Mom & Mind Podcast | Postpartum | Birth | Pregnancy | Maternal Mental Health |

Today’s guest shares how she turned her difficulties into a passion for educating and supporting others. Her postpartum journey inspired her upcoming short film Postpartum. Join us to learn more! Brittani Noel is a biracial filmmaker, actor, and mom of two. Her creative works delve into the emotional and psychological complexities of identity, race, and motherhood. Her award-winning short, The Other, examined the international racism experienced growing up mixed-race, garnering an official selection at the Oscar-qualifying Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIFF). Her film, Postpartum, continues this thread through the lens of maternal mental health. As an actor, Brittani most recently appeared in Leah McKendrick’s feature, Scrambled, opposite Yvonne Strahovski, and shares the screen with Tom Everett Scott in the comedy feature Rockbottom. Whether behind the camera or in front of it, Brittani is committed to telling stories that scare her a little and stay with the viewer for a long time.  

This is the 3rd in a four-part Behind the Sessions series about coping during the holidays with various perinatal mental health challenges. Today’s episode focuses on pregnancy loss. If you’re in a time of grief over the loss of a child, you are not alone. Many people are carrying deep feelings of grief and loss during a time when celebrating with sparkles of joy and peace feels painfully out of sync with their reality. You certainly didn’t ask for this, and now you have new, raw feelings to process. All of your feelings are real and valid. Everywhere you look, families are celebrating new babies and expected babies, and you may feel as if there is no safe space for your grief. You are probably experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions and waves of sadness and heartbreak. Let’s talk about how you can cope during this time of extreme pressure to “put on a happy face.” Show Highlights: This holiday season is NOT what you anticipated or prepared for. Most people are unsure of what to say, and many of

En este episodio especial en español de Mom in Mind, la Dra. Kat recibe a Karla Cardoza, LMFT, PMFC, RYT200, y a Luisa Shamas de Postpartum Support International. Conversan sobre la importancia de ofrecer recursos de salud mental perinatal cultural y lingüísticamente adaptados para familias hispanohablantes. Karla y Luisa destacan el crecimiento de los grupos de apoyo en español de PSI, comparten experiencias personales y testimonios y explican cómo las familias pueden acceder a ayuda confidencial y compasiva. También enfatizan el valor del apoyo entre pares, la inclusión de parejas y el compromiso de las voluntarias, y destacan la dedicación de PSI a apoyar a familias latinas en todo el mundo mediante una atención accesible y empática. Aspectos Destacados del Episodio:Recursos: Recursos para familias hispanohablantes que enfrentan problemas de salud mental perinatal Importancia de apoyo cultural y lingüísticamente apropiado Rol de las voluntarias y grupos de apoyo en español en brindar as

Today’s guest shares her story of turning her pain into purpose as she discusses mothers’ mental health conditions and the power of storytelling. Join us to hear her inspirational story. Rudo Savage is a mental health advocate, mother of three, founder of Mindset Mother, and author of The Words of the Lost Soul and Becoming Whole in Pieces. Through her writing and mentoring, she empowers others to embrace healing, self-acceptance, and transformation, drawing on her personal, powerful journey of resilience.  Show Highlights: The inspiration to start Mindset Mother as a way to help others Mental health issues were noticeable in Rudo’s teen years, with multiple diagnoses and medications Describing what it’s like to live with emotional dysregulation as a mother of three children Pregnancy and postpartum shifted and elevated Rudo’s mental health struggles. Finding your identity as a new mother and adjusting to the never-ending care of your children Rudo’s hospitalization experi

Our first episode in this series was about infertility; today’s focus is on pregnancy. Our final two installments will cover pregnancy loss and postpartum. I’m discussing how holiday expectations might not align with what's happening. The holidays can feel like a mixed bag of joy and anticipation, while a lot of stress and pressure get thrown into the mix. We can’t deny our emotional truth, because that complicates everything. The bottom line is that it’s no small thing to be pregnant during the holidays, and figuring out how to manage everything may be extra challenging while growing a baby.  Show Highlights: Mixed feelings: joy, excitement, and maybe a struggle to overcome nausea Amplified pressure Regulating your emotional and physical self  Expectations, boundaries, and relational stress Typical examples and reasons you need self-compassion Perinatal mental health issues may leave you with sensory fatigue, irritability, and the pressure to be perfect. Feelings o

