Perinatal Wellbeing - The Podcast about Prenatal, Pregnancy & Postpartum Health

Content Warning: Birth trauma, postnatal depression and anxiety, mention of childhood abuse, and breastfeeding trauma.  Today is part 2 of my interview with Vikki Stephenson, host of Blum Mumdays Podcast and mum to Stanley! If you haven't listened to part 1, go back and check it out and then listen to today's episode. Today Vikki talks about her experience with postnatal depression and anxiety, following a traumatic birth. We talked about the grief and trauma that resulted from her experience with postnatal depression and anxiety, the fears of being a new parent and how they are heightened with anxiety and Vikki's road to recovery. Vikki authentically shares her story to show how very hard it was for her as well as how she got support and came through the fog.  Take care of yourself while listening to this episode and please reach out to myself or Vikki for support or with questions. You can find Vikki on Instagram @bluemumdays and you can find her podcast Blue Mumdays wherever you listen to your podcasts. I will put all of her information in the show notes. Vikki is now a passionate advocate of perinatal mental health and is on a mission to help parents feel less alone through her podcast series Blue MumDays. Its purpose is to help other mums and dads better understand their illness and give them the hope that they will make a full recovery. It gives a voice to the lived experience of real sufferers who have reached the other side, and – through interviews with experts - will signpost mums, dads, their partners and friends to help and support that may be hard to find. Blue Mumdays dispels myths, normalises the conversation and smashes stigma of perinatal illness. It offers a safe space, encourages self-compassion and uplifts with frank – and sometimes funny – conversations around all things perinatal. Highlights4:05 - Going home from hospital, the overwhelming responsibility and anxiety10:51 - Insomnia, phobia of sleeping during the day15:55 - Reaching out for support and attending Cedar House21:00 – Peer support is so important, symptoms of PMAD's are not you, it's an illness23:00 - Grief and trauma from experiencing a PMAD 25:35 - Guilt and shame about the birth-day and first year being the worst, feeling triggered around birthdays33:33 - Comparing ourselves to other parents, not measuring up and feeling like a bad parent41:31 - Fear of baby not breathing in their sleep45:22 - When did the fog start to lift? Recognizing how well you are doing51:49 - What would you say to yourself during labour and in the postpartum period, what do you say to others going through itResources: Check out the Blue Mumdays podcast wherever you get your podcast or here https://bluemumdays.captivate.fm/ Instagram @bluemumdaysEmail: bluemumdays@gmail.comLINKED IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikki-stephenson-creative VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/vikkistephenson You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.caIf 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 . 

Content Warning: Birth trauma, postnatal depression and anxiety, mention of suicidal thoughts, breastfeeding trauma and eating disorders.Today is part 1 of my interview with Vikki Stephenson, host of Blum Mumdays Podcast and mum to Stanley! Vikki shares her story with postnatal depression and anxiety, following a traumatic birth in such an authentic and vulnerable way that I know so many people will relate to. Vikki discusses her birth story, her symptoms and struggles with nursing and post trauma symptoms. Vikki is now a passionate advocate of perinatal mental health and is on a mission to help parents feel less alone through her podcast series Blue MumDays. Its purpose is to help other mums and dads better understand their illness and give them the hope that they will make a full recovery. It gives a voice to the lived experience of real sufferers who have reached the other side, and – through interviews with experts - will signpost mums, dads, their partners and friends to help and support that may be hard to find. Blue Mumdays dispels myths, normalizes the conversation and smashes stigma of perinatal illness. It offers a safe space, encourages self-compassion and uplifts with frank – and sometimes funny – conversations around all things perinatal. Highlights:6:00 - Vikki's why for starting her podcast11:15 - First signs of PND14:19 - Birth Trauma, not being support or validated16:56 - Racism and the impacts on birth trauma19:15 – Sharing with Stanley about PND, The bond with your child, impacts on the family 23:05 - Being aware of our symptoms, recovery isn't linear, 27:03 - Concerns about medication, stigma35:15 - Vikki's birth story, birth trauma 43:50 - Childhood abuse, impact on birth48:25 - Having an advocate51:55 - Stigma around different ways of giving birth and pain management55:00 - The impact of birth trauma on Vikki's parenting experience, anxiety being so present and doubting your parenting abilities, not trusting ourselves, trauma responseResources: Check out the Blue Mumdays podcast wherever you get your podcast or here https://bluemumdays.captivate.fm/ Instagram @bluemumdaysEmail: bluemumdays@gmail.comLINKED IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikki-stephenson-creative VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/vikkistephenson You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.caIf 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 .  

