It is normal to have feelings of anxiety, stress and depression immediately following the birth are not uncommon—these feelings are often re

What Is the EPDS? Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are the most common complication of childbirth. Approximately 15–20% of women experience symptoms of depression or anxiety during pregnancy or in the first year postpartum. While “postpartum depression” (PPD) is the most widely used term, perinatal mood disorders include: Postpartum depression (PPD) Postpartum anxiety (PPA) Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Bipolar disorder Postpartum psychosis Birth-related

Pregnancy and birth are major adult transitions filled with joy, but the transition to parenthood can also bring up feelings of insecurity, sadness or fear as you and your partner move into this different phase of self-identity. Parenting an infant is difficult, but if one of you had a complicated early family life, parenting can be like navigating rough waters, as flashbacks to unpleasant scenes from childhood intrude upon present reality.

Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody In 2014, I had the opportunity to speak with Samantha Meltzer-Brody about a groundbreaking development in perinatal mental health care: the creation of the first and only psychiatric Mother-Baby inpatient unit in the United States at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Meltzer-Brody serves as Associate Professor and Director of the Perinatal Psychiatry Program at UNC and has long been a leader in reproductive psychiatry. The Mother-Baby

Guest Post by Heidi Koss The following piece is a personal reflection shared by a guest contributor. Individual experiences vary, and this story is offered as one person’s lived perspective rather than clinical guidance. Today I am humbled to share a guest post from Heidi Koss, LMHCA. Many of you know Heidi Koss from her professional persona. She was featured on this blog in April, 2013. She runs a busy psychotherapy practice in Washington state and is an activist in the

Because these women and their stories are so extraordinary, for me personally, this is the most meaningful article I ever researched and wrote up. As I worked, I was literally choked up with feeling, emotion, pride and wonder at ALL of their accomplishments! If you are experiencing depression or anxiety during the perinatal period of your life, the blogs listed here are rich with support, information, available resources and kindness! The bloggers listed here are power

Originally posted June 24, 2013. Guest Post: Today I am pleased to have Leighann Adams of Multitasking Mumma guest posting here today. Leighann is a mom and a self-identified Postpartum Depression blogger. She says the Postpartum Depression blogging community helped her a whole lot when she needed information and support. She found blogging to be therapeutic for her; now she gives back to others via blogging and awareness campaigns. Leighann’s post is about her inner pr

So, I kept it quiet that I suffered from postpartum depression for many years. I was ashamed that I suffered from depression and mostly ashamed about my episode of postpartum depression, as I had a baby to take care of and somehow this condition marked me as not a good mother.

Stigma and Fear Around Perinatal Mental Illness Stigma remains one of the most powerful barriers to treatment for mental illness — especially during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Research consistently shows that people living with mental illness are stereotyped as unstable, incompetent, or incapable of functioning in daily life. These cultural attitudes don’t just exist “out there.” They become internalized. Shame becomes self-stigma. Now imagine being a new mother — e

Prenatal Yoga: A Mind-body Practice to Benefit Your Pregnancy For pregnant women seeking safe, evidence-informed mind–body practices, prenatal yoga has been studied for its potential benefits. In 2008, 66 pregnant women were randomized into two groups of 33. The experimental group underwent 6 one-hour classes of prenatal yoga, inclusive of asana (yoga poses), breathwork and meditation, from gestation weeks 26 – 37. This group was also practiced yoga at home 2 -3x a week,

Originally posted October 15, 2012. Benedetta Leuner, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Ohio State University, released a new study on Saturday, 10/13/2012, during a talk at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, in New Orleans. Using rats, Leuner and her colleagues study the effects of pregnancy on the brain. In a study released last year, Leuner and her colleagues found that the brains of unstressed new rat mothers had a

I met Ivy at Postpartum Support International’s Conference in 2011. She had such a nice feeling about her. Her accessibility, strength, humility and intelligence were quite strongly evident. Of course I had to kindle her book when it came out. Ivy, as she says, gives us a picture of the “ordinary postpartum depression” experience. But her personal story is about so much more than postpartum depression. I had a lot of emotions as I read her personal story and learned about

Originally posted April 1, 2012. Science and Sensibility I am honored and hope that I can do a good job for Lamaze International for the month of April as their Guest Community Manager for the Science and Sensibility. Stop in here and take a look at my introduction and the the happenings over at Science and Sensibility for the month of April! thanks! Take care,

Originally published February 20, 2012. In this interview, a mother shares her personal birth story in her own words, offering insight into the emotional, physical, and relational experience of childbirth. Ann Kirchner, CD(DONA) has graciously agreed to share her personal story of her birth, birth trauma, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and her struggle to just get recognition and diagnosis and treatment for severe postpartum depression. Her story is very important. Sprea

Revisiting Attachment Parenting In Part Five of my Infant Sleep Series, I revisit Dr. Sears’ bed-sharing and attachment parenting books as I am today, the mother of a 17-year-old son and a trained and experienced Licensed Professional Counselor. I first read about Dr. Sears' philosophies as a new mother learning how to breast-feed and learning how to parent, so long ago. I approach Dr. Sears’ work with mixed feelings. I deeply respect his cultural contribution to restoring e

Originally published September 19, 2011. Reflections from the Postpartum Support International Conference on gender, hormones, and women’s mental health. Great to see Dr. Jeanne Driscoll! There were so many great speakers talking about the complexities of caring for women in the perinatal period. Dr. Jeanne Driscoll, a practicing psychologist and nurse-practitioner, is co-author with Deborah Sichel, MD of Women’s Moods: What every woman must know about hormones, the brain,

Public discussions of infant death and substance use often lack clinical nuance, which can unintentionally increase stigma and blame toward grieving mothers. This article aims to clarify what we know about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), substance use in pregnancy, and the designation “Infant of a Substance-Using Mother (ISAM),” while emphasizing compassion, evidence, and the limits of our current understanding. Here are some facts about SIDS: The occurrence of SIDS has