Today’s guest shares her family’s NICU story and her beautiful book, Waiting for Max. She explains how the anxiety of a NICU stays with you for a long time and why she’s dedicated to helping other families. Her book supports parents AND siblings who are waiting for their NICU baby to join the family at home. Join us! Emily Rosen is a mom, freelance creative director, copywriter, and children’s book author. She has built her career working for top advertising agencies and brands. Always striving to use her creativity for good, Emily empowers women, mothers, and kids, and her inspiration comes from her son Max’s time in the NICU. She wrote her first children’s book to help families going through experiences similar to hers. When she’s not writing, Emily loves going for a run in the neighborhood, singing karaoke with friends, and reading to her two kids. A proud native of Cleveland, she now lives in Los Angeles with her family.  Show Highlights: NICU statistics in the US: 10% of babies have a NICU stay

The Blue Dot Project is an exciting program within PSI, and I’m thrilled for today’s guest to share it with us. We will learn about the project’s details and how you can get involved. The goal of the program is to provide the necessary resources and professionals for mothers and families during the perinatal period, so that everyone can access the support they need. Their brand-new initiative, The Blue Dot Safe Spot, is already helping people and saving lives—and it’s just getting started! Join us to learn more! Laura Killgore began her career in early childhood development, serving as a preschool teacher and curriculum director for 10 years. She has a passion for child development and parent education. She married her husband in 2016, and their daughter was born two years later. Following a traumatic birth and an emergency C-section, Laura experienced postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD. A few months after her daughter’s birth, she had the opportunity to tap into her creative side as a social media mana

Today’s episode marks the beginning of a four-part series on coping with specific holiday scenarios, including infertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and pregnancy loss. We will discuss tips and tricks that can also be useful at other times of the year when emotional challenges arise. I’ll offer coping skills that can help you, especially in your interactions with others. Today’s focus is on infertility and how to navigate the holidays when you are struggling. Join us! Show Highlights: Handling the inevitable questions from friends, family, and acquaintances The “preloaded” expected feelings that come with the holidays–and the pressure they bring Navigating family gatherings when the spotlight is on you It’s okay to feel jealous, angry, sad, and resentful when others are experiencing what you desperately want. Intrusive questions are coming your way—for sure! (Everyone has an opinion on what you should do!) Understanding the emotional landscape you’re in Gentle reframes

This episode introduces us to maternal ecodistress, explaining what it is and its relationship to matrescence. We also discuss why mothers are vulnerable to mental health challenges in relation to a changing climate and how we can support mothers in this experience. Join us to learn more through this fascinating conversation! Dr. Allie Davis is a maternal mental health ecotherapist, author of The Mother Tree Method™, and creator of the Maternal Ecopsychology Certification™ for professionals supporting mothers through climate-aware, nature-based mental health care. She is the founder of Root and Ritual Wellness, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she supports mothers in transforming ecodistress into rooted resilience through nature-based practices, storytelling, and care-centered community.  Show Highlights: Understanding the role of a nature therapist, or ecotherapist, in maternal mental health The certification available for professionals in maternal ecopsychology Indicators that someone

Today’s guest shares her work in mentoring the next generation of doulas and helping maternal healthcare professionals balance the heart of their work with sustainable business practices. We also discuss Medicaid, systemic barriers to care, and systemic barriers that prevent some populations from accessing doula services. Join us to learn more! Jacquelyn Clemmons is a veteran birth and postpartum doula, trainer, and mentor with over 20 years of experience serving diverse, intercultural families. She is the author of A Doula's Guide to Improving Maternal Health for BIPOC Women  and is the producer of the short film, Jazz and the Blues. Jacquelyn is a leading advocate for culturally competent care and a passionate supporter of doula services for all women. Through her Intrinsic Doula Design™ framework, she empowers doulas to build authentic, thriving businesses while transforming the families they serve.  Show Highlights: Jacquelyn’s journey into doula work Jacquelyn’s framework, Intrinsic Doula De