My guest today is Naomi from Queer Nest Club. Naomi uses she and they pronouns, and is Founder and head Doula of Queer Nest, where she coaches and supports Queer and gender-non-conforming folks and entrepreneurs through one of their biggest life transitions— becoming a parent! Through support, advance preparation, self-advocacy, and abundance, she helps you become the parent of your dreams. On today's episode Naomi and I talk about how we can prepare for the transition to parenthood including building our community of supports, asking for help, and being authentic. We also touched on some really important concepts such as the impact of hetero-normative stereotypes on queer and non-binary parents, exploring our own values and planning for the postpartum period.   You can find Naomi on Instagram at @myqueernest primarily, and @queernestclub Company Website: https://queernest.co , Queer Nest Club website: https://queernestclub.comHighlights:3:29 - Planning for the postpartum period, loving ourselves5:08 - Gender stereotypes influencing our expectations, gender norms, how the queer community is bombarded with these messages7:48 - Abundance vs scarcity and lack-mode9:08 - You CAN have it all but you can't do it all11:54 - You need support13:50 - “I'm not good at asking for help” – Let's ditch that15:09 - Learning the skill of asking for help and delegating21:53 - Parenting in line with our values25:10 - Perinatal mental health29:35 - Postpartum shift, becoming a parent31:02 - Living authentically; what does this mean and how do we do it38:10 - Preparing for the postpartum period and Parenting with a partner49:00 - Normalizing how hard parenting is52:50 - You are not born knowing how to parent54:25 - Figuring out our values55:14 - What to explore on a postpartum plan – Naomi's acronym – NEW PARENTS?1:05:25 - Being authentically us and an authentic parentResources: You can find Naomi on Instagram at @myqueernest primarily, and @queernestclub Company Website: https://queernest.co , Queer Nest Club website: https://queernestclub.comYou can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca 

Date: May 11th, 2022Content Warning: This episode contains discussions around sexuality including our body parts and sexual acts. We do use gendered language in this discussion and acknowledge that not all birthing people identify as female. If you listen to your podcasts with young kids in the room you can decide if you want to put headphones in or listen another time.  Today we're going to talk about postpartum sexuality with our guest soon to be Dr. Benée Justice! Benée is a clinical mental health therapist with a PhD in clinical sexology. Benée recently defended her dissertation on Postpartum Sexuality and created an incredible curriculum for use by mental health therapists to address postpartum sexuality. In today's episode we discuss the changes in our body postpartum, fears and concerns that might come up because of these changes, how shame and guilt can impact us when we are experiencing low desire and trying to determine our readiness for sexual activity postpartum. And then Benée shares with us how we can explore our sexuality in the postpartum period and some very important things such as communicating with your partner and consent.  Highlights:5:09 – Postpartum Sexuality as a sacred topic, grounding into this topic7:42 – Sex in the Postpartum11:07 – Layers of sexuality 12:07 – Why does sexual health get pushed aside?14:16 – Our fears around resuming sex after birth14:45 – Our bodies have changed postpartum, concerns around body image postpartum16:55 – Physiological healing18:46 – 6 week check-up, discussing sex with our health care providers20:27 – Lack of desire for sex22:55 – Being disconnected from our bodies, relearning our bodies28:53 – Can moms be sexy?33:49 – Determining our readiness for sex postpartum 39:08 – Resuming sexual activity and defining sex45:35 – Consent47:10 – “It is our partner's responsibility to take ownership of their sexual needs being fulfilled”, masturbation47:50 – Communication49:38 – Let's talk about orgasm 52:04 – Ideas for communication and ideas for intimacy 57:22 – Shutting down intimacy because of fear of intercourse58:45 – Consent in an intimate relationship1:03:00 – Benée's suggestions for communicating wants and needs1:08:26 – Different supports such as a sex therapist1:10:08 – Gaps in services for postpartum sexuality1:18:15 – Our sexual health is intertwined with our overall health, 6 week “green light”1:19:22 – Resources that Benée recommendsResources: You can contact Benée at bjustice.integrity@gmail.comBooks that Benée and Christine recommend:Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D.Becoming Cliterate by Laurie Mintz, Ph.D. Better Sex Through Mindfulness by Lori A. Brotto, Ph.D.The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee TaylorThe Body is Not an Apology Workbook by Sonya Renee TaylorAASECT directory looking for Sex Therapistshttps://www.aasect.org/referral-directory You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

