Podcasts about motherhood center

The journey from trying to conceive, to pregnancy, to postpartum, can be the most beautiful time of someone's life, but also the hardest, and that's where finding the right support is key. Dr. Catherine Birndorf is a reproductive psychiatrist, the co-founder, CEO, and Medical Director of The Motherhood Center of New York, and the Founding Director of the Payne Whitney Women's Programme at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital. She is also a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and obstetrics and gynecology, and the author of multiple books, including What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood. During this episode, we dive into a huge variety of topics, including perinatal, mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS), medication, and more. From how to know when something is wrong and where to seek the necessary support to understanding treatability, we cover it all. Thanks for listening!  

Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now.This week on In It, we're sharing an episode from another Understood podcast. It's called Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson, and we're big fans.When she first became a parent, Rae experienced a bout of severe postpartum depression. But at the time, there wasn't much information about ADHD and women, let alone ADHD and postpartum mental health.Rae had heard that there was a link between ADHD and postpartum depression. But with a tiny baby to care for and a life to navigate, she had more pressing things to deal with. But the question kept bugging her: Does ADHD make you more likely to have postpartum depression?This week on Hyperfocus, Rae finally gets some answers to questions she has had for years. Her guest is Dr. Catherine Birndorf, an expert on postpartum mood disorders and co-founder, CEO, and medical director of The Motherhood Center of New York.Related resourcesCatherine's book: What No One Tells You3 things I'm learning as a new mom with ADHD72 hours in the life of a working mom with ADHDParenting tips when you and your child have ADHDTimestamps(02:55) ADHD as a postpartum concern(09:47) PMADs: Not just the ‘baby blues'(14:21) What can struggling parents do?(21:07) Medication and pregnancyTo get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the Hyperfocus podcast page at Understood.orgWe love hearing from our listeners. Email us at init@understood.org. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

In recognition of Maternal Mental Health Month I am re-sharing this 2023 conversation with the founders of The Motherhood Center in NYC. With Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADS) being the #1 complication associated with birth in the US and the #2 cause of maternal mortality, this remains a critical conversation.It's not just you. You're not crazy. You're not a bad mom. You're not alone. These are words and deep beliefs that resonate through and form the backbone of today's guests, Catherine Birndorf, MD, and Paige Bellenbaum, LMSW. Catherine and Paige are dedicated to changing the perinatal mental health terrain, and they do it through The Motherhood Center, a place of radical acceptance, nurturance, and individual and group support. On today's episode, we pull back the curtain on motherhood and redefine what is considered "normal" and "typical". With PMADs (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders) being the #1 complication associated with birth and the #2 cause of maternal mortality, this is a critical conversation. On today's episode, we unpack why it's so important that we talk more about these conditions, how to do your best to prevent PMADs, and what to do if you or someone you love has symptoms. Aviva, Paige, and Catherine discuss: The definition of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS) and the different diagnoses that fall under the PMAD umbrella What PMAD taboos still exist today, why this needs to change, and how Roe v. Wade affects these taboos Paige and Catherine's personal stories with perinatal mood disorders and what brought them to the point of specializing in PMADS and opening the motherhood center The kinds of physical and psychological feelings and symptoms associated with PMADs and signs birthing people and their providers should watch out for Why we need to move in the direction of making it mandatory for OB-GYNs, midwives, pediatricians, and any providers who come in contact with newer expecting mothers to begin educating their patients about PMADS and screening for symptoms The effects of the pandemic, social isolation, and potential cultural contributors on PMADS The role of medication and psychotherapy in treating conditions For more information or to reach out visit themotherhoodcenter.com or call (212) 335-0034. Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation.

What do you do when motherhood feels challenging—when it doesn't come as naturally as you expected? This episode was inspired by honest conversations in my prenatal yoga classes, where some students shared fears about entering parenthood. One even admitted, “I don't know if I'm very maternal.” That vulnerability struck a chord, and I knew we needed to explore it further. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I sit down again with Paige Bellenbaum, LCSW of The Motherhood Center, for a deep and heartfelt conversation. We talk about the emotional complexities of becoming a parent, especially when expectations and reality don't align. We dive into the guilt, shame, and comparison that can arise during this transition—and how examining your own values can help shape a more authentic and supported experience of parenthood. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating, supporting, or anticipating the emotional journey into motherhood. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com Don't forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE  If you love what you've been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify! To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:  Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt trapped by the need for certainty in your life? Allison Carmen, a spiritual teacher, author, and podcaster, shares her journey from being addicted to certainty to embracing the power of "maybe."Allison takes us through her early years, where anxiety and worry dominated her life. She recounts the pivotal moment when a simple Daoist story about a farmer and his horse opened her eyes to a new way of thinking that would change her life forever.From Certainty Addiction to Embracing the UnknownHow Allison's need for certainty affected her daily life and relationshipsThe power of the word "maybe" in shifting perspective and reducing stressLearning to find hope and possibility in life's uncertaintiesNavigating Life's Unexpected TurnsAllison's experience of using her own teachings to cope with a sudden divorceThe importance of accepting what is while maintaining hope for the futureHow embracing uncertainty can lead to personal growth and new opportunitiesCultivating a "Maybe" MindsetPractical ways to incorporate "maybe" thinking into your daily lifeThe difference between using "maybe" as a tool and adopting it as a life perspectiveHow this mindset can help in making decisions and facing challengesAs you listen to this episode, consider:In what areas of your life might you be clinging to certainty?How could adopting a "maybe" mindset change your approach to stress and worry?What possibilities might open up if you embraced uncertainty more fully?This conversation reminds us that life's uncertainties can be a source of hope and potential rather than fear. Allison's journey offers practical insights for anyone looking to reduce anxiety and find more peace in the face of life's unknowns.About Allison CarmenAllison Carmen is an author, TEDx speaker, podcaster, business consultant, and CFO/General Counsel at the Motherhood Center of New York. She holds a B.A. in accounting, a J.D. in law, and a Master of Law in taxation. Allison's books include The Gift of Maybe: Offering Hope and Possibility in Uncertain Times and A Year Without Men: A Twelve Point Guide to Inspire and Empower Women. She also hosts the podcast 10 Minutes to Less Suffering, where she shares tools to help alleviate daily stress. Allison is a regular contributor to Psychology Today, The Daily Beast, and AARP and is a sought-after speaker and media guest.Connect with Allison CarmenWebsite: allisoncarmen.comPodcast: 10 Minutes to Less Suffering on Allison's websiteBooks: Available on Allison's websiteSocial Media: Find Allison on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn via her website.Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcastSubscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter:

Elizabeth Baron is a NY State Licensed Mental Health Counselor and psychotherapist with a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University's Teachers College. Her primary clinical focus is maternal mental health – from preconception and pregnancy, through postpartum and parenting. Previously, she worked as a therapist at The Motherhood Center (TMC) of New York, where she developed her expertise in treating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. While at The Motherhood Center, she also served as the Community Partnerships lead and worked to educate new and expecting mothers and clinical providers on the importance of maternal mental health. Today she provides individual therapy in her private practice, moderates several support groups, and offers webinars and educational talks to several different brands across the parenting space. Deeply committed to destigmatizing maternal mental health issues, she is passionate about helping women through all stages of motherhood.On this episode of the Becoming a Sleep Consultant Podcast Elizabeth and I discussed:- How we as sleep consultants can work to release some of the emotional load that we carry on behalf of our clients- That humanizing the experience of sleep and mothering in a more realistic frame for life leads to a more positive and successful experience for both parents and sleep consultants- The need for boundaries in our businesses. And that it's ok to give ourselves grace if it feels difficult to set those boundaries in the very beginning. It takes time! Links:Website: https://www.elizabethbaronlmhc.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withelizabethb/If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Sleep Consultant, please join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomeasleepconsultantCPSM website: https://thecpsm.com/Book a free discovery call to learn how you can become a Certified Sleep Consultant here: https://jaynehavens.as.me/CPSM-Inquiry

Dr. Dan speaks to Allison Carmen, a Maria Shriver "Architect of Change," Uncertainty Expert, and creator of The Maybe Mindset — a concept that is in Oprah's New Dictionary of Enlightenment. Allison teaches us how embracing uncertainty can be our greatest ally. By living in Maybe, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities. This powerful mindset helps us break free from the stress of needing to know what's next and invites us to believe in the potential of the unknown. In this episode, Dr. Dan and Allison dive into The Maybe Mindset and explore how it can transform our lives. They discuss how uncertainty, when welcomed, leads to less fear and more joy. Instead of chasing certainty, we can choose to live in the freedom of "Maybe" — creating room for growth, happiness, and success. Listeners will discover how Maybe can change everything – because Maybe the best is yet to come! Allison Carmen is a TEDx Speaker, host of the 10 Minutes to Less Suffering podcast, and author of The Gift of Maybe: Offering Hope and Possibility in Uncertain Times and other books. She is also the CFO/General Counsel/Chief Business Operator of The Motherhood Center of New York and a business consultant and coach. For more, listen to Allison's interview on Parent Footprint with Dr. Dan. For more information, visit www.allisoncarmen.com and follow @allisoncarmen on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let's make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gabriela Gerhart is the founder of Motherhood Center. The Motherhood Center educates expecting parents with classes and socials like the Baby Bump Social and the New Dads Meetup. On top of pregnancy education, the Motherhood Center is also a doula and nanny agency. Go to: www.motherhoodcenter.comGabriela is also the author of “After the Fall,” an autobiography about her childhood under communism in Czechoslovakia. It's a great read and we talk about what it was like immigrating to the US.

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 Motherhood Center of New York. This place is doing phenomenal work in the field of perinatal mental health, helping push the dial forward on the kind of care that new moms who are suffering should be receiving. She's been able to put forth legislation in NY to help mothers by mandating hospitals to provide education and encourage screening for all new and expectant mothers. Paige has worked in public policy, advocacy, community organizing, and in direct practice with disadvantaged communities. Paige shares her experience as a mom and how it brought her into this work. After Paige's first child was born, the postpartum depression and anxiety she experienced nearly ended her life. When she began to heal, her relentless fight began for education, screening, and treatment so that no one has to suffer. She continues to work closely with multiple NYC agencies on maternal mental health best practices and policies, and she was a member of the NYC Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee as well as currently sitting on the NYS Maternal Mental Health Working Group. Paige has appeared on numerous TV news shows and major media platforms in an ongoing effort to get the word out about maternal mental health. She helps us understand the importance of education, treatment, and screening, and why higher levels of care are essential for those experiencing moderate to severe perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.  Show Highlights: Paige's journey into the work she does today, beginning 18 years ago with the birth of her son Paige's anger that led to a new law in New York to require screening and education for new moms An overview of Paige's bill and what it took to get it into law The changes in maternal mental health awareness over the past few years The suffering is REAL for many mothers. Validating women's experiences and building a sense of community Education and screening are vital to help people recognize the signs and symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Details about The Motherhood Center in NYC and the scope of their work  “This is just the beginning.” Paige's message: “Lift your voice and tell your story. Your story is power–and it can move mountains.” Resources: Connect with Paige Bellenbaum and The Motherhood Center: Website and Instagram Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.  You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.   Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients!

Rae had heard that there was a link between ADHD and postpartum depression. But with a tiny baby to care for and a life to navigate, she had more pressing things to deal with. But the question kept bugging her: Does ADHD make you more likely to have postpartum depression?This week on Hyperfocus, Rae finally gets some answers to questions she has had for years. Her guest is Dr. Catherine Birndorf, a reproductive psychiatrist, co-founder of The Motherhood Center, and an expert on postpartum mood disorders.Related resourcesCatherine's book: What No One Tells You3 things I'm learning as a new mom with ADHD72 hours in the life of a working mom with ADHDParenting tips when you and your child have ADHDTimestamps(02:55) ADHD as a postpartum concern(09:47) PMADs: Not just the ‘baby blues'(14:21) What can struggling parents do?(21:07) Medication and pregnancyTo get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the Hyperfocus podcast page at Understood.orgWe love hearing from our listeners. Email us at hyperfocus@understood.org. Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

Let's get political folks! As mental health overall has gotten more attention in the media over the last 4 years, so has the very important topic of PMADs, or Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. After the latest CDC findings on the alarming maternal mortality rate, many facets of government are starting to pay attention to mothers and birthing individuals and the toll that pregnancy and child-rearing can take on their mental health.Today, we have a returning guest on the show, Paige Bellenbaum, LCSW. Paige is the Founding Director and Chief External Relations Officer at The Motherhood Center of New York. She discusses the baby steps that are being taken to protect and elevate mothers in NY and America at large, although she points out that it is just a drop in the ocean of change that is required to truly support mothers in this country. She touches on some new research and statistics that have shockingly helped change the narrative on maternal support. We discuss the highly divisive and high-tension topics surrounding motherhood and child care in America during a very heated election year. For 20 years, Paige worked in the non-profit sector, holding senior leadership positions at Hamilton Family Center Homeless Shelter, The Partnership for the Homeless, Habitat for Humanity, and Settlement Housing Fund. She has worked in the field of public policy, advocacy, community organizing and direct practice with disadvantaged communities including homeless families and incarcerated young adults and has held several appointed and elected political positions including the District Leader of Brooklyn's 52nd Assembly District. After her first child was born, Paige suffered from severe postpartum depression and anxiety that nearly ended her life. However, once she began to heal, she became committed to fighting for PMAD education, screening, and treatment so that no more women would have to suffer silently. She drafted legislation in New York State championed by State Senator Liz Krueger, mandating hospitals to provide education on PMADs and strongly encouraging screening of all new and expecting mothers. This bill was signed into law in 2014. She has continued to be an outspoken maternal mental health advocate and clinician and uses her story as a tool for change. Paige works closely with multiple New York City agencies on maternal mental health best practice and policy, including the NYPD, DOHMH's Maternal Hospital Quality Improvement Network, and the Nurse Family Partnership, and the Administration for Children's Services.  She was a member of the NYC Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and currently sits on the NYS Maternal Mental Health Working Group. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, NPR, PBS Newshour, Fortune, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.Connect with her at:themotherhoodcenter.com

