For New Parents

Perinatal Counseling

The perinatal period is from conception to 12 months after birth. During that time up to 1 in 5 women (and 1 in 10 men) will experience some form of mood disorder. In fact, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) are the most common complication during and after pregnancy. You are not alone.

It’s easy to discount the emotional discomfort we might experience during the perinatal period. We chalk up our feelings to hormones, lack of sleep, change in routine, etc. We assume “this is just baby blues… I just need more sleep… postpartum is more serious than whatever this is so I don’t need help.”

However, when our mood gets in the way of daily functioning, disrupts our ability to experience joy, or intrudes our thoughts, this may be more than the blues and you do not need to struggle alone. In a recent survey I conducted, over 80% of new moms wished they had sought out some form of mental health support after giving birth- fewer than 40% did*. PMAD does not discriminate and is not a sign of weakness. It is not your fault and you deserve support.

Support can take many forms. As the proverb goes, it takes a village to raise a baby. Even with best intentions from family and friends, sometimes it helps to have a little more. As an experienced licensed counselor and having earned my certificate in perinatal mental health from Postpartum Support International (PSI), I would be honored to be a part of your village!

New Parent Counseling

Regardless of whether or not we’re the one who carried our child, becoming a parent is a significant event. It changes our life and changes a large part of who we are and how we identify. We make such astonishing adjustments in our lives to make room for a new baby; it makes sense that such adjustments sometimes cause dissonance in our world.

It is absolutely understandable that every new parent experiences anxiety, stress, exhaustion, sadness, and guilt. However, if these experiences start to detract from your ability to enjoy your baby, make it difficult to do daily tasks, or intrude into your thoughts, please do not struggle alone. Every new parent deserves support!

With support, you can feel better

As a new parent, life can feel pretty overwhelming at times. Often we might wonder: will my life always feel like this? Is this what parenthood really is?!

The answer is yes and no! Yes, your life is different and things will not be the same as BB (before baby). But, no, things do not always have to feel stressful, overwhelming, or hopeless.

Here are some examples of thoughts we might have as a new parent:

  • “I don’t feel like myself anymore.”
  • “I’m not doing enough for my baby. I’m a terrible parent.”
  • “I can’t focus anymore. I feel like my brain is broken.”
  • “I keep worrying something bad will happen to the baby.”
  • “I feel zoned out, like I’m just going through the motions.”
  • “My baby would be better off with someone else.”
  • “I have a beautiful baby, I shouldn’t feel this way.”
  • “All I ever wanted was to be a mom and now I feel sad/ anxious/ empty/ ashamed/ numb. There’s something wrong with me.“

If you’ve ever had one of these thoughts, you’re not a bad parent. You’re not “losing your mind.” You’re just a person who is going through a life changing experience and is deserving of compassion and support. Please consider allowing me to be there for you.

ABC LARK

I created ABC LARK to share a combination of the clinical skills I know from being a therapist with what I now understand from living through postpartum anxiety. The goal of ABC LARK is to help you maintain your wellness, ability to experience joy, and confidence as you raise your baby (or babies!) through their first several months of life. These skills are evidenced based and the ones what I found most helpful during those late nights and long days with my little one. Click here to read more about ABC LARK and how you can start feeling better today!

Would you (or a loved one) like a free physical copy of this guide, which also includes a refrigerator-ready checklist of this acronym and important support phone numbers? Email info@meadowlarkcsc.com and we’ll happily mail one!

ARE YOU EXPECTING?

Join us every Monday for our FREE virtual pregnancy support group. For more information, click here.

You can also join us for our 6 week Surviving the Fourth Trimester Workshop.

Designed by six specialists in the postpartum field, this multipart workshop aims to provide new parents everything they need to confidently bring home their baby and get through the notoriously challenging newborn phase.

Each hour and fifteen minute session is intended to provide parents with education, resources, and personalized feedback in each of the following areas:

Week 1: From the hospital to home

Week 2: Understanding lactation

Week 3: Managing nutrition

Week 4: Your physical recovery

Week 5: Sleep for you and baby

Week 6: Managing postpartum mood

Next workshop runs from Jan 13th- Feb 27th 2022. Check out more details and register here.

Still not sure about reaching out? That’s ok! Letting a counselor into your life can be hard. Here’s a little bit of my story and how I came to discover PMADs in my own life. One of the most important steps to getting help is knowing there’s no shame in asking for it. Contact me today for a free initial consultation.

*Survey was distributed online through various “new mom” support groups forums with about 250 participations in total. Answers were self reported through Survey Monkey.

** Other statics listed above are based on research by Postpartum Support International