Content Warning: Fertility challenges, mention of traumatic birthToday'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 ending4:03 – Maternity leave and recovering from Pregnancy8:28 – Leading up to delivery12:52 – Going home with no baby16:21 – Mental Health supports20:16 – Discussion about traumatic birth and supports24:04 – Pumping, self-care, and recovery27:31 – Returning to work28:37 – Transition of partnership post-surrogacy30:12 – What is the relationship like with the family now33:02 – Reflecting on what Katie did35:08 – Appropriate language and terminology for 40:12 – What advice would Katie give to potential surrogates and gestational carriers47:13 - What is the anniversary like for KatieResources: 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=2.157527610.1247068831.1649346645-1756219686.1648751043You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca 

Content Warning: Fertility challengesToday's guest is Katie Lamport, RSSW. Katie is a counsellor in private practice in the Barrie, Ontario area. I first met Katie when I started a new job as an addictions 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 her story of being a gestational carrier, what all the preparation was like and how the pregnancy went for her. Katie shares her story in such an authentic way that I had to keep asking her questions! So Katie's story is in 2 parts.   Highlights:3:08 – How Katie decided to become a surrogate7:00 – Gestational carrier vs Surrogate8:25 – Telling the kids10:15 – Meeting the couple 11:28 – How Katie and Dave made the decision to move ahead16:55 – Mental health screening 18:05 – Questions about Surrogacy legal issues20:28 – Transfer day27:28 – Positive test32:00 – Intersection of gender stereotypes and gestational carrying35:48 – Pregnancy sickness39:27 – How the surrogacy changed Katie and Dave's relationship40:45 – How did the pregnancy impact Katie's work42:35 – How did the kids feel about it?45:00 – Navigating client questions around surrogacy46:00 – Being pregnant as a way of honouring this job47:04 – Felt like an abrupt ending after deliveryResources: 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=2.157527610.1247068831.1649346645-1756219686.1648751043You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca  

Content Warning: Mention of birth trauma, baby blues, obstetric violence, NICU, some swearing, gendered language. Today's Guest is Kelley Hassanpour, RN who is the Founder over at Parenting From Within and we are talking about the unrealistic expectations of motherhood. We covered a wide range of topics from gendered stereotypes to patriarchy's impact on motherhood and the systems that we birth in to integrating our mom parts. We could do a separate episode on each of these topics, so this is really just to get the conversation going! Highlights:3:30 – Perfect Mommy Myth “Being a good mom” “mom as martyr”7:55 - Integrating mom parts9:20 – Taking care of ourselves last10:00 - Expectations around birth and postpartum that you should experience pain, discomfort “suck it up”13:05 – Patriarchy and gender stereotypes and their impact on our health care14:24 – Losing our dignity in birth, birth-trauma, obstetric violence 16:50 - Trauma-informed care as the standard19:08 - Myth of natural motherhood21:35 – Shame34:47 – Mental Load of motherhood38:14 - Gender roles and division of labour45:58 – Unrealistic Expectations of women's beauty and bouncing back after birth48:29 – “You still need you”, doing things that connect you to you51:12 – How can we break down these myths and stereotypes?Resources: Dr. Sophie Brock https://drsophiebrock.com Brené Brown's Podcast https://brenebrown.com/podcast-show/unlocking-us/ The 4th Trimester By Kimberly Ann Johnsonhttps://www.amazon.ca/Fourth-Trimester-Postpartum-Balancing-Restoring-ebook/dp/B071ZXWNSC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=307EKWHTN8HEW&keywords=4th+trimester+book&qid=1649452704&sprefix=4th+tr%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-1 Untamed by Glennon Doylehttps://www.amazon.ca/Untamed-Glennon-Doyle-ebook/dp/B07VSZTKJ8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=E4C3W4VT3H7A&keywords=untamed&qid=1649452888&sprefix=untamed%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1  You can find Kelley at https://www.parentingfromwithin.caFacebook @parentingfromwithin Instagram @parenting_from_within_ You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca 

