Mom and Mind | Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

Latest Episodes:

107: EMDR for Perinatal Mental Health with Bethany Warren, LCSW Jul 09, 2018

Show notes

Are there experiences in your life that you just can’t “get past”? We all have those memories that seem to crop up again and again, bringing anxiety, depression, and other effects. What if these memories are tied to a pregnancy or postpartum experience? You can see how this might be difficult for a woman to work through on her own. Even traditional talk therapy is not always effective at clearing through these feelings. Today we are discussing the benefits of using a therapy model called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help women.

Bethany Warren has been interested in this modality as a treatment for some time and has a passion for women’s mental health issues. She has worked in this field for 20 years, specializing in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, also working with women who experienced birth trauma, pregnancy loss, infertility, adoption, and surrogacy. She is certified in EMDR and the trauma processing lens and attachment model guides most of her work with clients. She is passionate about coaching and guiding parents through their adjustment to new roles and assisting women who have children with medical and other health-related issues. She has worked in hospital and outpatient psychiatric settings and is now in a group private practice. Bethany serves on boards and community organizations that promote women’s health and wellness. She is also an adjunct professor at a local university in San Diego and supervises clinicians working toward their licenses.

Show Highlights:

EMDR has been used mainly in treating veterans with PTSD, but now is a tool found to be useful in many areas, including maternal mental health
The connection between EMDR and REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep
The differences in memories that have been fully processed and those that are “free floating”
The statistics: 12% of pregnant women and 9% of postpartum women meet the PTSD criteria, and 34% of women report having a traumatic birth experience
How EMDR has impacted Bethany’s practice with more insight-oriented therapy that processes memories the way the brain already knows to do
The components of EMDR therapy include eye movement, tapping, and headsets with sounds---these can be used separately or in combination
These tools are used to process memories and negative beliefs in the correct part of the brain
How does it help? “The memory becomes unstuck”
For the therapist, treatment involves less talking and more observing
How the therapy works without making clients “take a trauma bath” in the experience they’ve learned to avoid
EMDR does NOT involve sitting with a therapist and talking through your traumatic experiences
My personal experience with the power of EMDR therapy in getting past stuck feelings and deep-rooted traumas
How EMDR helps with early attachment repair, early memories of shame and failure, and repeated harmful patterns
The leading researchers on EMDR: Carol Forgash, Amy Robbins, Andrew Leeds, and Claire Stamrood
Bethany’s advice: Find a trained and certified EMDR therapist
Those who should NOT do EMDR include anyone who is psychotic or currently using substances or is in current chaotic circumstances
Hopeful messages of success in how clients have responded and been able to move past the things they never thought they could

Resources:

Bethany’s website: http://balancehealth.org/therapist_bethany_warren.html

Follow Bethany on Instagram: @bethanywarrenlcsw

http://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk

http://www.emdria.org/ EMDR International Association

http://pattch.org Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Birth

http://www.solaceformothers.org Solace for Mothers after Traumatic Birth

http://tabs.org.nz Trauma and Birth Stress

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106: A Couple’s Journey, Loss and Postpartum Jul 02, 2018

Show notes

Have you ever dealt with pregnancy loss? Unfortunately, it’s more common than we think and the topic is one that we just don’t talk about. Dealing with one miscarriage is difficult enough, but when you have the pain of multiple losses, it can be almost unbearable. How does a couple get through these times? How do you offer support to each other and keep your relationship strong? These are the questions addressed in today’s episode, in which we talk to a husband AND wife together about their experience with loss.

Shane and NaKaisha Banks are a couple who dealt with loss, birth, loss again, and birth again. They share about their two rainbow babies, the anxiety and depression that came after, and how they have navigated all of this as a couple. In this powerful episode, NaKaisha and Shane share their story in hopes of increasing awareness about loss as a couple of color. Although this is one couple’s story, it’s a great catalyst for us to think of the family as a system. While we tend to focus on what happens with the mother, the male partner is deeply affected as well. You’ll hear the strength of their relationship and how they were able to pull together through their experiences.

