perinatal

Welcome to Perinatal Wellbeing episode #21, our first episode of season 2! Today we’re going to talk about the Impact of Racism on Reproductive Health with Rochelle Maurice.

Content Warning: This is an in-depth discussion about racism and the impacts on reproductive health and can feel very heavy, especially for those who are impacted by these topics. We discuss things such as forced sterilization, interactions with CAS. Take care of yourself while listening.

Rochelle Maurice, MSW, MHSc in Bioethics is a clinical and organizational ethicist based in Toronto, Ontario. Her work in ethics was strongly influenced by her professional background in social work, the most significant of which was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Paediatrics department in a community hospital in Toronto. As a result of her experiences in both social work and ethics, Rochelle has an interest in and passion for addressing issues that affect pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people at the intersection of health and social care. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies in social work that focuses on Black women’s experiences in maternal-child care. 

Highlights:

4:15 - Pinkification of pot does not include black women

5:58 - Obstetrical racism – women of colour not being believed when in pain or something is wrong, symptoms do not align with cultural biases 

9:01 - We don’t collect race-based data in Canada and the impacts of this

13:47 - Typical bodies and the impacts of that

18:15 - Reproductive justice – intersection of systemic inequality and the impacts on decision making about childbearing and parenting

20:57 - Forced Sterilization

28:38 – Lack of access to nutritious food, the right to raise your family in a safe and supportive environment

32:06 - Ideal motherhood and not enough support to achieve this

33:05 – How does racism and scrutiny of mothers intersect with Children’s Aid Society?  

37:38 - How do we repair? 

39:41 – Institutional memory and generational trauma and the impacts on accessing care

47:18 - Seeking support in community and access to care

Resources: You can find Rochelle on Instagram @_rochellemaurice_

 You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

 If you are experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this or any episode please reach out to me at info@perinatalwellbeing.ca and I can help you find support in your area or online. 

Check out Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net for more information about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders as well as free online support groups and a provider directory. 

You can look for an individual therapist on www.psychologytoday.com . 

Tuve el honor de contar con Paulina Chavez Medina, AMFT (Ella) para este episodio de estreno. Paulina es una emigrante nacida en Sinaloa, México y emigró a los Estados Unidos cuando tenía 10 años. Paulina ha trabajado en un centro comunitario de salud mental durante los últimos 5 años brindando servicios de apoyo familiar, como administradora de casos y terapeuta. Una de las cosas que a Paulina le encanta es trabajar con madres latinas y mujeres que experimentan problemas de salud mental durante y después del embarazo.

En este episodio hablaremos sobre la depresión y ansiedad postparto en nuestra comunidad, qué significa, los síntomas, qué impacto tiene en las mujeres, así como también qué mensajes y acciones hacia las nuevas mamás se deben dejar de hacer. Al informarnos sobre este tema, estamos cambiando ciclos de mensajes inapropiados y entenderemos mejor todo lo que conlleva ser madre dese una perspectiva psicológica.

El riesgo de depresión postparto es entre 23% y 51 % entre mujeres Latinas en Estados Unidos (Lara, et al. 2009). Es importante que esto se investige más dentro de la comunidad Latinx.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376623

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/espanol/depresion-perinatal

https://www.postpartum.net/en-espanol

https://www.postpartum.net/resources/psi-brochure/

Lara M, et al. (2009). Prenatal depression in Latinas in the U.S. and Mexico. Maternal Child Health J 2009;13:567–76. 10.1007/s10995-008-0379-4  [Google Scholar]

Gemma shares her story of experiencing severe depression during her pregnancy and after the birth of her daughter. She reflects on the kind and compassionate care that helped her to get better, and the negative assumptions she encountered that didn’t. 

*Trigger warning* Mention of suicide attempt.

