New parent sleep and mental health can be such a tricky topic, with so many blanket statements thrown around. In this episode I’m joined by Dr. Emma Basch, licensed clinical psychologist, for a wide-ranging and nuanced conversation about postpartum mental health.

A few of the many things we discussed include:

• Most people struggle with the transition to parenthood, and what some signs are that you should seek some additional support.
• Protecting a parent’s sleep through mental health struggles is complex and nuanced, and we don’t need to put baby and parent needs in opposition to each other.
• Sleep and mental health have a bidirectional relationship and we need to look at that relationship from both sides.
• Informed decision making is key, and there is no one right way to do anything in parenting.
• There is so much information overload affecting how we figure out our values.

This conversation was hard to sum up, and also so wonderful to have. I hope you enjoy listening to it. I’d love to hear what stands out to you.

About Emma
Dr. Emma Basch is a licensed clinical psychologist based in Washington, DC. She is the founder and director of Dr. Emma Basch & Associates, a group practice specializing in women’s mental health with a focus on perinatal and reproductive mental health. Dr. Basch serves as the Vice President of the DC
Metro Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative and is a founding board member of the Washington DC Chapter of Postpartum Support International.

She is also a Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at George Washington University. She is a frequent speaker and teacher on topics
related to reproductive mental health, and her writing on the topic has been featured in Washington Parent Magazine, Scary Mommy, and other media outlets. She is a proud native Washingtonian and a parent to two incredible children.

Connect with Emma
Website: www.dremmabasch.com
All socials are at: @dremmabasch

Connect with Kim
Grab a free sleep myth busting guide and learn more about working with Kim:
https://intuitiveparentingdc.com/
Instagram: instagram.com/intuitive_parenting_dc
Facebook:  facebook.com/intuitiveparentingdc