Send us a Text Message.What happens when a successful entrepreneur, fierce advocate for women's health, and accidental CEO takes the helm of a game-changing business? In this episode, Dr. Catherine Birndorf, founder of The Motherhood Center, shares the challenges of scaling a business in the healthcare industry while staying true to her mission.If you think running a business is tough, wait until you hear how she's reshaping the maternal mental health landscape, one bold decision at a time. From navigating the complex realities of entrepreneurship to creating a sanctuary for women struggling with perinatal mental health, her story is full of insights for business owners who are ready to step up as visionary leaders.This episode is a must-listen for any woman ready to own her mission, tackle challenges head-on, and scale her business while making a lasting impact.In this episode, you'll …Learn how to stay focused and resilient during the toughest phases of business growth.Discover how to scale your business while staying true to your core mission.Get actionable advice on balancing the demands of leadership with personal well-beingLearn how building a strong support network—both professionally and personally—can accelerate your business success .This episode at a glance:[3:30] - Dr. Birndorf introduces her journey into reproductive psychiatry and founding The Motherhood Center.[32:25] - How female founders can build resilience and mental health support while managing the stress of building a business.[45:55] - The transition from being a practicing psychiatrist to stepping fully into the CEO role, and the lessons Dr. Birndorf learned along the way.[1:10:30] - Dr. Birndorf shares her personal self-care strategies, including therapy, meditation, and family time, to maintain balance.Resources and Links mentioned in this episodeThe Motherhood CenterDr. Catherine BirndorfFree Range ThinkingJoin Female Founder SocietyYou might also likeIt's Time To Start Your Own Business The Power of Community In Tough Times How to Stop Burnout as a Female FounderMore about the “My Good Woman” podcastMy Good Woman is a podcast for new and future female leaders, hosted by me, Dawn Andrews, founder of Free Range Thinking, "My Good Woman" is for new and aspiring female leaders. Join me each week for candid chats with trailblazing women breaking barriers and leading impactful businesses. We dive into what drives them and share practical tips to help you streamlineWant to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “My Good Woman” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

  Parenthood comes with many challenges. One of the harder ones is trying to get your six month old to sleep through the night. Parenting experts and pediatricians may recommend sleep training, which is an umbrella term for different methods that parents employ to get their child to fall and stay asleep on their own. Sleep training has developed a bit of a negative connotation with one method becoming synonymous with the practice at large known as “cry it out.” Parents who decide to employ this method, don't get up to soothe their child if they wake up in the middle of night, letting the child eventually fall back asleep. But for some, this method seems too harsh. So, what is the best way to sleep train? Is there one? And how can parents cope with the emotional stress of sleep training while their sleep deprived themselves?   Today on AirTalk, we talk about the methods and misconceptions around sleep training children with Melisa Moore, licensed psychologist and board-certified in behavioral sleep medicine. We'll also discuss how parents can cope with stress and their own tiredness while sleep training with Paige Bellenbaum, licensed clinical social worker and founding director and chief external relations officer for The Motherhood Center of New York. We also want to hear from you! What sleep training techniques worked best for you and your child? What struggles did you face while trying to sleep train your kid? Give us a call at 866-893-5722. Or email us at atcomments@laist.com.

Alison Carmen is an author, podcaster, business consultant, and currently the Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel of the Motherhood Center of New York. She has written notable books such as The Gift of Maybe: Offering Hope and Possibility in Uncertain Times and A Year Without Men: A Twelve-Point Guide to Inspire and Empower Women. Alison is also the host of the highly rated podcast Ten Minutes to Less Suffering.  For more information, visit allisoncarmen.com.Episode Summary:Alison shares her journey from being a lawyer plagued with anxiety to discovering the power of 'maybe' and how this simple yet profound mindset shift transformed her life and career.Throughout the discussion, Myrna and Alison explore how the fear of uncertainty limits people and how reframing one's mindset can lead to a life filled with endless potential. They also touch upon the significant pressure women face to conform to societal norms and the liberating aspects of questioning and challenging these expectations through the lens of 'maybe'. What You Will Learn:Embrace Uncertainty: The concept of 'maybe' helps individuals view uncertainty as a space for potential and growth rather than fear.Live Authentically: Focusing on inner safety and self-trust can lead to more fulfilling and authentic life experiences.Questioning Certainty: Challenging the societal norms around certainty, especially for women, can lead to more independent and creative life choices.Possibility in Crisis: Even amidst crises, such as job loss or personal upheavals, maintaining a 'maybe' mindset can open up new opportunities.Tools for Resilience: Simple practices like keeping 'maybe' cards or journaling can help manage daily stress and foster a positive mindset.Support our Sponsors who Support the Transform Your Mind podcast!Shopify - This Year take your business to the next level with a Shopify online store. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/transformBetterHelp - Transform Your Mind  is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ TYM and get on your way to being your best self.”See this video on The Transform Your Mind YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MyhelpsUs/videosTo see a transcripts of this audio as well as links to all the advertisers on the show page https://myhelps.us/Follow Transform Your Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/myrnamyoung/Follow Transform Your mind on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063738390977Please leave a rating and review on iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transform-your-mind/id1144973094

Paige Bellenbaum, LCSWFounding Director and Chief External Relations OfficerPaige Bellenbaum, LCSW is the Founding Director and Chief External Relations Officer at The Motherhood Center of New York. Paige attended UCLA as an undergraduate and received her MSW from the Columbia School of Social Work. For 20 years, Paige worked in the non-profit sector, holding senior leadership positions at Hamilton Family Center in San Francisco and The Partnership for the Homeless, Habitat for Humanity, and Settlement Housing Fund in New York. She has worked in the field of public policy, advocacy, and community organizing working with various disadvantaged populations including homeless families and incarcerated young adults, and has held several appointed and elected political positions including the District Leader of Brooklyn's 52nd Assembly District.After her first child was born, Paige suffered from severe postpartum depression and anxiety that nearly ended her life. However, once she began to heal, she became committed to fighting for education, screening, and treatment for postpartum depression so that no more women would have to suffer silently. As a result, she drafted legislation in New York State championed by Senator Liz Krueger, mandating hospitals to provide education on PMADs and strongly encouraging screening of all new and expecting mothers, signed into law in 2014. Since then, Paige has been an outspoken maternal mental health advocate and clinician and uses her story as a tool for change.She currently works closely with the NYPD on maternal mental health initiatives, DOHMH's Maternal Hospital Quality Improvement Network, and the Nurse Family Partnership and sits on the NYC Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee and the NYS Maternal Mental Health Working Group. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, NPR, PBS Newshour, Fortune, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.”The Motherhood Center of New York is a comprehensive treatment center for new and expecting mothers/birthing parents experiencing prenatal and postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum psychosis. Our services include our one-of-a-kind Perinatal Day Program, therapy, medication management, and support groups. The Motherhood Center also provides training and educational events for healthcare providers and parents.To learn more about The Motherhood Center, visit our website for parents or for providers. If you want to learn more about The Motherhood Center's treatment services, complete a new patient inquiry form here or speak with one of our Care Coordinators at 212-334-0035. Follow The Motherhood Center on Instagram @themotherhoodcenter to stay up-to-date on all things maternal mental health.”The Motherhood Center - Postpartum Depression TreatmentContact Us | Postpartum Support International (PSI)National Maternal Mental Health Hotline1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)Follow Previa Alliance!Previa Alliance (@previa.alliance) • Instagram photos and videosPrevia Alliance Podcast (@previapodcast) • Instagram photos and videosKeep the questions coming by sending them to info@previaalliance.com or DM us on Instagram!

It really does take a village to raise kids with some semblance of sanity left over. Ashley and Tiffany evaluate their personal villages and some of the must-have qualities for village members!  They also chat with Gabriela Gerhart, Founder of the Motherhood Center, about the many resources and village-building classes and get-togethers she and her team offer! “Cream & Sugar” Recommendations:  Third Gen Coffee is the perfect little coffee shop on the edge of Spring & The Woodlands! NRG Stadium, Toyota Center, Cynthia Woods Pavilion, The improv, and The Smart Financial Centre need to be on your list for entertainment this summer! “Java Jams” Music: The Outfield -Your Love Radio Pretty Girl Rock- Keri Hilson  Houston Moms “House Blends”:  Five Simple Cleaning Tips for Busy Moms The Consequences of Pregnancy:  The Duality of Motherhood

In recognition of Maternal Mental Health Month I am re-sharing this 2023 conversation with the founders of The Motherhood Center in NYC. With Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADS) being the #1 complication associated with birth in the US and the #2 cause of maternal mortality, this remains a critical conversation.________________It's not just you. You're not crazy. You're not a bad mom. You're not alone. These are words and deep beliefs that resonate through and form the backbone of today's guests, Catherine Birndorf, MD, and Paige Bellenbaum, LMSW. Catherine and Paige are dedicated to changing the perinatal mental health terrain, and they do it through The Motherhood Center, a place of radical acceptance, nurturance, and individual and group support. On today's episode, we pull back the curtain on motherhood and redefine what is considered "normal" and "typical". With PMADs (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders) being the #1 complication associated with birth and the #2 cause of maternal mortality, this is a critical conversation. On today's episode, we unpack why it's so important that we talk more about these conditions, how to do your best to prevent PMADs, and what to do if you or someone you love has symptoms. Aviva, Paige, and Catherine discuss: The definition of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS) and the different diagnoses that fall under the PMAD umbrella What PMAD taboos still exist today, why this needs to change, and how Roe v. Wade affects these taboos Paige and Catherine's personal stories with perinatal mood disorders and what brought them to the point of specializing in PMADS and opening the motherhood center The kinds of physical and psychological feelings and symptoms associated with PMADs and signs birthing people and their providers should watch out for Why we need to move in the direction of making it mandatory for OB-GYNs, midwives, pediatricians, and any providers who come in contact with newer expecting mothers to begin educating their patients about PMADS and screening for symptoms The effects of the pandemic, social isolation, and potential cultural contributors on PMADS The role of medication and psychotherapy in treating conditions For more information or to reach out visit themotherhoodcenter.com or call (212) 335-0034. Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. Mentioned in this episode:Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Gabriela Gerhart is the founder of Motherhood Center. They offer education, support groups and access to experts and doulas for expecting mothers and fathers. The free Baby Bump Social is every 2nd Thursday of the month and just announced: every third Thursday of the month will be a new dad group. Go to www.motherhoodcenter.com for more information.

The word ‘menopause' was not used in Donna's household growing up, even when her mother underwent a hysterectomy. But Donna knew. Donna Klassen, co-founder of Let's Talk Menopause, dedicates herself to providing a platform that educates, destigmatizes, and offers vital community support surrounding menopause.   She and I may have different experiences of Menopause but we both come at it with the same heart and a desire to ensure nobody feels isolated or alone during this deeply nuanced life transition.  Diagnosed with estrogen-positive breast cancer at 52, Donna's journey into postmenopause was accelerated following a double mastectomy and an oophorectomy. As she grappled with symptoms like hot flashes and brain fog, she was met with a notable absence of guidance from her medical community. Drawing from her tenure as a clinician and director at The Motherhood Center of New York, where she witnessed the transformative power of community in areas like infertility and postpartum depression, Donna is passionate about championing menopause and ensuring it's understood and supported by all. In this episode we discuss attitudes, progress and legislation in the US compared to the UK just as the bill for the Menopause Research and Equity Act 2023 was going to Congress. Donna is all about the very simple but powerful, ‘and'. Nothing need be one or the other, it can be many things and this is especially true when it comes to menopause symptoms and, in fact, this whole life phase which is a time of vulnerability and opportunity. She encourages us all to put ourselves out there and ‘Go Big!' You can find Donna on the website and on social media as @letstalkmenopause and I believe even at the time of release, you can still fill out a form HERE that allows you to write directly to your member of Congress and leads to the website letstalkmenopause.org  You can handpick your Menopause Therapist right HERE

Let's Talk Menopause, with Donna Klassen // Donna Klassen, co-founder of Let's Talk Menopause, has dedicated herself to providing a platform that educates, destigmatizes, and offers vital community support surrounding menopause. This initiative ensures no woman feels isolated during this profound life transition. Diagnosed with estrogen-positive breast cancer at 52, Donna's journey into postmenopause was accelerated following a double mastectomy and an oophorectomy. As she grappled with symptoms like hot flashes and brain fog, she was met with a notable absence of guidance from her medical community. Drawing from her tenure as a clinician and director at The Motherhood Center of New York, where she witnessed the transformative power of community in areas like infertility and postpartum depression, Donna is passionate about championing menopause and ensuring it's understood and supported by all. More about Dr. Heather Hirsch: BOOK A VISIT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://heatherhirschmd.com/bookings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ORDER MY BOOK! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Unlock-Your-Menopause-Type-Personalized/dp/1250850827⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/heather-hirsch/support

