No, That Knife Isn’t Going To Fly Off The Counter And Hurt Your Baby
Season 1 Episode 3
Today's episode is all about maternal mental health as motherhood wellness expert Alyson Hempsey shares an important discussion with Dr. Marcy Crouch about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs). We talk about intrusive thoughts, the signs of postpartum depression (PPD) and the differences between PPD and "the baby blues". Mamas, have you ever said to yourself, "no one told me this" about the postpartum period when it comes to mental health? We talk about it all in this episode.
What you will learn in this episode:
What a Perinatal Mood Disorder (PMAD) is
Examples of Intrusive Thoughts and how to manage them
The early signs of postpartum depression (PPD)
What the differences are between and “The Baby Blues”
One of the most common intrusive thoughts moms often experience is the vision of holding your baby while walking up or down the stairs and then falling. Dr. Marcy and Alyson discuss in detail that intrusive thoughts are normal. Every single person has them…its evolutionary. In fact, intrusive thoughts arguably help keep us safe. Imagine the intrusive thought mentioned above. If you had this thought, you might find yourself later walking extra cautiously up and down the stairs, or holding onto the railing for balance. Remember, our thoughts do not define who we are. Intrusive thoughts are sudden, unwanted, and they are not preplanned or premediated (like when Alyson’s husband confessed to an intrusive thought he has to flick her nose). Having an intrusive thought does not mean you have anxiety. However, if they are happening and you find yourself debilitated by the thought, or giving in to them, it may be time to talk to a mental health professional.
Selected Links From the Episode:
If you would like to learn more about maternal mental health and learn how to reclaim your identity in motherhood, Alyson’s SOULtime guide is for you!
Want more support, Mama?
-Use code "NMLBVIP" for 10% off Dr. Marcy's Postpartum courses
- Use code "NMLB" for $5 off Alyson's SOULtime guide