#PostpartumAnxiety

This is Trauma: When It's Hard to Stick to a Healthy Diet

Most of us know generally how to eat healthy. We can even look at the last 72 hours of our life and find moments when we could have chosen healthier food options but didn't. When you're trying to conceive or are pregnant, you're inundated with advice on what to eat and what to avoid. So many women feel the pressure to get it "just right", worrying if what they're putting in their mouths is affecting baby negatively. When you're postpartum or into motherhood and want to reclai

This Is Trauma - When You Feel Indecisive

Two days after my son was born, my husband was making lunch before our NICU visit. He asked me what I wanted. "I don't know." He gave me some options of things I might like. "I don't know!" He even narrowed down the options. But I still had no idea and I was getting frustrated. It was such a simple choice that had zero consequences if I chose the wrong one, other than I'd eat something I didn't like. No big deal. Given the heavy, potentially life-threatening decisions we'd

This Is Trauma: When You Need to Stay Busy & Slowing Down Feels Impossible

I once worked with a client after her micropreemie came home from the NICU. Her OBGYN referred her to me thinking she had postpartum anxiety. My client could not slow down. She would run from taking care of baby, to pumping, to washing dishes, to laundry, to cooking, to replying to emails, convinced this is just new mom life. Busy. Crazy. Nonstop. Her OB & husband were concerned so she tried mindfulness exercises, deep breathing or yoga. But every time she felt panicky & sc

This Is Trauma: When Joy Feels Scary

One of the hardest lessons I learned after a long road of infertility, loss , high-risk pregnancy, preterm delivery and months in the NICU is that it's not over when baby comes home. I wanted to believe it so badly. Anything had to be better than fighting for his life. And yes, having him home was indescribably wonderful! But it didn't cure the anxiety, trauma, worries, guilt and grief I was still carrying. Having a baby at home never does. Time does not heal, resolution

How Much Do You Change After Infertility, Loss, High-Risk Pregnancy and Birth Trauma?

After having gone through infertility, a life-threatening loss, a very high-risk pregnancy, an extremely preterm delivery & months in the NICU, we were finally home. I remember one day I was watching the first episode of Quantico (is that show still on?) & I saw the lead character disoriented & confused looking at the rubble all around her from a massive explosion. That visual was the perfect representation of how I felt. I didn't know where I was or who I was anymore after

What to Do When You Have Postpartum Complications

Postpartum depression is the number one complication of childbirth (more common than any physical health complications, including hemorrhage!). I believe that this is likely due to unresolved fertility, pregnancy or birth trauma. But there are many, many types of postpartum complications that a woman can experience. Having to deal with emotional or physical health complications after delivering a baby can be really challenging, especially if you already had a difficult expe

Maternal Mental Health Is More About Trauma Than Depression or Anxiety

Yesterday I saw a post by my friend and colleague that resonated so much, I knew I had to say something. We are getting maternal mental health wrong. I'll admit, that's scary to say, but I cannot sit by in silence anymore. Had it not been for my personal experience with infertility, a very high-risk pregnancy & extremely preterm delivery , I wouldn't have known to question the many years I'd spent training in clinical psychology, learning how to diagnose & treat mood/anxiety

118: Stress and Digestion with Jess Cording

Stress and anxiety can cause digestive issues for many of us, including pregnant women and women going through infertility. Let’s look at the nuts and bolts of nutrition and digestion with today’s guest. Jess Cording is an expert on stress, digestion, nutrition, and how what goes on in your belly can affect your ability to conceive. Jess is a registered dietitian, health coach, and writer with a passion for helping people streamline their wellness routine and establish a bala

Anxiety About Miscarrying Is Not In Your Head

A while back, an OBGYN reached out to me to ask about resources to cope with miscarriage anxiety during pregnancy. With miscarriage rates as high as 1 in 4, so many women are afraid of experiencing that life-altering heartbreak again. It reminded me a woman I worked with a while back while on hospital bed rest. Her nurse had advised her to stop working with her therapist after noticing preterm contractions spiked every time she had a session. This woman contacted me inst