“It's very fitting that this is going to come out just before Thanksgiving because I feel very, very fortunate.”Becky's two babies were both posterior and asynclitic. They weighed exactly the same at birth, but their deliveries were very different. Becky shares her sweet experience going from skepticism around home birth to fully embracing all that it has to offer. Her first birth included residual trauma which made for a very difficult postpartum period. Her second birth was full of safety, peace, and healing which left Becky feeling so joyful, so strong, and so thankful. Happy Thanksgiving week to all of our listeners. We are thankful for your stories. We are thankful for your love for us and for each other within our VBAC Link community. Your commitment to healing, education, and better birth experiences lifts us all and makes the birth world a better place. We are thankful for YOU, Women of Strength! With love, The VBAC Link TeamAdditional LinksThe Lactation NetworkHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Hello, hello. Welcome to The VBAC Link. You guys, this is my first episode back from taking a really big break through the summer. You guys have still had episodes, but I recorded up through May right before my kids went to school and then took the summer off so I could have fun and spend time with them. I've got a middle schooler who went back to school today for the first time in middle school. It was bittersweet then I've got a fourth grader and a second grader. So they are back to school today and I figured, “All right, let's get back to school today.” We've got Rebecca with us. Welcome, Rebecca. Becky: Hi. Meagan: Hi. Thank you so much for being here with us today. Rebecca is from Seattle, correct? The suburbs of Seattle?Becky: East side, yeah. Meagan: She is going to be sharing her VBAC story with us today. Her VBAC– we were just talking about this before we pressed record. It has a lot of things. We've got– okay. Do you want me to name it or do you want to go through it? Becky: I can name it. There was a late-term transfer to home birth with a sort of faux dual care that ended up not being dual care just before I went into labor and pushed on my back and a posterior and asynclitic baby. Meagan: Yes. Right there, posterior and asynclitic– those two together are like, whoa. It's awesome because a lot of the time, that is a reason for a C-section. Asynclitic or posterior, but when we have an asynclitic and posterior baby, that definitely adds some things so I'm excited for you to be sharing your story with us today. Okay, so her name is Rebecca but do you like to go by Becky? Becky: Yeah, actually you can call me Becky. That's fine. Meagan: Okay, yeah. Becky. I was going to say as I was reading through your form, I remembered seeing Becky. Yeah. Becky is a music teacher from little babies all the way to my oldest, middle schooler age. Let's see. You do voice and Music Together and composing and all of the things. So music is definitely really, really close to your heart. I love that in your bio thing that you gave me, you talked about singing in your C-section, right? Becky: Yeah, yeah. Meagan: And how healing that was. Becky: Yeah, I think it is really important just as an idea for someone to have if it works for you because it definitely was very helpful for me. Meagan: Yeah. I love that. Well, I can't wait to hear your story and more of the things that help. I think sometimes too when we have unplanned C-sections, or even if we are preparing for VBAC but go in for a C-section, it's always nice to have some of those tips to say, “Okay, I can try this to see if it helps me stay calm or brings me peace.” Review of the WeekAwesome, well we have a Review of the Week as always and then we will get into Becky's story. This is from postpartummama on Apple Podcasts and it says, “A surprisingly and valuable postpartum resource.” I love that because we are not a postpartum podcast, right? But there is a lot. We were just talking about it two seconds ago about things we can do during our birth to help it be a better experience. When it's a better experience, it helps with our postpartum experience. She says, “Once again, I found myself listening to episode after episode of this podcast. It is truly an invaluable resource for anyone preparing for birth or healing from a traumatic birth. Julie and Meagan approach topics that are often hard to discuss and they do so without judgment creating a community of acceptance during a season of life that can often feel alienating and overwhelming.” That just gave me the chills. She is not wrong. This journey can sometimes feel so lonely. I know I felt lonely during my experience prepping for my VBAC. It says, “I listened to this podcast while preparing for my VBAC and although my VBAC was successful, it was also traumatic. Now six months postpartum, I'm listening to each and every episode again and in doing so, I'm processing my second traumatic birth experience at my speed. It's helping me mentally and emotionally heal from everything that happened and lessening my fear of childbirth. Thank you, Julie and Meagan, for–” Oh, I just lost it. Hold on. I moved it. “Thank you, Julie and Meagan, for dedicating your time to educating women in such an approachable way. I can't recommend your podcast enough.” Wow, postpartummama, this was back in 2021 so a couple of years ago and that just makes me feel so happy. I don't think we've ever had a review that has talked about how it's truly helped them in the postpartum stage so I love hearing that. I love that she also talked about that she had her VBAC but it wasn't necessarily all sunshine and butterflies. It had some trauma involved. I think it's important to talk about that and realize that all C-sections aren't traumatic and all VBACs aren't sunshine and butterflies. Julie and I, in the past, have talked about that. We recognize that and I hope, postpartummama, that you have found your recovery and that maybe you are still with us today and listening to your review. But I hope that you have found that peace and recovery through your postpartum journey. As always, if you want to leave us a review, we never reject a review. You can leave it on any podcast platform so thank you so much. Becky's StoriesMeagan: Okay, Becky. Again, thank you so much for being here with us today. Becky: Thank you. Meagan:  Yes. Becky: So I'll just jump in, I guess. Yeah? Meagan: Just jump in wherever you feel that you want to start. Becky: Okay, so I'll start with the C-section. I was in New York at the time and I felt very committed to having a vaginal, unmedicated birth. I was with a midwife practice. It was three midwives who had birthing privileges, I guess is the term, at a hospital in midtown. Everything was really normal and healthy with my pregnancy. I got to 41 weeks and they asked if I wanted a membrane sweep. I said, “Yeah. Let's go for it.” So two days after the membrane sweep, I think I lost my mucus plug or something and then two days after that, we went to a restaurant in the evening. We were walking back to our apartment and I started to feel low cramping which I now know is contractions. At the time I didn't know. I feel like nobody tells you that it feels like cramps. It does. Meagan: Yeah. And it can. It can start just like little period cramps or maybe you even feel like you have to go to the bathroom like bowel cramps. Becky: Yeah. Uh-huh. The bowel cramps come later. Meagan: Right? Posterior babies. Becky: Exactly. We got back and I was keeping an eye out for the timing. I saw that they were very irregular. I knew enough that it kind of hinted towards a posterior baby but I was like, “Whatever, we're good.” The midwives said to try to get some sleep. It's not that it was so uncomfortable at that point I couldn't sleep, but it's happening. It's exciting. So I really didn't sleep. My husband didn't really sleep much either. We called the doula. She came around at 5:00 AM or something like that and I started to feel pushy. I knew that that is also a symptom of a posterior baby but also, my mom had quick labors so I was like, “Mmm, I don't know.” It was also a Monday morning, so we decided, “Let's drive to the hospital,” because it was in Midtown. When we got there, I was only 3 centimeters. We went to a hotel nearby. We got a hotel room for one night and I labored there. Things started to get intense there. I mostly liked the shower. Actually, my midwife because she came to the hospital but since I wasn't admitted, she was just kind of waiting for me because she didn't have other patients at the hospital. She actually came to the hotel room and did a check there. Meagan: Really? Becky: Yeah, to see so that I could skip triage. Meagan: Wow. Becky: I hear that is very unusual. She went above and beyond and I was a 7 at that point or something. Meagan: Oh, wow. Becky: I skipped that when we went to triage originally, the midwife had me lay on my back with my legs hanging down. I have learned that is Walcher's. Meagan: Walcher's, yeah. At 3 centimeters, she did that? Becky: Yes. Meagan: Okay. Becky: After that, the contractions stopped. It was easy. I could walk again and everything felt fine. I was like, “This is 3 centimeters with a not-posterior baby versus a posterior baby. It makes quite a big difference.” But she went right back. Anyways, when we went back to the hospital, it was supposed to be intermittent monitoring. I was moving a lot and with the movements I was doing, they couldn't get a clean, 20-minute read. The nurse was very nice. She kept trying to get it, but it kept getting interrupted so it was really continuous monitoring. At a certain point, I started to feel like, “This is not happening.” I started to feel like I couldn't do this. They were like, “You're doing it. You're doing it.” I was on my back and the midwife said, “Why don't I try to direct pushing for you?” She said that she could see the hair. The energy in the room was like, “You're doing it.” I felt like, “I am not.” Then, the energy in the room shifted because the midwife felt the ear. She felt the baby's ear and she said the baby was asynclitic. From then on, the contractions were so close together. I couldn't get rest in between. I had done some pushing that seemed to be doing something, but I was getting tired because we hadn't slept. I also hadn't eaten because I had thrown up what I tried to eat. Meagan: Oh, yeah. Becky: It was everything. Eventually, it was back-to-back contractions. Somebody suggested, “Would you like to try an epidural?” Although I was wanting an unmedicated birth, I was like, “Yeah. I think I need to rest. I can't.” I could feel like I wasn't able to push anymore. Meagan: Well, and if you have an asynclitic baby too, a lot of the time we have to get baby up and reset. Sometimes it can be really hard unmedicated when you are so tired and when time has been going. It's nice to maybe get an epidural and let your positions and rest to really allow that baby to try and reset. Becky: Yeah. Yeah. So I slept after I got the epidural and then when I woke up– my husband later told me that I was only asleep for an hour but I woke up and it was dark already. We had gotten there in the morning. It was late October, so it wasn't that late, but it was probably 5:30 or something. So they were like, “Okay, let's try pushing now.” I was like, “Um, what? What do I push and how and also, why?” I didn't have any connection. I didn't understand how I could possibly push. I was like, “Is this it?” It was clear from their faces that no, it wasn't it. It was not it. I don't know. We tried other things, but eventually, because of the continuous monitoring, they were getting the heart rate and it was starting to look not as good. It was the situation where it was like, “It's okay, but the OB/GYN on call might not be okay with this.” We could try Pitocin, but the midwife was like, “I don't know what Pitocin is going to do for you because your contractions are already really close. It could likely make the heart decelerations worse.” It was like we could continue going as we were going or we could start to talk about C-sections. At that point, I was just like, “Yeah.” We didn't see any other option. We didn't see any other solution. Meagan: Baby wasn't turning. Becky: No, baby wasn't turning. I mean, yeah. So we got ready for the C-section. They gave me some anti-nausea medication. I was like, “I already feel like I'm going to throw up.” They were like, “It's okay. This will help,” but they gave me the medication and I immediately threw it up. They gave it intravenously. We went into the operating room and I asked them if I could sing during the surgery. The reason for this was that I had another weird medical situation where my husband actually suggested singing because I was breathing so shallowly and I was so anxious about it. It really slowed down my breathing and just made me feel so much calmer. I guess, I don't think I had thought about it in advance, but once C-section became a reality, I was like, “I'm going to sing.” Meagan: Do it, yeah. Becky: They were like, “Yes, absolutely.” The energy in the room felt like it was a party. Everybody knew each other. They liked working together and they were like, “Now our patient is singing for us? This is great.” The C-section was really quick. I did not feel that way. I did not feel like it was a party, but I was like, “This is calming myself, so I'm going to keep going.” She came out pretty quickly and she cried quickly, but I guess after the fact, it was not a gentle Cesarean because of all of the things. She was off in the corner for a long time and her APGAR scores were good. She was healthy and I was very thankful that I was singing so she could hear my voice, but it felt like a long, long time before she came onto my chest. Even when she did come onto my chest, the feeling was sort of fear and like, “Um, hi. How are you? Who are you?” Meagan: A bit of a disconnect. Becky: Yes. Part of the reason why I had wanted an unmedicated birth was that I was interested and excited about the hormone cocktail that they talked about. This was certainly not that. But we went into the recovery room and the midwife and the doula were with us. They were like, “Do you want to try breastfeeding?” I was like, “Oh.” I had prepared for the breast crawl. I had prepared for the natural things so I did not know how to do it. I didn't know how to do it. So I was like, “Okay. Go, baby.” She did not know how to do it. So she did not latch. The midwife helped me, but she didn't latch and then she was getting sleepy so it was like, “Okay, we'll try it later.” A nurse or something said, “Oh, we've got to take the baby for some regular checks of some kind.” So they took the baby. My doula left. My husband and I were left in this room and there were other people in this recovery room. It started to be again, a long time without my baby who had just exited my body. I was like, “What's going on?” I really felt like screaming. I felt like screaming like a crazy person, “Where's my baby? Where's my baby?” Meagan: Getting anxious, yeah. Becky: What stopped me was that there were other people in the room and I was afraid of scaring them. That also feels not good that I was not free but also good that I wasn't screaming like a crazy person. I had my husband go find her and she was just chilling out with a nurse. They were just waiting for my room to be ready so it was just sort of a logistical thing that they were like, “Oh, her room's not ready. They're going to wheel her in. We'll just wheel the baby straight to the room with her.” Meagan: Why not just keep her with her? Becky: There was no reason for the separation other than that was the reason. Breastfeeding was very difficult. She did not latch. I did not have good lactation support at the hospital and all of the people that came around were like, “No tongue tie, no lip tie.” Spoiler alert, she had a tongue and a lip tie. Breastfeeding has a happy ending. We got the tongue tie and lip tie revision and she latched by two weeks. We had to do triple feeding. That was rough, but she was breastfeeding by the time she was two weeks and I breastfed her until she was two. By then, she was only doing it at night, but that had a happy ending. I did have a posttraumatic stress disorder really not even from the C-section, I think, but from that postpartum period and specifically from the separation. I struggled, actually, with saying that it was traumatic because it's like, “Well, everybody was healthy and everything was fine.” I was treated with respect. There were no stories of doctors or nurses being snarky to me or whatever but it was just the idea of being separated is still really sad at this point. Now, I can think of it, but for a long time– at first, I would ruminate on it, and then after a while, if my brain started to wander towards the topic, it would be like, “No, no, no, no, no. Let's go over here and think of something different.” My brain wouldn't let me think about the postpartum time. Meagan: Yeah. Becky: But therapy is good. I highly recommend it. I went to the Motherhood Center. They specialize in pregnancy and postpartum things. Meagan: Awesome. Becky: Anyways, I had a lot of trouble listening to people's birth stories. Even with friends, if they shared their birth stories, they were like, “Oh, and then I was pushing.” I was like, “You didn't even do any of the things that I did. I felt like I had prepared so much for this and some people had done no prep or were just doing it. It was very difficult for me to hear birth stories. So what made me know that I felt ready for another baby was that I was interested in listening to The VBAC Link. I wanted to test out the waters and see if listening to a birth story felt acceptable because before, it was like, “No. I can't do this.” And it did. But I was like, “I'm just going to stick to The VBAC Link. That's safe.” I wanted to listen to repeat C-sections to successful VBACs to HBACs and all of that, but it felt comfortable to listen to them so I knew I was ready. Meagan: Oh, that warms my heart. Becky: Yeah. Meagan: That warms my heart to know that The VBAC Link could be a safe space for you. It's not even something that you're going to do, but you're listening. You're willing to go in and you're listening and you're like, “Okay. I can do this.” All of these people and all of these Women of Strength who are telling these stories put power in your pocket. Becky: Yes. It felt good to listen to it and yeah. Meagan: And now you're one of them. Becky: Now, I'm one of them. It's so surreal to be telling this story and also to be hearing your voice and seeing you because I'm so accustomed to hearing your voice and I'm like, “Oh, that's what she looks like.” Meagan: Oh, that's what she looks like. I'm a hot mess all of the time. Becky: Not at all. Not at all. So we moved to the Seattle area during the pandemic. I felt strongly that I wanted a birth center birth because I was at a hospital. First of all, I didn't get the lactation support that I wanted and then you were there and kind of trapped, I felt. I said, “Let's do the birth center because it will be a little bit higher chances of VBAC, but you still have more medical support of some kind.” I quickly learned after reaching out to the birth centers that in Washington state, birth centers cannot do VBACs unless they are birth centers attached to a hospital. So I was like, “All right. Do I want to look into home birth?” It felt like that was two notches of crunchy granola beyond where I was. I'm fairly crunchy granola but I felt like that was just a little bit beyond there. I actually interviewed a home birth midwife and the way she put it was like, “If this happens, you go to the hospital. If this happens, you go to the hospital. If this happens, you go to the hospital.” I sort of felt like there was an additional set of policies that you had to meet. The reason I was interested in out-of-hospital is that I was not interested in being tied down by all of the policies, right? Meagan: Right, right. Becky: So I was like, “No, no, no.” There was one birth center attached to a hospital 20 minutes away. I was like, “All right. The decision is made. I'll go there.” I went there and it is really a hospital. You go to a hospital and it is in a hospital. Yes, there are midwives. Meagan: It's similar to what you had the first time. Becky: Yes. It's similar to what I had the first time. It was just in a hospital. I was like, “All right, I guess.” The midwives were nice. The nurses were nice. I was like, “All right. This is my only option.” So I was going and I got a really, really great doula who they recommended. Part of the reason the doula was so great– I mean, I guess all doulas do this maybe, but she encourages you to do video chats or calls in addition to the regular meet-ups. That was really good because it helped me to feel really close to her. Meagan: Yeah, really personal. Becky: Yeah, emotionally connected. So anyway, things were going fine again. It was a perfectly normal pregnancy except that I got COVID during it. The hospital was a little bit conservative about wanting more checks. I was like, “All right. That's not great, but okay.” Then at one appointment, they were like, “Okay, now you've got to set up your appointment with the OB/GYN just as a VBAC consult. It looks like the doctor you're seeing is going to recommend not a VBAC. You can just ignore that, but she's going to recommend not a VBAC because your VBAC score is 69.5 and I know that doctor only recommends that if your VBAC score is 70 or higher.”I was like, “What? The VBAC Calculator? Are they still using the VBAC Calculator?” I was saying, “Please tell me that at least you are using the version that does not use race.” Meagan: The updated version. Becky: They were like, “Well, no. This one is the older version.” I was like, “This hospital is so behind that they are even using the non-updated version which is racist.” It just sort of was a wake-up call like, “What policies am I going to be privy to that I'm not asked about?” because I was just like, “This is my choice and they are midwives so they're going to be good.” But this is a hospital and there are policies and you have to abide by them or you have to put up a fight. My husband and I are both not prepared for that kind of thing. We just want to go with the flow. Meagan: Well, and what makes me laugh is– okay. Okay, this might sound really rude. I'm not trying to shame anybody who uses The VBAC Calculator. If that's your thing, that's your thing. But who in the hell pulls up a random number like that and is like, “No.” Like, what? And it's 1%? Anyway, I don't like The VBAC Calculator. Again, not shaming anyone who uses it or chooses to. I personally don't like it and I just don't love when they are telling people, “No” based on something that they personally came up with themselves, not something the evidence shows. Becky: Exactly, exactly. I didn't even want to go to this appointment because I didn't want somebody telling me, “I don't think you should get a VBAC.” I just didn't want that in the air. I had done the research. I know that it's safe. You know? Let's not do this. Meagan: You've done the research and you are there making the choice to do that. You are looking for support. It's not that they can't educate you along the way. They should be on both ends. Becky: Yes, exactly. Meagan: But they shouldn't be deterring you based on a made-up number. Becky: Yes. Yes. I talked to my doula at length about it. She really recommended taking this because I was like, “Should I be considering a home birth again? This doesn't feel good. This doesn't feel good anymore.” She was like, “Why don't you take this?” There is a VBAC class with Sharon Musa that everybody has been recommending across the board. She's local to the Seattle area. So I was like, “Okay.” I kept hearing people recommending it so I was like, “Let's just do it.” I took this class and it was very helpful going into all of the specifics about the risks and the benefits of everything and what is the risk. Not like, “You should do this or you should do that,” but “This is the actual level of risk. It is comparable to x, y, z. What are you comfortable with?” Meagan: What risk are you comfortable with taking? Becky: Yeah. I really appreciated that because it was put in such plain terms. But I was also like, “I know that even though this is clear to me now, but also, what is the risk with home birth VBAC versus hospital VBAC?” The truth is there just isn't data for that because not enough people have home births and not enough people have home birth VBACs. I was like, “All right. This isn't helping my decision really.” But she did recommend looking into the hospital VBAC statistics. I was like, “How do you do that?” I tried to talk to the midwife about it. You can't really get hard numbers. You can just put it in Google. I forget what it was, but there was some outside source from Washington State or something. It's probably the same in every state that gives a percentage of people who do VBACs in the hospital versus C-sections. I looked at the hospital where I was planning to go. The percentage, I kid you not, was below 20% for VBAC. It was below 20%. I was like, “This number has to be including people who are choosing to do a repeat C-section. It can't be that low.” The national average is supposed to be 60-70% or even higher than that, right? I asked my doula about it. She looked at the statistics and where I had gotten it. She said, “No. The way they phrased it is for people who go for a TOLAC and get their VBAC.” I was like, “That is an insane statistic. I don't want to be a part of that.” She recommended two other hospitals that had better statistics, but the better statistics, one was 28% and that was closer, and one was in Seattle which was 54%. That was the highest it gets. I called that hospital up. You couldn't get a midwife because, at that point, I was 32 weeks or something. I could go and just have an OB/GYN and you're still probably in a better spot because you're probably going to a place that has better policies, but it still felt like I liked the midwife care. Also, 54% still does not feel pretty good. Meagan: I know. I know. When the overall success rate is between 60-80% and upwards, when you're getting these lower numbers, you're like, “Ah, I don't love that. 50% is half a chance.” Becky: Yeah. Yeah. So I was like, “You know what?” I originally reached out to home birth midwives. There was one that looked really good, but she said that I was outside of their range. Meagan: Zone? Becky: Yeah, their zone. I learned that my doula had worked with them in the past. I said, “Why don't I reach out to them again?” My doula has an in with them. I felt like my doula was the key. She knew everybody. Maybe things are different. Maybe they don't have enough people around that due date. Sure enough, I don't know if it was the fact that they just didn't have anybody for that time or if they knew my doula and felt good about it, but they said, “Yes.”I interviewed them and I felt much better about home birth with them. It didn't feel like now there were more policies, it felt like she knew what she was talking about. She talked about dehiscences which I hadn't even known about before somehow. I felt really emotionally safe with her. I think that's something that people don't talk about, but one of the reasons I chose my doula was that I felt very comfortable crying with her. I'm a crier. I cry a lot and there are times when I'm around people and I cry and it feels blocked and shameful almost. It just feels bad and there are people when I cry around them that it feels cathartic. So I felt like, “Yeah. Let's do it.” My husband was not on board with home birth at first, but he was like, “You know, your emotional health is really important too.” Meagan: I love that he recognized that. Becky: Yeah. Yeah. I mean he had been there during postpartum for the first one and witnessed first hand so he really knew. But no, actually I skipped the dual care part. I liked her but I still felt really like, “Home birth, this is not me.” I was looking around on your website at the blogs and whatever and I came across the term “dual care”. I had never heard about it before and I was like, “Oh my gosh, this is it.” Suddenly, home birth felt comfortable to me with the idea of dual care that if something happens, you just transfer to your regular doctor. The home birth midwife was on board. I went to what turned out to be my last appointment with the midwives at the hospital. It sounded like they were giving tacit acceptance. They were like, “We can't do that because health insurance is not going to cover two appointments. We can't turn anybody away and technically, if you don't tell us that you're transferring care, you're still our patient.” It sounded like this was faux dual care that I would just go to my home birth appointments. I was already 34 weeks at that point. It sounded like I was just going to be able to do it. What I did was I would call them after hours to reschedule my appointment with the hospital midwives, but then when they called me back to reschedule, I would not pick up so then it just would never get rescheduled. Okay. It went like that. The appointments were great. When I missed my 39-week with the hospital midwives, I had three messages from them. This time, two of them were from one of the midwives. It wasn't just the receptionist, okay? I started to feel really– it was like, “We know what's going on.” They were like, “The jig is up.” I started to feel really guilty about it and just uncomfortable with lying. I was essentially lying. I talked to my doula about it. I had a really long nap and I was supposed to call her during then, but I called her after the nap. We decided that I was just going to fully transfer care. It felt better than lying. I would call the next day which was Monday but oops, no. The next day is Labor Day so we won't call then. We'll call on Tuesday. But I did not get a chance because, at 3:15 AM, I woke up with a little wetness. I was like, “That is not my water breaking,” because, with my first, it was a very dramatic, movie-like gush. I went to the bathroom and I smelled it and it was not pee, but I was like, “Nope. It was probably really diluted pee. This is not my water breaking. This is not it. Nope, nope, nope.” Then I lost some mucus plug and I was like, “Okay, yes. That was mucus plug.” With my first, it was two days later that I went into labor so that was a more comfortable timeline for me. My daughter was starting her new class at school the next day on Tuesday. I was like, “Nope, it's not happening now.” I just kept saying, “No, I just have to poop. This cramping is because I have to poop. I haven't pooped in two days. That's all it is.” My husband was like, “Maybe I should call the doula.” I was like, “No, it's the middle of the night. You can text her, but this is not it.” Meagan: You don't need to call. Becky: It was a good thing I was in such denial because had I not been, I would have suspected a posterior baby. But because I was in serious denial, I was like, “No, no, just no.” Things started to pick up. Eventually, we did call the doula. I did the Miles Circuit and it was too intense already. When the doula came, it was like, you know when a horse is whinnying and they are really anxious about something or panicked and whoever is helping the horse is like, “Whoa, whoa, whoa” and calms the horse down? That is what my doula did. Everything took it down a notch. Everything was much calmer. We started filling up the birthtub. Things were getting really intense really quickly. The midwife arrived and she asked if I wanted to be checked. I said, “Yes.” I was already at 8 centimeters. I was very glad that felt good. Meagan: I bet, yeah. Becky: I got in the tub, but in the tub, it felt like I couldn't hang onto anything. It was hard to get a hold on anything. I learned after the fact that I started pushing there. They kept saying I was roaring, but they kept saying, “You're wasting that energy up and you need to send that energy down.” Meagan: So you're bringing it up but not sinking into it. Becky: Yes. Yes. I was sort of like, “What does that mean?” I was told that roaring is good, but I learned that they were right. It's not so much that I was sending it up, it's that I was shying away from down there. I was like, “No, everything is crazy down there.” They said, “Why don't you come? We'll do some directed pushing.” At that point, I was like, “No!” because that's what happened in the first one. My doula was like, “No, no, no. Don't worry. You are already much farther than the first one. This is a different birth.” I had affirmations up on the walls everywhere. She reminded me of one of them. So anyway, we started to do and it was clear that on my back, I was able to push better. Now, this goes against everything I had been taught about pushing and that people talk about pelvic dynamics and everything. I had been getting pelvic floor therapy and my thing with that was releasing. I needed to release. Whenever she did the internal release, I was on my back with my knees out. That was the position where I was doing my most effective pushing because I had inadvertently trained my body that this is the position in which you release. That's what you need to do to push. So just for any of you who are getting pelvic floor therapy and getting internal releases, try to do it maybe in a position where you want to push. After a while, the assistant midwife was like, “Do you want to try knees together?” I was like, “Knees together? I know what that means! That means it's late.” But still, even knees together just weren't as good as knees apart. Something about it with my knees apart on my back was where I had the power to push. I felt the baby's head at one point. I was pushing and it was getting there. It was taking a long time, but it was getting there. The assistant midwife started taking the heart rate of the baby.Meagan: With the Doppler? Becky: Doppler, yes. I sort of clocked that it was varying widely. She told me after the fact that it was totally normal. She was not worried but I was clocking that and I was like, “This should be over soon.” I asked my midwife, I was like, “Can this be the last one?” as if she had the power to grant that to me. She was sort of like, “Maybe.” I was thinking to myself, “Yes. It has to be.” So I did it. This has to be the last one. I pushed and the head came out. I felt either the ring of fire or tearing. He came out and they said, “Now, wait before the rest.” She told me to breathe or exhale or something. Meagan: Like a little blow? Becky: I pushed for 3 hours when the hospital had a limit at 2. She was worried that there would be shoulder dystocia, but there wasn't. He came out very easily after the head. He was just immediately on my chest. He was just immediately on my chest. I kept saying, “You're here.” I had the hormone cocktail that I wanted. It was so serene and beautiful. It was everything I had hoped for. We had that totally uninterrupted golden hour. Totally uninterrupted. It was 10:20 in the morning. It was the day before school started so you could hear kids playing outside. It was really golden. The sun was coming through the window. It was so beautiful.Then I was like, “Huh. Your head is very oddly shaped.” They were like, “Yeah. He was posterior and asynclitic,” exactly like my first but totally because of a different location and a different support team, it's like they always say, “Location and your team are so important,” but they are really, really so important. Meagan: Crucial. Becky: Not only that, but he weighed the exact same amount. They were both 8 pounds, 4 ounces. Meagan: So on your op reports if you have seen them, what was your exact diagnosis on why you had a C-section? Was it failure to progress? Becky: It was failure to progress, yeah. Meagan: Okay, that's what I was figuring. Becky: But it was really failure to descend because she was never down far enough. Meagan: Yeah, and you made it to 10 centimeters. Becky: Oh yeah, I was at 10 centimeters for a long time. Meagan: Failure to progress, yeah. So failure to descend due to a less-ideal position. It may be the way your babies need to come through your pelvis. Becky: Maybe. Meagan: Sometimes baby need to come through in a wonky, less-typical position to get out. I truly believe after knowing what I know now that all of my babies had to come through my pelvis posterior. Every single one. I thought I was going to have a baby the other direction because of all of the contraction pain. Becky: It's like, I would just love to feel an anterior baby and compare. It seems like it must be so much easier. Meagan: Me too. I am with you. I am with you. I am with you. Yeah. Posterior, yeah. It is definitely a little bit different, but you had a C-section for positioning, but then you turned around and had the same position, same pounds and everything, and did it vaginally. Becky: Not only that, he also had a lip tie, but he did latch after that first latch. I also just want to give another shoutout to home birth because my assistant midwife was six months postpartum and she knew about previous difficulty with breastfeeding. She had her pump in her car and she said, “Would you like me to pump a few ounces for you?” I was like, “Yeah.” She found a clean, glass jar and pumped 2 ounces in there and left it in our fridge for us. Meagan: Oh my gosh. Becky: That just can't happen at a hospital birth. Kindness like that– obviously, kindness means a lot to you, but in those first postpartum times, it's just amplified. I'll always remember that. Yeah. I had all of the support I needed and more. I really hope everybody who wants this has it like me. It's very fitting that this is going to come out just before Thanksgiving because I feel very, very fortunate. Meagan: Thankful. Becky: Yeah. Meagan: Oh, I'm all teary, my eyes and nose and I have the chills. I'm so happy for you. I'm so happy for you. Becky: Thank you. Yes. Meagan: Huge congrats. Becky: Thank you. Meagan: Thank you so much for sharing this story with us today. Becky: Thank you for giving me the opportunity. I hope somebody has something that they take from it. I feel like there are so many random bits and bobs that could be helpful. Meagan: Absolutely. ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Paige Bellenbaum, is a LCSW, and the Founding Director and Chief External Relations Officer at The Motherhood Center of New York. In this episode, Bellenbaum sits down with Minaa B to discuss her experience with severe postpartum depression and how that drove her to fight for education, screening, and treatment for postpartum depression so that no more women would have to suffer silently. For more info visit: verywellmind.com/podcast The Verywell Mind Podcast is produced by: Minaa B., LMSW - Host Kristen Altmeyer - GM/VP, Verywell Mind Jeremiah McVay - Podcast Producer/Editor

