Dr Elsa Du Toit

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South Africa
Cape Town
Dr Elsa Du Toit

I am passionate about empowering women and their families during one of life’s most immersive journeys - pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.

With over 15 years of expertise exclusively focused on perinatal psychiatry.

28/11/2025

As a mom and a maternal mental health specialist, life often feels like a constant whirlwind of patient care and endless to-do lists.

I’ve learned the hard way that taking time to rest and reflect isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Sitting quietly, reading or simply being still for a few minutes helps me reset, recharge and show up more fully for my family, my patients and myself.

These moments of downtime protect my mental health, help me process the day and remind me that self-care is not selfish, it’s essential.

💌 If you’d like to receive reflections, insightsand practical tips on mental health, self-care, and balancing life as a parent and professional, join my mailing list here: www.drelsadutoit.com/mailing-list

26/11/2025

I’m passionate about sharing knowledge that can make a real difference in women’s mental health from complex clinical cases to emerging treatments in perinatal psychiatry.

By signing up to my mailing list, you’ll get direct access to the latest insights, practical guidance and reflections from collaboration with world-leading experts at Harvard and MGH.

💌 Join here: www.drelsadutoit.com/mailing-list

Let’s stay connected, keep learning and continue advancing care for women together.

24/11/2025

Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned both as a mom of three and as a maternal mental health specialist, come from the quiet, simple moments with my family.

Whether it’s laughing over breakfast, reading or just sitting together in the garden, these moments remind me to slow down, breathe and be fully present.

In our busy lives, it’s easy to overlook these small but powerful moments. Yet they are some of the strongest protectors of our mental health, grounding us, lifting our spirits and helping us show up more fully for those we care for.

I try to carry this practice into my work, to encouraging parents to notice and cherish these simple connections.

And I also want to share what I’m learning along the way.

💌 If you’d like to receive reflections, tips and insights on maternal mental health, self-care and family wellbeing, I’d love for you to join my mailing list: www.drelsadutoit.com/mailing-list

21/11/2025

I’m taking a quiet moment today to celebrate something truly special, being selected as part of Harvard/MGH’s inaugural Psychiatry Collective!

This small, global cohort of psychiatrists and psychopharmacologists will collaborate throughout the year to explore complex perinatal and reproductive psychiatry cases, guided by some of the world’s leading experts — Professors Lee Cohen and Marlene Freeman.

Having been part of the MGH ward rounds for the past five years, this feels like a full-circle moment, an opportunity to deepen that learning, collaborate with incredible colleagues and help shape the future of reproductive psychiatry.

It’s humbling, energising and deeply motivating and I can’t wait to share what I learn with all of you.

If you’re passionate about women’s mental health and want to stay connected as I share knowledge, insights and reflections on perinatal mental health, you can join my mailing list here:
💌 www.drelsadutoit.com/mailing-list

19/11/2025

Life as a parent of three can be wonderfully full… and wonderfully chaotic. Between work and everything in between, it’s easy for partners to feel more like roommates than a couple.

I’ve learned that taking intentional time for each other, even small moments, is not just good for our relationship, it’s essential for mental health. Whether it’s a quiet cup of coffee together, a short walk or just a laugh over the day’s chaos, these moments remind us that connection matters.

As a maternal mental health specialist, I see firsthand how small, intentional actions can make a big difference for parents, for couples and for families.

And I’m excited to share more reflections, insights and practical tips along the way.

💌 If you’d like to receive updates and insights on mental health, parenting and nurturing relationships, join my mailing list here: www.drelsadutoit.com/mailing-list

17/11/2025

I’m excited to share the latest insights, reflections and learnings from my work in Maternal Mental Health.

If you want to stay in the loop and receive exclusive updates, case discussions and practical knowledge straight to your inbox, I’d love for you to join my mailing list.

💌 Sign up here: www.drelsadutoit.com/mailing-list

14/11/2025

Some days, life feels like a nonstop juggling act, kids, work, patients, emails… you know the drill. 🏃‍♀️💨

As a maternal mental health specialist, I talk to so many parents about protecting their mental wellbeing, but sometimes I need to remind myself to practice what I preach.

For me, one of the most grounding, restorative ways I protect my mental health is by getting moving. Running, hiking & yoga clears my head, boosts my mood, and reminds me that self-care isn’t optional, it’s essential.