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 point10:32 - Experiencing postpartum mental illness as a traumatic event 11:00 - Fear of another pregnancy11:58 – Grieving the Postpartum period13:45 - Lisette's experience with being diagnosed with a PMAD and having her second child with supports in place16:13 - NICU experience26:32 - The importance of being trained in Perinatal Mental Health36:51 - How Lisette and Catherine and providing supports and building community in Waterloo and making things happenResources: Togetherhttps://togetherwaterloo.ca/ @togetherwaterlooThe Climbhttps://togetherwaterloo.ca/cotd-waterloo/ @psiclimboutLisette https://postpartumsidekick.ca Instagram @postpartumsidekickCatherine https://catherinemellinger.com Instagram @catherine_mellingerReproductive Life stages Program at Women's College Hospital Torontohttps://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 

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 story6:08 - Symptoms of OCD in pregnancy, intrusive thoughts 18:32 - Healthcare Practitioner Experiences; mental health and pregnancy screening37:57 - 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 supportsResources: Together Waterloo https://togetherwaterloo.ca/ Instagram @togetherwaterlooThe Climb https://togetherwaterloo.ca/cotd-waterloo/ Instagram @psiclimboutLisette https://postpartumsidekick.ca Instagram @postpartumsidekickCatherine https://catherinemellinger.comInstagram @catherine_mellingerReproductive Life stages Program at Women's College Hospital Torontohttps://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

Content Warning: Ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy loss, trauma, medical procedures, surgery, a near miss and grief.My guest today is Nicole Leijh, RSSW who is a perinatal therapist in private practice in Muskoka Ontario. Over the past few months, we've gotten to know each other and become friends and I was so honoured when Nicole agreed to share her experience with an ectopic pregnancy. Nicole endured a lot last year and shares her story in order to raise awareness about ectopic pregnancies and to advocate for more education and better care for people experiencing pregnancy loss. You can find Nicole at https://lynxlakecounselling.ca Highlights:3:20 - What is ectopic pregnancy? 4:35 - Nicole's story5:47 - Signs of a miscarriage7:15 - Ultrasound confirmed ectopic pregnancy8:48 – Told to go to the E.R.11:14 – Medication to treat the ectopic pregnancy 17:11 – Experiencing pain and returning to hospital after some hesitation24:47 – Talk with surgeon, advised that Nicole would need emergency surgery27:23 – Leaving her son for the first time since his birth28:29 – Realization that Nicole had postpartum depression and anxiety30:08 – Having to stop nursing because of the medication32:05 – Surgery36:25 – Nicole's husband experience of being in the parking lot during her surgery40:43 – Discharge, after-care and recovery 46:12 – Post-trauma symptoms 46:53 – Support system50:35 – Emotional/mental recovery52:14 – The Due Date54:28 – Difficulty in finding external supports56:30 – Raising awareness about ectopic pregnancies, sharing information about ectopic pregnancies1:02:55 – Where Nicole is at today with her healing1:03:35 – Advocating to hospitals to make positive changes to ectopic pregnancy care1:05:40 – What would Nicole have needed during her experience1:12:19 – What does Nicole want to see change in this spaceResources: You can find Nicole at https://lynxlakecounselling.ca Information about Ectopic pregnancies https://www.babycenter.ca/a549381/ectopic-pregnancy Support at PAIL Networkhttps://pailnetwork.sunnybrook.ca/support-for-families-menu/ Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings https://www.canadianperinatalmentalhealthtrainings.com Pregnancy Loss Support at Postpartum Support Internationalhttps://www.postpartum.net/get-help/loss-grief-in-pregnancy-postpartum/ You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