Becoming a mom changes you in so many ways. But we are often not prepared for the shift. Matrescence, or the transition into motherhood, is complex—full of ups, downs, struggles, and a roller coaster of emotions.  Today, I'm joined by reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Catherine Birndorf, founder of The Motherhood Center, to talk about navigating matrescence and what we experience when becoming a mom. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3DW9LZx  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com  Follow Momwell on Instagram: instagram.com/momwell  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: momwell.com/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops and courses: momwell.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today my guest is Donna Klassen, Co-founder and CEO of Let's Talk Menopause. In addition to her work at Let's Talk Menopause, she is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience. Her areas of practice include trauma, infertility, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. In addition to her private practice, Donna served as admissions and clinical director at the Motherhood Center of New York from 2017-2020, and has held supervisory roles at SUNY Stony Brook, the Jewish Board of Children and Family Services, and Safespace.They started Let's Talk Menopause because they've learned from their individual experiences—and those of just about every other woman they know—that too many women do not get the information, support, and healthcare they need during menopause. Too many women are suffering unnecessarily. Too many women don't know what to ask.Let's Talk Menopause aims to change this through education and advocacy. They want to empower women to seek the relief they need and encourage them to talk openly about their menopause experience.Donna shares information about menopause, the health implications including mental and emotional well-being and treatment options available including hormone replacement therapy and skills based therapy like cognitive behavior therapy. We also briefly discussed the details in this NY Times article that I share from about the cost of menopause for women in the workplace. Check out their podcast "Hello Menopause" and their weekly talks featuring in-depth discussions with a wide range of specialists—from gynecologists and urologists to physical therapists and psychiatrists—to help you understand how menopause impacts your body, emotions and lives and to provide you with options for navigating the changes you may experience.Here's the episode with Lori King talking about her experience and support for surgical menopause.Following my conversation with Donna, I share info about Raising Hope's upcoming celebration of hope honoring women in the community, including myself. Thank you Tara Sanders for nominating me!Here is the Raising HOPE Celebration of HOPE silent auction.Here is the Full Moon Astrology Report from Tanaaz at Forever Conscious that I shared at the end of the show.Here's the Playlist from today's show.Today's show was engineered by Ian Seda from Radiokingston.org.Our show music is from Shana Falana!Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org** Please: SUBSCRIBE to the pod and leave a REVIEW wherever you are listening, it helps other users FIND IThttp://iwantwhatshehas.org/podcastITUNES | SPOTIFY | STITCHERITUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/i-want-what-she-has/id1451648361?mt=2SPOTIFY:https://open.spotify.com/show/77pmJwS2q9vTywz7Uhiyff?si=G2eYCjLjT3KltgdfA6XXCASTITCHER: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/she-wants/i-want-what-she-has?refid=stpr'Follow:INSTAGRAM * https://www.instagram.com/iwantwhatshehaspodcast/FACEBOOK * https://www.facebook.com/iwantwhatshehaspodcastTWITTER * https://twitter.com/wantwhatshehas