Links to resources:
Royal College of Psychiatrists:
Postnatal depression | Royal College of Psychiatrists (rcpsych.ac.uk)

Association for Perinatal Illness (APNI):
Post Natal Depression - APNI - Association for Post-Natal Illness | Post Natal Depression

Tommy's:
Depression in pregnancy | Tommy's (tommys.org)

BUMPS:
bumps - best use of medicine in pregnancy (medicinesinpregnancy.org)

Music credit (intro/outro): Harmony - Ikson https://www.iksonmusic.com

If you missed last week's episode, stop here and go back and listen to Episode 15 - Snooze Revenue: Part 1. 

If you've already listened, you’ve already been introduced to the concept of Snooze Revenue. In this episode, we are going to talk about a way you can create this passive income through the creation of courses.

We will break down the process so you can get clarity on what you could create courses on that fit you and your business, and help you start making that snooze revenue!

You can find me at:

 hiptoheart.com

https://www.facebook.com/hiptoheart

https://www.instagram.com/hiptoheart

Join my Facebook group for Birth Professionals

https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessforbirth

You can find me at:

www.hiptoheart.com

https://www.instagram.com/hiptoheart

Register for the Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy here:
https://www.hiptoheart.com/birth-boss-academy

Apply to the Hip to Heart Agency Masterclass here:
https://www.hiptoheart.com/agency-transition-class

Join my Facebook group for Birth + Postpartum Professionals
https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessforbirth

The first signs of postpartum depression can often be traced back to pregnancy, and we do NOT talk about it enough.

Pregnancy is joyful, scary, beautiful, and hard work. As is postpartum. As is motherhood.

Whenever hormonal imbalances and a lack of support are present, depression and anxiety will be the natural result.

In today’s episode, we’re talking to Angela Mancini, a Doula, Licensed Therapist, and Perinatal Mood Disorder Specialist.

As a professional who experienced dark days of depression herself, she is here to speak on the stigma as well as the path forward.

Go to https://postpartumu.com/postpartum-university-podcast-ep72/ for more!

Where to find Angela Mancini:

La Luna Counseling
Instagram

In this episode, we are sharing:

• The dark days of postpartum depression and how it can develop in pregnancy
• Angela’s journey as a licensed therapist who experienced postpartum mood disorders, as well as the stigma for professionals in this field
• Roots of postpartum depression can often be traced back to pregnancy
• What are the first symptoms to look for
• How to find emotional support before birth and postpartum
• When birth is connected to trauma
• Rewriting the story

Where to find me: postpartumu.com

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pinterest

• Grab your FREE Provider's Postpartum Nutrition Toolkit
  18 pages of PDF handouts that serve as your comprehensive resource for delivering whole-body nutrition care and achieving better health outcomes for the families you support.
• Learn what your symptoms really mean with our Postpartum Health Assessment
  Postpartum depression, anxiety, depletion, and autoimmune issues have become a new normal.
  Take the most comprehensive postpartum assessment to discover what your symptoms are telling you and even more importantly, what you can do to fix it for good.
• Get started on the path to holistic recovery with the Postpartum Nutrition Repletion Plan
• Come hang out with us on Instagram!

Feeling inspired and ready to learn more about how you can actively revolutionize postpartum care?

• Learn about the Postpartum University Professional Membership
• Stay in the loop about the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Program
• Check out our courses in Postpartum Mental Health, Postpartum Nutrition, and Herbal Care...

Haley and McKinsey are our guests for this week's episode.  They both have stories about postpartum depression, and want to share how different their situations were, between the two of them. 

Haley & McKinsey's goals for sharing their stories was to show how different perinatal health looks for different people, & to get rid of the shame surrounding mental health.  They also shared their perspectives on some ways that we can help someone who might be going through some difficult times.  These ladies also talk about what helped them to heal, and their lives now while they continue to work on themselves and their mental health.

Make sure to check out the resources they shared, below.  We hope you enjoy this episode.