NaKaisha loves her roles in life, including Social Worker and life coach through her practice D.U.O. Empowerment Services, which stands for “Do Unto Others” and was begun in 2008. She is the author of The Birdcage, released in April 2018. She is the mother of two beautiful girls, London and Germany, and has been married to Shane for 12 years. Shane is a minister who enjoys fishing, sci-fi and action-packed movies, and lives a blessed life as a husband and father. Shane and NaKaisha share a passion of serving in ministry together, in which their faith is the foundation of life and difficult times.

Show Highlights:

Why their daughters, London (8) and Germany (2) are “rainbow children,” since Shane and NaKaisha suffered a pregnancy loss prior to each of the girls’ births
The first loss was in 2009, when they weren’t even trying to conceive because they were living their lives and waiting to see what God ordained for them as a couple
The first pregnancy and its complications, then a miscarriage at 9-11 weeks and a flood of unexplained emotions
From Shane’s perspective: he was excited about the baby but found the miscarriage a tough thing to go through. He wanted to be strong and support his wife as much as possible
How communication transcends across the relationship and allows you to be present, even without a voice
How NaKaisha finds personal healing in being able to help others because of her understanding and empathy

Resources:

Connect with NaKaisha at www.nakaishatolbertbanks.com

Find NaKaisha Tbanks on Facebook, DUO Empowerment Services on Facebook, and @1stLadyGiggles on Twitter and Instagram

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105: Let's Talk About Postpartum Sex! Jun 25, 2018

Show notes

When it comes to sex after having a baby, what’s normal? If we’re honest, we have had these questions and probably been afraid to ask. After all, who do we ask? How do we improve the communication between partners about sex and sexuality? These topics are very important, both during the pregnancy and during the postpartum period. We talk primarily about heterosexual relationships in this episode but some of the dynamics affect all sexual relationships.

My guest today holds nothing back! She has a refreshing, honest, and direct approach to everything you want to know about this topic.

Elyse Springer, MA, MFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist who practices in the Los Angeles area. She uses a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR Therapy, and psychodynamic modalities to assist people with depression, anxiety, death and loss, relationship conflicts, HIV/AIDS, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and trouble with the creative process for artists and writers. Elyse has taught and lectured in a variety of settings and serves on boards and task forces in support of Maternal Mental Health and other causes that are closely related to her work in private practice.

Show Highlights:

How it became clear that this topic is one that Elyse wants to help people understand more fully
A common complaint during the postpartum period for moms: being “touched out”
The difference in sex and sexuality and how a woman’s sexuality can change after giving birth
Adult woman’s sexuality vs. younger woman’s sexuality
The definition of a “sexless marriage”---having sex 10 times/year or less
The average frequency of sex before a baby is 1-3 times/week---the key after giving birth is to look at what the frequency was before the birth
How fatigue and sleeplessness impact sex drive
Is there a difference in a woman’s sex drive after a C-section as opposed to vaginal birth?
The specific overall pattern to resuming sex after a baby
A common dynamic is when the partner isn’t supportive but still wants sex
The distinction between sex and emotional intimacy that allows for sexual satisfaction in a relationship
The four parts of sex: desire, arousal, orgasm, and relaxation (for women, sometimes the desire comes AFTER the arousal)
Different levels of desire and communication for men and women
How a baby can fulfill the mother’s need for connection and intimacy
For survivors of sexual trauma, the pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum period are full of potential issues
The tricky dialogue around sexual victimization--especially if the woman hasn’t been 100% honest
The common cycle of anger vs. anger vs. anger
The amazing groundbreaking research by Darby Saxby from USC about the equal dynamic in households
How touching increases the connection
How a mother changes physically AND mentally after giving birth
Elyse’s exercise about writing down your five best sex moments before the birth and asking how you can get back to those
How resentment forms from HER irritation and HIS rejection and withdrawal
How to listen to those bids for affection
How open dialogue about sexual satisfaction can be the precursor to actual sex in the postpartum
The ridiculously inaccurate stereotypes of female and male sexuality on TV and in movies: the vampy young woman, the cougar, and the goofy inept dad stereotype
The concrete assumption that it’s ALWAYS the mom who doesn’t want sex
How men’s testosterone drops in the 4-6 months postpartum
Common issues with dads: not knowing the oral language of caring and affection and bearing the mental load to ease up anger and resentment

