Today we will hear a story of perinatal depression from our guest Amanda Dailey. This story is difficult to hear and may be triggering for some who have had depression during pregnancy and also post partum. Amanda is sharing her story to "shine a light in the darkness." The good news is that is is full of hope and healing as well! So be ready to go on a journey with Amanda as she shares her difficult experiences related to her last pregnancy and severe mental health issues.

Did you know that about 11% of women will have perinatal depression (depression or other mental health issues during pregnancy). This is important to know and for women to understand that they are not alone when suffering with depression during pregnancy. Risk factors for depression or other mental health issues in pregnancy include:

A history of depressive, bipolar, or anxiety disorders

A family history of depressive disorders or perinatal disorders

An unplanned or teenage pregnancy

A multiple birth

A difficult or traumatic pregnancy or birth

An ongoing health problem with the baby

A lack of social support with low socioeconomic status and financial difficulties (https://www.ccjm.org/content/87/5/273)

Untreated depression during the postpartum period also has repercussions for both the mother and her baby. For the mother, it can lead to intense sadness, marked anxiety, and a lack of interest in life and the child, often resulting in poor or absent maternal bonding with the infant. It is also associated with failure to initiate breastfeeding or a shortened duration of breastfeeding.

Amanda will also give us beautiful information about a new project and organization that her family is starting The Philomena Project to give help to other mothers in this situation.

In her own words" through my faith, support of family & friends, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and therapy have helped me to heal. It is not a quick fix. A Christian artist Tasha Layton once shared what someone told her: “Depression is just the body's way of saying something needs to change.” Depression was just one of the symptoms to my underlying nutrient deficiencies in my body. It took over a year and half to discover this, but listening to my gut - the answers are in my body - proved to save my life and lead me to a truth path of healing."

Here are some helpful resources that Amanda has put together for mom's who may be interested in this topic and getting more help:

- Netflix documentary called Untold: Breaking Point, detailing tennis player Marty Fish's battle with mental health, https://www.netflix.com/title/81026434

- Artist NF (Nathan Feuerstein), has some great songs specifically about OCD

- A playlist on Spotify I have created over my 2+ year healing journey: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2EZjNM6EBMMPyOOLcTAInI?si=e5ca97f2dc134ae9

- Dr. Walsh's book, Nutrient Power

- Mensah Medical, https://www.mensahmedical.com

- Walsh Research Institute, https://www.walshinstitute.org

- Podcast, Eat for Life, https://eatfor.life"

We thank our sponsor for today Dr. Monica Minjuer of Radiant Health! Make sure to check out their website at radiantclinic.com where you can schedule a FREE discovery call with Dr Minjeur to learn more about if their services are the right fit for you. You can also follow Dr Minjeur’s podcast, “Cycle Wisdom” where she provides concise episodes about topics relevant to your hormones and menstrual cycles.

Opinions, statements, and beliefs of our interviewees are not necessarily a reflection of the HG podcast's beliefs and opinions as a whole.

Medical disclaimer: The information presented in The Hormone Genius Podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for actual medical or mental health advice from a doctor, psychologist, or any other medical or mental health professional.