•Fighting Forward by Hannah Brencher
•Come Matter Here by Hannah Brencher
•Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mother's by Karen Kleiman
• postpartum.net   They have a text help line in English and in Spanish, resources about group therapy, & a lot of educational resources. Help for mom's, dad's, grandparents, etc.  Online support groups.  Phone calls with a licensed therapist, & can be anonymous.
•The Anya Project -  Instagram, Light Keeper's membership, biannual retreats

In this episode, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Michelle Iversen discusses Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) along with special guest Samantha Huguelet, DNP, APRN, PMH-C . Samantha has been an advanced practice nurse for over 20 years, and has worked in perinatal mental health for the last 12. She developed and has been the director of the Mother-Baby Program at Nystrom for the last 6 years. She is also on one of the director boards and is a faculty member for Postpartum Support International. She was also the past assistant director of Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Minnesota. Samantha provides clinical supervision for graduate students hoping to specialize in this area of mental health. She also has two kids and two grandkids and has worked at Nystrom for over 15 years.  

Listen as Samantha and Michelle talk about what PMADs are (as they are much more than just postpartum depression), the risk factors involved, how often they occur, and when to seek help. For information and resources about the programs and support discussed, see each of the links below:

Mother-Baby Program - Nystrom & Associates (nystromcounseling.com)

Postpartum Support International: Postpartum Support International - PSI

Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Minnesota: Pregnancy & Postpartum Support MN – Mental Heath Support During & After Pregnancy (ppsupportmn.org)

Do you have feedback or topic requests? Email us at podcast@nystromcounseling.com

We'd love to hear from you!

Follow along:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Nystrom & Associates

If you’re ready to start getting a yes after every interview with new prospective clients, then this episode is for you! 

Join me as I share some of my favorite tips & tricks that will help you kickass every time you interview & help you start making choices intentionally every day in your business that will set you up for continued success. 

You can find me at:

 hiptoheart.com

https://www.facebook.com/hiptoheart

https://www.instagram.com/hiptoheart

Join my Facebook group for Birth Professionals

https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessforbirth

You can find me at:

www.hiptoheart.com

https://www.instagram.com/hiptoheart

Register for the Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy here:
https://www.hiptoheart.com/birth-boss-academy

Apply to the Hip to Heart Agency Masterclass here:
https://www.hiptoheart.com/agency-transition-class

Join my Facebook group for Birth + Postpartum Professionals
https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessforbirth

Connect with Whitney Berg, LMFT:

Website | www.sojourncounselinggroup.com
Instagram | @sitwithwhit
Instagram | @honuhealinghouse

Connect with Ellie Holbrook, MA, LPCC, CPC, ERYT500:

Website | www.ellieholbrook.net
Website | www.sojourncounselinggroup.com

Instagram | @elholbrook
Instagram | @sojourncounselinggroup

In this episode, Michelle D. Collins-Ogle, MD, FAAP, FPIDS, AAHIVS, explores key considerations for choosing antiretroviral therapy (ART) for pediatric patients.

Listen as she gives perspectives on:

• Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guideline recommendations for infants at risk for perinatal HIV transmission
• DHHS guideline–recommended ART regimens for children
• The ODYSSEY A and B studies evaluating dolutegravir-based ART in children and adolescents
• Data for the use of the fixed-dose combination bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in children and adolescents
• Key ART and management considerations for adolescents and young adults with HIV

Presenter:

Michelle D. Collins-Ogle, MD, FAAP, FPIDS, AAHIVS
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Pediatric and Adolescent HIV  
Children’s Hospital at Montefiore
Pediatric Hospital of Albert Einstein  
College of Medicine
Bronx, New York  

Follow along with the slides at:
https://bit.ly/3wMur29

Link to full program:
https://bit.ly/3fOl0XX

Charlotte talks about her experience of developing obsessive compulsive disorder during pregnancy, what she learnt about her condition, and why having a diagnosis is important to her. This episode also explores how to have conversations about the use of medication in pregnancy, considers societal and personal expectations of childbirth and motherhood, and encourages healthcare professionals to #dropthejargon.

*Trigger warning* Mention of obsessive thoughts on themes which some may find distressing.