Elizabeth Baron is a NY State Licensed Mental Health Counselor and psychotherapist with a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University's Teachers College. Her primary clinical focus is maternal mental health – from preconception and pregnancy, through postpartum and parenting. Previously, she worked as a therapist at The Motherhood Center (TMC) of New York, where she developed her expertise in treating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. While at The Motherhood Center, she also served as the Community Partnerships lead and worked to educate new and expecting mothers and clinical providers on the importance of maternal mental health. Today she provides individual therapy in her private practice, moderates several support groups, and offers webinars and educational talks to several different brands across the parenting space. Deeply committed to destigmatizing maternal mental health issues, she is passionate about helping women through all stages of motherhood.On this episode of the Becoming a Sleep Consultant Podcast Elizabeth and I discussed:- How we as sleep consultants can work to release some of the emotional load that we carry on behalf of our clients- That humanizing the experience of sleep and mothering in a more realistic frame for life leads to a more positive and successful experience for both parents and sleep consultants- The need for boundaries in our businesses. And that it's ok to give ourselves grace if it feels difficult to set those boundaries in the very beginning. It takes time! Links:Website: https://www.elizabethbaronlmhc.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withelizabethb/If you would like to learn more about becoming a Certified Sleep Consultant, please join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomeasleepconsultant or check out our website https://thecpsm.com/Book a free discovery call to learn how you can become a Certified Sleep Consultant here: https://jaynehavens.as.me/CPSM-Inquiry

Have you ever felt as if your worth was determined by how many ounces you produced or by how you fed your babies? Did it feel like you were just a milk making machine and that every single feeding or pumping session determined your worth for that moment? As someone who supports families in the perinatal period, do you want to better support your clients' whole health? On this episode IBCLC Lo Nigrosh discussesmilk making is not the primary focus of the perinatal periodWorth is not determined by how much breastmilk or human milk you makeHow professionals can help someone who may be suffering from anxiety Fixation on milk supplyListen to Maggie's struggle with Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders on Episode 105.Connect with Maggie and bring support to your work community at: https://www.mindfulmamas.org/Need support from The Motherhood Center? Find that here.Make your voice heard on The Milk Making Community Group on Facebook!Head to Apple Podcasts or Spotify for more Milk Making Minutes episodes!Listen to Episodes of The Milk Making Minutes on Amazon Music too!To book a lactation consultation with me, visit my website: www.quabbinbirthservices.com. In many cases I can bill your insurance, or create a superbill for you to submit for reimbursement. I offer virtual consults for clients outside of my service area! Follow me on IG @lonigrosh to laugh about baby feeding (so you don't cry) and to see photos of guests. Follow me on TikTok to answer questions of the day and ponder systemic inequities together: @lonigroshibclc

Have you ever continued to breastfeed/chestfeed or pump to the detriment of your own health? My guest Maggie discusses how focusing solely on breastfeeding, and not on her physical and emotional health in the postpartum exacerbated her postpartum mood disorders after giving birth to her first baby. After much struggle, and finding the right intensive support, she made sure to create a plan that helped her focus on her health as a whole person when she gave birth to her second. On this episode you will hear about: Lack of support in a busy hospital systemGoing home on a triple feeding plan which led to little sleep and increased anxietyHallucinations in the postpartum periodFixation on milk supplyLactation professionals and others missing the signs of postpartum anxiety and obsessive thoughtsMental health hospitalization with a newborn at homeFinding the right supports finally and a long road to recoveryConnect with Maggie and bring support to your work community at: https://www.mindfulmamas.org/Need support from The Motherhood Center? Find that here.Listen to The Mediation Mama Podcast on Apple or, SpotifyMake your voice heard on The Milk Making Community Group on Facebook!Head to Apple Podcasts or Spotify for more Milk Making Minutes episodes!Listen to Episodes of The Milk Making Minutes on Amazon Music too!To book a lactation consultation with me, visit my website: www.quabbinbirthservices.com. In many cases I can bill your insurance, or create a superbill for you to submit for reimbursement. I offer virtual consults for clients outside of my service area! Follow me on IG @lonigrosh to laugh about baby feeding (so you don't cry) and to see photos of guests. Follow me on TikTok to answer questions of the day and ponder systemic inequities together: @lonigroshibclc

Gabriela Gerhart Gabriela Gerhart was born in a small mountain village in the Czech Republic. She is an entrepreneur, speaker, author, and the Founder and President of the Motherhood Center. She has always loved babies and children and knew from … Continue reading →

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions about postpartum psychosis, infanticide, and suicide.   As the tragic news of the mother of 3 in MA who took the lives of her children and then attempted to take her own life has spread, there has been a great deal of misunderstanding in the media and on social media.   In order to prevent the spread of misinformation, I invited Paige Bellenbaum of the Motherhood Center to join me today to help clarify the difference between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, and offer psychologically-informed information to help people more fully understand maternal mental health.   While difficult, it is important to have these conversations, to understand the symptoms associated with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), to have compassion for those affected, and to know where to find support if you or someone you love is struggling with any form of PMAD.     I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show! ✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren ✨ Send an email to info@drsarahbren.com ✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources 

Today, we're talking about perinatal mental health with Alison Workman, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at The Motherhood Center, and here's the key takeaway: “When in doubt, reach out!” If you're feeling overwhelmed or like something isn't right, it's always a good time to ask for help. In this episode, Alison lays out the different types of perinatal mood disorders and shares what symptoms to look out for and go-to resources to find a provider. She also talks about services offered by The Motherhood Center. Christy and Alison both talk about their own postpartum experiences as well, sharing things they wish they'd known the first time around. Listen for commiseration, connection, and easy ways to feel more confident as a new or more experienced parent.

It's not just you. You're not crazy. You're not a bad mom. You're not alone. These are words and deep beliefs that resonate through and form the backbone of today's guests, Catherine Birndorf, MD, and Paige Bellenbaum, LMSW. Catherine and Paige are dedicated to changing the perinatal mental health terrain, and they do it through The Motherhood Center, a place of radical acceptance, nurturance, and individual and group support. On today's episode, we pull back the curtain on motherhood and redefine what is considered "normal" and "typical". With PMADs (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders) being the #1 complication associated with birth and the #2 cause of maternal mortality, this is a critical conversation. On today's episode, we unpack why it's so important that we talk more about these conditions, how to do your best to prevent PMADs, and what to do if you or someone you love has symptoms.      Aviva, Paige, and Catherine discuss:    The definition of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS) and the different diagnoses that fall under the PMAD umbrella  What PMAD taboos still exist today, why this needs to change, and how Roe v. Wade affects these taboos  Paige and Catherine's personal stories with perinatal mood disorders and what brought them to the point of specializing in PMADS and opening the motherhood center  The kinds of physical and psychological feelings and symptoms associated with PMADs and signs birthing people and their providers should watch out for  Why we need to move in the direction of making it mandatory for OB-GYNs, midwives, pediatricians, and any providers who come in contact with newer expecting mothers to begin educating their patients about PMADS and screening for symptoms   The effects of the pandemic, social isolation, and potential cultural contributors on PMADS   The role of medication and psychotherapy in treating conditions    Catherine Birndorf is a reproductive psychiatrist and the co-founder, CEO, and medical director of The Motherhood Center of New York. Dr. Birndorf is the founding director of the Payne Whitney Women's Program at Weill Cornell Medicine and a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and obstetrics & gynecology. Dr. Birndorf was a regular mental health columnist for Self Magazine and has appeared on numerous television programs, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, MSNBC, and CNN. She is the author of The Nine Rooms of Happiness and What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood.         Paige Bellenbaum is the founding director and chief external relations officer at The Motherhood Center of New York. For the past 20 years, she has worked in public policy, advocacy, and clinical care with various populations, including homeless families and incarcerated young adults. She drafted legislation in New York State championed by Senator Liz Krueger, mandating hospitals to provide education on PMADs and strongly encouraging screening of all new and expecting mothers, signed into law in 2014. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, NPR, PBS Newshour, Fortune, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.    For more information or to reach out visit themotherhoodcenter.com or call (212) 335-0034.  Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. 

