Intrusive thoughts are unwanted or unconscious thoughts that pop into our conscious mind. During the postpartum period, they are often related to accidental harm or intentional harm to baby, and can feel very disruptive, frightening, and isolating for new parents to experience. Dr. Sarah Lea and Psychologist, Bsc, MACP, RPsych and Co-Founder of Mama Psychologists Chelsea Bodie discuss this phenomenon and how to best support patients that may be struggling with it.

Resources:

• She Found Motherhood Podcast episode: The Mama Psychologists Birth Stories. A good resource for patients containing stories around birth trauma, the stress of giving birth during marital separation, preterm birth, and working through it all.


• Mama Psychologists website and Instagram Page


• Not Your Mother's Postpartum Book: Normalizing Post-Baby Mental Health Struggles, Navigating #Momlife, and Finding Strength Amid the Chaos by Chelsea Bodie and Caitlin Slavens


• Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers by Karen Kleiman


• Pacific Postpartum Support Society


• Postpartum Support International (PSI)


• Psychology Today

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