Perinatal and Early Parenting Issues
Have you been struggling with:
Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and like you’re barely keeping it together in this new life.
Feeling depressed, anxious, irritable, or numb and wondering if you’ll ever feel like your old self again
Upsetting thoughts about wishing you never had your baby, hurting your baby, or running away
Feeling frustrated that your partner is not providing enough support or isn’t getting what this experience is like for you
Worrying that your child needs more from you or not being sure how to meet their needs
You can
find joy
in parenting.
Being a new parent can be hard, frustrating, and
even disappointing. We can help you find your way
through this huge life adjustment and connect with
the experience you hoped for.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and the early days of parenting represent a transformative time in your life. Your body, your emotions, your daily routines, and your identity all undergo profounds shifts and changes. Some of these changes are joyful, but for many women, there is also difficulty, stress, and mental health challenges.
While most women experience the “baby blues” – a few weeks of mood swings, crying spells, and difficulty sleeping – 20% will develop more significant mental health conditions, including postpartum depression and anxiety. This can be a devastating experience. Where you expected to feel joy, you may feel depressed, hopeless, or numb. You may be disturbed by intrusive images or constant worries about something happening to your baby. You may struggle with sleeping – even when the baby is sleeping – or appetite or wanting to hide from everyone. You might feel overwhelmed and find yourself fantasizing about running away from it all.
To make matters worse, many moms find it hard to tell people how they are really doing. They fear being seen as a bad mother or, worse, a danger to their child. They often feel ashamed that mothering isn’t “coming naturally” to them. Many women fear if they tell people what they are really thinking and feeling, they’ll have their babies taken away.
When you are sleep deprived, fuzzy-headed, and distressed, finding solutions feels almost impossible, but we can help. We can provide a safe space to explore and express your emotions without judgment. We can teach you practical tools and coping skills that promote resilience. Together, we work to navigate the challenges of new parenting, gradually restoring a sense of control and well-being. There’s a reason for the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Motherhood is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Want to learn more? Check out some of the resources below!
Books:
- This Isn’t What I Expected by Karen Kleiman and Valerie Davis Raskin
- Cribsheet by Emily Oster
- The Whole-Brain Child by Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
BONUS RESOURCE
If you have a “colicky” or hard-to-soothe baby (like Erin did), Dr. Harvey Karp’s methods may be a lifesaver. This not a paid endorsement, just a book that was invaluable to Erin with her first child and for other parents she knows with hard-to-soothe children.
Book: The Happiest Baby on the Block, 2nd Edition
Video: Happiest Baby YouTube channel
Blog: The Happiest Baby Blog
This video is part of a great series on perinatal mental health. The videos are informative, validating, and reassuring as they help to distigmatize maternal mental health issues. The entire series can be found here:
Holding Space: Maternal Mental Health