This episode explores the realities of postpartum depression and anxiety (PPD & PPA) and what you might be experiencing if you are suffering from this condition. From environmental factors to biochemistry, there can be a host of causes that may contribute to the symptoms that accompany PPD: insomnia/hypersomnia, flat affect and loss of ability and desire to connect with others, intrusive thoughts, feelings of panic and inability to turn your mind off, having trouble finding the energy to even do the things you typically love doing, crying for no reason--these are but a few of the symptoms we talk about. Additionally, we highlight the importance of really examining ourselves--whether in the postpartum period currently or not--to make sure we are not letting our sense of "normal" shift, thus normalizing dysfunction. Stress, especially in the context of social isolation or social unrest, is one of the biggest risk factors for depression in general and this is true for PPD as well. We'll dive into some ways to recognize and nip these risk factors the best we can with the resources we as moms each have at our disposal.

In continually checking in with ourselves, we are better able to care for our babies and loved ones. Research has proven time and again that children of depressed mothers have alterations in brain chemistry, including excessive amounts of the stress hormone cortisol and lower amounts of the love hormone, oxytocin. This can have a profound effect on a developing brain and how their social nervous system in particular learns to wire itself together. We emphasize that this reality is not to be a source of guilt but rather an excuse for them to take care of themselves too! In a season where it seems baby's needs come first, it's easy for moms to fall on the back burner when it comes to nurturing their own physical and mental health. But to all the mamas out there struggling to make time for your own needs, let this evidence motivate you to care for your baby by caring for yourself! Mother-baby dyads are like living, breathing units and the health of one intimately affects the other--a lot of needs to prioritize! And prioritization is not in the one-or-the-other sense, but rather the both-and sense.

A few other topics we breeze through include matrescense or the changes that a mom's brain goes through after having a baby, how the developing brain is affected by mom's facial expressions, how shifting our mindset and our expectations around common stressors of motherhood can make us physically experience them as less of a stressor, and even a few practical strategies for managing difficult feelings and attitudes we may be facing. And of course, Kaylee talks us through more details from her mental health lens of what therapy for PPD/PPA actually looks like whenever we make the formal decision to "get help."

This is a common issue (approximately 20% of women experience PPD after having a baby) and yet it's a difficult thing to bring up in conversation and get the social support we need. We hope this discussion helps give eyes to what is an oftentimes a very silent and very severe issue!

Infant Massage (Fourth Edition): A Handbook for Loving Parents