Your world feels chaotic and there's no escape. There are endless hours between naps, feedings and the constant fatigue. There is no one around to talk to and you feel overwhelmed and frustrated all the time. Having one more drink feels awful, but it gives you that escape you've been craving. Sound familiar? Whether you …
7 Tips for Parents Going Back to Work
How are you feeling about going back to work? The past few months have been all about baby, and now you're suddenly expected to balance work, childcare, and other needs. There's no way this can go smoothly. If you're among the many, returning back to work after maternity leave (or paternity leave) can be a …
Postpartum Anxiety and Feelings of Overwhelm
It may seem that being overwhelmed is just a given. You're up to your eyeballs in dirty diapers and wet burp clothes. You can't remember the last time you had more than a few hours of rest. What even is breakfast? You run on a steady stream of coffee and fistfuls of cheerios. When you …
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Struggling with body image during pregnancy
The worst part of prenatal visits? Going to your healthcare provider's office and stepping on that scale at Every. Single. Appointment. As if you need any reminder that your weight is increasing at an alarming rate. You know this. You feel huge. No other pregnant mom looks as big as you do. You shouldn't have …
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Shame and the postpartum experience
One of the biggest aversions to attending postpartum therapy is shame. You feel ashamed that your emotions are messy. This isn't like you. Normally, you're calm and cool. But, suddenly your hormones are all over the place, your hair is a mess and you can't remember the last time you showered. There hasn't been a …
The pressures of breastfeeding
That first year with a baby is all about feeding, feeding and more feeding. For every parent, there is a time when he or she decides whether to breastfeed, exclusively pump, stick to formula, or use a combination approach. There are a variety of factors that push a parent towards one choice over the other. …
What is happening with my mood?! D-MER and Breastfeeding
What is your experience with breastfeeding? Do you feel angry or tearful as soon as you start? Is there a sense of dread when you begin another pumping session? How intense is your anxiety during these moments? When it comes to nursing, there are many parents who enjoy the experience and feel it's an opportunity …
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Support for the avoidant parent
Sure, you and your partner have talked about having a child. In theory, it seemed fine. But now that your baby has arrived, it feels harder than you ever expected. It is exhausting trying to connect with this unresponsive baby. It feels like everytime you pick up your child, he or she knows to scream …
Will I have postpartum depression again?
For anyone who has survived postpartum depression, you know how painful and unsettling life felt after your baby arrived. During that first year, you are overwhelmed with feelings of irritability, helplessness, anger, rage, sadness, and anxiety (just to name a few). The fear of ever facing this experience again causes many parents to hesitate about …
Building a bond with your baby: Strategies to help when you struggle with postpartum mental health
When it comes to postpartum mental health, many parents struggle to building a connection with their little ones. There may be feelings of resentment that our lives have changed. You may feel too tired to want to play or sing nurseries. Your anxiety feels too high for you to be comfortable spending time alone with …