Resources:

www.elysespringer.com

Twitter: @espringermft

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104: Certification in Perinatal Mental Health Jun 18, 2018

Show notes

You may have wondered about the process required for certification in perinatal mental health. There is much confusion around any supplemental certification and in many cases, the process isn’t clear. What is clear, however, is the increasing need for certified professionals to deal with the issues faced by many new mothers and their families.

Birdie Gunyon Meyer is an RN with a Master’s Degree in Psychology/Counseling. She is the Coordinator of the Perinatal Mood Disorders Program at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, Indiana.

She is a Past-President and Past-Chair of Education and Training for Postpartum Support International and currently is the Director of Certification. PSI is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping those suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Birdie is also on the President’s Advisory Council for PSI and for the International Childbirth Education Association. She specializes in the recognition and treatment of pregnancy and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. She is a childbirth educator and a lactation counselor and speaks frequently to communities, nursing schools, grand rounds, and conferences.

Birdie has been interviewed frequently for radio, television, and print media. She is highlighted as a PMD expert in PSI’s DVD that is shown around the country: “Healthy Mom, Happy Family: Understanding Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders.” Today’s show covers everything you need to know about getting certification in perinatal mental health.

Show Highlights:

The history of the PMD certification: the money was donated for the program and PSI took on the task of developing and overseeing the certification program
Subject matter experts were chosen (and they volunteered their time) to develop the core competencies for certification
How the “blueprint” was developed from which test questions for the exam are fornulated
The process of determining the questions is complete and the test should be ready by August 1, 2018
The certification has three tracks: psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and affiliated professions
The prerequisites to sit for the exam: basic training (13-14 hrs.) OR the PSI webinar (18 hrs.) OR an equivalent approved training---AND then a third day advanced training in one of the three tracks
The cost of the exam is $500, which covers a lifetime certification as long as the 6 hours of continuing education yearly in your track are fulfilled to keep the certification
A common question people ask is if they can bypass the prerequisite courses and just take the exam, especially if they have been in practice for a long time. The answer is NO, that everyone must take the same path to achieve the certification and protect its integrity

Resources:

www.postpartum.net

http://www.postpartum.net/professionals/certification/

certification@postpartum.net

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103: Breastfeeding, D-MER and Mental Health with Heidi Koss Jun 11, 2018

Show notes

You may think that postpartum depression covers all aspects of perinatal mental health issues that new mothers face. The fact is that there are other kinds of mood changes, some that are talked about and some that are relatively unknown and uncommon. Today’s show focuses on one specific problem that some mothers experience: it’s called D-Mer, which stands for Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex.

Heidi Koss, MA, LMHC, is a psychotherapist in private practice in Redmond, WA. She specializes in perinatal (pregnancy and postpartum) mood disorders, birth trauma, sexual abuse, and parent adjustment issues. Heidi has been the WA State Coordinator for Postpartum Support International www.postpartum.net, and has volunteered for over 20 years with Perinatal Support Washington www.perinatalsupport.org. She served as past board member for PATTCh – the Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth, www.pattch.org. Heidi is active leading trainings for clinicians on appropriate assessment and treatment options for perinatal mood disorders and birth trauma. She leads monthly clinical consult groups mentoring mental health care providers to develop their competency and expertise in perinatal mental health issues.

