Parenthood Support and Wellness

So you have a baby on the way! Or are in the planning stages. Or baby is here and now what?!?! Congratulations any which way!

It can be an exciting and stressful time preparing for baby and you want to make sure you are at the best you can be going into this thing called parenthood!

There are so many things to consider, factor in, and plan for. Medical appointments, family leave, finances, preparing the house/nursery, childcare… But you all ready know this. Something that has not been talked about historically, though, the tides are starting to thankfully change, is postpartum depression.

This is actually a bit of a misnomer, or, more accurately an exclusion of the other mood and/or anxiety disorders that can occur in the perinatal stage. As more awareness is being raised around mood and anxiety disorders and pregnancy there have been many ways it is referred to, including: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD), Perinatal Mood Complications (PMC), Perinatal Emotional Complications (PEC), Postpartum Depression (PPD), Postpartum Anxiety (PPA)… you get the point. It can get confusing. In the midst of the confusion it is important to remember that emotional complications during pregnancy are the most common complications and, again, are so rarely discussed even though they impact the whole family (not just mom)!

There is a lot of shame and guilt when feelings of depression and anxiety overwhelm this time in your life that you are told is the happiest most magical time.

How can you tell someone you feel like your baby is better off without you or that you have thoughts of hurting your baby?! What will happen if you do admit these things out loud? Will your baby be taken away, never to be seen again? Will you be locked up in a psychiatric hospital and labeled a terrible mom forever?

The good news is that postpartum psychosis is the rarest form of perinatal emotional complications and all of the emotional complications can get better with treatment! Treatment can include individual therapy, dyadic therapy (parent and baby), couples counseling, group therapy, medication, and hospitalization. (More information on the break down of mood and anxiety disorders here.)

You do not have to have carried and delivered a baby to suffer from emotional complications. Partners are impacted by this major life event as well. You may also experience emotional complications if you have a child via a surrogate or through adoption.

If you are worried you may be at risk for perinatal emotional complications (prior issues with depression and anxiety are risk factors), are feeling the impacts of emotional complications, or just want some extra support around rocking this parenting thing, contact me today!

Are you past the newborn/first year or so stage?

Congratulations, you made it!

I can still be of help to you! 

Do you need support around being consistent and boundaried with your child(ren)? Your family? Your partner? Are you struggling with a certain age or stage? Are you reading too much on the internet and feeling insecure about your parenting style/abilities?? Do you struggle with keeping your emotional states regulated when in conflict with your child(ren)? 

Parenting is a huge transition, is continually changing, and brings up lots of things in ourselves.

I would love to help support you through whatever roadblocks are in your way!