Perinatal Health
Maternal and Paternal stress, anxiety and depression
Your journey into parenthood will be one of the most significant (and potentially challenging) seasons of your life.
For some women or men a morning run, a healthy diet and receiving help and emotional support from family and friends are sufficient enough to get through the initial adjustment period. For others, who may be struggling with more significant anxiety, and or depression talking to a therapist who specializes in this field can offer relief and comfort. Sometimes perfectionism and feelings of helplessness, disappointment and shame can become challenging obstacles in asking for support. I specialize in this particular field and I cannot express enough how important it is to get support early on, it makes all the difference. Each person and experience is unique and together we will create a plan that is tailored specifically to your needs and wishes for healing. I often invite partners to be part of the process.
Infertility Challenges
Infertility is so much more than wanting a baby and being unable to have one. It is about the emotional, physical, financial tolls on your life, which becomes consumed with appointments, procedures, medications, etc. and wrestling everyday with feeling that your life is “on hold” and not going as planned.
The experience of infertility is characterized by a range of emotions, from disbelief and denial, to grief and sadness, to intense anger and jealousy, and consuming anxiety about having so little control. It is dealing with well-intentioned but hurtful questions and comments from people in your life. It is getting bad news after bad news to the point that when you finally get good news, it can be hard to trust.
PTSD in perinatal women
Some women experience post-traumatic stress after pregnancy. This may be caused by having a traumatic birthing experience, miscarriage, or neonatal death. This may lead to fear of childbirth in the next pregnancy.
These traumas could include
Prolapsed cord
Unplanned C-section
Use of vacuum extractor or forceps to deliver the baby
Baby going to NICU
Feelings of powerlessness, poor communication, and/or lack of support and reassurance during the delivery
Women who have experienced previous trauma, such as rape or sexual abuse, are also at a higher risk for experiencing postpartum PTSD.
Women who have experienced a severe physical complication or injury related to pregnancy or childbirth, such as severe postpartum hemorrhage, unexpected hysterectomy, severe preeclampsia/eclampsia, or any experience that you perceive as traumatic.