111: For the Type-A Person

There's a negative connotation placed on being Type-A. While there are more health issues that are tied to being Type-A (especially cardiovascular disease), there is also a tremendous benefit of being Type-A when you're going through infertility or a high-risk pregnancy. This episode of Delivering Miracles® is all about the Type-A person. I explain what this means, how this impacts your high-risk pregnancy, and what you can do to accommodate this. Listen on iTunes | L

The Postpartum Complication We Need to Be Talking About: Postpartum Rage

Have you ever heard of postpartum rage? Most women I have spoken with say they haven't heard about it, but when they find out what it sounds like and looks like, realize they've actually been through it without knowing there's a name to it! It sounds so intense and when you feel it, it can feel really intense. Below is a quick graphic showing you some examples of what postpartum rage can sound and look like: You may not be in a bad mood all the time but something happens and

109: What Every Woman Going Through a High-Risk Pregnancy Needs to Hear

For how much I'm supportive of motivational messages and maintaining hope, there is a downside to messages that we say far too often to women going through a high-risk pregnancy. The result is that far too many women end up minimizing their experiences and their emotions during their high-risk pregnancy and avoid talking about the realities of what they're going through and how hard it really is. The problem with that is, on the days you feel like your world is crumbling arou

105: Surviving the First Few Weeks of New Motherhood

Having a newborn home is wonderful...but so much harder than mothers expect or prepare themselves for. On this episode, I speak with birth doula and postpartum educator Adriana Lozada on exactly how you can prepare for and get through the first few weeks after delivering a baby. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on iHeartRadio Episode highlights... Parijat and Adriana talk about the reality of motherhood, it's difficulties and a true to life celebrity

098: Why Labels Matter

The words and labels that you use during your family-building challenges matter. They inform what important anchor points define your story and they validate your experiences. The more you use them, the more others will follow. On this episode, I share with you why we should stop hiding from the terminology that makes us feel seen and heard so we can create a community of support around us as we go through the challenges and then heal after they're all over. Listen on iTunes

097: Stop Telling Me to Get Over My Grief

We have to stop playing the Loss Olympics. Too often we undercut and minimize our own grief to our own detriment, and laying the foundation for anxiety and depression. Loss is loss. You do not have to justify it or compare it to anyone else's loss for it to be valid. Let's change the conversation around loss to be more empowering and supportive! Join me! Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on iHeartRadio Episode highlights... We learn the story of a

096: Essentials and Gifts for NICU Parents

The NICU is an overwhelming, scary place that feels like a world away from the rest of the world. Whether you're expecting to spend time in the NICU or it came as a surprise, it takes time to adjust to the pace and the life of the parenting in the NICU. On this episode, I share some of the items that were essential for me to keep my sanity and help me through our 109 day NICU stay. Plus, I share with you ideas for gifts to give loved ones who have a baby in the NICU. Listen o

093: Dealing with the Loss of a Child

Losing a child, no matter how far along in the pregnancy you were or how old the child was, is one of the hardest experiences a parent can go through in their life. On this episode, I chat with my friend and colleague Dr. Tara May, a grief coach and psychologist who experienced a loss herself and has made it her life's mission to support women and couples through their grief journey after the death of their child. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen

079: Lean into Trauma to Heal Postpartum

Thousands of women experience pregnancy and/or birth trauma every year. Without proper support, resources and information, trauma is often overlooked and women are left feeling alone as they navigate their healing journey. On this episode, I share the critical step that's involved in healing from trauma so you can experience joy and peace again. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on iHeartRadio Episode highlights... A story of a client who resisted wo

077: How to Avoid Monster Mommy Moments with Nicki Paulun

When you lose your temper on your child, it doesn't make you a bad mother. Every single mother on this planet has done it. But it is an opportunity for growth and self-reflection so you can continue to be the best mother and raise the best version of your child. On this episode, we talk about those rage-filled moments, what they are, what they mean and how to make them stop. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on iHeartRadio Episode highlights... Nic

076: When Crying is Not a Sign of Postpartum Depression

With increased attention on postpartum depression in the media and in research, more and more women (and their loved ones) are becoming sensitive to recognizing the signs and symptoms early. However, sometimes the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression, like crying, are not necessarily pointing to depression. Sometimes, crying is not a sign of a mental health condition at all but a sign of healing. On this episode, I share with you how to tell the difference. Listen on i