Links to resources:

Royal College of Psychiatrists:
Perinatal OCD | Royal College of Psychiatrists (rcpsych.ac.uk)

Maternal OCD:
Welcome to Maternal OCD

Book recommendation:
Everyday Mindfulness for OCD – Jon Hershfield and Shala Nicely


Music credit (intro/outro): Harmony - Ikson https://www.iksonmusic.com   

Content Warning: Fertility challenges, mention of traumatic birth

Today’s episode is in honour of World Maternal Mental Health Day, which is May 4th. The goal of World Maternal Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of maternal mental health issues so that more women will get treatment and fewer will suffer. This is definitely what we also work for at PWO, by sharing these stories on the podcast, talking about various issues and challenges that parents face in the perinatal period so that people listening can identify that they’re experiencing similar challenges and seek support. Please talk about these issues with your family and friends, share posts on social media about Maternal mental health, ask questions, email us, reach out to a health care provider or just listen to stories like the ones we share on the podcast to help normalize these experiences. If you are struggling with your mental health in the perinatal period please know you are not alone and there is a community of support ready to help you. Please email us at info@perinatalwellbeing.ca if you’re looking for support or if you have questions, no matter where in the world you are!  

Today is part 2 of my interview with Katie Lamport. Katie is a counsellor in private practice in the Barrie, Ontario area. I first met Katie when I started a new job as an addiction’s counsellor. Katie was fully pregnant and went on maternity leave a few days later. Katie was the first person I had met that was a gestational carrier and I thought WOW what an amazing person! On today’s episode Katie shares about her postpartum experience after being a gestational carrier and how that was different from birthing her own children. Katie and I also explore what types of supports exist and could be helpful for surrogates and gestational carriers.

Highlights:

3:20 - An abrupt ending

4:03 – Maternity leave and recovering from Pregnancy

8:28 – Leading up to delivery

12:52 – Going home with no baby

16:21 – Mental Health supports

20:16 – Discussion about traumatic birth and supports

24:04 – Pumping, self-care, and recovery

27:31 – Returning to work

28:37 – Transition of partnership post-surrogacy

30:12 – What is the relationship like with the family now

33:02 – Reflecting on what Katie did

35:08 – Appropriate language and terminology for 

40:12 – What advice would Katie give to potential surrogates and gestational carriers

47:13 - What is the anniversary like for Katie

Resources: 

You can find Katie on Instagram @katielamportcounselling at  https://www.mainstreamtherapy.com and https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/katie-lamport-barrie-on/960500?preview=1&return_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmember.psychologytoday.com%2Fca%2Fhome&_ga=2.157527610.1247068831.1649346645-1756219686.1648751043

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

Music credit (intro/outro): Harmony - Ikson https://www.iksonmusic.com

Have you ever wondered about what foods are best to support fertility, a healthy pregnancy and a thriving postpartum time? I have an expert on the show today who shares some of her personal journey and mission to support new parents through nourishing food and movement. 

Katie Braswell started her company Wild and Well about a year ago and her practice has taken off! So much so that she is starting to offer more group coaching practices as there is such high demand to work with her and she has realized the importance of community for holistic perinatal support. 

Katie is a Holistic Nutritionist/ She specializes in functional nutrition for families – especially the parents who wanna  maximize their time adventuring with their little ones! Katie believes in meeting her clients where they are in their health journey to regain balance and vibrant health. Katie offers one-on-one nutritional and supplementation consultation packages, custom meal plan and prep consults, as well as, private and group yoga classes. Check out her website www.livewildbewell.com to learn more!

And if you want even more info you can join my membership at www.patreon.com/thymeinthestudio in the studio for the full interview where she shares how to grow an email list and her favorite nutritional trainings. 

I will be adding some new features to patreon in the coming weeks to make it even juicier for you. So stay tuned. 

Big shout out to my patrons who make this show possible! And thanks to Aaron Travers for the show music!

Thanks for listening and please be sure to connect with Katie and I on Instagram and let us know your favorite takeaway from the episode. 

