In this episode, Jodie Lisenbee and I are talking all about reproductive health and patient empowerment. Jodie and I met back in college. We studied human development together at UC Davis and well, let’s just say she hasn’t stopped studying since!

Jodie Lisenbee is a PhD Candidate in Clinical Health Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research centers on psychosocial stress during the perinatal period, especially labor and delivery experiences. Clinically, Jodie specializes in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and childbirth trauma. She is currently an Obstetric Psychology Intern at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she provides psychotherapy to women who are pregnant, postpartum, or experiencing other reproductive health challenges. Jodie is also a DONA-certified birth doula, and before graduate school, she volunteered in this capacity for several years with the San Francisco Homeless Prenatal Program and at San Francisco General Hospital. Jodie has a strong lifelong commitment to birth equity and reproductive justice work, and her passion for empowering others shines through in all that she does. Jodie holds an MA in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and two BS degrees in Psychology and Human Development from the University of California at Davis. In her free time, Jodie enjoys spending time with her partner and their two Mini Australian Shepherds exploring the outdoors and learning new tricks. 

In this episode, we'll chat about: 

• How we can better support women mentally and emotionally during pregnancy and postpartum 

• The power in validating each other’s experiences and helping people feel like they aren’t alone 

• The outside pressures and expectations of what certain seasons in life are supposed to be like

• Taking care of ourselves and showing self compassion is actually a great way to show compassion to others

• How to be more empowered while getting medical care and taking medical advice 

• Her method on how to ask informed questions in medical situations: use your B.R.A.I.N.

Resources: 

Postpartum Support International (PSI): https://www.postpartum.net/

• Information, social support, and informed professional care to deal with mental health issues related to childbearing.

• 20+ free online support groups: https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-online-support-meetings/

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: https://mchb.hrsa.gov/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline

• 24/7, free, confidential hotline for pregnant and new moms in English and Spanish

• Call or text 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746)

 

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