Heidi was a co-founder of the Northwest Association for Postpartum Support (NAPS, www.napsdoulas.com) a postpartum doula organization as well as the recipient of the Doulas of North America (DONA) Penny Simkin Doula Spirit and Mentorship Award. Prior to her psychotherapy career, Heidi was a Postpartum Doula and Certified Lactation Educator for 12 years.

Show Highlights:

Heidi’s work as a mother and perinatal mental health therapist and lactation educator: ”Helping moms with mind, body, and breast”
Why D-Mer is not often talked about and often misunderstood
What D-Mer is: Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. It occurs when milk onset/letdown happens and lasts a few seconds or minutes
D-Mer is a strange emotional phenomenon with negative emotions of sadness, dread, despair, nervousness, anxiety, and irritability
D-Mer can be severe, with fleeting suicidal thoughts and urges for self-harm
The biochemical connection is with two hormones, dopamine and oxytocin, in which they “go rogue,” misfire, or become overactive
No studies have shown who is more predisposed to experience D-Mer
For some women, D-Mer symptoms ease as the baby ages, but some have no change until weaning
D-Mer symptoms might be harder to treat and control in women who already have a diagnosed anxiety or depression disorder
What D-Mer is NOT: nausea, postpartum depression, anxiety, breastfeeding aversion---”It’s NOT the mom’s fault.”
The best treatment is to educate women about D-Mer
How some women can “talk themselves through” D-Mer episodes
Ideas for easing symptoms include rewiring the stress hormones, making positive associations with breastfeeding, and positive touch (massage)
General good habits for life will ease D-Mer symptoms, like mindfulness, meditation, good sleep and self-care, reduced stress, and managing blood sugar fluctuations
To target dopamine, nursing locations should be aesthetically pleasing to make a pleasant mental and physical experience for the mother
Some women find D-Mer intolerable and decide to wean, while some can deal with the symptoms and continue to breastfeed
Wellbutrin works for some women to ease the symptoms
How to find support: Find a lactation consultant and pursue therapy with a perinatal mental health therapist

Resources:

www.d-mer.org

www.heidikoss.com

Email Heidi: heidi@heidikoss.com

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102: A Personal Story of Postpartum Psychosis with Tarah and Julie Jun 04, 2018

Show notes

You’ve heard of postpartum depression, but have you heard of postpartum psychosis? Do you know the difference and how to recognize the signs and symptoms? We are talking about a very difficult mental condition that can wreak havoc on a new mother, her baby, and her family. Fortunately, there are signs to look for and ways you can help if someone you know might be experiencing this rare condition.

In this episode, we are hearing from Tarah, a woman who experienced postpartum psychosis after the birth of her twins. Tarah’s mother, Julie, joins this chat, which is the first mother-daughter duo we’ve had on the show to talk about the postpartum experience. One or two out of 1000 women will experience a postpartum psychosis, and while it’s very rare, it is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. Most people have been misled to think that postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis are synonymous, but they are not. Psychosis is a break from shared reality and is an emergency situation that looks very different from postpartum depression.

Please note that Tarah’s story may be sensitive for some listeners and is not necessarily what all moms with postpartum psychosis experience. Resources for support are available and listed below.

Show Highlights:

Tarah married in 2007 and began trying to have a baby in 2009. After Clomid and two miscarriages, she experienced a textbook pregnancy with her twins
The twins were born almost 4 weeks early and the postpartum depression began immediately
Julie noticed how Tarah didn’t want to hold the babies a lot and seemed disconnected and anxious
Three days after the twins were born, Julie noticed that Tarah was not acting normal and took her to the hospital
The hospital gave Tarah Xanax and an antidepressant and sent her home, but the symptoms snowballed into psychotic fears and extreme anxiety
Two days later, Julie took Tarah for the 2nd visit to the ER and they admitted her to treat her exhaustion
Two hours after Julie went home to rest, the hospital called to say Tarah had jumped through a window to escape (she was later found, bleeding, wandering around the parking lot)
How one doctor nailed the diagnosis and saved Tarah’s life
Tarah was transported to a behavioral health hospital because she thought people were out to hurt her
What Tarah and Julie want you to know:
This is a real condition and not made-up
Someone you know may need help and not even know it
People are not aware of postpartum psychosis as something to look for

There are some risk factors that can help you know if you are susceptible to a postpartum psychosis or postpartum bipolar onset. Learn more here...