Find Katie www.instagram.com/livewildbewell and find me at www.instagram.com/thymeinthestudiopodcast. 

I hope you are enjoying the podcast and if you find value please be sure to share it with a friend and take a quick sec to leave a rating and review where reviews are found. Thanks so much!!!! It means the world to me!

Be sure to hop over to my website to grab the handy list of over I created a list of over 60 things you can do to easily support your belly. Hop over to www.aidazea.com to grab that free checklist. 

Thanks for listening! You are awesome! May our efforts benefit all beings!

Katie Braswell, of Wild + Well, is a Holistic Nutritionist based in Boulder, CO. She is passionate about working alongside women throughout their journey through childbirth, especially after her experiences with the birth of her son. Katie’s specific areas of interest are preconception health, fertility, prenatal nutrition and supplementation, gestational diabetes, breastfeeding and postpartum nutrition/care (focusing on nurturing mama and baby). She believes in meeting her clients where they are in their health journey to regain balance and vibrant health!

She specializes in functional nutrition for families – especially the mama or mama-to-be who is looking to maximize their time adventuring with their little ones! Katie believes in meeting her clients where they are in their health journey to regain balance and vibrant health. Katie offers one-on-one nutritional and supplementation consultation packages, custom meal plan and prep consults, as well as, private and group yoga classes. Check out her website to learn more!

**Wild + Well does not provide any medical advice and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your healthcare professional. I am not a doctor nor do I claim to be and nothing you read here should be taken as medical advice.**

Content Warning: Intrusive thoughts, birth trauma, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, OCD, postpartum OCD, intrusive thoughts/compulsions around sleep and food, challenges with nursing, rage, trauma, fear, NICU experience, some swearing 

Today is the 2nd part of my conversation with Lisette and Catherine from Together Waterloo. Together came out of a desire to increase the services available to families struggling with perinatal mental health in Waterloo Region. Their goal is to increase support systems, educate health care providers, and build a village so that no parent is left behind. In part 2 of this episode Catherine and Lisette share how they started Together Waterloo, advocating for more PMH supports, building a community of survivors and parents and how they’re making shit happen in Waterloo! 

Lisette Weber is a postpartum doula, the Social Media Manager for The Climb for PSI and co-founder at Together Waterloo along with Catherine Mellinger an expressive arts therapist. They are both trained in Perinatal Mental Health and are making things happen in this space!

Highlights:

2:50 - Lack of supports, seeking support at our breaking point

10:32 - Experiencing postpartum mental illness as a traumatic event 

11:00 - Fear of another pregnancy

11:58 – Grieving the Postpartum period

13:45 - Lisette’s experience with being diagnosed with a PMAD and having her second child with supports in place

16:13 - NICU experience

26:32 - The importance of being trained in Perinatal Mental Health

36:51 - How Lisette and Catherine and providing supports and building community in Waterloo and making things happen

Resources:
Together
https://togetherwaterloo.ca/ 
@togetherwaterloo

The Climb
https://togetherwaterloo.ca/cotd-waterloo/ 
@psiclimbout

Lisette
https://postpartumsidekick.ca 
Instagram @postpartumsidekick

Catherine
https://catherinemellinger.com 
Instagram @catherine_mellinger

Reproductive Life stages Program at Women’s College Hospital Toronto
https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/care-programs/mental-health/rls/  

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

It’s an all too common experience: we bring baby home with the expectation- or at least the faint hope- that we’re going to be high functioning and capable only to find that we’re exhausted, scatter-brained, sore, overwhelmed, covered in vomit and frustrated by any number of factors.  Oftentimes the part that’s not going to plan is how you are being supported (or not supported) by the village you counted on being there for you in this huge time of transition. You don’t want to decline the “help” offered to you, but it’s also not helping, and no one is offering what you need.  If you can relate to this, or foresee this in your future as an expecting parent - you are normal and WE. SEE. YOU.  