The conversation today with Betsy Wurzel and Allison Carmen is on the two books Allison has written, and how each book provides the struggles the author had encountered in her life.A bit of information on Allison  Carmen who is a Lawyer, Author, Writer, Podcaster, Business  Consultant, and Business Life Coach. Allison  Carmen is also Chief Financial  Officer of The Motherhood Center.The two books that Allison Carmen wrote  -  The Gift of Maybe, Finding Hope, and Truth in Uncertain Times, and A Year without Men: A Twelve Point Guide to Inspire & Empower Women.  Allison discusses with Betsy why she wrote these two books.Allison discusses the power of "Maybe" - "In the face of uncertainty, Maybe opens your mind and heart. It creates a little space for hope."  Both Betsy and Allison also discussed the many challenges facing women in the workplace! If you have any comments on this, please contact both Betsy and Allison.  That is how ideas and solutions happen with your ideas and suggestions.Allison Carmen discusses how she felt about her husband leaving her and what she did and still does do to get through the pain and loss she feltFor further contact information: https://bit.ly/3uh9k6S

The conversation today with Betsy Wurzel and Allison Carmen is on the two books Allison has written, and how each book provides the struggles the author had encountered in her life. A bit of information on Allison Carmen who is a Lawyer, Author, Writer, Podcaster, Business Consultant, and Business Life Coach. Allison Carmen is also Chief Financial Officer of The Motherhood Center. The two books that Allison Carmen wrote - The Gift of Maybe, Finding Hope, and Truth in Uncertain Times, and A Year without Men: A Twelve Point Guide to Inspire & Empower Women. Allison discusses with Betsy why she wrote these two books. Allison discusses the power of "Maybe" - "In the face of uncertainty, Maybe opens your mind and heart. It creates a little space for hope." Both Betsy and Allison also discussed the many challenges facing women in the workplace! If you have any comments on this, please contact both Betsy and Allison. That is how ideas and solutions happen with your ideas and suggestions. Allison Carmen discusses how she felt about her husband leaving her and what she did and still does do to get through the pain and loss she felt For further contact information: https://bit.ly/3uh9k6S Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are joined by Gabriela Gerhart - Founder of the Motherhood Center and Author of a new book - After the Fall: My Journey to Freedom from Communism to Capitalism. Gabriela's book is our February selection for our Christians Engaged Book Club. You can check out all of the information and register for our live discussion on 2/24 from 5 pm to 6 pm. https://christiansengaged.org/book-club

The Halachos of Mikvah Night & Intimacy with Mrs. Rivky Boyarsky, RN, recorded live at Miriam's Motherhood Center in Crown Heights. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mikvah/support

Mrs. Rivky Boyarsky, RN presents the Halachos of Becoming Nidah, recorded live at Miriam's Motherhood Center of Crown Heights. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mikvah/support

Men's way of thinking and doing has dominated our world and the structures in it for centuries. Women were generally excluded until relatively recently when they were allowed to work if they conformed to the dress code and behaviors that men had established. Women have spent so much effort learning how to fit into a male driven culture that they have not had the time or energy to look within. My guest empowers women to discover their authentic selves, passions, morals, values, and skills to create new ways of doing business, making money, defining beauty, and being in the world. Allison wrote: The Motherhood Center is a company with multimillions of dollars of revenue. In one year, without men, we were able to turn the business from losing money to being more than profitable.” The women making the decisions did not have degrees in business. They invented new systems using their native intelligence. Please join us Thursday to discover how women can become true to themselves in their personal and professional lives.

Men's way of thinking and doing has dominated our world and the structures in it for centuries. Women were generally excluded until relatively recently when they were allowed to work if they conformed to the dress code and behaviors that men had established. Women have spent so much effort learning how to fit into a male driven culture that they have not had the time or energy to look within. My guest empowers women to discover their authentic selves, passions, morals, values, and skills to create new ways of doing business, making money, defining beauty, and being in the world. Allison wrote: The Motherhood Center is a company with multimillions of dollars of revenue. In one year, without men, we were able to turn the business from losing money to being more than profitable.” The women making the decisions did not have degrees in business. They invented new systems using their native intelligence. Please join us Thursday to discover how women can become true to themselves in their personal and professional lives.

Our guest today serves as the CFO of The Motherhood Center of New York, a mental health clinic providing care to women who are suffering with postpartum depression. Author of The Gift of Maybe, finding hope and possibility in uncertain times. Oprah Magazine included the concept of Maybe as an example of “mind-blowing new definitions for everyday words” and cited it in their new and improved feature “Dictionary to Enlightenment.” Her most recent book, a year without men , A 12 point guide to inspire and empower women… offers simple, practical tools to help women to look within, to find their own values, morals, and passions, to work on their skills, to call on other women, and to forge new ways to do business.   We discuss in this episode:    -How a fear of uncertainty affects us in business and our personal lives   -What we can do about the fear of the unknown   -How we can move forward at work or in our personal lives after someone has compromised our trust   -How we can reduce stress & suffering in 10 minutes   -how expectations steal our happiness and our ability to move forward   -“compare and despair”   -Just Because Someone Says It, Doesn't Make It True   -doing less    Book recommendations: The Great Awakening    AFFILIATES:   Pleasure Wands & Yoni eggs: https://waands.com/?ref=MvvfOgLGokjDQQ CODE “JADE” for a discount    Royal Codes Goddess Wear: Royal Codes | Goddess Wear  CODE “JADE” for a discount   CBD DirectHemp.com - A Better Way to CBD CODE “JADE” for a discount   Intro music:    Milckmusic.com @milckmusic on TikTok, ig, fb, Twitter  Somebodysbeloved.com   Production: Reel In Motion    https://instagram.com/untamedandunashamedpodcast?utm_medium=copy_link See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In her latest book, A Year Without Men - A Twelve-Point Guide to Inspire & Empower Women, Allison Carmen uses the events of a harrowing year in her personal and professional life to offer simple, practical tools to help women. She leads women to look within to find their values, morals, passions and work on their skills. Connecting with other women and forge new ways to do business. Together, women can create new ways to earn money, new ways to look at beauty, and many other new ways to be in the world. Allison Carmen holds a B.A. in accounting, a J.D. of Law, and a Master's of Law in taxation. After working for a large law firm in Manhattan, Allison founded her law firm and built a successful practice. After 15 years of practicing law, she transitioned her practice into business consulting, business coaching, and life coaching. Today, Allison's clients range from owners of multi-million dollar companies to artists, actors, writers, and parents. She is also the author of The Gift of Maybe. Allison is also a blogger for Psychology Today, the Huffington Post, and MindBodyGreen. She has been featured on NPR and CBS. Oprah Magazine included the concept of Maybe as an example of "mind-blowing new definitions for everyday words" and cited it in their new and improved feature "Dictionary to Enlightenment." Allison's 10 Minutes To Less Suffering podcast focuses on helping people alleviate daily stress and worry. She is the coach-on-call for the New York metropolitan area's podcast AM 970 The Answer. Allison currently serves as the CFO of The Motherhood Center of New York. Join Allison Carmen and me on Tuesday, August 3, 10 - 11 A.M. CT U.S. We will be having a conversation about her remarkable life's journey and her inspiring and empowering book, A Year Without Men.

Dana chats with Gabriela Gerhart, founder of the Motherhood Center, about leaving communism behind, her passion for babies and childcare, and how she helps new moms transition to motherhood.

In this episode Erin and George meet with Dr. Catherine Birndorf, founder of the Motherhood Center in New York City, a hub for perinatal mental health. During this insightful conversation Dr. Birndorf recounts the evolution of this subspecialty within the psychiatry field, which relies heavily international collaborations.  She talks with Erin and George about the intricacies of  reproductive psychiatry, the questions it tries to answer, which are still considered taboo topics. Erin and George also uncovered her passion for family and friends as well as playing double tennis on weekends.

Glass ceilings! Less than equal pay for equal work. After decades fighting to free ourselves from male-dominated social and economic structures, women still struggle. But many of us are poised to rise up with innovative ways to approach the many problems facing today's world. A Year Without Men: A Twelve-Point to Inspire & Empower Women is an essential guide to every woman's success and liberation. Using the events of a very painful year in her own personal and professional life—her husband left her, her consulting business took an unexpected hit, and she faced a serious health scare—business consultant and life coach Allison Carmen explores the forces in women's personal and professional lives that hold them back. In A Year Without Men, she offers twelve simple, practical tools to help women look within, find their own values, morals, and passions, work on our skills, call on other women, and forge new ways to do business. Together, women can create a new way to earn money, a new way to look at beauty, and so many other new ways to be in the world. In the book, Allison shares many stories of her own and of her clients to demonstrate how women can become fully realized so that every choice women make is not from fear but from strength. She provides exercises for women to incorporate all of the lessons and wisdom from this book into their daily lives in ways that don't require a complete life overhaul. This book sends a clear message that when we let ourselves be who we truly are, when our own voices matter to us, we can succeed as parents, as entrepreneurs, as industry leaders and innovators. Allison's hope is that the ideas in this book inspire many women to embrace their own creative, authentic and abundant lives. Take a stand and gain the power to overcome any obstacle with A Year Without Men. Allison is a business consultant, business and life coach and the author of The Gift of Maybe: Offering Hope and Possibility in Uncertain times. The book was published by Penguin Random House in 2014 and has been translated into three languages. This self-help book focuses on how people can reduce their daily stress and worry and find more hope, success and presence by embracing the mindset of Maybe. Currently, Allison serves as the part-time CFO of the Motherhood Center in New York City, a multi-million-dollar revenue all-women company providing care to women who are suffering with postpartum depression. Allison has a B.A. in accounting, a J.D. of Law, and a Master's of Law in taxation. Allison is also a certified health coach, a life and business coach/consultant, as well as a Reiki master and energy healer. Oprah Magazine included the concept of Maybe as an example of “mind-blowing new definitions for everyday words” and cited it in their new and improved Dictionary to Enlightenment. Allison's work has also been supported by Mata Amritandamayi, known as Amma, the hugging saint. Since the publication of The Gift of Maybe, she has written numerous articles for several popular online magazines including Psychology Today, Huffington Post, Inc.com, and Thrive Global, Next Avenue and MindBodyGreen. Allison's podcast, 10 Minutes To Less Suffering, focuses on helping people alleviate daily stress and worry. Her work is also regularly featured on the podcast, Optimal Living Daily, a top ten podcast in the self-help genre, and she is the coach-on-call on AM 970's “the Answer.” Allison's online and television appearances include HuffPost Live and Manhattan Cable Television. She has spoken at my events around New York City including at Barnes & Noble Tribeca and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Glass ceilings! Less than equal pay for equal work. After decades fighting to free ourselves from male-dominated social and economic structures, women still struggle. But many of us are poised to rise up with innovative ways to approach the many problems facing today's world. A Year Without Men: A Twelve-Point to Inspire & Empower Women is an essential guide to every woman's success and liberation. Using the events of a very painful year in her own personal and professional life—her husband left her, her consulting business took an unexpected hit, and she faced a serious health scare—business consultant and life coach Allison Carmen explores the forces in women's personal and professional lives that hold them back. In A Year Without Men, she offers twelve simple, practical tools to help women look within, find their own values, morals, and passions, work on our skills, call on other women, and forge new ways to do business. Together, women can create a new way to earn money, a new way to look at beauty, and so many other new ways to be in the world. In the book, Allison shares many stories of her own and of her clients to demonstrate how women can become fully realized so that every choice women make is not from fear but from strength. She provides exercises for women to incorporate all of the lessons and wisdom from this book into their daily lives in ways that don't require a complete life overhaul. This book sends a clear message that when we let ourselves be who we truly are, when our own voices matter to us, we can succeed as parents, as entrepreneurs, as industry leaders and innovators. Allison's hope is that the ideas in this book inspire many women to embrace their own creative, authentic and abundant lives. Take a stand and gain the power to overcome any obstacle with A Year Without Men. Allison is a business consultant, business and life coach and the author of The Gift of Maybe: Offering Hope and Possibility in Uncertain times. The book was published by Penguin Random House in 2014 and has been translated into three languages. This self-help book focuses on how people can reduce their daily stress and worry and find more hope, success and presence by embracing the mindset of Maybe. Currently, Allison serves as the part-time CFO of the Motherhood Center in New York City, a multi-million-dollar revenue all-women company providing care to women who are suffering with postpartum depression. Allison has a B.A. in accounting, a J.D. of Law, and a Master's of Law in taxation. Allison is also a certified health coach, a life and business coach/consultant, as well as a Reiki master and energy healer. Oprah Magazine included the concept of Maybe as an example of “mind-blowing new definitions for everyday words” and cited it in their new and improved Dictionary to Enlightenment. Allison's work has also been supported by Mata Amritandamayi, known as Amma, the hugging saint. Since the publication of The Gift of Maybe, she has written numerous articles for several popular online magazines including Psychology Today, Huffington Post, Inc.com, and Thrive Global, Next Avenue and MindBodyGreen. Allison's podcast, 10 Minutes To Less Suffering, focuses on helping people alleviate daily stress and worry. Her work is also regularly featured on the podcast, Optimal Living Daily, a top ten podcast in the self-help genre, and she is the coach-on-call on AM 970's “the Answer.” Allison's online and television appearances include HuffPost Live and Manhattan Cable Television. She has spoken at my events around New York City including at Barnes & Noble Tribeca and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Connie's motivational quote for today is by – Andrew J. Bernstein, “Remember that stress doesn't come from what's going on in your life. It comes from your thoughts about what's going on in your life." YouTube: https://youtu.be/qbYNJs4NiBg Check Out These Highlights:  How would you like to reduce daily stress and worry and find more hope, success, and presence?   About Allison Carmen: Allison Carmen, and I are discussing how by embracing the mindset of Maybe - hope, less stress, and success are possible.  Are you ready to open your mind and hear new ideas that you may change your life as soon as today! Allison is a business consultant, business and life coach and the author of A Year Without Men: A 12 Point Guide to Inspire and Empower Women. This self-help book focuses on how people can reduce their daily stress and worry and find more hope, success, and presence by embracing the mindset of Maybe. Currently, Allison serves as the part-time CFO of the Motherhood Center in New York City, a multi-million-dollar revenue all-women company providing care to women who are suffering from postpartum depression.  Allison has a B.A. in accounting, a J.D. of Law, and a Master of Law in taxation. Allison is also a certified health coach, a life and business coach/consultant, as well as a Reiki master and energy healer.  Allison has a podcast, 10 Minutes to Less suffering.   How to Get in Touch With Allison Carmen: Website:   http://www.allisoncarmen.com/ Email:  Allison@allisoncarmen.com Book launches:  July 6, 2021   Stalk me online! Website:  https://whitmanassoc.com/ Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/enlightenment-of-change/id1313299091 Connie's #1 International Bestseller Book - ESP (Easy Sales Process): 7-Step to Sales Success:  https://whitmanassoc.com/resources/ Download Free Communication Style Assessment:  www.whitmanassoc.com/csa Connie's ESP (Easy Sales Process) MasterClass:  https://whitmanassoc.com/espmasterclass/ Subscribe and listen to Enlightenment of Change podcast on your favorite podcast streaming service or on YouTube.  New episodes post every week - listen to Connie dive into new sales and business topics or problems you may have in your business.  