Resources:

If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, please reach out to a local organization that supports postpartum women or reach out to Postpartum Support International (PSI) for information

Postpartum Support International (PSI) www.postpartum.net

If you feel that your family member is experiencing some of the symptoms of postpartum psychosis, please take them to medical care immediately.

PSI also has a specialized support coordinator, providing non-emergency support to women and families dealing with postpartum psychosis: Michele Davidson, PhD, CNM, CFN, RN--703-298-3247 or michelerdavidson@gmail.com

Mom and Mind Connection FB Group

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101: Black Women Birthing Justice May 28, 2018

Show notes

Have you ever considered how the systemic and institutional racism, implicit bias and disempowerment of women might be played out with birth? This is especially true for Black women, many of whom are experiencing discrimination, bias, racism and/or poor care while pregnant, birthing or postpartum. Today’s show explores these dynamics, the findings of a research project and the recommendations that have come out of that research.

We are talking with Professor Chinyere Oparah and Dr. Sayida Peprah, who are part of the Black Women Birthing Justice collective. Today we are discussing some of the research they have done and the report called Battling over Birth. Highlights from our discussion include the power dynamics in the birthing environment for black women, history of sexual survivor issues and how that might impact the birthing experience, empowering Black women in the birth space and some glimpses into what the Battling over Birth report recommends.

Julia Chinyere Oparah is a social justice educator, collective leader, activist scholar, and experienced community organizer who has spent over two decades producing critical scholarship in the service of progressive social movements. Oparah is Provost and Dean of the Faculty and professor of Ethnic Studies at Mills College, and she was educated at Cambridge University and Warwick University

Oparah is the author of Other Kinds of Dreams: Black Women’s Organizations and the Politics of Organization, the only comprehensive history of the black women’s movement in Britain. Her most recent book, Birthing Justice: Black Women, Pregnancy and Childbirth, places Black women at the center of debates around childbirth and highlights their role in the emerging birth justice movement.

Dr. Sayida Peprah became certified through DONA International Inc., as a Birth Doula and began assisting mothers professionally in their journey of pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

Show Highlights:

Black Women Birthing Justice: A collective of African-American Caribbean, and multi-racial women who are sharing about the negative experiences they’ve had in their maternal care and childbirth
How a negative birth experience can be turned around with a great midwife and doula team
How the actions that are being taken by medical providers are disempowering black women
How BWBJ began in 2011 with a Research Justice project, with over 100 women being open and honest about their stories
Battling Over Birth: a human rights report that unpacks the stories of those 100 women and how they found themselves in conflict with their medical providers
Before the sharing circles, some of the women had no idea of what they had missed out on in their birth experiences
The comparison with this topic and the sexual survivors of the Me Too movement, and how their birth experiences are re-triggering and re-traumatizing, with further victimization
The ramifications and implications for these women, along with the potential stress and trauma
How to have empowerment in the birth experience, including how providers interact with you for physical exams during labor and birth
The ways we can make sure this doesn’t keep happening--”This doesn’t have to be normal.”
How the impact of the negative birth experience bleeds over into breastfeeding

Resources:

Professor Oparah: https://www.juliachinyereoparah.com/

Dr. Sayida: www.DrSayidaPeprah.com

To learn about Dr. Sayida’s non-profit click here: www.DiversityUplifts.org, To learn more about the Black community-based doula program and COVID19 doula initiatives Dr. Sayida is working on, click here: www.FrontlineDoulas.com

Please find out more by reading that Battling over Birth report at Find the report here: http://www.blackwomenbirthingjustice.org/battling-over-birth

Twitter @birthingjustice

Instagram @birthingjustice

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Black-Women-Birthing-Justice-216928328357571/posts/?ref=page_internal

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100: Celebrating 100 Episodes of Mom and Mind May 21, 2018

Show notes

Join us for this very special episode, celebrating 100 episodes of Mom and Mind! In this episode, Dr. Kat takes a look back at some of the most impactful episodes of the first 100!

