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Prepared for Parenthood
Prepared for Parenthood episodes
- Interview with Dr. Susan Highsmith: The Power of Reading to Babies In Utero
Summary
Discover how early communication, specifically reading to babies while still in the womb, can shape their development, consciousness, andfuture. Dr. Susan Highsmith shares insights from her extensive research and writings on prenatal psychology, birth consciousness, and the importance of nurturing connection from conception onward. This episode explores the profound impact of thoughts, feelings, and spiritual connection in creating more easeful, conscious prenatal and birth experiences and raising children who feel connected and loved.
Keywords
early consciousness, pregnancy, prenatal influence, fairy tales, conscious conception, conscious birth, subconscious, spiritual truths,storytelling, communication
Takeaways
~Reading fairy tales and other stories to babies in utero allows for cognitive and spiritual development.
~A pregnant mother and baby form an interconnected, symbiotic relationship during pregnancy. Nurturing this bond is important.
~Consciousness, beliefs, and perceptions help shape birth outcomes and the early years of a child's life.
~Research demonstrates that newborn babies can recognize their parents’ voices, stories, and songs that were shared with them in utero.
~The environment and the birth worker’s consciousness during birth can also impact how a birth unfolds, including NICU practices.
~Emotional and spiritual conversations with a baby, even before conception, may have surprising results.
Guest Contact
Dr. Susan Highsmith Website: susanhighsmithphd.com
Host Contact
Dr. Stephanie Dueger: [email protected]
Website: https://preparedforparenthood.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/preparedforparenthood/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Prepared-for-Parenthood/100075999845994/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RHCyYa-ChfUN4xd6llDfQ
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Amazon: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Bookshop.org: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
If you enjoyed this podcast, please help it succeed by Rating, Reviewing, Subscribing, and Downloading it. Thank you for your support!
21 min - Perinatal Mood Disorders: What Are They, Why Do They Happen, & How Can We Help?
Summary
Perinatal mood disorders (PMADs) are common, varied, and treatable with the right support. Here we discuss the different PMADs, their symptoms, potential contributing factors, and treatment options. Our hope is to give you an overview of what to look for, in an effort to help more expectant and new parents get the support they need so that that the whole family can thrive.
Keywords
perinatal mood disorders, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, PMADs, mental health, PTSD, new parents, postpartum support, mental health treatment, postpartum psychosis, bipolar disorder, OCD
Key Topics
~Perinatal mood disorders overview
~Symptoms of prenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety
~Symptoms of perinatal PTSD, bipolar disorders, and psychosis
~Causes and risk factors of PMADs
~Treatment options and support systems
~Importance of early screening, reducing stigma, and early treatment
Takeaways
~Perinatal mood disorders affect one in 3 to 5 parents, making them very common.
~Biological, psychological, and social factors all contribute to PMADs.
~Early screening and support significantly improve outcomes.
~Support from professionals, family, and community is crucial for recovery.
Host Contact
Dr. Stephanie Dueger: [email protected]
Website: https://preparedforparenthood.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/preparedforparenthood/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Prepared-for-Parenthood/100075999845994/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RHCyYa-ChfUN4xd6llDfQ
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Amazon: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Bookshop.org: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
If you enjoyed this podcast, please help it succeed by Rating, Reviewing, Subscribing, and Downloading it. Thank you for your support!
15 min - Interview with Katie O'Toole part 2: Postpartum Depression and Working Motherhood
Keywords
motherhood, postpartum, working moms, maternal health, parenting challenges, women's health, maternity leave, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, relationships, motherhood experience, postpartum, mental health, paternity leave, postpartum depression, parenting, motherhood, support, community
Summary
In part two of this conversation, Katie O'Toole shares her own experience of a postpartum mood disorder, as well as her transition back to working fulltime when she was four months postpartum. She discusses how writing her book, 'Mayday on the Mothership,' helped her heal from postpartum depression and anxiety, and how bridging important conversations with her partner allowed them to communicate more openly and make needed changes now that they had a baby. Katie shares her experiences with postpartum challenges, emphasizing the importance of both maternity and paternity leave, and the significance of building a supportive community. She also highlights the common struggles faced by new parents and the importance of maximizing quality time with their children, while preparing for the realities of parenthood.
Takeaways
~Postpartum depression and other mood disorders are common and often go unrecognized and untreated. Sometimes we need others to see that we as new parents are not thriving and need support.
~Communication between partners is always crucial, but even more so during the postpartum period.
~A supportive network is essential for new mothers and parents, including one’s partner, friends and/or family, and potentially new (or ongoing) community who is also going through this huge transition.
~Both maternity and paternity/ partner leave are essential for recovery and the best start for a new family.
