Relationship Advice What No One Told You Would Change Your Relationship After Having a Baby with Rachel Shepard Ohta
Sep 10, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Rachel Shepard Ohta, a certified sleep consultant and founder of Hey Sleepy Baby, reveals how having a baby can reshape a couple’s dynamics. She candidly shares her journey of feeling disconnected after her second child, addressing common issues like sleep deprivation and shifting roles. Rachel emphasizes the importance of adjusting expectations, managing temperament differences, and keeping communication open. She offers practical strategies for maintaining intimacy while navigating the ups and downs of parenthood.
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Second Child Caused Major Disconnect
- Rachael Shepard-Ohta described how her relationship fell apart after their second child, becoming “two ships in the night.”
- She attributed it to splitting duties, moving, COVID, and extreme exhaustion during 2020 lockdowns.
Parenting Is A Seasonal Priority Shift
- Rachel argues the newborn season is a temporary life stage where priorities naturally shift toward children.
- She reassures parents that connection and intimacy typically return after the intense early years.
Give Yourself Permission To Shift Priorities
- Accept that young children need a lot and allow relationship priorities to shift without shame.
- Delay pressure for constant dates and instead plan realistic ways to reconnect when feasible.
