Mom and Mind | Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

Here in the last week of the year, we are wrapping up 2024 and another holiday season. Are you an exhausted mom? You’re not alone! It’s been a busy holiday season complete with all the pressure to be happy, do ALL the things, and present the picture of perfection. Your holidays might have been ugly and imperfect, and now you’re faced with the pressure of a new year and new resolutions to improve y...

Today’s guest is pioneering sweeping innovations in access to maternal and perinatal mental health care, changing the face of care for many women and families. The truth is that too many people are falling through the cracks in our US healthcare system, especially in the perinatal period. Join us to learn what Mamaya Health is doing to help revamp the system! Amy Green is the founder and CEO of Ma...

This episode covers an important topic geared toward therapists, perinatal mental health providers, and play therapists who want to have cultural humility with an anti-oppressive stance. You’ll learn what this means and how this viewpoint benefits the families affected by our work. Join us! Meyleen Velasquez is an immigrant Latinx psychotherapist specializing in perinatal and infant mental health....

A common issue that comes up frequently in therapy is taking medication during the perinatal period. There is much debate and many conflicting emotions about this decision of whether or not to take medication. It’s a personal choice that each person has to make, but we need to understand the emotional process around this decision. Join me for a closer look! Show Highlights: Medication should be vi...

In today’s episode, we discuss feminism, motherhood, and how to understand modern feminism, which may differ from how we’ve interpreted it in the past. Looking through a feminist lens can be supportive of moms and their partners. Join us! My guest is Erin Spahr, a licensed therapist, mother, feminist, podcast host, and maternal mental health advocate based in Raleigh, NC. She uses a feminist lens...

I’m excited to welcome Daphne Delvaux, “The Mama Attorney,” to the show for today’s episode. She’s an award-winning trial attorney and the founder of Delvaux Law, the nation’s first and only law firm devoted to women’s rights at work. She created The Mama Attorney, a platform on a mission to educate mothers on their rights at work and teach them to advocate for their needs so they can protect thei...

There are seasonal themes that come up every year in therapy, and stress around the holidays is always a common issue. The joy of the season and family togetherness come with many challenges. Navigating the perinatal world adds complications to the mix of holiday stress, whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or busy with older kids; there is a unique exhaustion to holiday parenting. Medical conditio...

This episode offers multiple perspectives from two expert guests on the subject of postpartum depression. You’ll learn how to recognize the early signs and symptoms, how to understand maternal mental health disparities, and how untreated postpartum depression can have long-term generational consequences. Join us! Dr. Rachel Dalthorp is a psychiatrist and the Executive Medical Director for LifeStan...

I'm joined today by Dr. Katrina Furey, a board-certified adult psychiatrist in women’s mental health and reproductive psychiatry. We are diving into understanding how hormones impact mental health in the perinatal period and at other times in a woman’s life cycle. Join us to learn more! Dr. Furey is a clinical instructor at the Yale University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and has So...

We are exploring a topic that pops up frequently in therapy sessions. Relationship issues are often an underlying factor of other challenges that prompt women to seek therapy. They are looking for problem-solving solutions to help with the pain they are experiencing in their relationships. Let’s take a closer look in today’s episode. Show Highlights: Gaslighting–a form of psychological manipulatio...

Today’s guest shares her experiences through a difficult postpartum journey. Her story covers anxiety, psychosis, and alcohol dependence, but she turned things around to empower women and coach them to be their best selves. Join us for Andrea’s story. Andrea Owen is an author, global keynote speaker, and professionally certified life coach who helps high-achieving women maximize unshakeable confid...

We often mistakenly think physicians are immune to postpartum challenges, but nothing could be further from the truth. Today’s guest shares her story of pregnancy loss, traumatic birth, and intense postpartum difficulties. From feeling shamed and unsupported, therapy helped her find a place of forgiveness and a healthy mental space for herself. Join us to learn more! Dr. Phindile Chowa is an emerg...

SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP! We are talking about a very important topic…SLEEP! We’ve all heard that new moms and parents don’t sleep when they have a baby, but its actually a pretty huge deal. Lauren DePaola is going to give us the information we need to know about how it Impacts us and why we need to be taking a closer look on protecting our sleep as much as possible. We cover stages of sleep, how much...

