Mom and Mind | Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

The Blue Dot Project is an exciting program within PSI, and I’m thrilled for today’s guest to share it with us. We will learn about the project’s details and how you can get involved. The goal of the program is to provide the necessary resources and professionals for mothers and families during the perinatal period, so that everyone can access the support they need. Their brand-new initiative, The...

Today’s episode marks the beginning of a four-part series on coping with specific holiday scenarios, including infertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and pregnancy loss. We will discuss tips and tricks that can also be useful at other times of the year when emotional challenges arise. I’ll offer coping skills that can help you, especially in your interactions with others. Today’s focus is on infertil...

This episode introduces us to maternal ecodistress, explaining what it is and its relationship to matrescence. We also discuss why mothers are vulnerable to mental health challenges in relation to a changing climate and how we can support mothers in this experience. Join us to learn more through this fascinating conversation! Dr. Allie Davis is a maternal mental health ecotherapist, author of The...

Today’s guest shares her work in mentoring the next generation of doulas and helping maternal healthcare professionals balance the heart of their work with sustainable business practices. We also discuss Medicaid, systemic barriers to care, and systemic barriers that prevent some populations from accessing doula services. Join us to learn more! Jacquelyn Clemmons is a veteran birth and postpartum...

This is the final episode of the 4-part series, 2 am Pep Talks. You can check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 by clicking these links. Today’s episode is all about hope! It is essential to understand that this season of early morning wake-up times will pass. Sleeping through the night again will happen for you, even though you may wonder now if you will ever sleep enough to feel like yourself again...

Today’s topic centers around a book written by my guest, Dr. Margo Lowy. She has researched and written about maternal ambivalence, including how to understand it and why it remains a taboo subject. We will discuss destigmatizing uncomfortable feelings and normalize the understanding that motherhood is not “all or nothing.” We’ll cover the darker emotions of anger, guilt, and resentment, and we'll...

I’m honored to interview Jaimie Kelton for today’s episode. She shares interesting parts of her journey as a queer parent, discusses elements of queer family building, and opens up about her three-year infertility journey as a queer woman. Her motherhood story includes birth trauma and postpartum anxiety. As a podcast host, Jaimie explains how hearing from the guests on her show has helped her on...

In Part 1 of this series, we discussed how heavy and burdensome things can feel in the middle of the night when you are alone with your baby, struggling to function and feeling exhausted.  In Part 2, we ventured into what it’s like when anxiety and intrusive thoughts pop up in the middle of the night. Today’s focus is on the importance of taking care of YOU, even in the middle of the night. You co...

In this episode, I’m excited to be joined by Emily Harrington, one of the most successful and versatile professional climbers in the world. Emily discusses the pressure of failure and perfectionism in motherhood, pregnancy, and postpartum, which are common experiences among mothers. Join us to hear this beautiful conversation about life at the intersection of motherhood and elite athleticism in a...

Our conversation today is on the recent FDA panel about the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy—and all the ways the panel got it wrong. It’s not just about wrong information, but it’s about the harm that wrong information does to people in the perinatal period. Join us to learn more about why this information from the FDA is so dangerous to women.  Dr. Catherine Birndorf is a reproductive...

Today, I’m bringing you the second part of my 2 am Pep Talk. This time, I’m really focusing on supporting new parents, especially those of you who might be feeling anxious, lonely, or dealing with those tough, intrusive thoughts that can pop up during pregnancy or after having a baby. I know those quiet, late-night hours can make everything feel even more overwhelming, and I want you to know you’r...

Maternal rage is, unfortunately, more common than we want to think. The worst part is that not many people are talking about it, which only adds to the stigma and misunderstanding. New mothers are led to believe that they shouldn’t feel rage and anger, and they are shamed when they do. We are uncovering maternal rage, exploring how and why it manifests, and what can be done about it. Join us to le...