~Maximizing quality time with our children where we are present and not distracted is vital for healthy connection and development.
Guest Contact
Website and Social Media Links: https://katieotoole.com/
Book on Amazon: Mayday on the Mothership
Host Contact
Dr. Stephanie Dueger: [email protected]
Website: https://preparedforparenthood.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/preparedforparenthood/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Prepared-for-Parenthood/100075999845994/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RHCyYa-ChfUN4xd6llDfQ
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Amazon: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Bookshop.org: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
If you enjoyed this podcast, please help it succeed by Rating, Reviewing, Subscribing, and Downloading it. Thank you for your support!
22 min - Understanding Postpartum Rage: Hormonal Shifts thru the Reproductive Lifespan and Emotional Resilience with Dr. Stephanie Dueger
Keywords
postpartum rage, postpartum mental health, postpartum mood disorders, hormonal changes after birth, hormone sensitivity in women, maternal mental health, emotional changes after having a baby
Summary
In this episode, we talk about postpartum rage as a real, distressing, and often underrecognized part of postpartum mental health. We explore what current research says about the dramatic hormonal shifts after birth, why anger can show up, and why some people may be especially sensitive to reproductive hormone changes. We discuss how hormones are not the whole story and that lack of support and sleep along with the demands of new parenthood can all exacerbate postpartum rage. We also explore mood changes across the reproductive lifespan, making potential connections between postpartum rage and premenstrual syndrome as well as to perimenopausal or menopausal rage.
Takeaways
~Postpartum rage is influenced by things like hormonal shifts, lack of sleep and support, and mood.
~Anger and severe irritability are important postpartum mood symptoms that deserve direct screening and support.
~It is not simply that “hormone changes cause symptoms,” but that some women seem to be more sensitive to hormonal shifts.
~A history of hormonal mood sensitivity — such as PMS/PMDD — may increase vulnerability during postpartum and perimenopause.
~Support, understanding, and medical care are important for managing postpartum rage and hormonal mood shifts. They are critical when coupled with perinatal mood disorders.
Research Citations (not complete)
Buttner, M. M., et al. (2013). Examination of premenstrual symptoms as a risk factor for depression in postpartum women. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 16(3), 219–225.
Freeman, E. W., Sammel, M. D., Lin, H., & Nelson, D. B. (2006). Associations of hormones and menopausal status with depressed mood in women with no history of depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(4), 375–382.
Soares, C. N., & Zitek, B. (2008). Reproductive hormone sensitivity and risk for depression across the female life cycle: A continuum of vulnerability? Journal of Psychiatry &Neuroscience, 33(4), 331–343.
Books
Textbook of Women’s Reproductive Mental Health. American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2021.
Dubin, M. Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood, Seal Press, 2023.
Jones, L. Matrescence: On Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood, Deckle Edge, 2024.
Mosconi, L. The Menopause Brain. Avery / Penguin Random House, 2024.
Sichel, D., & Driscoll, J. W. Women’s Moods: What Every Woman Must Know About Hormones, the Brain, and Emotional Health. William Morrow, 1999.
Contact
Dr. Stephanie Dueger: [email protected]
Website: https://preparedforparenthood.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/preparedforparenthood/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Prepared-for-Parenthood/100075999845994/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RHCyYa-ChfUN4xd6llDfQ
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Amazon: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Bookshop.org: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
If you enjoyed this podcast, please help it succeed by Rating, Reviewing, Subscribing, and Downloading it. Thank you for your support!
16 min - Interview with Katie O'Toole part One: Modern Motherhood & Postpartum Depression
Keywords
motherhood, postpartum depression, working moms, parenting challenges, maternal health, communication in relationships, modern motherhood, support systems, mental health, parenting advice
Summary
In this conversation, mother and author, Katie O'Toole shares her experiences as a working mother and the challenges she faced during pregnancy and postpartum. She discusses her research for her book, 'Mayday on the Mothership,' which aims to provide relatable insights into modern motherhood, particularly for working moms. The conversation covers the impact of motherhood on relationships, the importance of communication, Katie's experience with the realities of postpartum depression, and the need for support systems.
Takeaways
~Motherhood transforms every aspect of a woman's life, often in surprising ways.
~Many women are unaware of the current realities faced by perinatal women in the United States health care system, including the fact that the US has the highest maternal death rates among developed countries, and the percentage is highest in women of color.
~Perinatal mood disorders, including postpartum depression, are often unrecognized and misunderstood. They are very common (at least 1 in 3 women, and 1 in 7 partners), but not “normal,” and professional support should besought out.
~Communication between partners is crucial and becomes especially critical during the postpartum period when so many things arechanging.