Content Warning: Today's episode is all about relational trauma including sexual, physical and emotional abuse as well as birth trauma. Please know this is a heavy episode and you can take your time listening to it or come back to it at a different time. My guest today is vania sukola, RP who is a feminist and trauma therapist and works with clients in the perinatal period. I first met vania when she was providing training on trauma assessments. I was instantly drawn to vania's calm and steady presence and her wisdom. Today's episode is quite heavy and so I encourage you to take care of yourself when listening to this episode and afterwards. Please know that we will be talking about relational trauma, childhood trauma and how this can impact people when they are in the perinatal period. Highlights:4:30 – What is relational trauma? 7:15 - How can past or relational trauma impact people in the perinatal period, including in the Prenatal period?13:32 - during pregnancy 17:22 – How can we change the narrative around our story? Resourcing, grounding and regulating the nervous system. 22:00 - Parenting from our values, meeting our own needs 25:18 - Asking for help26:24 – Attachment29:10 - Asking questions and advocating for your perinatal care and saying no to procedures35:52 – Circles of support – who is in our support system?38:56 – How relational trauma impacts labour and delivery 43:00 - How relational trauma impacts our intuition47:00 – Birth Trauma and relational trauma showing up in delivery57:15 – How does relational trauma show up in the postpartum period?1:03:39 - How can foreboding joy show up for people in the Perinatal period? 1:09:25 - How does the pandemic impact how relational trauma can affect us in the perinatal period and our ability to cope?1:14:10 - What is a takeaway tool that you would like to give listeners? Resources:You can connect with vania on her website: http://vaniasukola.caFacebook: Therapy with VaniaInstagram: vania_sukolaYou can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

Content Warning: Anxiety, stigma around medication, pressures to sleep train, intrusive and suicidal thoughtsToday'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 anxiety8:10 - Experiencing postpartum anxiety and the intersection with being a NICU nurse9:52 – Reluctancy around medication and stigma around mental health medication14:55 - Noticing the signs of postpartum anxiety at 13 months old16:12 - Suicidal and intrusive Thoughts19:00 - Seeking Support21:05 - Reflecting on signs and symptoms of anxiety in the first year26:35 - Sleep and pressure to sleep train 36:52 - Recognizing anxiety vs worry41:50 - Partner's experience45:55 - Post-Birth planning50:05 – More pressure to sleep train52:30 - Recovery including medication and therapy 1:02:18 - Returning to work1:03:15 - Parenting from Within – Kelley's Organization1:16 - What is missing from Perinatal support? Resources: You can find Kelley at www.parentingfromwithin.caFacebook@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.pdfCanadian 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 pointYou can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

Content Warning: Fertility Challenges, grief and lossHello and welcome to Perinatal Wellbeing episode #8. Today we're going to talk about Queer fertility journeys and processes. My guest today is Laine Halpern Zisman, PhD, a Toronto-based queer doula who specializes in queer fertility support. She is also a queer culture and communications scholar and has published and taught on a range of topics related to queer theatre & media, activism & trauma, and critical queer feminist theory. Laine is also the LGBTQ+ Support Co-ordinator and Doula at Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario where she helps people find resources and supports from fertility planning to the postpartum period. Laine and I cover a lot in this episode. Laine guides us through various fertility planning considerations, fertility treatments and processes as well as how to cope with change and grief and the importance of self-advocacy throughout this process. And so much more! You can find her on instagram: @queerconceptions.Highlights:3:20 - Laine's work4:57 - What is involved in the fertility planning5:19 - Learning to cope with change and anxiety through the fertility journey 10:25 - Lack of inclusivity in fertility clinics 13:05 - Options in queer fertility journeys15:20 - Anonymous vs open-ID for sperm or egg donations19:03 - CMV status testing 21:06 - Choosing a fertility clinic25:08 - Choosing a method27:40 - Creating a fertility plan29:41 - Giving yourself permission to take a pause31:56 - Creating your support network32:57 - Transitioning from care during fertility treatments to pregnancy care42:30 - Coping with grief and loss throughout the fertility process49:07 - Support for non-gestational parents50:57 - How the Pandemic has affected fertility journeys52:59 - What do you think is missing from the space of Perinatal Support for people in the Queer community? 54:33 - How do we help to break down barriers? 58:27 - Understanding and using pronounsResources: Check out Laine on Instagram @queerconceptions for information on fertility planning and journeys as well as questions to ask and think about on your fertility journey.Take a look at Birth Mark's Seed and Sprout program for 2SLGBTQIA families here https://birthmarksupport.com/seed-sprout    You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