In this conversation we talk with Dr. Veronica Eyo, a therapist and mom who understands the many important facets of new parenting, perinatal mental health, relationship wellness and self care.  Speaking from her professional experience and transparently sharing from her personal experience as well, Veronica helps us intentionally look at what it means for each of us to feel supported and gives us permission to be very honest with ourselves and others in order to make it through the initial stages of motherhood well.

“You are not meant to do this alone” Veronica says - and I could not agree more.  It’s not an easy road, but addressing our expectations and allowing ourselves to change our minds about our needs and express them to those in our circles is crucial.  It is worth having hard conversations and cultivating safe relationships for us to be real and vulnerable in.  Veronica kindly helps walk us through very practical steps for identifying our own needs and sharing those needs with others so that they can support us in meaningful ways.

I hope this episode leaves you feeling seen and heard.  You are certainly not alone if this has been your experience.  

You can check out Veronica on instagram for uplifting and practical content.

And you can check out her website too. 

If your couple relationship needs fortifying (or maybe don’t wait until it feels like a “need”), When You & Me Become Three will give you the skills you need to improve communication, clarify and express boundaries, plan the future together and refine your attunement to one another’s needs (including your baby’s). For the month of April, you can download this online, self-paced course for 25% off using the coupon code BABYPROOF. 

We’ve got your back, folks.

Karen

Content Warning: Intrusive thoughts, birth trauma, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, OCD, postpartum OCD, intrusive thoughts/compulsions around sleep and food, challenges with nursing, rage, trauma, fear, NICU experience, and some swearing. 

Hello and welcome to Perinatal Wellbeing episode #12! Today I’m talking with Lisette and Catherine from Together Waterloo, Together came out of a desire to increase the services available to families struggling with perinatal mental health in Waterloo Region. Their goal is to increase support systems, educate health care providers, and build a village so that no parent is left behind. In part 1 of this episode Catherine and Lisette share their experiences in the perinatal period and the mental health challenges they faced. 

Lisette Weber is a postpartum doula, the Social Media Manager for PSI and co-founder at Together Waterloo along with Catherine Mellinger an expressive arts therapist. They are both trained in Perinatal Mental Health and are making things happen in this space!

Highlights:

3:26 - Catherine’s story

6:08 - Symptoms of OCD in pregnancy, intrusive thoughts 

18:32 - Healthcare Practitioner Experiences; mental health and pregnancy screening

37:57 - Lisette’s birth story, birth trauma, postpartum experience, challenges with nursing, 

44:15 - Lack of supports in her area and discovering the need for more supports

Resources: 

Together Waterloo https://togetherwaterloo.ca/ 
Instagram @togetherwaterloo

The Climb https://togetherwaterloo.ca/cotd-waterloo/ 
Instagram @psiclimbout

Lisette https://postpartumsidekick.ca 
Instagram @postpartumsidekick

Catherine https://catherinemellinger.com
Instagram @catherine_mellinger

Reproductive Life stages Program at Women’s College Hospital Toronto
https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/care-programs/mental-health/rls/  

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

If you are a new parent, soon to be parent, one day hoping to be a parent or if you love someone in the aforementioned categories,

Please join us for this episode on perinatal mental health.  In it, we touch on the power of being understood and supported, the challenges of birthing and parenting in a pandemic which complicates an already complex life change, releasing ourselves from parental expectations and guilt, acknowledging the mental load of parenting, trusting and advocating for yourself,  and much more.  

Our guest this week is Candice Thomas.  She is the Owner of the Evergreen Wellness Studio in downtown Barrie Ontario. She is a Registered Massage Therapist and Certified Athletic Therapist. Through her own journey with Anxiety, depression and postpartum, Candice has become a fierce and outspoken advocate for Mental health and Perinatal Mental Health reform in Canada. Candice has two beautiful daughters, Olivia and Ada. Motivated by the lack of resources for mothers struggling with postpartum, Candice founded The Liv Mohr Project, helping to raise awareness and funds for Mental Health Programs within her community.

