Trigger Warning: childhood trauma, sexual abuse, witnessing domestic violence Becoming pregnant and giving birth have been described as two of the most pivotal, life-changing moments experienced by mothers or birthing persons. It is a time, as defined or understood by society, of joyous excitement, endless baby coos, and cuddling. While this notion may hold true for a majority of new and new again mothers, some women may experience struggles and concerns while pregnant or in their postpartum period. In fact, maternal mental health problems affect 10% of pregnant persons and between 6.5%-20% of ..read more

NEW App Available by Postpartum Support International – Connect by PSI Postpartum Support International (PSI) has expanded its commitment to give all families the best start possible by creating a new app for families and caregivers – Connect by PSI.  Technology has impacted how everyone consumes information and resources – allowing us to have a limitless amount of information at our fingertips, but not all of it is helpful. At PSI, we now offer a trustworthy space for parents and providers to access Perinatal Mental Health information and resources from their phone or tablet. Connec ..read more

Although Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMHDs) affect an estimated 800,000 new parents each year, the topic of mental health can be a mystery to many. PSI wants to change the story by sharing YOUR story and breaking the silence about PMH Disorders. May is Maternal Mental Health Month, and this year, we invite you to join the WeAre1in5 campaign and bring together the voices of PMHD survivors around the world. This year, we will share a diverse selection of stories that tell the struggles, hope, and recovery of those who have been affected by a PMHD. With your help, we hope to bring together ..read more

Trigger Warning: Pregnancy Loss Explore pregnancy and black maternal health, highlighting support and building circles of care during Black Maternal Health Week. Find insights for self-care and advocacy. Black Maternal Health Week is April 11-17, 2024. My Story “The pregnancy implanted in your tube.” I watched the screen intently, following the small cursor on the screen. The ultrasound finally came to an end as my OB removed the wand and slid his chair back. He began to explain exactly what that meant and voiced his concern with more of a sense of urgency than I expected. “I’m going to let yo ..read more

Trigger Warning When you spend your entire career caring for pregnant patients and newborns, there is this expectation, both of yourself and from others, that the transition to motherhood will be easy. I knew what to expect, from a medical perspective, from pregnancy through delivery. I had cared for hundreds of families for almost a decade before I saw those two pink lines on my own pregnancy test. The intrusive thoughts began soon after. I had never been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, but the overwhelming waves of “What if something goes wrong? What if I cause something to go wrong?” cr ..read more

It’s well established that the potential for sleep disturbances increases during pregnancy – 78% of women report sleep-related issues during this time. The reality is, once your baby arrives, sleep will temporarily be further disrupted as you’ll support the baby’s sleep and well-being during the night to feed, comfort and change them. As healthy sleep can mitigate both adverse prenatal and birth outcomes as well as lower the risk of developing postpartum depression, it’s an area of growing importance. SLEEP CHALLENGES IN EARLY PREGNANCY To start with, rising and fluctuating progesterone and es ..read more

Trigger warning: this article contains mention of reproductive trauma. As an eating disorder therapist, I feel that more attention needs to be drawn to the intersections between disordered eating and reproductive trauma. While there is increasing awareness of the ways that pregnancy can be a risk factor for the development or exacerbation of disordered eating, I feel that a missing piece of the conversation is the ways that struggling to become pregnant and pregnancy loss can contribute to disordered eating. Although infertility, pregnancy loss, and other forms of reproductive trauma are quite ..read more

Below you will find a list of those people who have received their PMH-C’s in January 2024.   The state listed is accurate as of 1/2024. United States AK Erin Maloney-Saggiomo, MA, LPC AL Anja M. Dailey MSN, RNC-OB AR Mallory Bockelman AZ Dawn Benford, MSN, PMHNP-BC AZ Danya Kneble LPC AZ Colleen Laszakovits CA Erin Baird CA Christina H Benito, LCSW CA Liana Bonadio, MBA-HM, BS, RN CA M.S., LMFT 107068 CA Danitza Cardenas CA Yana Katzap-Nackman CA Samantha Kennedy PhD CA Celeste Poe, PhD, LMFT CA Melissa M. Pumper, Psy.D. CA Kathryn Rojo, LMFT CA Jennifer Jody Sanchez CA Hiromi Yama ..read more

Welcoming a new life into the world is an extraordinary and joyous experience, but it also significantly changes a couple’s relationship. As parents navigate the challenges of caring for a newborn, it’s common for the topic of sex and intimacy to take a back seat. However, fostering a healthy connection in the postpartum period is crucial for both partners. In this blog post, we’ll explore the physical and emotional aspects of sex and intimacy after childbirth and offer guidance on how couples can navigate this transformative time. Understanding the Physical Changes: Childbirth triggers a myri ..read more

Below you will find a list of those people who have received their PMH-C Certification Recipients in December 2023.   The state listed is accurate as of 12/2023. Name State Dr. Karen E. Durham, DSW, LCSW Armed Forces Pacific Kimberly Snyder AZ Terolyn Stamps AZ Michelle Faye Brown, LMFT CA Natasha Cerrillo CA Chelsea Derossi CA Ruth M. Hammer MSN, RN, IBCLC CA Evelyn Mascareñas, LCSW CA Beth Meyer-Bulley, Psy.D. CA Elizabeth Ramos, LCSW CA Elizabeth Ramos, LCSW CA LaVonne Ricks, LCSW CA Dairian Roberts, MS, OTR/L, IBCLC CA Lisa Rosequist, Ph.D. CA ..read more