Perinatal Wellbeing - The Podcast about Prenatal, Pregnancy & Postpartum Health

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Content Warning: We like to swear, if you’re listening with kids or don’t like swearing, please be aware!

Hello and welcome to Perinatal Wellbeing episode #24. My guest today is Naomi from Queer Nest Club. Naomi uses she and they pronouns, and is Founder and head Doula of Queer Nest, where she coaches and supports Queer and gender-non-conforming folks and entrepreneurs through one of their biggest life transitions— becoming a parent! Through support, advance preparation, self-advocacy, and abundance, she helps you become the parent of your dreams. On today’s episode Naomi and I talk about body hair and how the shame around body hair and body image can impact our parenting. It’s a conversation that we haven’t heard yet so dive in and let’s talk about it!  

Highlights:

4:45 Naomi’s story with body hair

8:50 Birth as the turning point for Naomi, the last time they shaved their legs

11:00 The idea of hygiene and body hair removal 

12:26 How body hair impacts how we feel about our parenting

14:02 Modelling body acceptance for our kids

22:20 Parenting in a patriarchal society

25:10 Calling people out on their shit

27:03 How people comment on our kids

31:00 Postpartum Sexuality and body hair

35:46 Where Naomi is at with her body hair journey now

44:15 Wearing clothes that feel comfortable

46:20 People’s opinions don’t matter

Resources: 

Redefining Girly: How Parents Can Fight the Stereotyping and Sexualizing of Girlhood, from Birth to Tween by Melissa Atkins Wardy

https://www.amazon.ca/Redefining-Girly-Stereotyping-Sexualizing-Girlhood/dp/1613745524/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=redefining+girly+book&qid=1671237131&sprefix=redifining+gi%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1    

You can find Naomi on Instagram at @myqueernest primarily, and @queernestclub
Company Website: https://queernest.co , Queer Nest Club website: https://queernestclub.com

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email [email protected]

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Content Warning: 
Postpartum psychosis and suicide

Hello and welcome to Perinatal Wellbeing episode #23. Today Gillian Cullen she/they Full-spectrum doula, CST practitioner, founder and CEO of Birth Mark joins me to talk about starting Birth Mark, a charity dedicated to providing full spectrum doula support for marginalized and at-risk communities throughout the GTA and Hamilton. Gillian started Birth Mark from the ground up and is doing incredible work in the community to raise awareness, advocate for better care of those in the Perinatal period and provide amazing doula care access to people in underserved communities.

In this episode Gillian really broke down the deep impacts that the pandemic has had on birthing parents. Gillian shared with us what Doula support looks like and how Doulas at Birth Mark support their clients who are birthing babies. And Gillian provided their insight about gaps in mental health services in Ontario and the advocacy work they do to try and fill gaps in these services.  

Highlights:

2:04 - Gillian’s background and starting Birth Mark

6:36 - Barriers to starting Birth Mark

10:37 - Birth Mark’s Core values, services and outreach

18:07 - Impact of the Pandemic on Birth Mark

35:49 - The loss of a Birth Mark’s client Flora to postpartum psychosis

39:44 - Gaps in reproductive care in Ontario

43:48 - Having Doulas provide support to help reduce the burden on the healthcare system and diversifying the healthcare systems

48:37 - What do Doulas do? 

58:40 - How you can support Birth Mark

1:01:14 - The benefits of having a doula

1:03:35 - What would Gillian like to see and change in the perinatal community

Resources: 

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email [email protected]

You can find Gillian on Instagram and Facebook: @gillian.doula.cullen and on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-cullen-a73798193/

Birth Mark’s website is https://birthmarksupport.com 

You can donate to Birth Mark here: https://birthmarksupport.com/donate 

Instagram @birthmarksupport

Facebook @birthmarksupport 

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Content Warning: This is an in-depth discussion about racism and the impacts on reproductive health and can feel very heavy, especially for those who are impacted by these topics. We discuss things such as forced sterilization, interactions with CAS. Take care of yourself while listening. 

Hello and welcome to Perinatal Wellbeing episode #22, the 2nd part of our discussion about the impact of Racism on Reproductive Health with Rochelle Maurice. Last episode we discussed obstetrical racism, reproductive justice, generational trauma and much more. On today’s episode we will talk about the importance of applying an intersectional lens when thinking about care of people in the perinatal period including the intersections of racism, disabilities and accessing care. Rochelle gives us some really great ways to think about challenging these systems to try and make change. 
Rochelle Maurice is a clinical and organizational ethicist based in Toronto, Ontario. Her work in ethics was strongly influenced by her professional background in social work, the most significant of which was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Paediatrics department in a community hospital in Toronto. As a result of her experiences in both social work and ethics, Rochelle has an interest in and passion for addressing issues that affect pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people at the intersection of health and social care. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies in social work that focuses on Black women’s experiences in maternal-child care.

Highlights:

2:10 - Impacts of racism on birthing people in labour and delivery

9:01 - Applying an intersectional lens is key

16:11 – Higher rates of death during birth amongst BIPOC communities 

19:19 - Intersections of racism, disabilities and accessing care

23:30 - Acknowledging privilege how we contribute to systems of oppression 

29:40 – How do you call these systems into question? Asking questions, start small, educate, centering people who are not usually centred.

Resources: 

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email [email protected]

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this or any episode please reach out to me at [email protected] and I can help you find support in your area or online. 

Check out Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net for more information about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders as well as free online support groups and a provider directory. 

You can look for an individual therapist on www.psychologytoday.com . 

You can find Rochelle on Instagram @_rochellemaurice_

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Welcome to Perinatal Wellbeing episode #21, our first episode of season 2! Today we’re going to talk about the Impact of Racism on Reproductive Health with Rochelle Maurice.

Content Warning: This is an in-depth discussion about racism and the impacts on reproductive health and can feel very heavy, especially for those who are impacted by these topics. We discuss things such as forced sterilization, interactions with CAS. Take care of yourself while listening.

Rochelle Maurice, MSW, MHSc in Bioethics is a clinical and organizational ethicist based in Toronto, Ontario. Her work in ethics was strongly influenced by her professional background in social work, the most significant of which was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Paediatrics department in a community hospital in Toronto. As a result of her experiences in both social work and ethics, Rochelle has an interest in and passion for addressing issues that affect pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people at the intersection of health and social care. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies in social work that focuses on Black women’s experiences in maternal-child care. 

Highlights:

4:15 - Pinkification of pot does not include black women

5:58 - Obstetrical racism – women of colour not being believed when in pain or something is wrong, symptoms do not align with cultural biases 

9:01 - We don’t collect race-based data in Canada and the impacts of this

13:47 - Typical bodies and the impacts of that

18:15 - Reproductive justice – intersection of systemic inequality and the impacts on decision making about childbearing and parenting

20:57 - Forced Sterilization

28:38 – Lack of access to nutritious food, the right to raise your family in a safe and supportive environment

32:06 - Ideal motherhood and not enough support to achieve this

33:05 – How does racism and scrutiny of mothers intersect with Children’s Aid Society?  

37:38 - How do we repair? 

39:41 – Institutional memory and generational trauma and the impacts on accessing care

47:18 - Seeking support in community and access to care

Resources: You can find Rochelle on Instagram @_rochellemaurice_

 You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email [email protected]

 If you are experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this or any episode please reach out to me at [email protected] and I can help you find support in your area or online. 

Check out Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net for more information about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders as well as free online support groups and a provider directory. 

You can look for an individual therapist on www.psychologytoday.com . 

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I am so excited for season 2 to start on Monday, October 10th. I wanted to Thank you all for listening to season 1 and the support so far! The podcast has been downloaded in 46 countries and almost 3,000 times. 

This season we are going to hear more personal stories and have more deep, authentic conversations about issues that affect people and families in the Perinatal period! 

We are going to kick off the season with a two-part episode with Rochelle about the impact of racism on reproductive health.

We are also going to hear from Drew who is a dad to 3 kids, two of them being twins! You’ll get to hear what that experience was like for him and how he reached out for support when him and his partner were struggling in the postpartum period.

We are also going to talk about body image with Katie and how it is impacted in the perinatal period and how patriarchy contributes to struggles with body imagine in the perinatal period. Naomi is going to talk to us about body hair and why she no longer removes her body hair and how this all relates to having babies and being a parent!

I recorded a wonderful talk with Gillian from Birthmark about grassroots organizations developing programs to support people in the perinatal period. 

And you will also hear from parents who had experiences with traumatic birth, having a baby stay in the NICU as well as being diagnosed with ADHD and Borderline personality disorder in the postpartum period. 

I am so excited about the content on the podcast in season 2 and I can’t wait for everyone to listen! If you have a story you would like to share on the podcast please let me know or if you have a topic that you would like to hear discussed on the podcast please share with me! You can email me at [email protected] or get in touch on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario. 

Check out the website for Perinatal mental health resources at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca. 

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you get notified of new episodes and make sure you tune in every other week on Mondays starting October 10th! 

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Content Warning: Birth trauma, postnatal depression and anxiety, mention of childhood abuse, and breastfeeding trauma.  

Today is part 2 of my interview with Vikki Stephenson, host of Blum Mumdays Podcast and mum to Stanley! If you haven’t listened to part 1, go back and check it out and then listen to today’s episode. Today Vikki talks about her experience with postnatal depression and anxiety, following a traumatic birth. We talked about the grief and trauma that resulted from her experience with postnatal depression and anxiety, the fears of being a new parent and how they are heightened with anxiety and Vikki’s road to recovery. Vikki authentically shares her story to show how very hard it was for her as well as how she got support and came through the fog.  Take care of yourself while listening to this episode and please reach out to myself or Vikki for support or with questions. You can find Vikki on Instagram @bluemumdays and you can find her podcast Blue Mumdays wherever you listen to your podcasts. I will put all of her information in the show notes. 

Vikki is now a passionate advocate of perinatal mental health and is on a mission to help parents feel less alone through her podcast series Blue MumDays. Its purpose is to help other mums and dads better understand their illness and give them the hope that they will make a full recovery. It gives a voice to the lived experience of real sufferers who have reached the other side, and – through interviews with experts - will signpost mums, dads, their partners and friends to help and support that may be hard to find. Blue Mumdays dispels myths, normalises the conversation and smashes stigma of perinatal illness. It offers a safe space, encourages self-compassion and uplifts with frank – and sometimes funny – conversations around all things perinatal. 

Highlights

4:05 - Going home from hospital, the overwhelming responsibility and anxiety

10:51 - Insomnia, phobia of sleeping during the day

15:55 - Reaching out for support and attending Cedar House

21:00 – Peer support is so important, symptoms of PMAD’s are not you, it’s an illness

23:00 - Grief and trauma from experiencing a PMAD 

25:35 - Guilt and shame about the birth-day and first year being the worst, feeling triggered around birthdays

33:33 - Comparing ourselves to other parents, not measuring up and feeling like a bad parent

41:31 - Fear of baby not breathing in their sleep

45:22 - When did the fog start to lift? Recognizing how well you are doing

51:49 - What would you say to yourself during labour and in the postpartum period, what do you say to others going through it

Resources: 

Check out the Blue Mumdays podcast wherever you get your podcast or here https://bluemumdays.captivate.fm/ 

Instagram @bluemumdays

Email: [email protected]

LINKED IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikki-stephenson-creative 

VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/vikkistephenson 

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email [email protected]

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this or any episode please reach out to me at [email protected] and I can help you find support in your area or online. 

Check out Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net for more information about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders as well as free online support groups and a provider directory. 

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Content Warning: Birth trauma, postnatal depression and anxiety, mention of suicidal thoughts, breastfeeding trauma and eating disorders.

Today is part 1 of my interview with Vikki Stephenson, host of Blum Mumdays Podcast and mum to Stanley! Vikki shares her story with postnatal depression and anxiety, following a traumatic birth in such an authentic and vulnerable way that I know so many people will relate to. Vikki discusses her birth story, her symptoms and struggles with nursing and post trauma symptoms. 

Vikki is now a passionate advocate of perinatal mental health and is on a mission to help parents feel less alone through her podcast series Blue MumDays. Its purpose is to help other mums and dads better understand their illness and give them the hope that they will make a full recovery. It gives a voice to the lived experience of real sufferers who have reached the other side, and – through interviews with experts - will signpost mums, dads, their partners and friends to help and support that may be hard to find. Blue Mumdays dispels myths, normalizes the conversation and smashes stigma of perinatal illness. It offers a safe space, encourages self-compassion and uplifts with frank – and sometimes funny – conversations around all things perinatal. 

Highlights:

6:00 - Vikki’s why for starting her podcast

11:15 - First signs of PND

14:19 - Birth Trauma, not being support or validated

16:56 - Racism and the impacts on birth trauma

19:15 – Sharing with Stanley about PND, The bond with your child, impacts on the family 

23:05 - Being aware of our symptoms, recovery isn’t linear, 

27:03 - Concerns about medication, stigma

35:15 - Vikki’s birth story, birth trauma 

43:50 - Childhood abuse, impact on birth

48:25 - Having an advocate

51:55 - Stigma around different ways of giving birth and pain management

55:00 - The impact of birth trauma on Vikki’s parenting experience, anxiety being so present and doubting your parenting abilities, not trusting ourselves, trauma response

Resources: 

Check out the Blue Mumdays podcast wherever you get your podcast or here https://bluemumdays.captivate.fm/ 

Instagram @bluemumdays

Email: [email protected]

LINKED IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikki-stephenson-creative 

VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/vikkistephenson 

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email [email protected]

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this or any episode please reach out to me at [email protected] and I can help you find support in your area or online. 

Check out Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net for more information about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders as well as free online support groups and a provider directory. 

You can look for an individual therapist on www.psychologytoday.com . 

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My guest today is Naomi from Queer Nest Club. Naomi uses she and they pronouns, and is Founder and head Doula of Queer Nest, where she coaches and supports Queer and gender-non-conforming folks and entrepreneurs through one of their biggest life transitions— becoming a parent! Through support, advance preparation, self-advocacy, and abundance, she helps you become the parent of your dreams. On today’s episode Naomi and I talk about how we can prepare for the transition to parenthood including building our community of supports, asking for help, and being authentic. We also touched on some really important concepts such as the impact of hetero-normative stereotypes on queer and non-binary parents, exploring our own values and planning for the postpartum period.  

 You can find Naomi on Instagram at @myqueernest primarily, and @queernestclub
Company Website: https://queernest.co , Queer Nest Club website: https://queernestclub.com

Highlights:

3:29 - Planning for the postpartum period, loving ourselves

5:08 - Gender stereotypes influencing our expectations, gender norms, how the queer community is bombarded with these messages

7:48 - Abundance vs scarcity and lack-mode

9:08 - You CAN have it all but you can’t do it all

11:54 - You need support

13:50 - “I’m not good at asking for help” – Let’s ditch that

15:09 - Learning the skill of asking for help and delegating

21:53 - Parenting in line with our values

25:10 - Perinatal mental health

29:35 - Postpartum shift, becoming a parent

31:02 - Living authentically; what does this mean and how do we do it

38:10 - Preparing for the postpartum period and Parenting with a partner

49:00 - Normalizing how hard parenting is

52:50 - You are not born knowing how to parent

54:25 - Figuring out our values

55:14 - What to explore on a postpartum plan – Naomi’s acronym – NEW PARENTS?

1:05:25 - Being authentically us and an authentic parent

Resources: 

You can find Naomi on Instagram at @myqueernest primarily, and @queernestclub
Company Website: https://queernest.co , Queer Nest Club website: https://queernestclub.com

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email [email protected]

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Date: May 11th, 2022

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions around sexuality including our body parts and sexual acts. We do use gendered language in this discussion and acknowledge that not all birthing people identify as female. If you listen to your podcasts with young kids in the room you can decide if you want to put headphones in or listen another time.  

Today we’re going to talk about postpartum sexuality with our guest soon to be Dr. Benée Justice! Benée is a clinical mental health therapist with a PhD in clinical sexology. Benée recently defended her dissertation on Postpartum Sexuality and created an incredible curriculum for use by mental health therapists to address postpartum sexuality. In today’s episode we discuss the changes in our body postpartum, fears and concerns that might come up because of these changes, how shame and guilt can impact us when we are experiencing low desire and trying to determine our readiness for sexual activity postpartum. And then Benée shares with us how we can explore our sexuality in the postpartum period and some very important things such as communicating with your partner and consent.  

