Rethinking Postpartum
In our western culture, we have come to celebrate the mother who is “bounces back” to her old life as quickly as possible. Instead, what if we redefined success in this postpartum period? What if we celebrated the mother who stays still? In her book, The First Forty Days, Heng Ou writes, “Somehow, a pervasive […]
Treating Symptoms of Postpartum Depression with Social Support & Connection
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mental health condition that affects many new mothers. It can be caused by hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and the stress of adjusting to life with a new baby. While postpartum depression can be a serious condition that requires medical attention, there are also several non-medical strategies that can help […]
Hormones – what’s happening in my body?
I often hear women sharing their experience of feeling “out of control” during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Of course there are many contributing factors to the ups and downs experienced during this time, but hormones have a lot to do with it. They function like your body’s chemical communication system, traveling through your […]
Intense and Traumatic Births
Birth can be one of the most intense and powerful experiences in our lives, and many women feel compelled to share their stories in the days and weeks following delivery. We spend so much time planning and preparing for our birth experiences. We have hopes, dreams, and expectations of what we want it to be. […]
Empathic Over-Arousal
If you’re a mom, you’ve definitely had the experience of your baby or toddler crying out when placed into their crib. If your child is already verbal by this stage, perhaps you tend to hear the heartbreaking cry of “Mommy, come back!” Your pulse quickens, your heart drops into your stomach and settles into a […]