Pregnancy, Prenatal and Post-Partum Mood Disorders

618789815You’re missing that pregnancy glow.

Getting pregnant has been a real struggle. You’ve been trying to manage the stress of infertility, and it is wearing you down.

Maybe your baby has not even arrived yet, but the stress of birth and delivery have become overwhelming. Pregnancy is not what you dreamed it to be. You feel terrified.

Your little bundle of joy has finally arrived.

But you can’t stop crying.

You constantly visualize the worst possible thing happening to your baby. When taking a walk, you imagine the tree landing on the stroller. Or, as you are on your way for that four-week check-up, you worry about a car hitting you.

Walking up the steps while carrying your baby makes you take extra care for fear of tripping and dropping your baby.

Every time you close your eyes at night, they pop back open to check just one more time to make sure the baby is okay. “Are they breathing? Are they face-planting the mattress in their crib?”

Now what?

Maternity leave was supposed to be a breeze, but your partner returned to work. Now you are with your baby 24 hours a day and have never felt so alone. So bored. So tired.

“Everyone goes through this, right?”

Post-partum depression is a common phrase thrown around after giving birth, but it goes so much deeper. Many women struggle with depression, anxiety, mood disorders and symptoms of trauma while pregnant to after becoming a mom.

You might be thinking, “That won’t happen to me. That’s not what I’m feeling. My hormones are only balancing back to normal.” You’ve been strong throughout your entire life, and you cannot imagine this time being hard for you.

You try to normalize what you are feeling. “It will end soon, and I will be back to my old self.”

1671022714After all, you are made for this – Right?

The bond you dreamed of with your baby is possible. Your marriage does not need to suffer like it is.

Getting help takes courage, but it is 100% worth it. You are not alone, whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, loneliness, anger/irritability or you don’t know how to take care of this new baby.

We’ve been there and know the struggle is real. Carve out an hour of your week, and we will help you navigate this new normal. You will discover your new identity as a mom or mom to more than one.

In therapy, you will learn effective skills to help ease the anxiety, sadness, anger and sleeplessness. We will explore your childhood and your relationship with your parents growing up. Maybe it was beautiful, or perhaps it was complicated. Either way, it will help shape the type of parent you become. Developing an understanding will help prevent unwanted cycles from continuing.

We will teach you some tips and tricks of the “trade” and connect you with other moms to help build your village. You will sharpen your communication skills and finally be okay asking for a bit of help. It’s even okay to bring the baby! #Mamasunite