Holding Space

Latest Episodes:

83: Addressing Prenatal Anxiety with Liesel Teen BSN-RN Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

Want to know one of the most common questions I get asked from expecting parents: Can Postpartum Anxiety show up BEFORE baby is born?

Yes it totally can, and this challenging yet not discussed enough experience has its own name: PRENATAL Anxiety.

In this episode I share my conversation with Liesel Teen, Labor and Delivery Nurse and founder of Mommy Labor Nurse. Together we discuss ways you can begin to identify and address Prenatal Anxiety. She offers us many helpful and actionable tips to support you in navigating the Anxiety that may pop up during pregnancy.

To learn more about Mommy Labor Nurse and Liesel's work, visit https://mommylabornurse.com/ or visit @mommy.labornurse on Instagram. You can also hear her on The Mommy Labor Nurse Podcast and find her courses here.

Get her FREE Birth Plan Template here!

Did you connect with that episode? The best way to support Holding Space podcast is to subscribe and leave a review! Podcast reviews help us reach those who need it most, and I read each and every one. To connect with Dr. Cassidy or learn more about her private practice, visit www.drcassidymft.com.

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82: Preparing Your Emotions for Postpartum with Nicole Makowka, LMFT Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

When you think about preparing for a new baby, what comes to mind?

The perfect registry. Check!

The finished nursery. Check!

The ideal birth plan. Check!

These are often the featured items on our checklist when we are expecting, and checking these things off our list can offer us a sense of control.

Yet, what about preparing for the more nuanced and unexpected aspects of postpartum? Like, how this huge transition can bring up some pretty big emotions...

We face a lot of conflicting and ambiguous feelings during postpartum and they can be tough to navigate. That's why I invited Nicole Makowka to help walk us through some of those unexpected, but common emotions that can come up during postpartum. Nicole is the Head of Education & Wellbeing at LOOM, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and an expert in early childhood development. In today's episode she offers us some real tangible tips that you can start taking today to help prepare you for those big feelings of postpartum.

To learn more about Loom and Nicole's work, you can visit https://loomhq.com/ or follow on Instagram at @loomhq.

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81: Mindfulness Resource Alert: Expectful with Nathalie Walton Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

RESOURCE ALERT! This is a different kind of podcast episode. In this episode I'm highlighting a resource that I've personally found helpful in my own mindfulness/wellness journey.

We're all starting to learn how important Mindfulness is when it comes to our mental health, right? I know I talk about it often with clients, and I've talked about it's role in my own life here on the podcast. I often recommend apps like Calm and Headspace as a great starting off point, but always wished there was a resource directed to new parents.

Enter...Expectful! In this episode I share my conversation with Nathalie Walton, CEO of this mindfulness and wellness app for anyone navigating fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum.

She shares the role mindfulness had in her own pregnancy and postpartum, specifically as it relates to struggles with control, anxiety, and sleep!

To learn more about Expectful click here, and if you decide to explore this resource be sure to use code HOLDINGSPACE to try it out for $1 for the first month.

Looking to learn more about WHY and HOW mindfulness can support your mental health? Check out these past Holding Space episodes:

Mindfulness and Self-Compassion

Cultivating a New Relationship with Emotion

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80: Dog Meets Baby with Dominika Knossalla-Pado Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

For many of us our 'fur babies' hold a very special place in our heart. So much so that when we're preparing to become a parent to a human baby, sometimes we can't help but feel a little guilty, anxious, or fearful about how a newborn might change our relationship with our pets.

Maybe you're worried about how your pet will react to your baby, how your relationship with your pet will change with a baby around, or maybe you're already in the thick of postpartum and struggling with some of the big feelings coming up related to your pet. This is such a common experience for new parents, so I invited Dominika from @dogmeets_baby to come on and help us prepare for this experience.

In this episode we talk about some of the common emotions new parents feel related to their dog, like feeling triggered by your dog or feelings of anger, resentment, or guilt. Dominika offers insightful tips for new parents as they prepare for and navigate this transition with their pet. I learned so much from this episode and I hope you do, too!

You can learn more about Dominika and access her resources here and at her Instagram: @dogmeets_baby

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79: Intimacy After Baby with the Shrink Chicks Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

Sex and intimacy after having a baby can be very different. We're often approved for sex and exercise at that six week postpartum appointment…but what if we're not ready? What if it's too soon? What if your partner is ready and you aren't or vice versa? What if your libido is off because of the hormonal fluctuations after having a baby? What if you're worried about pain or not feeling comfortable in your body?

No one prepares us for these challenges. That's why today I am joined by the Shrink Chicks to talk about sex and intimacy after baby! We're addressing some of the common fears around intimacy after baby, some of the reasons why so much can change with sex after baby, and we're sharing ways that you can begin to know pleasure in your body again and navigate this sometimes awkward/uncomfortable transition with your partner.