The Motherhood Center of New Yorkhttps://www.themotherhoodcenter.comMental Health Resourceshttps://suicidepreventionlifeline.orghttp://www.mhresources.orghttps://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helplinehttps://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline 

Actor-singer Aimée discovers she’s pregnant right after her and her husband’s honeymoon, which they returned from just before the pandemic shutdown and experiences both a healthy pregnancy but also sadness of not being seen by friends or family throughout her pregnancy. Today Aimée will share her baby's birth story in which she intentionally labors at home for a good, long time and then gives birth in a Manhattan hospital with the support of her husband and doula and without pain medications. Despite the fact that she had a great birth, you’ll hear how she began experiencing postpartum anxiety & depression around 4 weeks out from birth, how the anxiety skyrocketed around 6 weeks when her son became colicky and began having long crying spells, and how critically helpful it was when she sought out a therapist at the Motherhood Center who specializes in the perinatal period.

We can all draw strength and community from the stories of others. Today’s guest uses her talents in acting, producing, and writing to inform and educate people about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Her overriding messages are that everyone deserves help and support so they don’t feel like she did, isolated and alone. Elizabeth Masucci is an actress, producer, and writer based in NYC. She started in theater and then began working in TV and film. Liz has starred on several TV shows such as Elementary, Royal Pains, and Public Morals, which was produced by Ed Burns and Steven Spielberg. She now mostly produces her own projects with a company she started with a friend. They have a few TV shows in development, one of which is a dark comedy about women struggling with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders at a maternal mental health center. Since Liz struggled with PMADs while she was pregnant with her daughter, she uses this creative outlet to share her story and spread support and information to others. She is also the mom of a little boy who was born last December. Show Highlights: How Liz experienced depression and anxiety in her first pregnancy in 2018 Because she had no information and no support, she felt confused, and her emotional swings and rage spiraled out of control How she saw a reproductive psychiatrist who prescribed medications, when Liz really wanted to explore further the why and what of her experience How she discovered the Motherhood Center in NYC through Postpartum Support International and signed up for the day program, which turned out to be a lifesaver How the varied aspects of support in the group therapy program helped Liz feel more stable and supported, along with Prozac How Liz transitioned later into her postpartum with the same support from the center What it was like in the beginning when realized that “something wasn’t right;” she felt tired, unmotivated, and totally overwhelmed with the normal tasks in preparing for a baby How Liz felt about telling others about her struggles How Liz immediately felt much better after giving birth The hesitancy and questions around taking medications during pregnancy How Liz felt during her second pregnancy, when she continued on medication; it was during the pandemic, but she had an easy postpartum period with no dark places Why Liz wanted to share her experience as an outlet for her and a way to help others Liz’s projects: a TV show about PMADs and group therapy, and a film about postpartum psychosis Why there is such stigma and misunderstanding around PMADs and postpartum psychosis What Liz wants others to know: “When you’re pregnant and in the postpartum, your body is going through a lot. Things will come up, so don’t ignore them. Don’t feel shame, but find the resources available to help you.” Resources: Liz Musucci @lizmasucci on Instagram and Twitter  

EP9.  En el episodio de hoy, la Dra. Nicole Derish nos habla de qué es y qué hace un psiquiatra perinatal o reproductivo. También nos va a hablar del uso de medicamentos psiquiátricos durante el embarazo. La Dra. Derish explica los riesgos de dejar el medicamento psiquiátrico durante el embarazo y el de los riesgos (que son menos de los esperados)  de tomar el medicamento durante el embarazo. La Dra Derish tiene una práctica privada donde atiende apacientes online. Además de su práctica privada, también trabaja como psiquiatra en  The  Motherhood Center of New York y es Profesor Adjunto Voluntario de Psiquiatría y Ciencias  del Comportamiento en la Universidad de Miami.   Si quieren saber mas de la Dr. Derish visiten:www.derishmd.com 

Host Dr. Flowers, Co-Host Robin French and VIP Guest Gabriela Gerhart talks about recognizing the signs of post-partum depression in new mothers and what to do. She discusses in great detail all that they are/do at the Motherhood Center and how it greatly affects the emotional well-being of mom, baby, and the family as a whole. Gaby also updates James and Robin on the Motherhood Center's exciting new projects! Guest Social Media Handles: IG: @motherhoodcenter https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodcenter/?hl=en Facebook: Motherhood Center https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodcenter/ LinkedIn: Gabriela Gerhart https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielagerhart?challengeId=AQHTpP4n8AGT7wAAAXagYioo63LZklkOOXW kST7qlzXI2VBtTHZH9ivRgRJrwZ6UkWwUkZ4l3l_4KIWejGesPkv9SpWA1F50cQ&submissionId=e049a9 cc-c158-5416-b843-d926d717410d JFHI Social Media Handles: facebook.com/jflowershealth, instagram.com/jflowershealth/, twitter.com/JFlowersHealth, linkedin.com/company/jflowershealth/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Host Dr. Flowers, Co-Host Robin French and VIP Guest Gabriela Gerhart talks about recognizing the signs of post-partum depression in new mothers and what to do. She discusses in great detail all that they are/do at the Motherhood Center and how it greatly affects the emotional well-being of mom, baby, and the family as a whole. Gaby also updates James and Robin on the Motherhood Center’s exciting new projects! Guest Social Media Handles: IG: @motherhoodcenter https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodcenter/?hl=en Facebook: Motherhood Center https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodcenter/ LinkedIn: Gabriela Gerhart https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielagerhart?challengeId=AQHTpP4n8AGT7wAAAXagYioo63LZklkOOXW kST7qlzXI2VBtTHZH9ivRgRJrwZ6UkWwUkZ4l3l_4KIWejGesPkv9SpWA1F50cQ&submissionId=e049a9 cc-c158-5416-b843-d926d717410d JFHI Social Media Handles: facebook.com/jflowershealth, instagram.com/jflowershealth/, twitter.com/JFlowersHealth, linkedin.com/company/jflowershealth/

We celebrate the kid's birthday. How about the mother's birthday? Join me to learn about the importance of telling your birth story in a way that honors your actual experience - the good, the bad, and the traumatic. It is really important to work through any negative experiences that we might have had while giving birth, allowing ourselves space to process negative emotions and unmet expectations. I've got news for you - you are never going to get a certified letter from the baby birthing authorities that you had a fully approved birthing experience. This is your job! You can find The Motherhood Center at themotherhoodcenter.com or on Instagram @themotherhoodcenter. You can learn more about the podcast Everyday Thin Places at everydaythinplaces.com. You can find author Halley Kim and her work at Birthing Your Stories at birthingyourstories.com. Our birth doula service was Momease DC, and you can find them at momease.com if you live in the DMV. Connect with Heather: Website: https://heatherhennessey.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherhennesseylifecoach/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.hennessey.180

The car seat comes with a 20-page manual. So why don’t babies come with a manual too? If you feel confused, alone, sad, or anxious during pregnancy and/or after your baby arrives, don’t think you are a bad mom. If you are in a dark place and you didn’t wake up like a goddess in silk sheets, knowing exactly what to do or feeling a bond with your baby immediately, don’t be alarmed. Many women experience Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) and too often mothers don’t seek help because they feel like they did something wrong. Paige Bellenbaum, a social worker and the founding director of The Motherhood Center in NYC, breaks down the issues around maternal mental health in this country and beyond.Once she began to heal from her own PMAD which began 14 years ago, Paige became committed to fighting for education, screening and treatment for postpartum depression so that no more women would have to suffer silently. Paige has been an outspoken advocate on the issue of postpartum depression, and uses her own story as a tool for change. She has appeared on the Today Show, NPR, PBS Newshour and in Fortune, The New York Times, Women’s Health Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, In Style and several other media outlets. Connect with her and The Motherhood Center at www.themotherhoodcenter.com.

What are the trade-offs that we are facing today and how are they impacting our relationships with family, friends, and colleagues?Dr. Elizabeth Albertini, psychiatrist at The Motherhood Center joined me on Stages for a live recording, with audience participation and questions, to discuss the many trade-offs we are encountering today. Some examples include: sending kids to school in the fall, coffee with friends, play dates, seeing family from outside the bubble.We talk about the ‘risks’ one is willing to take and the trade-offs associated (e.g. risk of sickness if send to school but risk of mental health issues if kept home)Trade offs are always a part of our world, and I spend my time helping dynamic families think through the trade-offs they are facing within their finances and life. If you, or someone you know, would like to discuss, you can reach me at Emily.Grace@Bernstein.com

Gabriela Gerhart is the Founder and CEO of The Motherhood Center in Houston, Texas. The Motherhood Center supports expecting and new moms and their partners through the journey of birthing. Gabriela has been assisting moms for over 20 years in the Houston area and we speak about why this type of center is not present in every city. We cover topics like baby doulas, birthing positions, baby yoga, and what improvements should be made to the delivery room in hospitals. Check out their services (both in-person and virtual!) at www.motherhoodcenter.com Rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast!

How do we talk to ourselves, take care of ourselves, and come together in a time of postpartum (and pandemic) to support maternal mental health? We spoke with Dr. Catherine Birndorf and Paige Bellenbaum, co-founders of The Motherhood Center, about postpartum depression, managing anxiety as a new mom, challenges during the pandemic, and the importance of community. Dr. Birndorf and Paige share the story of how they came together to form The Motherhood Center of New York to offer supportive services and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders treatment (PMADs) for new and expecting moms plus ideas for nourishment and navigating emotions during a transitional time.

Paige and Catherine are founders and directors of the incredible Motherhood Center in New York City. They are ensuring that pregnant women, new moms, and their partners have plenty of support, therapy and guidance while facing difficult times with anxiety and all mood disorders. Together with Danielle and Adam, they discuss why moms should not feel guilty about not feeling a "motherly instinct," how much more common anxiety is in new dads than is oftentimes discussed, Danielle's story with PPD and how everything might have been different if The Motherhood Center had existed back when she was a new mom. Right now, so many of us are feeling anxious, and just hearing Paige and Catherine's voices and gentle, knowledgable stories will make anyone feel better and more understood. If you are pregnant, a new mom, went through postpartum, or are the partner of anyone going through any of those stages, this is definitely an episode to which you should listen. Send it to friends who might be going through a rough time with anxiety, are new parents, or just want to hear more about what is being done to help women get the attention and professional help they all deserve without shame or embarrassment.  The Motherhood Center Sign up for our "Friday Five" on marriageandmartinis.com to receive the supplemental "Date Night Questions" for this email.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Catherine Birndorf, MD, and Paige Bellenbaum, LMSW, detail the services provided by their organization, The Motherhood Center of New York, a treatment center for pregnant and new mothers experiencing mood and anxiety disorders.

Today on the show we welcome Dr. Catherine Birndorf, Co-Founder and Medical Director of The Motherhood Center of New York. Dr. Catherine is also co-author of the books, What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood and The Nine Rooms of Happiness, and associate professor of psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine. She’s been featured on many national television networks and published in various magazines.

How can mothers overcome the depression and anxiety they feel during pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood? This question is something that today's guest, Paige Bellenbaum has been exploring since her own experience with postpartum depression and anxiety when she gave birth to her child. Now, Paige is the Chief External Relations Officer at The Motherhood Center, ... The post Mental Health, Depression, and Postpartum with Paige Bellenbaum appeared first on Expectful.

This week's episode features a very special interview with Paige Bellenbaum, LMSW, and Catherine Birndorf, MD of The Motherhood Center, a treatment facility in NY for moms who are struggling with Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Keri and Ashley also question whether Amazon might save the Amazon, whether two sentences can help keep us from yelling at our kids, and applaud a naughty little Roomba, all on this episode of Scary Mommy Speaks.For more information on The Motherhood Center: https://www.themotherhoodcenter.comFor Scary Mommy's video series on The Motherhood Center:https://www.scarymommy.com/category/motherhood-center-partnership-geico/

How do we support and show compassion for ourselves through the transition of motherhood? This question is something that today's guest, Dr. Catherine Birndorf strives to work towards in her work as a psychiatrist and medical director of the Motherhood Center in New York. Co-author of the book, What No One Tells You, Dr. Birndorf ... The post Mental Health, Support, and Motherhood with Dr. Catherine Birndorf appeared first on Expectful.

