The profound journey into new motherhood is characterized by a complex interplay of personal transformation, immense joy, and often, unforeseen responsibilities, particularly concerning infant health. A recent discussion on The Motherly Podcast, sponsored by Pfizer, brought together actress Chloe Bridges and board-certified OBGYN Dr. Charis Chambers to shed light on these multifaceted experiences, with a particular focus on the critical threat of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) to infants and the evolving landscape of maternal protection strategies. Their candid conversation, directed to a U.S. audience, underscored the necessity of building a robust support system and making informed health decisions during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Chloe Bridges, known for her extensive career in film and television and a recent Columbia University graduate, welcomed her first child, son Beau, in February 2024 with her husband, actor and comedian Adam Devine. Dr. Charis Chambers, widely recognized online as The Period Doctor, is a leading voice in women’s health, serving as Chief Medical Officer at the cycle-tracking app Clue and author of "The Period and Puberty Parenting Revolution." She shares her life with her husband, Zachary, and their son, Joshua. Both women, navigating the demanding transition into motherhood, shared their personal journeys, the lessons learned, and their perspectives on crucial health considerations like RSV.
The Unpredictable Phases of New Motherhood
One of the most salient lessons new mothers quickly absorb is the transient nature of every challenge and triumph. Chloe Bridges articulated this sentiment powerfully, reflecting on the initial anxieties of her son’s early days. "Everything is a phase," she observed, recalling how minor setbacks, such as a missed nap or a restless night, could trigger disproportionate worry about long-term outcomes. This realization—that a good day does not guarantee a good tomorrow, nor does a bad day portend permanent difficulty—serves as a crucial anchor for new parents grappling with the unpredictable rhythm of infant care. The constant flux demands adaptability and a release from rigid expectations, fostering resilience in the face of ever-changing demands.
Dr. Chambers echoed this theme from a different angle, emphasizing the indispensable need for a support system. As an accomplished professional accustomed to self-sufficiency, she confronted the stark reality that motherhood is an endeavor impossible to undertake alone. "I just can’t do it all by myself," she admitted, challenging the pervasive societal narrative that often glorifies maternal suffering as a badge of honor. Her experience highlights that asking for help, whether due to physical exhaustion, emotional depletion, or the simple logistical impossibility of being in multiple places simultaneously, is not a sign of weakness but a vital act of self-preservation and a prerequisite for effective parenting. This acknowledgment underscores a broader societal shift towards recognizing and validating the extensive support networks required for new families.
The Profound Identity Shift
The transition to motherhood often involves a profound identity shift, a metamorphosis that transcends mere role change. Both Bridges and Dr. Chambers spoke of the surreal experience of being "born as a mother" alongside their newborns. Bridges described entering motherhood with a sense of the unknown, deliberately avoiding excessive rumination on postpartum challenges due to the sheer unpredictability. This deliberate detachment, while perhaps a coping mechanism, reflects the vast chasm between theoretical understanding and lived experience. The concept of two births—that of the child and that of the mother—aptly captures the magnitude of this personal transformation.
For Dr. Chambers, the identity shift was particularly poignant, intertwining with her long-held desire for motherhood. Having achieved professional milestones with deliberate planning, she found motherhood to be an "unearned" or "given" role, distinct from her career accomplishments. This distinction between earned achievements and the profound, almost spiritual, experience of becoming a mother created a unique sense of vulnerability and gratitude. The realization that this shift was "forever" and represented the fulfillment of a deeply personal aspiration, previously beyond her control, added layers of emotional complexity to her journey. Her insights highlight how the path to motherhood can redefine one’s self-perception and purpose in ways that professional success, however significant, cannot.
Navigating Pregnancy’s Invisible Responsibilities
Pregnancy introduces a new dimension of "invisible responsibility," compelling expectant mothers to become acutely aware of their health choices, not just for themselves but for the developing life within. Chloe Bridges articulated her newfound vigilance regarding personal health habits. Prior to pregnancy, her approach to wellness was less stringent, but the knowledge that her health was inextricably linked to her baby’s well-being led to a meticulous adherence to medical advice. This included dietary restrictions to prevent infections like listeria, careful monitoring of caffeine intake, and diligent prenatal vitamin regimens. This heightened awareness marks a significant psychological shift, where personal autonomy becomes intertwined with the protective instincts of impending motherhood.
