In a wide-ranging conversation on The Motherly Podcast, actress Chloe Bridges and board-certified OBGYN Dr. Charis Chambers sat down to discuss the realities of welcoming their babies into the world. Their discussion focused not only on the emotional and psychological shifts that accompany new motherhood, but also on a critical health risk facing newborns: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV stands as the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the United States, with nearly half of those hospitalizations occurring during the first three months of life.

Produced in an educational partnership with Pfizer, the conversation brought together two distinct perspectives: that of an artist navigating postpartum life in the public eye, and that of a seasoned physician who found herself experiencing the vulnerabilities of pregnancy as an everyday patient. Both mothers shared candid reflections on postpartum recovery, the art of asking for help, and what they believe every expecting mother should know regarding maternal immunization and infant health.

Chloe Bridges is an accomplished actress whose work spans film and television. A graduate of Columbia University, she and her husband, actor and comedian Adam Devine, welcomed their first child, a son named Beau, in February 2024.

Dr. Charis Chambers is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, a fellowship-trained pediatric and adolescent gynecologist, and the Chief Medical Officer at the menstrual and cycle-tracking application Clue. Known widely across social media as "The Period Doctor," she is also the author of The Period and Puberty Parenting Revolution. She resides with her husband, Zachary, and their young son, Joshua.

Below is an enriched account of their conversation, highlighting the personal growth, systemic support, and clinical knowledge that shaped their paths into parenthood.

What Motherhood Teaches First: Grace, Phases, and Rejecting the "Badge of Honor" in Suffering

The early weeks of caring for a newborn often upend a parent’s sense of predictability. For Bridges, the earliest lesson centered on accepting that the infant journey is defined by constant fluctuation rather than permanent patterns.

"I think for me it was that everything is a phase," Bridges explained. During the newborn period, any disruption—such as a missed nap or an unsettled night—felt like a permanent trajectory. "In the early days, I would get so nervous if something went wrong that day, you know, if he didn’t nap or wasn’t a good sleeper. I’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s never going to sleep. He’s always going to be a bad sleeper.’ And I just had to learn that a good day today doesn’t necessarily mean a good day tomorrow. A bad day today doesn’t mean a bad day tomorrow. Everything is just constantly changing and in flux."

For Dr. Chambers, the initial challenge was letting go of the self-reliance that had propelled her through rigorous medical training.

"The first lesson was really that I just can’t do it all by myself," Dr. Chambers said. "I take pride in being able to accomplish things, and I am so proud of the things I have accomplished, professionally, personally. But motherhood is not one of those things where there’s a badge of honor when you suffer."

She emphasized that learning to accept assistance became vital across every developmental stage, from early infancy onward. "I had to learn, from the newborn phase to the late infancy phase to now, that I need help," Dr. Chambers added. "Sometimes I need help because I can’t be in two places at once. Sometimes I need help because I don’t feel well. Sometimes I need help because I need to be restored, and I need a break. And all of those are really good reasons to ask for help."

Mindset Heading Into Motherhood: The Simultaneous Birth of Mother and Child

Entering motherhood often confronts women with expectations that cannot be fully appreciated until birth occurs. Bridges recalled feeling unprepared for the sheer scale of the emotional and physical transformation.

"I didn’t know what I didn’t know," Bridges said. "It was almost like I didn’t want to think about postpartum too much, because I truly didn’t know what to expect." She noted that the common adage about childbirth proved true in her own experience: "What’s that thing that people say? Two people are born that day. The baby is born, but then you are also born as a mother. And I absolutely experienced that. You can try to prepare mentally for what it’s going to feel like, but it’s still so surreal when it actually happens."

Dr. Chambers described the instant transition following her delivery as both spiritually overwhelming and disorienting.

"I immediately threw up my hands in thanks, and then I looked around like, ‘Wait a second.’ Everything is different," she recalled. "I felt like I didn’t even know which way to move or walk. I didn’t know what to do next. I just sat with that moment. My beliefs, my vision for tomorrow, my to-do list, it all just exploded, all in that moment. And it was immense joy, but a nervousness that I think is in proportion to just the depth and caliber of what this is."

Navigating the Maternal Identity Shift

For professionals who have spent years carving out careers before starting a family, stepping into the role of a parent can trigger a complex realignment of identity. Dr. Chambers observed that unlike professional milestones, which are earned through tangible effort, parenthood feels like an unearned gift that requires surrendering personal control.

"As someone who spent so long not being a mother, I never thought that motherhood would ever fully define me, and I still don’t feel that way today," Dr. Chambers said. "I also think when you desire something so much, it’s hard sometimes to verbalize that desire. So knowing that you’re stepping into this role, this space, that has never really been in your control to step into, but that door is opening. It was an identity shift, but like an identity shift I’d always hoped for but never had the power to change."

Contrasting her medical career with motherhood, she observed: "Becoming a doctor, I knew that. I knew I was going to go to med school. Once I got that MD, I was going to be a doctor. But this is almost like it’s not an earned thing. It is given. I knew it was a forever shift, but spending so much time desiring to be in that role, and seeing that for myself and not knowing if it was going to happen, that was a real identity shift for me."

