The unique challenge with traumatic events on the family-building journey (my shorthand for Trying To Conceive, are pregnant , healing postpartum or parenting your child[ren]) is that there are 2 layers to the trauma. 1 is the real/perceived danger to yourself and 2nd is the real/perceived danger to your child. Traumatic events include loss of embryos when you're doing IVF to pregnancy complications to neonatal loss and anything in between. The triggers are often internal, bo

REMEMBERING // I don't teach stress management for women to "feel calmer". Yes that's a wonderful side effect, but it goes so much deeper than that. When our physiological stress response is deactivated, we're able to do so much more, including be more present during doctors' visits and actually remember what they say. One study found that on average people remember only 49% of decisions and recommendations provided during their appointment! Can you imagine all the wrong info

The death & non-death losses we experience on the family-building journey are uniquely painful. From the loss of fertility to the loss of a healthy pregnancy or baby. The loss of how you thought you'd become a parent, to the loss of choice. Of course, also, the loss of a life. There is also much misunderstanding about what grieving "should be". We hear messages of "moving on" as if talking about the death or non-death loss is a sign of being stuck in the past. (It's not!) We

For many, being part of conversations about infertility, loss and miscarriage , high risk pregnancy, preterm delivery, life in the NICU, or parenting a child with medical needs can be uncomfortable. It's hard to hear about our favorite people struggling to grow their family. It's heartbreaking to hear about an innocent child's life threatened or gone too soon. So, we fill our discomfort with words. Advice, encouragement or stories we think will help. Sometimes they do. But mo

I alluded to this in my stories yesterday but this week was a phenomenal week for so many of my clients. Every single one of them shared some version of, "I didn't think this was possible" as they reflected on the health and life changes that they've experienced on their fertility journey and through their pregnancy. Each and every one of my clients has experienced devastating moments on their family building journey. Some of them even found themselves at the edge of life the

Whether you are officially diagnosed with PTSD or not, a traumatic experience affects all of us on a physical level. Without adequate recovery, the trauma sits in the body, creating roots like a seed growing in the soil. This keeps your body stuck in the fight-flight-freeze mode. This chronic activation of the stress response acts sets the stage for pregnancy complications such as gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and preterm contractions among others. In fact

There is a very different relationship and bond between a woman and the baby she's carrying or a parent and the child they're caring for than any other relationship in this world. This applies to the love we have but also the fear we feel when lives are in danger. Why would we sleep well if we received a diagnosis that is threatening our baby's life? Why wouldn't we lash out at those closest to us when we feel scared that we might lose our baby? Why wouldn't we feel so anxi

"Don't lose hope" sounds like really supportive advice for anyone going through a difficult time in their life, right? It's positive, it's encouraging, it reminds us about the importance of hope in our abilities to find strength during the most trying of times. But for many women and couples going through infertility, a high-risk pregnancy, a NICU stay or parenting a child with medical complications...this is actually terrible advice, especially if they have to make an imposs

During pregnancy, our bodies change. Specifically, there is a natural shift in 3 major body systems - the endocrine (hormonal) system, nervous system and immune system - to sustain a healthy pregnancy. Nature has found the perfect balance that keeps all 3 systems in check, like a 3 legged stool that sits flat on the ground. When your body is under stress, that balance is disrupted. Imagine one of the legs becoming longer or shorter. It throws off that balance, the result of w

The term "mind-body connection" can mean a variety of things to so many people. Some take it to mean mental health, others take it to mean nutrition therapy, others take it to mean something about the stars or hanging crystals by your bed. But most of us can agree that it relates somehow to stress. But does it have any impact on the health of your pregnancy? Absolutely. On this episode I share with you how. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on iHear

Have you ever felt SO overwhelmed, exhausted and burned out by all of the challenges you're facing that you end up on the floor of your bathroom just sobbing? Ever told your friends and family that you're "fine" when you're totally not? Ever feel really resentful of other women, couples and families who have it so easy? They get pregnant easily, they have easy pregnancies, they have healthy, full term kids with no long term problems? I know I have and so has this week's guest

Recently I've been getting many questions from women who want to try and conceive again after PPROM (Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes). So I thought I'd do a quick post about what to expect.⠀ What is PPROM? Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes means your water breaks before 37 weeks and occurs in about 3% of pregnancies. I PPROM’ed at 23 weeks and it was one of the scariest days of my life. If you've read Pregnancy Brain, you know what a horrible day that was for me a

When Janet Jackson announced that she was pregnant at the age of 50, the world gasped and threw judgment in every shade at her. She was too old to have a baby, what was she thinking? But when George Clooney announced he was expecting twins with his wife Amal Clooney, when he was five years older than Janet Jackson was, no one batted an eye. There's a misconception that just because men produce sperm into late in life that means they're able to conceive a healthy child for jus

Ever feel angry to the point when you get a baby shower invitation or hear about a birth announcement? Feel that anger bubbling up when you see perfect families with their perfect babies. Ever feel ridiculous that you still feel that way even though you're pregnant or have babies of your own? On this episode, I share with you why getting rid of that anger isn't the answer and what to do instead. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on iHeartRadio Epi

Dealing with a high-risk pregnancy can make you feel terrified, completely helpless and and out of control. The problem is, nobody is talking about how to get back IN control when you're faced with pregnancy complications, scary test results and the possibility of delivering too soon. As a clinically-trained therapist and women's wellness expert, I knew the importance of being in control on your emotional health. But it wasn't until I went through my very high-risk pregnancy

Having a high-risk pregnancy can make you feel like your whole world is collapsing. So many women have to cut back on work or stop working all together. And once baby comes, depending on circumstances, you may be unable to return to career for years, if at all. It's stressful and heartbreaking but there is hope. On this episode, Meg shares with us how to create your dream career despite having a high-risk pregnancy so you can have your dream family and career and enjoy both t

A high-risk pregnancy is a uniquely difficult time because of the emotional and physical intensity. Within a short 40 weeks - sometimes less - you might hear difficult news, have to make impossible decisions all while feeling the weight of being responsible for another life. You hope for a miracle and yet you aren't sure if you'll be lucky enough to experience one. On this episode, I share with you why I believe everyone one of us has the power to create miracles during a hig

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

The term "mind-body connection" can mean a variety of things to so many people. Some take it to mean mental health, others take it to mean nutrition therapy, others take it to mean something about the stars or hanging crystals by your bed. But most of us can agree that it relates somehow to stress. But does it have any impact on the health of your pregnancy? Absolutely. On this episode I share with you how. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on iHea

When you're a Type-A, go-getter person who loves to be busy, it hard to accept when your body needs you to go slow. You feel unproductive, helpless and useless, none of which are good for your mental or physical health. On this episode, we talk about how to listen to your body when you need to go slow and how to slow down without feeling like you're stopping your life. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on iHeartRadio Episode highlights... Why bed rest