Dr. Chambers, despite her professional expertise as an OBGYN, encountered unique challenges when she became the patient. Her medical knowledge, while providing a theoretical advantage, also revealed the emotional and practical difficulties of applying that knowledge to her own high-risk pregnancy. A particularly challenging decision arose when she faced a shortened cervix, necessitating a choice between an invasive cerclage or vaginal progesterone. This medical dilemma coincided with her best friend’s bachelorette party in a remote area of Mexico. The internal conflict between personal desires and the paramount responsibility for her baby’s health underscored the emotional weight of these decisions. Her experience, though unique due to her medical background, resonates with many expectant mothers who must make difficult choices, often sacrificing personal desires for the well-being of their unborn child, trusting their medical team and their own values.
Filtering the Noise: Trusting Your Village
The modern pregnancy landscape is saturated with information, often conflicting, from social media, peer groups, family, and healthcare providers. Determining whose advice to trust becomes a critical, and often overwhelming, task. Dr. Chambers illustrated this challenge with the seemingly mundane task of creating a baby registry, where the sheer volume of choices—from strollers to cribs—led to paralysis. In this instance, she delegated the task to her sister, recognizing that practical decisions could be outsourced to trusted individuals. However, for matters pertaining to her health and that of her baby, her approach was meticulously structured. As a high-risk patient, she ensured a consensus among her medical team, involving her nephrologist, high-risk specialist, and delivering OBGYN. This "meeting of the minds" approach, where all key medical professionals were aligned, provided her with the confidence and trust necessary to navigate complex health decisions.
Chloe Bridges, lacking a large network of pregnant friends, relied heavily on online resources, including "Dr. Google" and YouTube videos featuring other mothers’ registries and daily routines. Yet, her primary source of trusted advice was her OBGYN. The relationship built on trust and open communication with her healthcare provider proved invaluable, especially during the crucial stages of birth and postpartum. Both women’s experiences highlight the dual nature of modern information gathering: leveraging digital communities for practical insights while prioritizing professional medical guidance for critical health decisions.
RSV: A Critical Threat to Infants
A significant portion of the discussion centered on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a highly contagious respiratory infection that poses a serious threat, particularly to infants. Dr. Chambers emphasized that RSV is the number one cause of hospitalization for babies in the United States, with nearly 50% of these hospitalizations occurring during the first three months of life. This statistic underscores the extreme vulnerability of newborns whose immune systems are still developing. RSV tends to circulate during the fall and winter months, aligning with the broader respiratory virus season, and can lead to severe complications, including infant mortality.
Distinguishing RSV symptoms from those of a common cold or flu is crucial for early intervention. While colds and flu can present with fevers and general malaise, RSV often manifests with distinct respiratory distress. Dr. Chambers highlighted "the work of breathing" as a key indicator: noisy, rapid breathing, and visible retractions (when the chest sinks in below the ribs or between the ribs with each breath) are red flags. Infants may also become unusually exhausted and tired due to the effort required to breathe. It is imperative for parents to contact their baby’s doctor immediately if any such symptoms are observed, as these are not exhaustive and early medical evaluation is vital.
The Power of Maternal Immunization Against RSV
For expectant mothers, RSV may not always be a primary concern on their radar, overshadowed by other pregnancy-related information. However, Dr. Chambers stressed that RSV deserves significant prioritization, especially given its disproportionate impact on infants in their first six months of life when their immune systems are most immature.
A significant advancement in protecting newborns from RSV is maternal immunization. Dr. Chambers explained that pregnant women naturally produce antibodies to various pathogens they encounter, which are then passed to their babies. The RSV vaccine, ABRYSVO® (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine) from Pfizer, leverages this natural process. Administered to eligible pregnant individuals between 32 and 36 weeks gestational age, primarily during the September through January RSV season in most of the United States, the vaccine stimulates the mother’s immune system to produce RSV-specific antibodies. These antibodies then cross the placenta, providing the baby with passive immunity from birth through six months of age, a period of heightened vulnerability.
