Mom and Mind | Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

Latest Episodes:

47: Postpartum Suicide - Always With Me Apr 17, 2017

Show notes

Diana Collins- Personal Struggle and Loss of a friend *Sensitive Content*

Please be aware that our discussion may be overwhelming for some people. Resources for support listed below.

We discuss Diana's friend who died from postpartum depression suicide. Diana also shares some of her personal struggle with depression and her suicide attempts. We are going to learn about how her personal story, losing her friend to postpartum suicide has shaped what she is doing now to spread awareness.

- She tells us her experience of losing her friend to PPD suicide

- what the impact has been on her, her friends, family

- Diana's own struggle and effects on marriage

- Messages she has to mothers who are suffering

- The podcast she started in her friends honor : Always With Me Podcast

Diana is Mom of two beautiful girls and has been married to her best friend of 4 years. Two under two is tough but never boring! She loves spending time with her little family, crafting, and reading. She recently quit her day job to accomplish a mission in spreading PPD and suicide awareness by sharing other mothers stories on her podcast called, Always With Me. Although she has experienced a tragedy, she has found joy and has never been happier. Life is so short and we must choose to live every single day!

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Alwayswithmepodcast/

Website: www.Alwayswithme.org

If you are in need of your own support, please contact:

Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net or call the warmline at 1-800-944-4773.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

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46: Advocacy & Bringing Postpartum Depression out of the Shadow Apr 10, 2017

Show notes

Jamie Zahlaway Belsito

Do you ever wonder who is doing any thing about maternal mental health? LOTS OF PEOPLE! Listen in to Jamie to find out what is being done and about the rockstars who are at the forefront.

Jamie is the Director of Advocacy for the National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health. She tells us about the national legislation that is up regarding PPD and why it's important.

“Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act of 2015” (HR3235/S2311])

-How to get people involved

-Potential impacts of the bills (what happens if they pass, don't pass)

-Lobby day- May 17th and 18th 2017 in DC

Jamie Zahlaway Belsito is a member of the the North Shore Postpartum Taskforce [NSPPDT and is a Commissioner with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Special Commission on Postpartum Depression. Jamie helps educate the Statehouse and stakeholders on maternal mental health illnesses, gaps in the system and what mom’s may need to get better. Jamie partnered with grassroots groups and local legislators to help ensure passage of funding for MCPAP for Mom’s, PPD pilot program and implementation of universal maternal mental health screening for Mom’s in the Commonwealth, commencing in 2016.

In partnership with Senator Lovely, Senator Tarr and Representative Story, Jamie helped to establish the first ever maternal mental health Advocacy and Awareness Day at the Statehouse in June 2015. Jamie has since been working with Congresswoman Katherine Clark [D- MA5], Senator Elizabeth Warren [D- MA] and Senator Ed Markey [D- MA] offices on federal level maternal mental health complications legislation. She is working with Congress to pass House and Senate bills “Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act of 2015” [HR3235/S2311]. She has over 15 years working in state and federal advocacy.

Jamie is a two time survivor of pregnancy and postpartum depression. It was during this time that Jamie learned first hand about the difficulties of finding quality mental health care to address maternal mental health complications, as well as the lack of communication around the issue of maternal mental health complications at the OB/GYN’s, primary health care, and pediatrics offices.

www.mmhcoalition.com

https://twitter.com/MMHcoalition

https://www.facebook.com/MMHCoalition

Jamie on FB - https://www.facebook.com/jamie.zahlawaybelsito

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45: A Dark Secret & A Mothers Sanctuary Apr 03, 2017

Show notes

LaShonta Edwards - A Mothers Sanctuary

LaShonta is a doula, advocate, author of A Dark Secret, founder and CEO of A Mothers Sanctuary. She shares with us the amazing work and model program that she is doing in Huston, Texas to help mothers and families in the community. What is so great about her organization is that it both offers workshops for moms to learn about postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, they offer support groups AND educate the community health care providers, including Mental Health First Aid classes. This is vital work. The first Gala to benefit the organization is coming up in May, see details below!

She shares her book A Dark Secret, where 15 different women came together to tell their personal stories of pregnancy and postpartum mood challenges, including their messages of hope...how they healed from their Dark Secret. The book is for all of us mothers who have been through this pain and who need to see ourselves reflected in the world. Things like postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, and so much more...the book shows us that we are not alone.

