The Every Mother Project

02/29/2020

"In fact, in the United States, 7 percent of maternal deaths are due to postpartum depression leading to su***de. Doulas like Alvarez also help new mothers restore pieces of themselves they may feel they've lost in childbirth, and manage expectations when they're not able to live their lives like they want to, just yet."

Doulas can play a critical role in recognizing perinatal emotional complications & doulas need support too!

Doulas for low-income women fight rising maternal mortality rates, but are often not compensated for their work

04/10/2018

Help launch the 1st National Black Maternal Health Week + take a stand for Black maternal health, rights & justice! http://thndr.me/nfhZRQ

05/03/2017

Make sure you . You can't tell just by looking, and if you don't ask, she may not share her struggles because of shame and stigma. The Every Mother Project works to make sure *all* women's health professionals are confident knowing how to talk about perinatal emotional complications, how to recognize and understand the signs and symptoms, and most importantly how to help connect moms to supports and services.


MMHcoalition

You can't tell just by looking at her. how she's doing. you know she’s doing the best she can and help her find support if she needs it.

It's awareness week. If you know 5 moms, chances are you know someone who's experienced depression or anxiety in pregnancy or postpartum. MMHcoalition

05/01/2017

Birth, postpartum and lactation professionals! It's week. Let's raise awareness with our colleagues and the families with whom we work!

It's . It's pregnancy loss. It's anxiety. It can be anger. It can be OCD. It can happen in pregnancy. To dads. It can be a bipolar disorder. Psychosis. It can be PTSD. We need to because every . Please share today. We need to lift this stigma that motherhood is always like a greeting card, because for 1 in 7, it is not. how she's really feeling
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/23/perinatal-anxiety-postnatal-depression

It's . It's pregnancy loss. It's anxiety. It can be anger. It can be OCD. It can happen in pregnancy. To dads. It can be a bipolar disorder. Psychosis. It can be PTSD. We need to because every . Please share today. We need to lift this stigma that motherhood isn't always like a greeting card, because for 1 in 7, it is not. how she's really feeling
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/23/perinatal-anxiety-postnatal-depression

04/19/2017

Absolutely!

72 percent of women weren't assessed for depression or anxiety by their midwife during or after pregnancy.

04/06/2017

A mom asked me today if most lactation consultants are well-informed about postpartum depression and other perinatal emotional complications and if they incorporate this information into their work with families. I answered that fortunately, more and more professionals who work with new and expectant families are more aware of these complications and actively screen for and respond to them as part of their work with clients.
If you work with pregnant folks and/or new families, download our updated Toolkit here: http://www.everymotherproject.org/perinatal-toolkit.html

03/30/2017

The term "b***y blues" doesn't sit well with us, but weaning certainly can be packed with mixed emotions and complicated meaning.

Doulas, lactation consultants, and anyone else frequently called upon for weaning advice, and the mothers' concerns may be around weaning strategy, her physical comfort, the nutritional needs of the baby, and possibly her emotional well-being through the transition and aftermath of weaning.

You don't have to love every aspect of breastfeeding to feel sad in its absence. Usually, weaning brings about many mixed emotions, whether it's mother-led or child-led. Those who feel upset about breastfeeding before or after weaning, however, are m

03/28/2017

"I asked her simply, “How are you feeling?”

She broke down. Sobbing in her living room, she told me that breastfeeding was a number one priority for her, and she had read all the books and had sought out so much help and support, but that she just couldn’t do it anymore. She went on to tell me that the stress of nursing had taken all the joy out of becoming parents and it was all both her and her husband could think about. I could see that this woman was full of anxiety and had some real red flags of depression."

Do you know what the red flags are? Are you asking new moms how they're feeling?

When the stress and pain of nursing is taking all the joy out of becoming a parent, it may be time to stop breastfeeding.

03/25/2017

Excited to team up with A Mom Is Born Counseling and Coaching to provide a training in Perinatal Emotional Complications at the Om Births Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training!

03/16/2017

You've probably worked with pregnant women or new moms and been concerned about their emotional health. Trust your instincts.
Emotional complications are the most common complication of childbirth.

You don't need to be a trained mental health clinician to discuss your concerns with your clients.

You may just need some guidance and resources so that you can approach them compassionately and knowledgeably.
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The Every Mother Project's Perinatal Toolkit can give you the resources and information you need.

http://www.everymotherproject.org/store/p1/Perinatal_Toolkit.html

03/12/2017

What a great initiative to holistically support African American mothers and families.

“Our focus is always on what is going on in this mother’s life,” Farmer says. “We make it mandatory for anyone who comes through our door to participate in our SOS circle, which is all about mental health and emotional trauma—we work with a psychologist on that. We have our birthworkers facilitate these circles. They’ve been largely successful because they really hit at the core," she adds, noting that some of the clients don't even realize they are being exposed to stressors because it’s just their norm.

An overwhelming number of babies are dying in Cleveland neighborhoods—and a group of strong women have come forward to protect those vulnerable new lives as well as those of their mothers.

03/12/2017

"Not once did a professional ask me to my face how I was doing or normalize for me what postpartum is really like for many women."

This is why it's important for each of us - every one who works with pregnant and postpartum women - to understand perinatal emotional complications and feel comfortable asking questions!

At first, I was in mommy heaven. That is, of course, until I wasn’t.