Invisible Responsibility and High-Stakes Decisions During Pregnancy

Pregnancy inherently introduces a shared physical and biological bond between mother and child, often magnifying routine health decisions.

Bridges noted that pregnancy prompted an immediate, proactive overhaul of her personal wellness habits. "Before pregnancy, I don’t know if I was necessarily the healthiest person, but you get pregnant and suddenly it’s not about you, it’s about you and your baby," she said. "And your health is intertwined obviously. So it was just a lot of decisions about, you know, obviously I’m going to follow all the advice. I’m going to limit my caffeine intake and I’m going to avoid foods that could give me listeria. And I’m going to, you know, take my prenatal. All of a sudden I was thinking about my health so much more, in a way I hadn’t been before."

Even with specialized clinical expertise, navigating a high-risk pregnancy forced Dr. Chambers to confront the gap between knowing medical protocol and living it as an expectant mother. When routine monitoring identified a shortened cervix, she faced clinical discussions surrounding medical interventions, such as a surgical cerclage versus treatment with vaginal progesterone.

The diagnosis collided with personal commitments, including an invitation to attend her closest friend’s bachelorette gathering in a remote region of Mexico.

"How can I reconcile potentially delivering early in this extreme prematurity state that we would be looking at because I just want to be on this girls’ trip?" Dr. Chambers recalled asking herself. "I had to just sit with myself, ‘All right, what makes the most sense?’ Of course my friend was amazing and was like, ‘Girl, say less. No one’s going to feel bad. Take care of you and your baby.’ But it just was hard. You want to do so many things, but at the end of the day, you have to stand in your values and stand in your truths and trust that the people around you will be supportive of that."

Filtering the Noise: Finding Trusted Guidance Amidst Information Overload

Expectant mothers frequently encounter an overwhelming volume of conflicting advice from digital platforms, parenting forums, family members, and clinicians.

When building a baby registry, both women found the sheer volume of product recommendations daunting. Dr. Chambers managed the stress by delegating the process altogether: "When I was making my registry, for whatever reason, I just couldn’t start it. There’s a billion strollers. What do you mean there’s this many cribs? I was so overwhelmed. So I gave my sister my login and said, ‘Go to town.’"

However, when addressing her clinical care, Dr. Chambers relied on consensus among her medical providers. "Being someone who had a high-risk pregnancy, it was a meeting of the minds. I made sure all of my doctors were on the same page, and I wanted a yes. Like when you’re in the emergency row of the flight and they’re like, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ ‘Nephrologist?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘High-risk doctor?’ ‘Yes.’ OBGYN who’s doing the delivery, yes. I trusted my team."

Lacking an immediate peer group with pregnancy experience, Bridges initially turned to online searches and social video platforms to understand baby essentials. However, her primary anchor remained her obstetrician.

"I was leaning on the internet a lot. Dr. Google, and honestly lots of YouTube videos… all those videos of people being like, ‘This is what’s on my registry,’ or ‘Day in the life,’" Bridges said. "And then my OBGYN was so helpful. I would be lost without her. She was truly such a resource, and I really felt like I had built a trust with her, and it really paid off later during birth and everything. I felt like I could ask her anything and trusted her advice."

Understanding RSV and the Threat to Newborns

Among the critical health topics expecting parents must navigate is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a common yet potentially hazardous seasonal virus.

"RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that can get really serious for our youngest babies," Dr. Chambers explained. She noted that RSV follows a distinct seasonal timeline, generally circulating during the fall and winter months across the United States. "The seriousness is that it can lead to hospitalization. It can lead to infant mortality. This is a very serious thing."

Because initial symptoms may resemble minor viral illnesses, Dr. Chambers outlined the distinguishing warning signs that parents must watch for in infants, which often focus on respiratory effort rather than simple fever.

"Cold and flu can look like fevers and things of that nature. Sometimes it isn’t terribly respiratory leaning," she noted. "But RSV has a lot to do with how your baby breathes, the retraction signs, and the ‘work of breathing’ is the term that we use. Babies can get really, really exhausted and tired, and that noisy type of rapid breathing, those are all red flags that something is wrong."

Dr. Chambers cautioned that these symptoms do not encompass every possible presentation of RSV in young children, urging parents to immediately contact a pediatrician if an infant shows any signs of distress or labored breathing.

The Role of Maternal Immunization and ABRYSVO

Because infants arrive with developing immune systems, they are particularly vulnerable to serious complications from respiratory infections during their first several months of life.

"During those early months of life, that’s when your baby is at highest risk," Dr. Chambers noted. "Their immune systems are slowly building up, and when we’re thinking about the way RSV might affect an adult, it is not the same for your infant. So if it’s just vaguely on your radar, it’s important to know that this deserves more prioritization. It deserves more energy, more research."

Expectant mothers who meet clinical eligibility criteria can provide early protection through maternal vaccination. ABRYSVO® (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine), developed by Pfizer, is indicated for pregnant individuals between 32 through 36 weeks gestational age. The vaccine is administered seasonally from September through January across most of the United States to protect infants against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD from birth through six months of age.