A Mothers Sanctuary: www.Amsmothers.com

Living Life with LaShonta: www.Lashontaedwards.com

A Dark Secret - http://lashontaedwards.com/a-dark-secret/

A Mothers Sanctuary Gala - May 6th - with Keynote from Jane Honikman, MS, founder of Postpartum Support International

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-of-hope-masquerade-gala-tickets-31490890100

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44 : Becoming Us - Prepare to be a thriving family Mar 27, 2017

Show notes

Elly Taylor - Becoming Us

Now there IS a training manual for becoming a family!

We talk in depth about the stages and life changes that couples go through when they bring a baby into the relationship. It’s hard for a lot of expecting parents to know what they DON’T know. She says that we can prepare parents for the unknown and she has figured out how. Did you know that the transition to parenthood can take years? And Parents don't change at the same times?

Elly Taylor tells us about her research and work supporting the transition to parenthood. We will talk about some of the misconceptions about becoming parents, what couples can do to prepare and grow together smoothly… while Becoming Us

Elly Taylor is an Australian Relationship Counsellor, Parenthood Researcher and Writer. She began researching the transition into parenthood when she and her husband started experiencing stretch marks in their relationship at a time they thought they would be happier than ever. She discovered this was normal and was on a mission to find out why. Over 15 years, Elly researched the transition and was shocked to find that partners went through different stages as they adjusted to becoming parents. She wants the next generation of parents to be prepared for this.

More from Elly Taylor:

Elly will be speaking at the Northwest Area Childbirth Educators Forum Live level one training- NACEF in Portland Or, May 5th 2016 http://nacef.net/annual-conference-may-5-2017/

Book- Becoming Us: 8 steps to grow a family that thrives

Becoming us facilitator training…bring the knowledge to your community

Social media links:

www.Ellytaylor.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/EllyTaylorBecomingUs

Twitter - @Becoming_Us

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellytaylor/

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43: Birth Disparities for African American Moms Mar 20, 2017

Show notes

Jessica Diggs - Birth Disparities

Thank you Jessica for being on with us to talk about this, vital to understand and very distressing reality for pregnant and postpartum mothers. We have to be doing better by mothers. Learning from Jessica in this episode is an important part in doing better, being more aware and taking intentional steps to be more supportive to mothers.

We talk about what birth disparities means, effects on pre-term labor and infant mortality, stats on birthrates and effects of disparities on African-American women and babies, how the stress of systemic racism effects health and mental health, what should we be doing differently and how can we be better support and advocate for pregnant and postpartum mothers of color.

Jessica Diggs is a DONA certified birth doula, ICEA trained childbirth educator, and NCM midwifery student. She aspires to become a midwife who works alongside the obstetric and doula communities for collaborative maternity care. Jessica provides evidence-based information to expecting families and believes in freedom of choice based on knowledge of alternatives in childbirth. Along with her birth work, Jessica is also the proud owner of a small childcare agency called Child & Friend.

Find out more from Jessica here:

Website: www.jessicadiggs.com

Instagram: @jessicaadiggs

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42: High Risk Pregnancy? How to talk to your doc Mar 13, 2017

Show notes

Parijat Deshpande, High Risk Pregnancy - How to talk with your providers. In this episode, we discuss how we don't know what we don't know...That it's okay and necessary to ask questions, talk with providers, ask for needs to be met...why it's okay and important to ask questions...who can be an ally in the process...what kinds of questions can a mom be thinking about?

We are talking about how communication with the doctors or medical team can help manage stress and be supportive to the mental health of the mom.Check back on episodes 21: High risk pregnancy and 27: Bed rest.

Parijat Deshpande is the leading perinatal wellness expert who specializes in working with women during a high-risk pregnancy. She educates and guides women on how to manage their stress and anxiety so they can have healthier pregnancies, decrease their risk of preterm birth and give their baby a healthy start to life. Parijat is a clinically trained therapist, a women’s wellness expert and an experienced speaker on the impact of stress on health and wellness. Parijat is also a certified wellness coach, a certified stress management coach and a certified marriage educator.

Parijat is the creator and host of a Podcast called Delivering Miracles that is all about supporting women who are struggling to get pregnant, stay pregnant, and healing when baby comes home.

Find all of the help here:

www.parijatdeshpande.com - Free resources

Facebook: facebook.com/parijatperinatalwellness

Twitter: twitter.com/parijatdesh

Instagram: instagram.com/parijatdesh

Podcast Page: https://deliveringmiracles.wordpress.com/author/deliveringmiracles/

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41: Return to Zero - Healing after Stillbirth Mar 06, 2017

Show notes

Kiley Hanish - Return to Zero

It's hard to imaging being able to get through the loss of a baby during pregnancy. Kiley shares with us some of her story and how her experience shaped what she does now to help other mothers who have lost a child. Kiley's talks about how the stillbirth of her son affected her, the retreat for grieving mothers and the film "Return To Zero" that she and her husband created.