It doesn’t have to be perfect or long; even a few minutes outdoors, feeling my feet hit the ground, can reset my mind and give me the energy to show up fully for my patients, my family and myself.

To all the parents, clinicians or anyone feeling stretched thin: movement matters, not just for your body, but for your mind too. Find the rhythm that works for you and protect your mental health as fiercely as you protect those you care for.

How do you protect your mental wellbeing when life gets busy? I’d love to hear your tips!

💌 If you’d like to receive reflections, tips, and insights on maternal mental health, self-care, and family wellbeing, I’d love for you to join my mailing list: www.drelsadutoit.com/mailing-list

13/11/2025

Over the past five years, I’ve had the privilege of attending the weekly MGH ward rounds led by Professors Lee Cohen and Marlene Freeman, a space where psychiatry, collaboration and compassion intersect so beautifully.

Now, I’m deeply honoured (and super excited!) to share that I’ve been selected to join the inaugural Psychiatry Collective, a new initiative from the MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health at Harvard.

This Collective brings together a small, international group of psychiatrists and psychopharmacologists with a shared focus on reproductive and perinatal mental health.

Together, under the guidance of Professors Cohen and Freeman, we’ll be exploring complex clinical cases, pharmacological approaches and collaborative peer learning with the goal of raising the standard of care in women’s mental health globally.

This is such an exciting opportunity for growth, learning and connection and I can’t wait to share the insights, reflections and evolving conversations that emerge from this experience.

If you'd like to be part of a growing movement to improve mental healthcare, I'd love for you to join my mailing list 💌
👉 www.drelsadutoit.com/mailing-list

10/11/2025

🏉 Leadership, Teamwork, and the Bigger Picture

Sometimes the greatest act of leadership is knowing when to step back.

On Saturday, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi showed exactly that.
In his hundredth Test (a milestone most would hold onto) he chose to step aside when the team needed a more versatile player on the field.

It wasn’t about ego.
It was about purpose.

In perinatal healthcare, we can learn from this.
Each of us — whether obstetrician, psychiatrist, midwife, lactation consultant, or pediatrician — brings unique expertise.

But sometimes leadership means creating space for another perspective,
so the team can reach the shared goal:
a healthy mother and a healthy baby.

That’s true collaboration, humility in action, in service of something greater than ourselves.

And in true South African fashion 🇿🇦
the Springboks turned adversity into motivation,showed grit and composure,
and powered their way to a 32–17 victory.

07/11/2025

Dads struggle too.

Paternal mental health is so often overlooked, yet 1 in 10 new fathers experience anxiety or depression after the birth of a baby. Society tells men to be strong but real strength lies in being able to ask for help.

In my latest blog, I explore why it's time we start checking in with dads, too. Their mental health matters for them, their partners and their babies.

👉 Read the full blog here:https://www.drelsadutoit.com/blog/men-s-mental-health-during-the-perinatal-period

06/11/2025

Sometimes the things designed to ease our worries end up adding to them.
Sleep trackers, feeding apps, milestone charts — they can offer structure, but they can also start whispering you’re not doing enough.

Mindful awareness means knowing when to step back.
When the tracking starts tracking you, it’s time to pause.

Because information alone isn’t enough — it’s how we understand it, and how it fits into your context, that truly matters.

✨ That’s the heart of Mindful Moms,
and the vision behind the Mindful Maternal Health Program —
helping women and professionals move from overwhelm to calm, confident decision-making.

30/10/2025

We often speak about pregnancy as a time of joy and growth. A time when women are expected to be radiant with anticipation.
But there’s another side we rarely name.
The dark side of the womb.
Loss. Fear. Grief.
The miscarriages, the abnormal scans, the losses that live quietly in the background of joy.

Our instinct is to make it better.
To reassure.
To explain.
But sometimes, the most healing thing we can do is simply stay.
To sit with the pain without trying to fix it.
In perinatal care, true wholeness means learning to hold both light and shadow. Because healing often begins where we dare to stay present.

Mindful Mums helps women navigate these difficult moments with honesty, support, and gentle understanding.
And in 2026, keep an eye out for a new healthcare professional program that creates a space for these vital conversations, not just about what to say, but how to stay when words aren’t enough.
Keep an eye on my website — enrolment opens soon.

Address

Cape Town

Website

https://www.drelsadutoit.com/

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