Finding the Words
By Kristy Jenkins, MS, of PHA organizational member, Life Perspectives Even though up to 25% of pregnancies will end in miscarriage, the medical community continues to struggle to find the right words in delivering this delicate news to its patients. Maria Brann, Ph.D, Jennifer Bute, Ph.D., and Susanna Foxworthy Scott have conducted further research into […]
4 Ways to Manage Mental Health and Distance Learning with Kids
It’s officially Fall, and in 2020 that means that many parents are in the midst of navigating their children’s education remotely. Logistically and emotionally, this places new challenges on what are already incredibly full parental plates – especially for those parents facilitating virtual learning, while working, while possibly also pregnant, and/or caring for their infant […]
BIPOC Mental Health Month
July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month. In keeping with our promise and commitment to educating ourselves and our community around minority groups and their experiences during the perinatal period, we pulled together several resources that support BIPOC Mental Health education. These resources come from two reputable perinatal organizations – […]
Giving Birth During a Pandemic: 3 Factors that Impact Maternal Mental Health
By Amanda Freeman, Ph.D., PMH-C The birth of a child can be one of the most wonderful, amazing, and joyous experiences of a woman’s life. Even in the best of times, it can also be incredibly challenging and emotional. Having a baby during the COVID-19 pandemic adds an unexpected and enormous layer of emotional tension […]
4 Tips to Eliminate Sleep Props
Written by Natalie Fitzgerald, Certified Sleep Consultant, and Postpartum Doula. A sleep prop is something your baby relies on to fall asleep or to fall back asleep. Common sleep props can be rocking or nursing to sleep – but really it’s anything that your baby relies on to fall asleep, and cannot fall back to […]
A Friend in Need- Three Steps to Help Moms Who are Struggling
By PHA Board Member Shelly Tregembo. With one in five mothers experiencing depression or anxiety during or after their pregnancy, the need for all of us to have a good understanding of how to reach out and get our friends and loved ones connected to care is crucial. Depending on each mom’s situation, different resources […]
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: A Therapist’s Overview
Gretchen Mallios, LCSW, RYT is a therapist in private practice in San Diego and past President of Postpartum Health Alliance. In addition, she is the founder of Positively Yoga, where she and other instructors offer therapeutic yoga and mindfulness services to support emotional health Many people compare pregnancy and parenting to a roller coaster, filled […]
Conversations that Count: Ask a Dad about His Journey
By Dr. Daniel Singley, Ph.D. International Fathers’ Mental Health Day (IFMHD) was on June 17th (the day after Father’s Day), so I wanted to take a quick look at an often-overlooked aspect of new fathers’ adjustment to parenthood: His own hormonal changes. Several of my colleagues founded IFMHD several years back as a way to […]
Why I Climb.
Postpartum Health Alliance (PHA) is honored to co-host San Diego’s 5th annual Climb Out of the Darkness, the world’s largest event raising awareness about PMADs (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders). Please join us for this free, family-friendly event on June 15th at Kate Sessions Park from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Blog post by Julie […]
The Perfect Mother
Written by PHA Board member Dr. Amanda Freeman. Amanda is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in private practice. She is passionate about making the experience of motherhood a joyful and fulfilling time. Striving for the impossible ideal of being the “perfect mother” is a trap many can fall into. The “perfect mother” is plastered all over […]