Breaking the Cycle: Maternal Healthcare, Advocacy, and Healing
Maternal healthcare should be safe. It should be compassionate. It should listen to mothers without dismissing their pain or experiences. Yet, for far too many, that promise is broken.
In this deeply personal episode of Breaking the Cycle on the Maternal Wealth Podcast, host Stephanie Theriault sits down with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Reesa Morala, MA, LMFT, to unpack her own story of navigating bias, dismissal, and trauma in maternal care—and the resilience it sparked.
When the System Fails Mothers
Reesa’s journey into motherhood was far from straightforward. During her first pregnancy, she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes despite having normal test results. Instead of receiving clarity and support, she was pushed into months of uncertainty and fear. After delivery, her struggles continued: improper stitching left her in pain that medical providers brushed off as “normal.” At just three months old, her son stopped eating. Reesa repeatedly sought answers, only to be dismissed. She was left to find her own painful and creative ways to feed her child, navigating sleepless nights and unanswered questions.
These experiences revealed a hard truth: when women aren’t heard, medical outcomes can worsen, both physically and emotionally. Reesa’s story reflects the reality of medical gaslighting that countless mothers face—being told “you’re overreacting” or “it’s all in your head.”
An Unexpected Birth at Home
Her second pregnancy brought an entirely different experience. When labor began, it moved so quickly that there was no time to get to the hospital. Reesa delivered her baby in her bathtub, an unexpected home birth that, despite its chaos, left her body healing more naturally than it had the first time.
The contrast between these two birth stories crystallized an important realization: mothers deserve care that honors their voices, their bodies, and their experiences. When that care is denied, the consequences echo far beyond the delivery room.
Empowering Parents
Reesa’s personal experiences have inspired her work empowering parents as a therapist. Embrace Renewal Therapy & Wellness Collective is a space designed to provide preventative, compassionate support to parents. Through workshops, retreats, and therapy, she helps families who have felt dismissed or gaslit by the medical system. Her mission is clear: every parent deserves to be heard, validated, and equipped with the tools to advocate for themselves.
This work goes beyond individual healing—it is about breaking cycles of trauma and changing the narrative around maternal healthcare. Reesa reminds us that self-advocacy is not optional; it is essential.
Key Lessons for Parents
Reesa’s story carries profound lessons for anyone navigating pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care:
Your voice matters. If a provider dismisses your concerns, it is your right to seek a second opinion or bring an advocate to appointments.
Medical gaslighting is real. Feeling unheard doesn’t mean you’re wrong—it means the system must do better.
Every birth is unique. “Unexpected” does not equal “failure.” Each story carries its own bravery.
Healing looks different for everyone. Avoid comparisons—focus on being heard, respected, and restored.
Support before crisis is key. Therapy, workshops, and preparation can prevent trauma before it takes root.
Compassion with yourself matters most. You can’t control everything, but you can choose self-kindness through recovery.
A Message of Hope
For mothers who feel invisible in their struggles, this conversation is a lifeline. Reesa’s experiences reveal both the failings of the system and the resilience of women who refuse to be silenced. Her story is proof that while maternal care may sometimes fall short, healing and empowerment are still possible.
By sharing her journey, Reesa offers hope: you are not broken, your voice matters, and you deserve care that respects your humanity.
If you’re in Murrieta, CA or anywhere across California, learn more about my parenting therapy intensives and parenting classes for more support.