You also get to hear messages from other listeners. These are messages of encouragement and hope. The first 100 episodes is a huge milestone, but to be honest, we are just getting started! There's still so much more to discuss and so many more people to talk to.

So join us as we celebrate this milestone, and keep coming back week after week because we are just getting started. Share this episode with a friend and if you haven't already joined the Facebook group, what are you waiting for?

For this and all episodes of Mom & Mind, please find us at:

www.momandmind.com

Facebook: Mom & Mind

Facebook Group: Mom & Mind Connection

Twitter: @drkaeni

Instagram: @momandmind

For Sponsorship and Guest Inquiries, please email momandmind@gmail.com

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99: "Strong As A Mother" May 14, 2018

Show notes

Maternal Mental Health Month continues and so do we! Hearing real life situations and experience is so important for us. In this episode, Kate Rope talks about her personal experience with pregnancy and postpartum Anxiety.

She also shares about her book, Strong As A Mother, which addresses pregnancy, postpartum throughout the first year and pressures that society place on women. This is book is built to be a useable resource for moms to help guide them through the transition to motherhood.

Kate discusses:

*How having a medical test during pregnancy made her worry more.

*How a Pericarditis diagnosis lead to more testing, which lead to increased Anxiety and intrusive thoughts about illness

*Exhaustion from Anxiety

*Meeting with a Reproductive Psychiatrist for Anxiety and starting to take the medication Sertraline

*"Zoloft was sort of like a snooze button for my brain and I was able to rest"

*"Keep talking until you get somebody who listens"

*How her book, Strong As A Mother supports women to make the decisions that will help them through the journey into motherhood.

Connect with Kate Here:

twitter: @katerope

insta: @strongasamotherbook

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Strongasamotherbook

http://katerope.com/

For this and all episodes of Mom & Mind, please find us at:

www.momandmind.com

Facebook: Mom & Mind

Facebook Group: Mom & Mind Connection

Twitter: @drkaeni

Instagram: @momandmind

For Sponsorship and Guest Inquiries, please email momandmind@gmail.com

KATE ROPE is an award-winning freelance journalist whose work has appeared in many publications and online outlets including The New York Times, Time, Real Simple, CNN.com, Shape, Glamour UK, BabyCenter, Parade and Parenting. She is author of the forthcoming, Strong as a Mother: How to Stay Healthy, Happy and (Most Importantly) Sane from Pregnancy to Parenting (St. Martin’s Press, May 2018), coauthor of The Complete Guide to Medications During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding and lives in Atlanta with her husband and two daughters.

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98: When Postpartum Packs a Punch May 07, 2018

Show notes

Kristina Cowan shares her story and her book, When Postpartum Packs a Punch: Fighting Back and Finding Joy. (We discuss sensitive content for birth injury and complications.)

May is maternal mental health awareness month and Mom & Mind is dedicated to highlighting the lived experience of moms, partners and families.

Kristina discusses her experience through a traumatic birth experience, a postpartum thyroid condition and her path to healing. She has written an amazing book that includes her experience, others stories of lived experience and great information from experts in the field. She wrote, “When Postpartum Packs a Punch” and we will learn a bit about that today. Kristina touches on:

*Birth Trauma

*Postpartum Depression

*Medication for treatment

*Postpartum onset of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

*Healing and recovery

*The resources in her new book

Connect with Kristina Here!

Website: www.kristinacowan.com

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/cowankristina/

Twitter: @kristinacowan

Instagram: kcowan8863

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinacowan/