Pregnancy, Postpartum, Unexpected Loss
Online therapy throughout Missouri and washington
Pregnancy:
Maybe you…
wonder if you’ll be a good parent
feel anxious about how it will impact your relationship and life
are not feeling the way you expected to feel
want to set yourself up for success
Many parents preparing for birth wonder if they are enough; I enjoy working with mothers and/or their partners, both before birth and after, to establish healthy communication skills, identify unconscious expectations, and develop a plan to prepare you for the multifaceted experience of childbirth so that you can feel empowered and prepared for this new phase of life.
Postpartum:
Maybe you…
love your baby but don’t feel as connected as you expected to feel
feel selfish when you need a break
want to be a good mother, but aren’t sure what that looks like
feel emotions you weren’t expecting, like sadness, anger, or fear
wonder if what you’re feeling is normal
experienced a complicated or traumatic birth that is interfering with your bonding
Having a baby can be wonderful and full of unexpected surprsises. Many parents feel disoriented and confused by their postpartum emotions. I help parents process any of those unexpected emotions or events, including mood issues, difficult birth, changing identity, relationship struggles, or past trauma that may be impacting you now.
Unexpected Loss:
If you have experienced unexpected loss, please know help is available. Every loss is unique and profound. When you are overwhelmed with grief, professional support lets you know you’re not alone and can help you slowly put one foot in front of the other. There are no expectations and all your feelings are valid and real. I offer a safe place to process the complicated feelings tangled up in such a devastating loss.
Perhaps you and your partner are having differing experiences of grief, making it hard to support each other. Or perhaps you are struggling to feel connected to anyone. Grief can be confusing and all consuming. I will sit with you as long as you need because “It’s ok that you’re not ok” (Megan Devine, 2017).
You don’t have to go through it alone.
Perinatal Resorces
Hotline
Postpartum Support International Help Line: 1-800-944-4773
Support groups
Perinatal Support Groups in WA State only
https://perinatalsupport.org/parent-support-groups/
Virtual Perinatal Support Groups
https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-online-support-meetings/
Postpartum Dads
Support for partners of pregnancy and the postpartum period
https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/help-for-dads/
Perinatal Loss Support
https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/loss-grief-in-pregnancy-postpartum/
National Infertility Association https://resolve.org/learn/
Hike It, Baby
Cool hiking groups for parent and baby:
https://www.weareoutgrown.org/
PEPS - Washington State Program for Early Parent Support
https://www.peps.org/
Podcasts
Maternal Mental Health Podcast by Cigna
https://www.cigna.com/maternal-mental-health-podcast
Mom and Mind Podcast by Katayune Kaeni, Psy.D., PMH-C
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mom-mind/id1125550872
Mindfulness Ideas
https://positivepsychology.com/mindfulness-exercises-techniques-activities/
BOOKS
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleiman
What About Us? A New Parent Guide by Karen Kleiman
Tokens of Affection: Reclaiming your marriage after Post Partum by Karen Kleiman
And Baby Makes 3 by John and Julie Gottman
Dear Mama: You Matter by Amanda Hardy
Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward by Gemma Hartley
Fairplay (about Division of Labor) by Eve Rodsky
The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook by Pamela Wiegartz
The Postpartum Journal by Rachel Rabinor
The Postpartum Husband: Practical Solutions for Living with Postpartum Depression by Karen Kleiman
Parenting Resources
books
Parenting from the Inside Out by Daniel Siegel
The Whole-Brain Child by Siegel & Bryson
https://drdansiegel.com/book/the-whole-brain-child/
Good Inside - Dr. Becky Kennedy (instagram, podcast, book, workshops)
https://www.goodinside.com/
Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors by Robyn Gobbel (instagram, podcast, book, workshops)
https://robyngobbel.com/