Motherhood does not care if a woman is Muslim or Christian, black or white, Republican or Democrat, gay or straight, rich or poor. Motherhood is a state of being that transcends all labels and creates a bond among women. Postpartum depression and anxiety does not distinguish either. For the one in seven women, and…
Movie about maternal mental health: Dark Side of the Full Moon Blog post by Lisa Edwards October 16, 2016 for Postpartum Support International Do you remember getting that wonderful glucose test for gestational diabetes when you were pregnant? Or perhaps you were one of the lucky ones (like me) who even got the follow-up test,…
You don’t have to be in despair to get help by Katayune Kaeni, Psy.D. for the Postpartum Support International (PSI) Blog October 10, 2016 Emotional distress and stress are on a spectrum, from very mild to very severe. We all run along this spectrum as we face different life situations. Infertility, pregnancy, loss, and the…
Mom in Motion by Kat Kaeni September 20, 2016 for the Postpartum Support International blog I don’t know what kind of mother I am. I don’t fit a mold. I don’t fit an idea. I don’t fit a book, article, or status. The definitions of who I am, how I mother, and how I partner…
Eating Disorders in Pregnancy A Guest Post by Dr. Anna Glezer for Postpartum Support International Blog August 12, 2016 A woman can eat whatever she wants during pregnancy… right? That’s the expectation, anyway. But we often neglect to think about eating disorders during pregnancy. However, an eating disorder can make pregnancy—from conception to postpartum— much…
Composing a Moment: Mindfulness Techniques in Postpartum Mood Disorders by Edith Gettes MD August 5, 2016 for Postpartum Support International Blog Parents are among the busiest people in the world. Biologically programmed to care for our offspring, we’re also concerned about our appearance and health, our relationship with our partner, the contribution we’re making to our…
How ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) Helped My Postpartum Bipolar Depression By Dyane Leshin-Harwood for Postpartum Support International Blog August 2, 2016 Ten years ago if you told me that, in a state of despair, I would beg a stranger to attach electrodes to my head to zap me, my retort would’ve been: “No way!” Life always…
Self-Compassionate Parenting by Devi Natarajan for Postpartum Support International Blog July 30, 2016 Parenting is like surfing. Through experience, some learn to do it gracefully without falling off too often. As a parent I have had numerous moments that challenged my balance. There were times when I completely slid off and felt like I was…
Your Diagnosis Isn’t Less than Anyone Else’s By Andrea Bates For Postpartum Support International Blog July 22, 2016 Listen, friends, my early motherhood months were no picnic. I was already on medication, though, thanks to my own experience and my doctors’ awareness. They were open and listened to me. They helped me find the support…
Back in Six Weeks
Review of Sharon Gerdes’s Novel Back in Six Weeks By Toki Castro-Tover for Postpartum Support International Blog July 19, 2016 The worry of a mother is a powerful thing. As is the mind. What stressors can do to your “mommy brain” is beyond anyone’s control, even science for that matter. Sometimes—though rarely—a mother will suffer…