You deserve good and pleasurable sex. I hope this conversation will help normalize what you're experiencing and also offer support to you and your partner. If you would like to learn more from the Shrink Chicks or access their resources, you can visit their Instagram @shrinkchicks and @thetherapygrp!

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78: Scary Thoughts in Postpartum with Dr. Alice Pickering Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

Have you ever had a thought in postpartum that felt disturbing or distressing to you? It pops up randomly, and you're kind of like, WOAH, where did that come from? What is wrong with me??

Maybe it was something like dropping your baby, getting into a car accident, an unwanted thought about your baby while changing their diaper, or something else of that nature...bottom line, it's intrusive and distressing.

If you can resonate with this experience, chances are you may have never even mentioned them to anyone. You might feel ashamed and lonely in these thoughts. While these thoughts can be incredibly distressing, you're not alone.

Dr. Alice Pickering is joining me to talk about scary and intrusive thoughts. Dr. Alice dives deep into the corners of our mind, offers some examples that might resonate with you, describes why these thoughts occur, and goes into what we can do to help lessen the impact they have on us as new parents.

You can learn more from Dr. Alice at her Instagram: @dralicepsyd

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77: Raising a Sensory Sensitive Child with Pediatric OT Laura Petix Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

This episode has a really special place in my heart on a personal level. Over the last two years we’ve worked with Occupational Therapists to support the sensory processing challenges my own kids experience.

Maybe you're in the same boat and your child is experiencing something similar or maybe, you're wondering what sensory processing disorder even is and if your child might be having a sensitivity to sensory processing...

Whichever the case, you're in the right place. I have invited Laura Petix of @theotbutterfly onto the podcast to demystify Occupational Therapy, to talk about the experiences associated with sensory processing disorder, and to share how we can best support our kids and ourselves in these situations.

I share a lot about my own family's experience with sensory processing challenges and Laura offers some tangible tips for how you can get support for your child if you feel this is something they might be struggling with.

You can find Laura hanging out daily on instagram @TheOTButterfly

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76: Breastfeeding and Sleep with Robin Kaplan, MA, IBCLC Jul 19, 2021

Show notes

When I'm working with an individual or couple who just had a baby, one of the first things I ask about is...SLEEP! Not the age old question you get from most other people: "how is the baby sleeping?" No, I want to know how YOU are sleeping.

Postpartum can be a beast and a big part of that is often the lack of sleep that accompanies having a baby. Getting restorative rest can become even more challenging when navigating feeding. That's why I invited my own lactation consultant, friend and colleague, Robin Kaplan, onto the podcast today!

Robin is sharing with us how we can get restorative rest while also honoring our feeding journey with baby. She offers tangible tips and tricks for pumping when you're trying to make sleep a priority. Robin is incredibly supportive and validates the fact that sleep impacts our mental health and how our mental health in turn impacts our children. You can learn more from Robin and access her resources at her Instagram @san_diego_breastfeeding_center!

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75: Postpartum Mental Health for Couples with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

In this episode we are talking about postpartum mental health for couples. I am joined by my friend and colleague, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish. Dr. Tracy is a licensed clinical psychologist and couples therapist based in Canada as well the creator of the supportive Instagram account, @dr.tracyd.

Dr. Tracy shares with us some signs and symptoms to look for if you or your partner are experiencing anxiety or depression during postpartum and she explains how postpartum anxiety or depression can impact your couple relationship. I share a bit about my personal experience with postpartum anxiety and depression within my partner relationship after our first baby and Dr. Tracy offers some tangible tips and tools for how to reconnect and find each other again amidst the postpartum haze.

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74: Preparing a REAL Couple for their First Baby with Mallory and Stranz Wolfgramm Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Today's episode is a little bit different than most here on Holding Space Podcast...in the best way! Today I'm inviting my friends Mallory and Stranz Wolfgramm onto the podcast to talk about their experience preparing for their first child.

Mallory is actually a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and creator of the Instagram account @makemarriagework, but as I've shared from my personal experience, being a therapist doesn't actually prepare you for all the challenges that you and your partner can face when becoming parents and experiencing postpartum.

Today I'm walking Mallory and her husband Stranz through their concerns and big pain points as they prepare for their first baby. Together we explore: feelings of helplessness as a non-birthing partner, the big emotional challenges, fears and anxiety about labor and delivery, and so much more.

At the end of the episode I also pop back onto the episode solo to offer specific tips and resources for couples preparing for birth and postpartum!

Looking for more support in preparing your family for postpartum? Click here to learn more about Prepared Postpartum!

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