Highlights:

5:09 – Postpartum Sexuality as a sacred topic, grounding into this topic
7:42 – Sex in the Postpartum
11:07 – Layers of sexuality 
12:07 – Why does sexual health get pushed aside?
14:16 – Our fears around resuming sex after birth
14:45 – Our bodies have changed postpartum, concerns around body image postpartum
16:55 – Physiological healing
18:46 – 6 week check-up, discussing sex with our health care providers
20:27 – Lack of desire for sex
22:55 – Being disconnected from our bodies, relearning our bodies
28:53 – Can moms be sexy?
33:49 – Determining our readiness for sex postpartum 
39:08 – Resuming sexual activity and defining sex
45:35 – Consent
47:10 – “It is our partner’s responsibility to take ownership of their sexual needs being fulfilled”, masturbation
47:50 – Communication
49:38 – Let’s talk about orgasm 
52:04 – Ideas for communication and ideas for intimacy 
57:22 – Shutting down intimacy because of fear of intercourse
58:45 – Consent in an intimate relationship
1:03:00 – Benée’s suggestions for communicating wants and needs
1:08:26 – Different supports such as a sex therapist
1:10:08 – Gaps in services for postpartum sexuality
1:18:15 – Our sexual health is intertwined with our overall health, 6 week “green light”
1:19:22 – Resources that Benée recommends

Resources: 

You can contact Benée at [email protected]

Books that Benée and Christine recommend:

Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D.

Becoming Cliterate by Laurie Mintz, Ph.D. 

Better Sex Through Mindfulness by Lori A. Brotto, Ph.D.

The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

The Body is Not an Apology Workbook by Sonya Renee Taylor

AASECT directory looking for Sex Therapists

https://www.aasect.org/referral-directory 

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email [email protected]

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Content Warning: Fertility challenges, mention of traumatic birth

Today’s episode is in honour of World Maternal Mental Health Day, which is May 4th. The goal of World Maternal Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of maternal mental health issues so that more women will get treatment and fewer will suffer. This is definitely what we also work for at PWO, by sharing these stories on the podcast, talking about various issues and challenges that parents face in the perinatal period so that people listening can identify that they’re experiencing similar challenges and seek support. Please talk about these issues with your family and friends, share posts on social media about Maternal mental health, ask questions, email us, reach out to a health care provider or just listen to stories like the ones we share on the podcast to help normalize these experiences. If you are struggling with your mental health in the perinatal period please know you are not alone and there is a community of support ready to help you. Please email us at [email protected] if you’re looking for support or if you have questions, no matter where in the world you are!  

Today is part 2 of my interview with Katie Lamport. Katie is a counsellor in private practice in the Barrie, Ontario area. I first met Katie when I started a new job as an addiction’s counsellor. Katie was fully pregnant and went on maternity leave a few days later. Katie was the first person I had met that was a gestational carrier and I thought WOW what an amazing person! On today’s episode Katie shares about her postpartum experience after being a gestational carrier and how that was different from birthing her own children. Katie and I also explore what types of supports exist and could be helpful for surrogates and gestational carriers.

Highlights:

3:20 - An abrupt ending

4:03 – Maternity leave and recovering from Pregnancy

8:28 – Leading up to delivery

12:52 – Going home with no baby

16:21 – Mental Health supports

20:16 – Discussion about traumatic birth and supports

24:04 – Pumping, self-care, and recovery

27:31 – Returning to work

28:37 – Transition of partnership post-surrogacy

30:12 – What is the relationship like with the family now

33:02 – Reflecting on what Katie did

35:08 – Appropriate language and terminology for 

40:12 – What advice would Katie give to potential surrogates and gestational carriers

47:13 - What is the anniversary like for Katie

Resources: 

You can find Katie on Instagram @katielamportcounselling at  https://www.mainstreamtherapy.com and https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/katie-lamport-barrie-on/960500?preview=1&return_to=https%3A%2F%2Fmember.psychologytoday.com%2Fca%2Fhome&_ga=2.157527610.1247068831.1649346645-1756219686.1648751043

You can find us at www.perinatalwellbeing.ca on Instagram @perinatalwellbeing_ontario or by email [email protected]

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