#PostpartumDepression

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 Down and Like You Live in a Fog

This is a surprising one for a lot of people. Most of the time, when we think of trauma, we think hyperarousal, overwhelm, amped-upness. And for many it is. But for many it it is not. For many, after birth trauma, pregnancy trauma or fertility trauma, the system shuts down and stays down. To be honest, it's harder to notice because so much of this flies under the radar of women, their loved ones and even theri care providers! When your trauma reaction is to go low, blood pr

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

114: Partner's Role in Decreasing Postpartum Depression

We all know how challenging and traumatic a stay in the NICU can be for new parents, but NICU isn’t the most common postpartum difficulty to be encountered. The postpartum journey is so different and so unexpected, that postpartum depression is actually the most common stressor. Most expectant parents think, “Oh, it won’t happen to me,” but the truth is that it’s more common than we realize. Let’s talk about how we can prepare ahead of time to minimize the chance of postpartu

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

090: How to Get Out Of Your Head

Do you feel like a victim to your anxiety at times? Today’s show will help you leave the overwhelm behind, walk around the wall, and find relief. I’ll show you practical steps to get out of your head and learn to listen to your body. You may not realize it, but giving your body what it needs is the key. Stay with me, and I’ll show you how. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on iHeartRadio Episode highlights... Cognitive Behavior Therapy--challenging an

088: Storytelling as a Way to Heal from Trauma

If you’ve experienced reproductive trauma, then you know the real, raw side of family-building---and you know that it’s not always pretty or easy. Do you like to talk about your experience? It may seem normal to want to hide from the reality because it’s tough, but there is a real need to share our stories. There is something innate within us that is meant to thrive on storytelling, and it’s an empowering way to find healing from your trauma. Listen on iTunes | Listen

087: A New Approach to Postpartum Depression

What is depression? What causes it? We are talking about everything related to depression, especially as it relates to fertility and pregnancy. I guarantee that today’s show will challenge your thinking in so many ways about depression. When I used to work in clinical psychology, I was always drawn to the work around depression, grief, and mourning. There are different perspectives on depression and many models that try to explain depression. It wasn’t until I went through in