Guest Contact
Website and Social Media Links: https://katieotoole.com/
Book on Amazon: Mayday on the Mothership
Host Contact
Dr. Stephanie Dueger: [email protected]
Website: https://preparedforparenthood.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/preparedforparenthood/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Prepared-for-Parenthood/100075999845994/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RHCyYa-ChfUN4xd6llDfQ
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Amazon: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Bookshop.org: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
If you enjoyed this podcast, please help it succeed by Rating, Reviewing, Subscribing, and Downloading it. Thank you for your support!
24 min - 4 min
- Interview with Dr. Kailey Buller: Medical Care for Babies: What Parents Should Know
Keywords
parenting, newborn care, postpartum, emergency medicine, breastfeeding, sleep training, parental advice, baby health, parenting myths, Dr. Kailey Buller
Summary
In this episode of Prepared for Parenthood, Dr. Kailey Buller, a double-board-certified physician in emergency and family medicine, shares her insights on postpartum and newborn care. She discusses common parental concerns, the importance of seeking medical advice when worried, a checklist of the most important concerns with which to seek emergency care, and the challenges of breastfeeding and sleep for new parents. Dr. Buller emphasizes the need for flexibility in parenting and provides practical advice from her new book, Surviving Tiny Humans: The Messy Truth About Parenting and Your Guide to Baby's First Year.
Takeaways
~If you're worried about your baby’s physical health, you should always consult a medical doctor.
~Dr. Buller provides an important list for parents that includes five symptoms, four injuries, and three features of a fever that she would want parents to bring their child into the emergency room for evaluation.
~It's important to adapt all parenting strategies as needed. Parents should be skeptical of any blanket advice regarding parenting as there is often a sub-context from the provider.
~Breastfeeding and sleep challenges are common for new parents and are not a reflection of a parent's ability to care for their child.
~In both feeding and sleep issues, support and methods can vary widely and should be tailored to the needs of the whole family.
~Support systems play a significant role in new family success. Seek out professional support if needed.
~Dr. Buller's book, Surviving Tiny Humans: The Messy Truth About Parenting and Your Guide to Baby's First Year, provides practical advice for new parents.
Guest Contact:
Website: https://www.vitalswithdrbuller.com/
Book: Surviving Tiny Humans: The Messy Truth About Parenting and Your Guide to Baby's First Year
IG: vitalswithdrbuller
TikTok: vitalswithdrbuller
Host Contact:
Dr. Stephanie Dueger: [email protected]
Website: https://preparedforparenthood.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/preparedforparenthood/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Prepared-for-Parenthood/100075999845994/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RHCyYa-ChfUN4xd6llDfQ
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Amazon: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Bookshop.org: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
If you enjoyed this podcast, please help it succeed by Rating, Reviewing, Subscribing, and Downloading it. Thank you for your support!
30 min - Interview with Elly Taylor part two: Parenthood versus Parenting: Navigating Becoming A Family
Keywords
parenthood, parenting, relationship expert, couplehood, mental health, support systems, emotional growth, nesting, bonding, preparation for parenthood
Summary
In part two of this conversation, Dr. Stephanie Dueger speaks with Australian parenthood and relationship expert, bestselling author, and founder of Becoming Us, the whole-family approach to parenthood, Elly Taylor. Elly shares how parenthood changes everything – it is a seismic shift and insistent invitation to grow. From your own inner experience, to experiences with your partner, to getting to know your little one and adjusting to your new family life, nothing is untouched. We discuss how learning to grow with these changes, instead of fighting against them, allows for the process to unfold more easily, as does being attuned to and supportive of each other. Elly shares how it’s never too late to up-level in these relationships.
Takeaways
~Parenthood changes everything. Embracing the changes instead of fighting against them is the path to both more ease and more growth for the couple.
~Relationship dynamics and roles will be impacted when becoming parents. Being clear about and focusing on priorities supports the whole family system. So does expressed gratitude.
~Becoming a parent often opens us up to seismic changes within ourselves as well. We may find that our relationship with our body and our emotions deeply shifts.
~While it’s helpful to become aware and make some needed changes before becoming a parent, it is never too late to up-level. Attuning to ourselves, our partner, and our baby provides some of the best chances for healthy family relationships.
Guest Contact:
Website: www.becomingusfamily.com
Purchase Elly Taylor's Book on Amazon: Becoming Us: 8 Steps to Grow a Family that Thrives
Host Contact:
Dr. Stephanie Dueger: [email protected]
Website: https://preparedforparenthood.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/preparedforparenthood/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Prepared-for-Parenthood/100075999845994/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RHCyYa-ChfUN4xd6llDfQ
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Amazon: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Bookshop.org: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
If you enjoyed this podcast, please help it succeed by Rating, Reviewing, Subscribing, and Downloading it. Thank you for your support!