You are in for a treat as we hear from someone who is fully committed to the advocacy and activism it takes to make a difference in the lives of new moms. She is relentless in her fight and the scope of her work is far-reaching. I’m excited to be joined by Paige Bellenbaum for today’s show.  Paige Bellenbaum is a social worker, founding director, and Chief External Relations Officer at The Motherh...

I’m happy to welcome back a previous guest on the podcast. Lynn Wilhite is a licensed clinical social worker who joined me for Episode 263, Coping with Treatment-Resistant Depression. Things have changed for Lynn since she has recently been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and PTSD. She shares the impact of her diagnoses and how she’s making connections about why things were so difficult for her in th...

In my therapy practice, I meet with moms at all stages of their reproductive journeys. It is a consistent thing that perinatal mental health conditions sneak up on people. Many new moms don’t know when to be concerned and when to seek help for perinatal depression, which can happen at any point in the reproductive journey and worsen in the postpartum. It’s important to notice the signs and symptom...

Join us for this episode with my guest, Dr. Jasmine. She is a mom of one, a clinical pharmacist, and she holds a perinatal mental health certification. As a survivor of severe postpartum depression, anxiety, and insomnia, she has also served as a peer mentor volunteer for Postpartum Support International (PSI). A fierce maternal mental health advocate and second-generation Taiwanese-American, Dr....

Today, Dr. Kat hosts Dr. Marlena Fejzo, an expert on hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a severe form of pregnancy sickness. Dr. Fejzo, affiliated with the University of Southern California and the HER Foundation, discusses HG's debilitating symptoms, its long-term health impacts, and the challenges within the healthcare system. She emphasizes the need for better awareness, research, and treatment proto...

Today’s episode covers a common problem I see with clients in therapy; it’s the issue of fighting sleep. People are exhausted, running on empty, and not getting the sleep they need. When the kids go to bed, there is an urge to stay awake and get things done or have alone time when your body is screaming for the sleep it needs. During the perinatal time, the loss of sleep is prevalent in many insta...

When the uncertainty of motherhood is combined with caring for a special needs child, the demands can be overwhelming. Today’s guest shares what it’s like to mother a special needs child and fight through postpartum anxiety and depression to find healing. Join us! Susanna Peace Lovell received her B.A. from UC Berkeley. She is an author, speaker, disability rights advocate, and certified professio...

It is an undeniable fact that our Western norms for prenatal and postnatal care of mothers are very different from other countries and cultures. Even the term “confinement” is not as familiar to most Americans as it is in other countries. Join us as we explore this topic further with today’s expert.  Dr. Kristal Lau is a certified European Lifestyle Medicine (ELMO) Health and Fitness Advisor and a...

The idea of “not doing enough” comes up every week with moms in therapy who feel like they aren’t getting enough done on their to-do list, whether it’s an actual list or a mental list in their minds. Let’s explore this topic deeper. Show Highlights: The parenting to-do list increases exponentially as you become a new parent. We shouldn’t discount ALL the things new parents do on a daily basis. Pre...

The transition back to work as a new parent can be a difficult time to navigate, and many factors can have a significant impact on our lives and emotional well-being. Even though the transition can cause anxiety, depression, and heavy emotions, there are ways to prepare and protect your mental health for this transition. Join us for more in today’s episode.  Dr. Emily Guarnotta is a licensed clini...

Today’s episode carries a sensitivity notice for anyone currently processing a birth trauma. Kayleigh Summers is a licensed therapist, writer, and content expert in perinatal trauma. Through sharing her lived experience as an amniotic fluid embolism survivor, Kayleigh supports families through perinatal trauma. She has created thriving support communities through Instagram and TikTok, and she uses...

There are many different reasons that bring people into therapy. I often find myself angered by how societal impacts and pressures continue to haunt new moms to the point of making them feel bad about themselves. They can feel stuck and wonder if their feelings are normal or okay. One of the top things that bothers me is when moms feel guilty for wanting time alone. Doesn’t everyone deserve time f...