A Mother's Journey to Holistic Health & Healing · Marissa Prieto, Holistic Registered Dietitian & Well-Being Coach

44. The Dualities of Motherhood: Ashley’s Story of Survival and Healing

October 21, 2025·1 hr 16 min·2 clips

Marissa opens with a seasonal check-in. She invites listeners to sit with the grief, discomfort, and uncertainty that can surface as the weather cools and the holidays get closer, and she gives a brief warning about cuss words before the conversation begins. Ashley joins with a lot to share. She is a mom of two, an esthetician, and an entrepreneur, and she talks through postpartum depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and the deep disconnection that pushed her toward healing. The story stays rooted in the body. Ashley describes trying to return to work, feeling more exposed to the real world while still not mentally settled, and beginning to look at her life in a more future-facing way. Acupuncture enters the picture. She says she went for her own healing, not abortion, even though her mother read it as brujeria, and that choice marks a shift from coping to looking for another path. Then comes the headache. A doctor tells her to take a pregnancy test, and she learns she is pregnant with a Paragard IUD, which brings fear, disbelief, and a fresh wave of questions. Ashley starts reading her life differently. She notices how her hormones and body feel, thinks hard about who she wants to build a future with, and begins considering how to support herself and her children on her own if she needs to. The conversation does not rush past any of that. It gives her room to sit with the rupture, the practical reality of work and motherhood, and the possibility that healing may mean choosing herself more clearly. There is warmth here. Marissa listens gently, keeps making space, and invites anyone with a story to reach out by DM. The tone stays intimate. It feels like a candid conversation about stress, intuition, and the messy middle of becoming whole again. The episode closes with gratitude. Ashley thanks Marissa and the listener, and Marissa sends everyone out with care.

As heard by us

A candid motherhood story about postpartum pain, a surprise pregnancy, and the work of healing.

This episode follows Ashley, a mom of two, as she talks through postpartum depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and the distance that can open up when life keeps shifting.

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Why you'd press play

You want a raw motherhood story that doesn't rush the hard parts.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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