26 min - Interview with Elly Taylor: Parenthood versus Parenting: Navigating Becoming A Family part one
Keywords
parenthood, parenting, relationship expert, couplehood, mental health, support systems, emotional growth, nesting, bonding, preparation for parenthood
Summary
In this conversation, Dr. Stephanie Dueger speaks with Australian parenthood and relationship expert, bestselling author, and founder of Becoming Us, the whole-family approach to parenthood, Elly Taylor. Elly shares the critical distinctions between parenting and parenthood, the importance of couple-hood during the major rite of passage transition into parenthood, and the need for preparation and support systems for new parents. They discuss the emotional and relational challenges that often arise after having a baby, the significance of nesting, resting, and bonding, and the impact of relationship dynamics on mental health. Elly shares insights from her book/ program, Becoming Us, which aims to help couples navigate the complexities of parenthood together, fostering deeper connections and understanding.
Takeaways
~“Parenthood” is a different focus in becoming a parent that is often overlooked in favor of “parenting.”
~Preparation for the major rite of passage involved becoming a parent is essential for new parents.
~Approximately 92% of couples experience increased conflict during the first year after having a baby.
~Having a baby takes a couple's relationship to a new level that they've likely never visited before at a time of great changes, sleep deprivation, and often less support and capacity to cope.
~Nesting, resting, and bonding are the most critical priorities postpartum. Parenthood involves adjusting expectations.
~It's important to create a supportive environment for new families, where parents can feel very vulnerable.
~Approximately one in three birth moms and one in five dads or partners are struggling with mental health issues in adjusting to new parenthood.
Guest Contact:
Website: www.becomingusfamily.com
Purchase Elly Taylor's Book on Amazon: Becoming Us: 8 Steps to Grow a Family that Thrives
Host Contact:
Dr. Stephanie Dueger: [email protected]
Website: https://preparedforparenthood.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/preparedforparenthood/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Prepared-for-Parenthood/100075999845994/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RHCyYa-ChfUN4xd6llDfQ
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Amazon: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Bookshop.org: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
If you enjoyed this podcast, please help it succeed by Rating, Reviewing, Subscribing, and Downloading it. Thank you for your support!
29 min - Interview with Holly Lammer part two: Mindful Birthing: A Transformative Journey
Keywords
mindfulness, birth education, non-attachment, prenatal psychology, parenting, birth trauma, holistic health, intelligent birthing, maternal health, emotional well-being
Summary
In part two of this interview with Holly Lammer, a registered nurse with over 25 years of experience in obstetric nursing, Holly sharesher insights on how mindful birthing and early repair can be healing for both the birthing parents and the baby. Holly discusses how mindfulness may also help throughout the entire journey of parenthood. The conversation also explores how sharing the birth story can help both the parents and baby heal and integrate their experiences.
Takeaways
~Birth can be both a transformative experience and a place to potentially set firm boundaries and claim one’s passage into parenthood.
~Healing from birth trauma is possible and important for both parent(s) and child.
~Mindfulness can help parents regulate their emotions and responses throughout the entire parenting journey, as well as model for one’schild that emotions don’t need to be feared.
~Stressful experiences for the birth parent will be felt by the baby in utero, but they can be repaired quickly and easily at that time as well.
~It’s important and healing for a birth parent to share their experience of the birth. The baby will also share their experience physically if given the opportunity.
Guest Contact:
Website: intelligentbirthing.com
30% off the online course: friends30
Amazon link to book: Intelligent Birthing: Ancient Wisdom for A Modern Birthing World
Host Contact:
Dr. Stephanie Dueger: [email protected]
Website: https://preparedforparenthood.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/preparedforparenthood/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Prepared-for-Parenthood/100075999845994/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RHCyYa-ChfUN4xd6llDfQ
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Amazon: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
Get Dr. Dueger's Book on Bookshop.org: Preparing for Parenthood: 55 Essential Conversations for Couples Becoming Families
If you enjoyed this podcast, please help it succeed by Rating, Reviewing, Subscribing, and Downloading it. Thank you for your support!
19 min
About Prepared for Parenthood
From the publisher's feed
Prepared for Parenthood is an educational podcast for hopeful, expectant, and new parents with little ones up to age 5. On this show, we’ll discuss everything from the most up-to-date practicals of…
best supporting your children, to thriving in relationship as a family, to more eye-opening and even surprising topics around the psychology and development of babies from conception through age 5. I’m your host, Dr. Stephanie Dueger, a psychotherapist, author, educator, parent coach, and married mother of two. My background is in pre- and perinatal psychology and health, and child development.