Candice transparently and generously shares with us her personal experience with mental health and her birthing and mothering journey.  She offers hope and direction to help us acknowledge a current system that doesn’t always support new parents well so that we can move toward a collaborative, partnership based, multi faceted approach of care and support.  We know that families thrive when mothers are well cared for and that starts with us taking care of ourselves, building in relational supports and ideally having well functioning, accessible systems of care.

I’m so grateful for Candice bringing the subject of perinatal mental health to the forefront, raising awareness and change going forward - together.  My hope is that this episode serves as a catalyst for more conversation and movement toward real and meaningful support for new parents. Please check Candice out on IG via @livmohrproject and @evergreen_rmt.

If you're wanting more support in terms of preparing your couple relationship for the intensity of the early parenting phase, we've set up a discount for you to access my online, self-paced course When You & Me Become Three, valid until Apr.30, 2022. Grab it now with coupon code EVERGREEN50 and journey through the 10 modules together whenever you're ready!

Got your back, 

Karen

With limited existing research on the effects of medications and exposures on lactation, Christina D. Chambers, University of California San Diego, shares work underway to better assess risks and benefits for mom and baby. Co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner also discuss with Dr. Chambers the tricky roles of epidemiology and observational studies.

About the Guest
Christina D. Chambers, PhD, MPH, is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Family and Preventative Medicine at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) and Co-director of the Center for Better Beginnings. She also is a Clinical Professor in the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC San Diego, Vice Chair of Clinical Research in the UC San Diego Department of Pediatrics, Director of the UC San Diego CTRI Center for Life Course Research, and Director of Clinical Research at Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego.

Dr. Chambers is a perinatal epidemiologist specializing in environmental causes of adverse pregnancy outcomes, birth defects, and childhood disabilities, with a special focus on human teratogens (environmental agents that cause birth defects or other adverse prenatal outcomes). She is currently conducting research on the prevention of alcohol-related birth defects, the safety in pregnancy of several new medications used for the treatment of maternal health conditions, and the safety of vaccines during pregnancy. Dr. Chambers serves as an advisor to national and international organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the US Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Content Warning: Anxiety, stigma around medication, pressures to sleep train, intrusive and suicidal thoughts

Today’s Guest is Kelley Hassanpour, RN who is the Founder over at Parenting From Within. Kelley experienced postpartum anxiety after the birth of her son. Kelley recognized the symptoms at 13 months postpartum and started her recovery journey then. Kelley experienced pressure to sleep train her son from her doctor and shares how this experience added to her anxiety. Kelley recently founded Parenting From Within in order to provide education, support and community to new parents, providing the support she felt she could’ve used when she had her son. We touched on some important topics including perfectionism and anxiety, the stigma around mental health medications, suicidal and intrusive thoughts, seeking support and so much more!   

Highlights:

4:10 - Pregnancy Story 

5:45 - Perfectionism and anxiety

8:10 - Experiencing postpartum anxiety and the intersection with being a NICU nurse

9:52 – Reluctancy around medication and stigma around mental health medication

14:55 - Noticing the signs of postpartum anxiety at 13 months old

16:12 - Suicidal and intrusive Thoughts

19:00 - Seeking Support

21:05 - Reflecting on signs and symptoms of anxiety in the first year

26:35 - Sleep and pressure to sleep train 

36:52 - Recognizing anxiety vs worry

41:50 - Partner’s experience

45:55 - Post-Birth planning

50:05 – More pressure to sleep train

52:30 - Recovery including medication and therapy 

1:02:18 - Returning to work

1:03:15 - Parenting from Within – Kelley’s Organization

1:16 - What is missing from Perinatal support? 

Resources: 

You can find Kelley at www.parentingfromwithin.ca

Facebook
@parentingfromwithin 

Instagram
@parenting_from_within_ 

Le Leche League Safe Seven: 

https://www.llli.org/the-safe-sleep-seven/

Health Link BC: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/safer-sleep-for-my-baby.pdf

Canadian Community Health Study: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2019007/article/00002-eng.htm 

= 60% of families say they have bedshared at some point

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