Content Warning: Fertility struggles, Intrusive thoughts, anxiety, mention of birth trauma, and grief.Hello and welcome to Perinatal Wellbeing episode #7! On today's episode I interview Sascha, who I met through PSI's Peer Mentor program last year. Sascha is a mom to her 2-year-old son and lives with her husband in New Jersey. Sascha experienced Postpartum Anxiety after the birth of her first child and she shares her story with us, what recovery looked like for her and what having a baby during a pandemic has been like. We touch on so many different really important points that I think everyone will take something from this episode. Highlights:4:30 - Sascha's birth story13:23 - The Baby Blues16:50 - Postpartum Anxiety18:58 - Baby's sleep19:55 - The impact of social media on perinatal mental health23:16 - Transition back to work after maternity leave25:52 - Intrusive thoughts28:50 - Reaching out for help, connecting to supports34:40 - Connecting to our values39:11 - Recovery40:20 - Coping Skills47:27 - Grief49:43 - Baby's 1st birthday54:45 - Experience of having a baby in a pandemic59:19 - Transitioning to daycare in a pandemic1:03:17 - What would you tell yourself in that difficult time?1:04:53 - What supports do we need to help new parents?Resources: Book: Good Moms have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleiman You can find information about the Peer Mentor program at Postpartum International at https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/peer-mentor-program/You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

Content Warning: Intrusive thoughts, anxiety and challenges with nursing.Hello and welcome to Perinatal Wellbeing episode #6 today is part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Jodi Pawluski. Jodi is a researcher, neuroscientist, therapist, podcaster, and parent! Jodi is from Canada and currently lives in France with her partner and 2 kids. Jodi researches the Parental brain and you can learn all about it on her website and on her podcast, Mommy Brain Revisited. Jodi is also a perinatal mental health therapist. In this episode, Jodi shares her story of her delivery with her 2nd child and her experience with nursing him, in a different country than her first. We also talk about the neuroscience of anxiety and the biology of nursing. And because we had so much to talk about you get to hear Jodi's story in 2 parts! Please see last week's show for part 1.  You can find Jodi at https://www.jodipawluski.com and her podcast Mommy Brain Revisited is on most major platforms.

Content Warning: Intrusive thoughts, experience of baby in the NICUToday's guest is Dr. Jodi Pawluski, researcher, neuroscientist, therapist, podcaster, and parent! Jodi is from Canada and currently lives in France with her partner and 2 kids. Jodi studies the Parental brain and you can learn all about it on her website and on her podcast, Mommy Brain Revisited. Jodi is also a perinatal mental health therapist. In this episode, Jodi shares her story of her deliveries with her 2 kids, in 2 separate countries, that were not her home countries. Jodi also talks about her experiences with nursing. And we talk about some neuroscience and biology. Because we had so much to talk about you will have part 1 this week and part 2 next week! Highlights:5:10 Prenatal care and testing 9:46 Searching for healthcare provider18:25 What would being in a different country be like during the Pandemic?24:30 How did Jodi's Neuroscience background influence her approach to labour and delivery27:37 Haptonomy31:30 Baby's birth37: 40 Challenges with nursing post-birth39:20 Baby went to the NICU43:10 Guilt from nursing challenges49:48 Coping with baby being in NICUResources: You can find Dr. Pawluski at https://www.jodipawluski.com and her podcast Mommy Brain Revisited is on most major platforms. You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

 Content Warning: In this episode we are discussing challenges with nursing and grief and trauma that can be associated with that. I use the word breastfeeding when discussing my own story and I continue to work towards more inclusive language including using either nursing, chest feeding or body feeding. Let's open up the conversation around nursing! There are so many stories of parents struggling to get started with nursing, not being able to nurse for as long as they want to, or at all and this can bring up extreme shame and guilt and have a very negative impact on a parent's mental health. And there are also parents that do nurse because they physically can however, they struggle mentally and feel pressure to continue nursing even when they feel they don't want to or can't cope. And nursing can be a lovely journey for so many parents and then they experience a lot of grief when they decide to stop nursing or baby is ready to wean. And let's not forget the shame and confusing messages we hear about nursing! It can be a rollercoaster of an experience. This episode is simply an introduction to this topic, to open up the discussion and is by no means an exhaustive exploration of all the challenges that various people face when trying to feed their babies. I open the discussion with my story of breastfeeding and acknowledge that this is only one type of story out there. I am not a lactation consultant, or feeding expert so please seek out help if you feel you are experiencing challenges with feeding your baby. We will have more guests on the podcast to discuss other perspectives and stories around this topic. Highlights:3:55 My Story with breastfeeding 6:35 Guilt and Shame13:27 We're not born knowing how to breastfeed14:55 Judgement from others17:55 Potential challenges during breastfeeding22:13 Experiencing a grief or trauma wound from challenges with breastfeeding23:47 How do we cope?Resources: Support for Transgender and Non-Binary Parents https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/transgender-non-binary-parents/ You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca

