Series: When maternal rage becomes power (how rage becomes a force)
There’s nothing more powerful than a pissed off mom. | 3 min read
“Maternal rage isn’t a meltdown. It’s a message.”
☝️That was Nicole McNelis’s call to action during her maternal rage session at last month’s Postpartum Support International conference.
That session completely changed how I think about maternal rage.
I used to think it was just yelling. But it’s also exhaustion, resentment, and what happens when our basic needs aren’t met while we’re expected to hold everything together.
Therapy helps me process the guilt and shame that come after. Advocacy gave me somewhere to put it.
That’s why maternal health advocacy has felt so healing for me.
If you're also fired up, here are 5 ways to turn that rage into action:
🌟 Learn how we got here: Understanding the policies and narratives shaping motherhood helped me realize it isn't hard because moms are failing. The system is.
🌟 Find your people: Postpartum Support International, Chamber of Mothers, Moms First, and Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) gave me community, practical tools, and courage to speak up.
🌟 Share your story: You don’t need a large platform. Sharing your story can help another mom feel seen – or help a decision-maker understand what’s at stake.
🌟 Follow what breaks your heart: Birth trauma. Pregnancy loss. Postpartum psychosis. Paid leave. Pick 1 issue you can’t stop thinking about.
🌟 Use your voice: Write, volunteer, talk to your employer, or call your legislator. Your voice matters. See more ideas here.
If you’re still angry about your birth or postpartum experience, remember that externalized rage drives change.
Get curious. It might be showing you where your voice can make the biggest impact. And when maternal rage is paired with healing, community, and action, it becomes a force for change.
As Reshma Saujani says, “There’s nothing more powerful than a pissed off mom.”
📷 1) Capitol Hill advocacy with Chamber of Mothers, 2) 2026 PSI conference, 3) Chamber of Mothers Minnesota Chapter launch.
Follow the conversation on LinkedIn.
Read my full blog on Postpartum Support International When Maternal Rage Becomes Power.
Learn more about what I’m fighting for.