We talk about ways that stillbirth affects mom and dad, the feelings that can come up, Ideas and ways that you can honor yourself and your baby. It's also important for healthcare providers to understand how to support the family through the loss.

Dr. Kiley Hanish is a bereaved mother, founder of the Return to Zero Center for Healing, and doctor of occupational therapy at the University of Southern California. Kiley and her husband Sean are creators of the Emmy-nominated film Return to Zero, which is based on their personal experience of their son Norbert, who was stillborn. This experience of the film inspired her to create the Return to Zero Center for Healing. Dr. Hanish has dedicated her practice to bringing occupational therapy to the community of bereaved mothers and the providers who interact with them.

Here are links to the things we discussed:

http://www.returntozerohealingcenter.com/

Next Healing Retreat May 18-21: http://www.returntozerohealingcenter.com/ojai/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/returntozerofilm/

Other resources and training for health professionals:

Find a therapist in your area: www.pregnancylossdirectory.com

www.resolvethroughsharing.com

www.shoshanacenter.com

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40: The Art of Holding in Therapy - Karen Kleiman, LCSW Feb 25, 2017

Show notes

Karen Kleiman, MSW, LCSW

Oh, this is such a great chat! We talk about helping pregnant and postpartum mothers, Karen's scope of work, training providers so they can really help these moms and of course, her latest book "The Art of Holding in Therapy: An Essential Intervention for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety". Great stuff!

Karen Kleiman, MSW, LCSW, is Founder and Executive Director of The Postpartum Stress Center. Founded in 1988, The Postpartum Stress Center is a treatment and professional training center for pregnancy and postpartum depression and anxiety.

She is author of 9 books on perinatal distress including the groundbreaking title: This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression, now in its second edition, and Therapy and the Postpartum Woman. Her latest book is The Art of Holding in Therapy: An Essential Intervention for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety.

All I can say is...Get all of the books!

Please find more of Karen's work and information here:

Website: http://postpartumstress.com/

Twitter: @ppstresscenter

Instagram @postpartumstress

Fb: The Postpartum Stress Center

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39: Psych Medication in Pregnancy & Postpartum Feb 20, 2017

Show notes

Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody

Dispelling the myths of medication use in pregnancy and postpartum

We are talking with Expert Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody about psychiatric medication during pregnancy and postpartum.

We will go over some of the fundamental things it’s important to know about med use, risks to mother or baby for treated AND untreated illness, clear up some of the misconceptions of medication use and hopefully give you a good understanding of the risks and benefits.

Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH, is an Associate Professor and Director of the UNC Perinatal Psychiatry Program of the UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders. Which is the first program of its kind in the US.

She is currently funded by multiple NIH grants to investigate epidemiologic, genetic, and other biomarker models of postpartum depression and has recently worked to establish an international postpartum depression genetics consortium (PACT). In addition, she is investigating novel treatment options for depression in perinatal women.

Dr. Meltzer-Brody also studies maternal depression in high-risk groups including adolescent mothers, and mothers of children with neuro-developmental delays.

Find all of the resources we discussed here:

www.womensmooddisorders.org

PPDACT app http://www.pactforthecure.com/

https://thehummingbirdstudy.com/

Twitter: @uncwomensmood

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/UNCWMD/about/

www.postpartum.net

www.postpartumprogress.org

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38: PSN Africa- Supporting African Mothers Feb 13, 2017

Show notes

Onyedikachi Ekwerike

I’m honored and excited to have Onyedikachi Ekwerike, speaking with us from Nigeria about maternal mental health for African mothers. He discusses some of the culture specific challenges for African mothers, how maternal mental health has been historically understood, stigma around maternal mental health issues, the work being done in Nigeria and throughout Africa to spread awareness and advocate for mothers.

Onyedikachi Ekwerike is a clinical psychologist and the founder of Postpartum Support Network Africa (PSN Africa) an organization he set up in 2015 to raise awareness about PPD in Africa and provide support for mothers suffering PPD in Africa.

He's a member of the international task-force that planned and executed the first ever 'World Maternal Mental Health Day' held May 4th 2016.

Find out more about this essential work here:

Website: www.psnafrica.com

Instagram, Twitter @psnafrica

Facebook: psnafrica

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