Let's normalize how hard it is to transition to parenthood! On the podcast today we're talking about the realities of transitioning to parenthood and that it's not always filled with joy and elation. Transitioning to parenthood can be very exciting and scary at the same time and can involve grief for our old life. Seeing how others parent online can cause us a lot of distress and not listening to our gut takes us away from our values and goals. We're going to talk about all of this and discuss ways to help cope with this transition.Highlights:2:17 - Some thoughts after welcoming baby  4:30 - Transition for the family6:37 – The stereotype of falling in love with your baby as soon as you meet them8:45 - Transition for the internal system and parenting from the Self12:52 - Social Media's effect on how we think we're doing15:57 - Pressure to be everything to our children 16:47 - What's helpful? Resources: You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca  

Content Warning: Examples of various type of intrusive thoughts Episode description: On today's episode we're going to talk about Intrusive Thoughts in the Perinatal Period. I'm going to share the clinical definition, what this looks like in real-life, when it's a good idea to ask for help and how to cope with these types of thoughts. I experienced intrusive thoughts in the Postpartum period, and I will share this experience with you. Let's open up this discussion to reduce the barriers to seeking help and the shame that can come with these thoughts. Highlights:2:33 - What are Intrusive thoughts? 4:13 - Different types of thoughts.  7:52 - What does this look like in real-life? 9:28 - Creating meaning around intrusive thoughts. 10:45 - Shame and guilt.12: 28 – Intrusive thoughts knock us out of our window of tolerance.14:20 - Developing compulsions. 15:00 - When to ask for help.15:35 - Barriers to disclosing intrusive thoughts.18:50 - Coping with intrusive thoughts.21:52 - The process of managing the thoughts.24:53 - Normalizing anxiety.26:26 - Anchoring in the Self, trusting ourselves.28:17 - Other ways to cope.Resources: An incredible book for new parents is “Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts” by Karen Kleiman. And a great book for clinicians and parents is Karen Kleiman's book “Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts: Breaking the Cycle of Unwanted Thoughts in Parenthood”, from which I have used a lot of information for this post as well as in my work with clients. You can find more information at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca You can find information and free online support groups at Postpartum Support International www.postpartum.net 

Content Warning: Intrusive Thoughts, Suicidal ThoughtsOn today's episode I share my story of having Postpartum Anxiety and Depression after the birth of my 3rd child. I share the different signs and symptoms that I experienced, what my journey to recovery looked like and how I made meaning from that challenging time. Highlights:My Backstory highlighting previous breastfeeding and baby blues experiences 3:15Birth and the beginning of my Postpartum Experience 5:39The symptoms I experienced 6:21Shame and guilt around breastfeeding 9:11Social Media and comparisons 10:59Lactation Consultant suggested PPD, researching PPD 12:31Other Symptoms 14:21Intrusive Thoughts 15:32When I knew I needed help 16:586 Week check-up and asking for help 18:41Referral to a support program and journey to recovery 21:02Diagnosis and medication refusal 24:11The ups and downs of recovery 25:12Contemplating medication at 6 months postpartum 26:44Starting medication and medication change 29:08Grief 30:50The 1 year mark and more grief and sadness 31:41My husband's support 34:35ADHD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder diagnoses 35:18Making meaning out of my story 37:00Awareness of my mental health 38:14 Resources: You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca      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 . 

We want to welcome you to the podcast and tell you a little bit about what it's all about and what you can expect. You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email info@perinatalwellbeing.ca