There’s a new model of care available to moms and new families. The Motherhood Center in NYC hopes to be the prototype for superior support and services for other facilities around the world. Today’s show highlights this center and the important work being done there in perinatal and postpartum support.   Dr. Catherine Birndorf is cofounder and medical director of The Motherhood Center in NYC. It’s the first of its kind as a treatment center for pregnant and new moms who are experiencing anxiety and depression. There aren’t many centers like this one, offering holistic and long-term care. We’re going to hear how The Motherhood Center is providing unique care and how Dr. Birndorf is changing the face of perinatal mental health care.   Dr. Birndorf is the Founding Director of the Payne Whitney Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Birndorf is a board member of Postpartum Support International, a non-profit organization for awareness, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing worldwide. For 10 years, Dr. Birndorf was a regular mental health columnist for Self Magazine, and has appeared on numerous TV programs, including the Today Show, Good Morning America, MSNBC, CBS Evening News, and CNN. Her first book, The Nine Rooms of Happiness, which she co-authored with Lucy Danzinger, was a NY Times bestseller, published in 2010. She has co-authored with Alexandra Sacks, What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood, which will be released in April.    Show HIghlights:   How Dr. Birndorf blends her two interests, obstetrics and psychiatry, into what she terms “reproductive psychiatrist,” to help women before, during, and after birth How she got into this field and began teaching it as a subspecialty at Cornell The passion and fire for women’s health Her other endeavors in related fields and services The importance of getting the information out about simple things like medications while pregnant, etc. Parts of the Motherhood Center’s work, like consultation services and frontline provider information How the Center began in NYC in 2014-2015: “a NOT feel like a hospital place” How patients feel like they are being mothered How the Center caters to moderate to severe perinatal or postpartum anxiety and depression The intensive work that expedites recovery How passion and creativity drive the model One of the goals---to replicate the model in other places Part of the next phase: mentoring others How Dr. Birndorf sees her new book as yet another way to help people The book, which covers the ways people classify motherhood and the mental phases of the process that can be a struggle for many How the book covers the challenges in a unique way that no other book has done     Resources: https://www.themotherhoodcenter.com/ Instagram: @themotherhoodcenter Facebook: @motherhoodnyc Twitter: @MotherhoodNYC   The Nine Rooms of Happiness by Catherine Birndorf and Lucy Danzinger   What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood by Catherine Birndorf and Alexandra Sacks

"I had all these expectations of what my pregnancy was going to be, and I had the opposite." -L.M. We hear a lot about postpartum depression, but we don't talk much about depression or anxiety during pregnancy. In this episode, Elizabeth Masucci, an actress, producer, director, writer, and yoga teacher is sharing all about her experience during pregnancy and postpartum, when she realized she needed help, and how and where she found the support she needed.  Liz created a production company called In The Meantime Productions. She lives in New York City with her husband, daughter, and King Charles Cavalier. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Liz’s life in Manhattan (0:12) Liz’s experience with pregnancy and postpartum depression (0:57) The Motherhood Center in New York City (3:29) The moment Liz realized she needed help (6:13) How Kristy realized she had postpartum depression (7:46) Top three things to support yourself if you have postpartum depression (8:54) The hardest part is stepping outside of your own space (10:50) Resources to help you with anxiety or postpartum depression (13:42) Mom and Mind Podcast It’s OK to not know how to take care of a baby (17:10) How to connect with Liz (21:44) If you learned one thing from this episode, it’s OK to ask for help. Liz will cheer you on! She’s mostly active on Instagram and can find her @LizMasucciYou can also see what she’s up to on Facebook at Elizabeth Masucci.    When you’re designing your home or setting up an office space, it’s OK to ask for help, too! My next guest, Kate Hamblet is a Wellness Architect. She shares the best safe brands for mattresses and paint. Did you know that several years after you paint your bedroom, it still emits harmful off-gases? You’ll want to press play on this episode to learn more ways to make your home healthier, especially when you're bringing home a new baby.

After the birth of her son, Paige Bellenbaum suffered from severe postpartum depression that almost cost her her own life. Paige shares her journey that included the inability to connect and bond immediately with her son, anxiety, and sleeplessness. While walking down the street in New York City, Paige was ready to jump in front of a bus. Seeing her reflection, Paige didn't recognize herself and immediately went to the hospital with her baby in tow to seek treatment. Paige is now the Chief External Relations Officer of The Motherhood Center of New York, and the mother of two children. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, NPR, PBS Newshour and in Women’s Health Magazine, as well as in The Wall Street Journal.

On my recent trip to the United States, I spent an afternoon at The Motherhood Center, New York. And as I walked through the door, and saw the support they offered to mamas, I was immediately taken back to the first days of mamahood again: scared, overwhelmed, and desperate for the daily support I received at my local hospital. Years on, I still have days of craving that support. I still feel like, at times, I have no idea what I'm doing and wish I could walk through the doors of a beautiful Centre filled with wise women, get a cup of tea, and listen and learn. Lean on them. Feel safe.In this episode, I talk about the need for ongoing support for all of us as mamas and women, and where we can get it - even now, no matter where you are.

Have you ever had a friend or family member you suspected was suffering from a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorder and just didn’t know if or how to approach them? With more then 20% of new parents suffering from Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorder it is important to have the tools and language to help. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I welcome back licensed social worker and program director of the Motherhood Center, Paige Bellenbaum. Paige discusses how to approach a person you suspect may be suffering from Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder. She offers a way to gently converse with the parent without making them feel probed and awkward. This is a very important episode for birth workers and those supporting a new parent. To connect with page and see the full show notes visit: https://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/when-you-suspect-a-friend-or-loved-one-is-suffering-from-pmad/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I interview Gabriela Gerhart of Motherhood Center in Houston. We have a rich conversation where we dive into the difficult transition into parenthood and the lack of support for moms in our traditional society and why I am so obsessed with Motherhood Center. Gabi is the REAL deal and runs a thriving heart centered business that nurtures thousands of mothers and families. Her story is rich and her early childhood roots from the small village where she grew up in the Czech Republic are woven throughout our conversation and into her business.  We discussed motherhood, business and bringing back “the village” mentality into raising kids in our modern world. Topics covered: Gabi's definition of a doula Motherhood Center https://www.motherhoodcenter.com/ Breastfeeding Night nursing and night time infant care support Episode Intro or Guest Bio: Gabriela Gerhart is the Founder of The Motherhood Center. She established this haven for mothers in 2003, turning a lifelong dream into reality. She discovered her passion for babies and childcare early. She was only four years old when her sister was born, and she treasured her role as “little mommy”. Today Gabriela touches the lives of thousands of infants, parents and families through The Motherhood Center. Gabriela was born and raised in the small mountain village of Jablunkov, Czech Republic. She values her hometown's warm and nurturing environment-an environment she ensures at The Motherhood Center. She received degrees in Pediatric Nursing and Physical Therapy. In 1999, Gabriela accepted a position in Houston to help an American couple care for their premature baby. While in Houston, she fell in love with the opportunities, her life, and the man who is now her husband, Gary Gerhart. After her initial position as an Au pair, Gabriela continued her education across Texas, becoming trained in Breastfeeding Education and Postpartum Doula. Gabriela quickly gained a reputation as a dependable and knowledgeable adviser, whose caring and calming spirit was especially soothing to new parents. More and more women used her as a resource for the care of their newborns. Gabriela became frustrated with how difficult it was for these women, who were already going through a particularly vulnerable time, to obtain reliable information. Gabriela recognized the overwhelming interest shown by expecting and new moms, to keep up with fast-changing medical information and technological possibilities. She realized they not only yearned for structured educational classes on modern methods, they also hoped for timeless wisdom on handling everyday childcare situations. With the needs of these mothers in mind, she created The Motherhood Center. Gabriela and The Motherhood Center have been featured by The Houston Chronicle, The Houston Business Journal, 002 Magazine, Vonyage magazine, Paper City, The River Oaks Examiner, KTRK ABC 13, KPRC Channel 2, KHOU Channel 11, CW 39 and FOX 26. She is committed to philanthropy and is involved with several Houston charities including Child Advocates, Children's Assessment Center, American Heart Association, Children's Museum, and Women's Home, The Women's Fund , Crime Stoppers of Houston and many more.   Get my book! Hear about my family history and the tools that have helped me replace old parenting patterns that simply don't work with these puzzling kiddos. It's my way of paying it forward as a human that wants our kids to experience a kinder and more generous world. Head over here to get your copy >> https://mastermindparenting.com/book   Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a note in the comment section below!   Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. You can also subscribe from the podcast app on your mobile device.   Leave us an iTunes review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on iTunes, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on iTunes.

In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with licensed social worker and Program Director of the Motherhood Center of New York, Paige Bellenbaum.  This deeply honest and moving discussion needs to be heard and discussed with all expectant women, partners and support people. It is reported that 1 in 5 women experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.  It’s important to note that this statistic is only based on reported cases and that many more women will suffer in silence. Many professionals feel a more accurate statistic is 1 in 3 people. Paige bravely discusses her own debilitating experience with postpartum depression and anxiety and her commitment to supporting those experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. In this episode:  What brought Paige to this work and her own experience with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. How common perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are for women Seeing and understanding the symptoms of PMADs Do PMADs go away on their own? What OBGYNs, midwives  and pediatricians are doing in regards to PMADs The difficulty many women face telling anyone they are struggling How a friend, partner or family member can tell someone if they think their loved one is suffering from a PMAD Do PMADs only happen after the birth of your first child Who is at greater risk for a PMAD Places someone suffering from PDAD can seek help   About Paige: Paige started her social work career working at a homeless shelter for families in San Francisco, where she built a $4 million Housing and Aftercare Program for families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. She then moved to New York City in 2000 to get her Masters of Social Work at Columbia University. After she graduated, she worked for an organization called the Center for Family Life located in Sunset Park Brooklyn as a Community Developer, where she was responsible for community outreach and relations for the organization. She also oversaw a food pantry and advocacy clinic. Paige then worked as the Director of Advocacy and Community Outreach for Habitat for Humanity – New York City for many years. While at Habitat, she had her first child – Max. After Max was born, Paige suffered from severe postpartum depression that almost cost her her own life. Once she began to heal, she became committed to fighting for education, screening and treatment for postpartum depression so that no more women would have to suffer silently. She drafted legislation in New York State that was championed by State Senator Liz Krueger, mandating education and strongly encouraging screening of all new and expecting mothers that was signed into law in 2014. Paige has been an outspoken advocate on the issue of postpartum depression, and uses her own story as a tool for change. She has appeared on the Today Show, NPR, PBS Newshour and in Women’s Health Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and several other print publications. Paige left her post as Director of Community Programs at Settlement Housing Fund to help open The Motherhood Center, where she oversaw a portfolio of programs ranging from a homeless shelter for families, transitional housing, a state of the art computer lab, and an alternative to incarceration program for young adults. Paige is currently on the steering committee of the NYC Maternal Depression Collaborative that is responsible for implementing the First Lady’s commitment to screening every new and expecting mother for postpartum depression. She also is a Board Member of a non-profit called Refoundry that trains formerly incarcerated people to repurpose discarded materials into home furnishings, and incubates participan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest: Paige Bellenbaum is the program director of The Motherhood Center of Manhattan, offering a comprehensive program of services for pregnant and postpartum women to help them overcome perinatal mood and anxiety disorders In this episode, we will cover: how Paige's recovery from severe postpartum (even having suicidal thoughts) led her to become an outspoken advocate on the issue of postpartum depression, and uses her own story as a tool for change what the most common signs of postpartum depression are so you can recognize them in yourself or others how to find resources in your city to help yourself out of this seemingly helpless situation Resources mentioned in the conversation: link to The Motherhood Center of Manhattan's website www.CapWellnessCenter.com  About Paige Bellenbaum: Paige Bellenbaum, LMSW is the program director of The Motherhood Center of Manhattan. For the past 20 years, Paige has been committed to the field of social work practice, focusing her efforts on direct service to have a micro impact, and public policy to have a macro impact. Paige started her social work career working at a homeless shelter for families in San Francisco, where she built a $4 million Housing and Aftercare Program for families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. She then moved to New York City in 2000 to get her Masters of Social Work at Columbia University. After she graduated, she worked for an organization called the Center for Family Life located in Sunset Park Brooklyn as a Community Developer, where she was responsible for community outreach and relations for the organization. She also oversaw a food pantry and advocacy clinic. Paige then worked as the Director of Advocacy and Community Outreach for Habitat for Humanity – New York City for many years. While at Habitat, she had her first child – Max. After Max was born, Paige suffered from severe postpartum depression that almost cost her her own life. Once she began to heal, she became committed to fighting for education, screening and treatment for postpartum depression so that no more women would have to suffer silently. She drafted legislation in New York State that was championed by State Senator Liz Krueger, mandating education and strongly encouraging screening of all new and expecting mothers that was signed into law in 2014. Paige has been an outspoken advocate on the issue of postpartum depression, and uses her own story as a tool for change. She has appeared on the Today Show, NPR, PBS Newshour and in Women’s Health Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and several other print publications. Paige recently left her post as Director of Community Programs at Settlement Housing Fund where she oversaw a portfolio of programs ranging from a homeless shelter for families, transitional housing, a state of the art computer lab, and an alternative to incarceration program for young adults. Paige is currently on the steering committee of the NYC Maternal Depression Collaborative that is responsible for implementing the First Lady of New York's commitment to screening every new and expecting mother for postpartum depression. She also is a Board Member of a non-profit called Refoundry that trains formerly incarcerated people to repurpose discarded materials into home furnishings, and incubates participants into their own businesses. Paige has been a member of Community Board 6 in Brooklyn for 5 years, where she serves as the Chair of Human Services.  

On this episode, I chat to Paige Bellenbaum LMSW. She is the program director of the brand new Motherhood Center of New York. They provide supportive services for new and expecting moms, including a range of treatment options for women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). For more than 20 years, Paige has been committed to social work and focuses her efforts on direct service to have a micro impact, and on public policy to have a macro impact. Paige shares her personal story with me, one that many women can identify with, and how that story has led her to the important work she does today. For more info on the Motherhood Center of New York, visit https://www.themotherhoodcenter.com