego, and our first family-of-five trip to Mexico, which was going great until Scarlette spiked a 103.8 fever overnight. I walk through the fear, the decisions, and how much more confident my mom instincts feel the third time around. We also touch on the six-week postpartum checkup, pelvic floor weakness after returning to workouts, and the constant anxiety of older siblings bringing home germs from school. 

If any of this hits home, listen all the way through and share it with a mom who needs a reality check and a little hope. Subscribe to The Milk, leave a review, and tell me what part of postpartum feels hardest for you right now.
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

What if postpartum recovery started with food? We sit down with Holly Stein, founder of Restorative Roots, to talk about the part of postpartum care that too many of us never get taught: food that actually supports healing, digestion, hormones, and mood after birth (and the ones that DO NOT).
Holly shares how her first postpartum left her depleted and struggling, then explains what changed when she discovered the “First 40 Days” framework rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. We get specific about what warm, easy-to-digest meals do for a postpartum body, why bone broth shows up in so many traditional cultures, and which nutrients moms are commonly low in after delivery, including iron, omega-3s, magnesium, B vitamins, and collagen-building amino acids.
We also talk practical postpartum meal prep, comforting freezer-friendly options, and the reality that recovery still matters even if you are months postpartum and feel like it is “too late.” If you’re pregnant, planning a baby shower gift, or craving a postpartum redemption, this conversation will help you build a plan that feeds the mom first, without guilt.

More Of What We Cover:
• Holly’s first postpartum experience and what felt missing  
• Why warm soups and stews matter in early postpartum recovery  
• How Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda frame the first 40 days  
• Key postpartum nutrients and how depletion can affect mood and energy  
• Bone broth, healthy fats, organ meats, and warming spices as recovery staples  
• Herbal tea blends for replenishment and daily support  
• Meal prep ideas like breakfast burritos and energy balls for the freezer  
• How Restorative Roots ships frozen postpartum meals nationwide  
• The mental load of motherhood and why planning postpartum changes everything  

Check out Restorative Roots for your own postpartum healing or to gift a friend for theirs!
www.restorativeroots.com
Use discount code: TAYLABURKE10

Subscribe for more honest motherhood conversations, share this with a friend who is pregnant or newly postpartum, and leave a review so more moms can find the support they deserve.

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

Everyone talks about the newborn phase, but no one really talks about what happens at 2 a.m. when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering how you’re possibly going to do it all again tomorrow.
In this episode, I’m sitting down with Marianella Mendoza, founder of Laguna Baby Collective, to pull back the curtain on what a night doula actually does and why so many families consider overnight postpartum support one of the most valuable investments they make during those early weeks with a new baby.
Before we dive in, I want to acknowledge that hiring a night doula is a luxury and something that isn’t financially accessible for every family. This episode isn’t meant to suggest that anyone needs a night doula to be a great parent or survive the newborn stage. I wanted to have this conversation because I think every mom deserves to know what support options are available when building her village—especially if you don’t live near family or have extra hands to help. Whether your support comes from a partner, friend, family member, postpartum doula, or night doula, my hope is that this episode helps you feel less alone and more informed.
Marianella walks us through exactly what overnight support looks like, from feeding and diaper changes to sleep shaping, tracking routines, and helping parents get the rest they desperately need. We talk about how support differs for breastfeeding, pumping, and formula-feeding families, what a typical night actually looks like, and the small things that can make a huge difference when you’re running on very little sleep.
We also discuss dream feeds, newborn sleep, safe sleep practices, how to know if a night doula is the right fit for your family, and the questions every parent should ask before inviting someone into their home. Whether you’re currently pregnant, deep in the newborn trenches, or simply curious about what postpartum support can look like, this episode offers an honest, practical look at one of the most talked-about—but often misunderstood—forms of help available to new parents.
In this episode, we cover:
• What a night doula does (and doesn’t do)
• What overnight postpartum support actually looks like
• How night doulas support breastfeeding, pumping, and formula-feeding families
• The benefits of sleep shaping versus sleep training
• Tracking feeds, diapers, and sleep patterns
• Dream feeds: when they help and when they don’t
• How overnight support benefits moms, partners, newborns, and older siblings
• When to book a night doula and how long families typically use one
• Budget-friendly ways to make overnight support work
• Green flags, red flags, and questions to ask before hiring a night doula
• Safe sleep practices and newborn care expectations
• Building your postpartum village and asking for help

If this episode resonates with you, please share it with a new or expecting parent and leave a review. Your support helps more moms find these conversations and feel empowered during one of the biggest transitions of their lives.
MORE FROM MARIANELLA:
Laguna Baby Collective
Website: HERE
Instagram: HERE
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

Scarlette is literally asleep in my carrier while I record this because apparently the sleepy newborn era has officially left the chat. In this solo episode, I’m giving you a real-time update on what life looks like at 4 weeks postpartum — the good, the emotional, the mildly unhinged, and the surprisingly funny.
We talk about the end of the super sleepy newborn phase, the loose schedule we’re gently guiding her toward, what postpartum has felt like this time around, and my “Top 5 Horror Movies” of postpartum (because if you know, you know). From D-MER to leap anxiety to the absolute chaos of older siblings coughing directly on your newborn…nothing is off limits.
Basically just one tired mom, a baby strapped to her chest, and a postpartum life update straight from the trenches.
NEWBORN MUST-HAVES LINKED HERE
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke