Ep142: MeLynn’s Birth Story - Prenatal Mental Health Treatment

All About Pregnancy & Birth

We often hear about postpartum depression but rarely is prenatal mental health a topic of discussion. MeLynn experienced anxiety and depression during pregnancy and there is a lot to learn from her story. She started by telling her partner how she was feeling, then saw a counselor, and eventually she went on medication. Did you know there are therapists who specialize in prenatal mental health?

Medication is not necessarily the first place to start, but once again, to have a healthy baby you have to have a healthy mom. There is definitely a stigma around psychiatric treatment during pregnancy. Not only was it hard for MeLynn to see medication as an option for herself, but she found herself blindsided by her delivery team’s averse attitude toward her being on pharmaceuticals. She was faced with a lot of stress and confusion in the delivery room as a result. It might be a good idea to check in advance to see what your hospital’s policy is for moms who are on psychiatric medications.

In this Episode, You’ll Learn About:

-What prenatal anxiety and depression were like for MeLynn

-How COVID had a hand in MeLynn finding virtual support

-Why she reached out to a therapist and how she found the right one

-What were some of the techniques she learned from her therapist

-Which pain medication she opted for and how certain she was about her choice

-How the delivery team reacted to her being medicated

-How MeLynn has decided to continue her mental health treatment going forward

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode141

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