This episode explores how doulas integrate themselves into the healthcare system to enhance outcomes for mothers, families, and babies. There are countless benefits to hiring a doula to improve the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. Join us to learn more! HeHe Stewart is a leading childbirth educator, advocate, and maternity care reform expert. With a master’s in human development and ov...

We are starting something different today that will carry through the next few Behind the Sessions episodes. I’m tackling those “middle-of-the-night” feelings during pregnancy and the postpartum. Nighttime can bring feelings of dread and loneliness that mothers experience as a heaviness, and all of this can magnify and intensify any perinatal mood and anxiety disorders to make life very challengin...

Today’s episode brings you interesting insights into the connection between sleep and temperament. We dig into the science and psychology behind why it is harder for some babies to settle into sleep—and the connection to their overall temperament. Join us to learn more about this fascinating topic. Macall Gordon is a researcher, speaker, and author specializing in the link between temperament and...

Today’s topic is maternal near-miss. If that term is unfamiliar, please join us to learn more about this perinatal scenario that profoundly impacts many birthing people, their partners, and the future of their mental health, marriages, and families. Our guest shares her professional expertise and her personal experience with navigating pregnancy loss, postpartum hemorrhage, and postpartum anxiety....

In today’s episode, I want to discuss the feeling many people have that “something’s not right,” but they may not have the words to articulate exactly what it is. That feeling can come during pregnancy or postpartum, and it can follow a loss or a grueling infertility journey. For the most part, when people don’t feel like themselves, they don’t have the language to express that they might have a p...

“I have to stop taking my mental health medications during pregnancy, right?” This question is a common one for pregnant moms, and the answer might surprise you. There are many misconceptions about medications during pregnancy, especially those for mental health conditions. Many moms have been misinformed about their available options, and today’s expert guest is here to set the record straight. I...

Today’s episode covers infertility and its impacts on a couple. We recognize that these challenges can be stressful on a relationship, and our goal is to provide as much support as possible to couples facing these scenarios. Join us to learn more! Rebecca Reddin is a psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and certified perinatal mental health specialist with Postpartum Support Inter...

One goal of this podcast is to shed light on aspects of our self-perception that have been in the shadows. Moms often feel shamed and judgmental about discussing their feelings, and they frequently believe they are alone in their experiences. Therapy can be very helpful for a parent who feels overwhelmed and overloaded, because talking about issues helps develop coping skills to navigate their imp...

Today’s guest tells her story of birth trauma, postpartum preeclampsia, and how therapy helped her to process her emotions. I’m thrilled to have Courtney here to share her story and how she is helping other moms. Join us! Courtney Costello is a licensed master’s social worker with nearly 15 years of experience in the field. She worked predominantly with families and children before having her son...

Today’s episode focuses on patients who receive devastating news during the perinatal period. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common, and complexities are affecting both the patient and the medical provider, most notably the delicate balance of professionalism, compassion, and humanity. Our conversation explores the psychological impacts and ways of handling these situations.  Dr. Christia...

You may think that postpartum depression covers all aspects of perinatal mental health issues that new mothers face. The fact is that there are other kinds of mood changes, some that are talked about and some that are relatively unknown and uncommon. Today’s show focuses on one specific problem that some mothers experience: it’s called D-Mer, which stands for Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex.  Heidi...

Today’s guest returns to the podcast with her passion for perinatal mental health, and I’m honored to share our conversation with you about her work and her new book, which offers holistic and realistic support for new parents. We cover topics related to birth and postpartum with her real and honest perspective as an Ob/Gyn. Join us! Dr. Jessica Vernon, PMH-C, is a board-certified OB/GYN who has c...

Today’s guest is sharing her story as a survivor of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and birth trauma caused by random placental abruption. She is also a NICU mama who learned to balance parenting with the start of her psychotherapy practice to bring therapy to a rural area. Her story has multi-faceted, beautiful parts, and we are honored to have her here. Beth Partain is a licensed clin...