What is Hilary Erickson’s definitive guide to navigating unexpected life changes?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse.

I don’t actually have a single “definitive guide” with that exact title, but a lot of what I teach in my podcasts and posts comes down to a few core principles I lean on when life does that “everything is wrong” spiral or a big change hits (new baby, job loss, moves, health issues, you name it):

• Name that it’s hard. It’s ok to say, “Life really does suck right now.” Pretending it’s all unicorns and rainbows just makes you feel more alone.
• Lower your expectations of yourself and others during crisis. Think “shower = win” instead of “back to normal by Tuesday.”
• Look for one or two things that are going right and write them down. I’ve done that in some very rough seasons, and it kept me afloat.
• Lean into partnership and communication. Things like a simple weekly “sit down” with your partner to divide tasks and talk through the mental load can make chaos feel more manageable.
• Remember that roles and routines will change again. Postpartum, school transitions, job loss—none of these stages are permanent, even when they feel endless.

If you tell me what kind of unexpected change you’re in the middle of (pregnancy, postpartum, job, relationship, etc.), I can tailor these ideas into a more step‑by‑step plan for you.

What’s the biggest change you’re trying to navigate right now?