Chloe Bridges affirmed the importance of this intervention, noting that RSV was not on her radar until her OBGYN recommended ABRYSVO. Her decision to follow her doctor’s advice provided her with reassurance, knowing her son would have crucial protection during his most vulnerable early months.
Important Safety Information for ABRYSVO:
To avoid the potential risk of preterm birth, ABRYSVO should be given during 32 through 36 weeks gestational age. The most common side effects in pregnant women are injection site pain, headaches, muscle pain, and nausea. Low birth weight and jaundice can also occur in infants. ABRYSVO should not be given to anyone with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any of its components. An increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (severe muscle weakness) was observed after vaccination with ABRYSVO. Pregnant individuals who receive ABRYSVO are encouraged to enroll in a pregnancy exposure registry at 1-800-616-3791 to monitor pregnancy outcomes. Individuals are encouraged to report side effects of vaccines to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at http://www.vaers.hhs.gov or by calling 1-800-822-7967. ABRYSVO is 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 RSV in infants from birth through six months of age. Please see full Prescribing Information for ABRYSVO at pfi.sr/ABRYSVO_PI.
Caring for Maternal Mental Health and Building a Village
Beyond physical health, the mental and emotional well-being of new mothers is paramount. Chloe Bridges highlighted the anxiety that can arise from the sheer volume of information and urgent decisions during pregnancy, especially when timelines for interventions like vaccinations are tight. Her experience underscores the benefit of early information and ample time for research, allowing mothers to feel empowered rather than rushed or overwhelmed.
Dr. Chambers expanded on the crucial mental shift required to embrace interdependence. For years, she prided herself on self-sufficiency, but motherhood necessitated a conscious letting go of that independent aspect. She realized that accepting help—whether asking a sister to assemble a breast pump or a mother-in-law for a much-needed nap—was not a sign of insufficiency but a recognition of motherhood’s inherent demands. Verbalizing these needs and believing in one’s worthiness of support are fundamental to preserving mental health in the postpartum period. This acknowledgment is critical, as postpartum depression and anxiety affect a significant percentage of new mothers, underscoring the public health importance of robust support networks.
Both Bridges and Chambers converged on the importance of establishing a "village" and learning to delegate. Bridges advised initiating communication with this support system early in pregnancy and formulating a plan. Learning to delegate, a skill many new mothers may not have extensively practiced before, becomes a constant necessity. This collaborative approach ensures that the baby’s needs are met while also safeguarding the mother’s well-being, fostering a healthier, more sustainable parenting experience.
Hopes for the Future: Legacies of Love and Trust
Reflecting on their children’s futures, both mothers shared their aspirations for the kind of parent they hope to be remembered as. Chloe Bridges desires her son to see her as both competent and capable, yet equally playful and fun. She noted that while nurturing came naturally, cultivating playfulness required more conscious effort, hoping her son will fondly recall a childhood filled with joy and shared laughter.
Dr. Chambers articulated a profound hope for trust. She wishes her son to see her as a trustworthy confidante, a source of wise counsel, and someone whose decisions were always rooted in unconditional love and goodness. Her aspiration extends to the earliest stages of his life, hoping he understands that she made choices, even before his birth, to provide him with the best possible start. This deep, unwavering love, she believes, is a constant, present from before she could even picture his face, forming the bedrock of their relationship.
The conversation between Chloe Bridges and Dr. Charis Chambers serves as a valuable resource for expectant and new mothers, offering personal insights into the challenges and joys of motherhood, the importance of a supportive community, and the critical role of informed health decisions, particularly regarding infant protection against diseases like RSV. Their experiences, while personal, resonate broadly, highlighting the universal journey of transformation that defines becoming a mother in the modern world.
This article has been edited and condensed for clarity. The full episode of The Motherly Podcast can be watched on YouTube. This article and podcast were made in partnership with Pfizer. This video is for U.S. residents only and is intended to be viewed as it was originally produced in partnership with Pfizer. The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider.
PP-A1G-USA-3233 ©2026 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. September 2026.
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