Mental Health , Recovery

Postpartum OCD Is A Thing

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

Wait, what is Postpartum OCD? 
Yep. It’s Obsessive Compulsive Disorder that develops or is magnified as part of the postpartum experience. Women who don’t have OCD can develop it as part of their childbirth experience. Women who already have OCD can see their symptoms intensify during postpartum. 
Most simply defined, OCD is when “intrusive thoughts” become fairly constant, and a person starts acting on those thoughts. 
On episode 67 of Fourth Trimester Podcast we focus on postpartum OCD and speak with Megan Ellow who is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Delaware.
 
The episode covers: 
Signs of Postpartum Anxiety and Postpartum OCD
How to find help if you think you may have symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety and Postpartum OCD (Hint: start by calling an anonymous helpline 800-944-4773) 
Megan’s true story of postpartum OCD and her recovery 

Mental Health

Afraid Of The Birth? Anxious About Being A Parent?

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

We talk with Leah Chalofsky about the New Parents Circle and Cesarean Birth Support Group, anxiety (as it relates to pregnancy and parenting), domestic violence, and teen pregnancy/parenting. Topics covered:
Hormones and their influence
Emotions prior to birth 
Anxiety, Depression and “feeling bad about feeling bad” 
First two years of child’s life – transitions physical and mental 
Benefiting from being around other parents
Ruling out physical issues – how physical and emotional are intertwined 

Mental Health

The Secret To Raising Confident Kids – Confidence Master Class

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

Confidence-building is a lifelong exercise for all people, including parents. Listen to this Confidence Masterclass on episode 62 of the Fourth Trimester Podcast. Learn the confidence-building foundations. This audio masterclass is designed for women and mothers in particular. The course covers: 
The importance of demonstrating confidence to our children
Loving and respecting yourself 
What self care means 
How to unearth your true identity 

Body , Mental Health

‘Pregnant With the Stars’ Writer Renée Cramer on How Celebrity Image Plays Into the Psyche of Modern Parents

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

Renée Ann Cramer is our guest on episode 45 of the Fourth Trimester Podcast. She wrote “Pregnant With The Stars: Watching And Wanting The Celebrity Baby Bump” as part of her research into the culture around pregnancy and celebrity. She shares personal stories about her experience as a mother, as well as her fascinating perspective on how celebrity image plays into the psyche of modern parents.

Mental Health

The True Story About Postpartum Psychosis

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

Shortly after the birth of my daughter, I spent 10 days locked in the psych ward of the hospital after my postpartum depression and psychosis made me suicidal. In my altered psychotic state, I thought my house was bugged and the police were coming to arrest me for a crime for which I was wrongly accused. I thought the only way out of my crisis was to kill myself, so I told my mom and husband that I was going to go jump off the Golden Gate Bridge.

Mental Health , Postpartum Support

Pinpoint Where You Are on the Spectrum of Mental Health

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

This is our second and brief interview with Jane Honikman, a founding member of the Postpartum Education for Parents resource (www.sbpep.org) as well as Postpartum Support International (postpartum.net) that includes a telephone support line and partner with Dr Shoshana Bennett in Postpartum Action Institute.
Jane gives us an overview and outline for finding ourselves on the spectrum of mental health. Listen to the episode to find out how to identify different parts of the continuum and better understand where you yourself might fall on that spectrum.
She talks about her time studying with Dr. James Hamilton who was interested in maternal mental health at a time when it might have seemed as if no one cared or understood, much like today in many women’s experience!

Mental Health

Why Women Are Slipping Through The Cracks

by: Sarah TrottPosted on:

The number one complication of pregnancy is a form of postpartum depression or anxiety. Despite how common it is for women to experience a degree of anxiety or depression associated during pregnancy or post-natally, there are still cases where women aren’t receiving the care they need.
To help crack the issue wide open, Maureen Fura and her co-producer Jennifer Silliman created a documentary film entitled, The Dark Side Of The Full Moon.