Dr. Chambers explained the biological principle behind maternal immunization, which builds upon the body’s existing physiology: "Many moms don’t realize that they are constantly making antibodies to things they’re exposed to and passing those antibodies onto their babies naturally. The RSV vaccination uses that natural process by allowing the mom to create antibodies to RSV and pass them down to her baby. When you get the maternal RSV vaccine, you are helping to protect your baby from the moment they take their first breath."

Bridges shared that maternal immunization was not initially familiar to her until raised during a prenatal visit. "RSV wasn’t on my radar. It was something that I learned about from my OBGYN," Bridges noted. "She recommended I get ABRYSVO for it, and I remain very happy that I listened to my OBGYN’s recommendation to get ABRYSVO when I was pregnant, and that helped protect him during his first six months of life when he is so vulnerable."

To mitigate potential risks of preterm birth, ABRYSVO must be administered strictly within the 32 through 36 weeks gestational window. Clinical trials and safety monitoring identify the most common side effects among pregnant individuals as pain at the injection site, headache, muscle pain, and nausea. In infants, observed adverse occurrences have included low birth weight and jaundice.

The vaccine is contraindicated for individuals with a verified history of severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, to any component of the formulation. Additionally, an increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare neurological condition characterized by severe muscle weakness—has been observed following administration of ABRYSVO.

Managing Maternal Anxiety and Building a Functional Village

Reflecting on the clinical timing for RSV immunization, Bridges pointed out that the 32-to-36-week eligibility window underscores the importance of having medical discussions well in advance, rather than navigating decisions on a tight schedule.

"Sometimes it can feel like so many things are being thrown at you when you’re pregnant, especially if you don’t have a lot of knowledge going into it and then you’re hearing about things from your OBGYN," Bridges said. "It can feel sort of rushed, where if I’m hearing about a vaccine in my 32-week appointment, but then they’re like, ‘Oh, by the way, you only have until your 36 weeks to get it.’ So the more you know going in, it can only help to be more informed, to have time to do research."

Beyond clinical readiness, both women underscored that protecting maternal mental health requires breaking the habit of extreme independence.

"The mental shift that was required the most, that I still carry with myself today, is letting go of the whole independent aspect," Dr. Chambers noted. "I would pride myself in being someone who was very self-sufficient. ‘I got it. If you can’t do this, I’ll figure it out.’ And it’s not that I don’t believe in myself, it is that I fully acknowledge the weight of motherhood and all that is required, and I now welcome the help."

She recalled tangible instances where survival meant handing off responsibilities directly: "I had to tell my older sister, ‘I need you to put together my pump,’ and she did. I had to tell my mother-in-law, ‘The only thing I need today is a nap.’ And she’s like, ‘Go nap.’ Until you learn to verbalize those things and truly believe that you’re worthy of it, not as a point of insufficiency, motherhood requires a village. It requires a team. It requires support. Your mental health will be that much better for it."

Bridges agreed, emphasizing that establishing channels for delegating daily tasks is essential when adjusting to newborn care. "You go from being an individual with all of your independence, and then suddenly you are putting this baby’s needs before your own," Bridges said. "My advice would be to try to establish communication with your village early, whoever that is, and have some sort of plan. Learn how to delegate. I don’t think I had done a lot of delegating before becoming a mom, and then suddenly you’re delegating all the time."

Hopes for the Future: Cultivating Trust, Joy, and Unconditional Support

As their children grow out of early infancy, both Bridges and Dr. Chambers have begun contemplating how their parenting choices will resonate in the years to come.

For Bridges, parenting her son Beau means balancing daily caregiving with an intentional spirit of fun. "I want him to see me as competent and capable, but I also want him to see me as playful and fun," she said. "I think that’s been a big part of it. Maybe especially having a little boy, I want to be playful with him, and I want him to be able to have that kind of relationship with me. The nurturing comes so easy, but the playfulness has come a little harder. I hope he looks back and he’s like, ‘You know what? We had fun.’"

For Dr. Chambers, the long-term hope for her son Joshua is that he recognizes that every health, personal, and developmental boundary set for him was grounded in care before his life even began.

"I hope my son sees me as someone he can trust, as someone who can give him advice, as someone who always makes decisions that are grounded in love and goodness, and someone who’s been making decisions since before he was born to set him up to have the best possible life," Dr. Chambers said. "I hope that he trusts me with every aspect of who he is, knowing that the love I have is profoundly unconditional, and it has been before I could even picture his face. Before I even knew who he was, he was always worthy of that love and support, and it’s not going anywhere."

Important Safety and Regulatory Information

ABRYSVO is a vaccine indicated for pregnant individuals at 32 through 36 weeks gestational age for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants from birth through six months of age.

Expectant parents should speak with their healthcare providers regarding the specific risks and benefits of vaccination, as only a qualified clinician can determine if ABRYSVO is clinically appropriate. Suspected side effects of vaccines can be reported directly to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at vaers.hhs.gov or by calling 1-800-822-7967. Individuals who receive ABRYSVO while pregnant are also encouraged to participate in the pregnancy exposure registry by calling 1-800-616-3791 to help monitor maternal and infant health outcomes.