This is the final episode of the 4-part series, 2 am Pep Talks. You can check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 by clicking these links. Today’s episode is all about hope! It is essential to understand that this season of early morning wake-up times will pass. Sleeping through the night again will happen for you, even though you may wonder now if you will ever sleep enough to feel like yourself again. A perinatal mood and anxiety disorder can increase the likelihood of thoughts filled with self-judgment, negativity, and hopelessness. Having to attend to the middle-of-the-night details of infant care can, even without PMADs, leave you feeling wrung out, tired, and isolated. It’s hard to maintain hope that this phase will shift when you are in the middle of it. Believe me, with time, practice, and support, everything will get easier, but it’s often difficult to see through to the other side. Join me for today’s discussion. Show Highlights: Identify one thing you are looking forward to in the morning–even if

Today’s topic centers around a book written by my guest, Dr. Margo Lowy. She has researched and written about maternal ambivalence, including how to understand it and why it remains a taboo subject. We will discuss destigmatizing uncomfortable feelings and normalize the understanding that motherhood is not “all or nothing.” We’ll cover the darker emotions of anger, guilt, and resentment, and we'll refute the myth of “the perfect mother” and recognize that motherhood can be viewed in different ways. Join us to learn more! Dr. Margo Lowy is a psychotherapist specializing in mothering. She is the author of Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments and Bitter Truths of Motherhood and her previous book, The Maternal Experience: Encounters with Ambivalence and Love. Dr. Lowy earned her doctorate from the University of South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and she has spoken on maternal ambivalence at universities and in media interviews worldwide. She is a columnist for Psychology Today, a member of PEN America, and a

I’m honored to interview Jaimie Kelton for today’s episode. She shares interesting parts of her journey as a queer parent, discusses elements of queer family building, and opens up about her three-year infertility journey as a queer woman. Her motherhood story includes birth trauma and postpartum anxiety. As a podcast host, Jaimie explains how hearing from the guests on her show has helped her on her healing journey.  Jaimie Kelton hosts The Queer Family Podcast, an award-winning show that uplifts and normalizes LGBTQIA+ families by sharing real, candid, and often hilarious stories about queer family building. She is a Webby Honoree and was named one of GO Magazine’s “100 Women We Love.” Jaimie has also been named one of Podcast Magazine’s “Top 50 Moms in Podcasting.” Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, People, Parents Magazine, and more. She is the co-author of If These Ovaries Could Talk: The Things We've Learned About Making an LGBTQ Family. A longtime performer, queer mom, and outspoken ad

In Part 1 of this series, we discussed how heavy and burdensome things can feel in the middle of the night when you are alone with your baby, struggling to function and feeling exhausted.  In Part 2, we ventured into what it’s like when anxiety and intrusive thoughts pop up in the middle of the night. Today’s focus is on the importance of taking care of YOU, even in the middle of the night. You could feel “touched out” and overwhelmed, forgetting that you need self-care, too. You need to actively and intentionally have a plan. Let’s explore this topic further! Show Highlights: Your options in the middle of the night may be limited.  Think ahead and plan for water/snacks while taking care of the baby. Have them available nearby. Consider your personal comfort: blankets, socks, a sweater, or a small fan Plan for other options for music/noise besides doom-scrolling on your phone. After tending to the baby's needs, do some gentle stretches to help your neck, shoulders, and arms re

In this episode, I’m excited to be joined by Emily Harrington, one of the most successful and versatile professional climbers in the world. Emily discusses the pressure of failure and perfectionism in motherhood, pregnancy, and postpartum, which are common experiences among mothers. Join us to hear this beautiful conversation about life at the intersection of motherhood and elite athleticism in a largely male-dominated sport. Emily Harrington is a five-time US National Champion, has completed numerous first female ascents of 5.14 routes, summited Mt. Everest, and made a complete ski descent of Cho Oyu, the world’s sixth-tallest peak. She made history when she became the first woman to free-climb “Golden Gate on El Capitan in under 24 hours. The movie about Emily’s career, Girl Climber, is screening at IMAX theaters and various cinemas through the end of the year. It will be available on JOLT starting on October 15 and will be available for full streaming in November. Emily currently resides in Tahoe City, CA

Our conversation today is on the recent FDA panel about the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy—and all the ways the panel got it wrong. It’s not just about wrong information, but it’s about the harm that wrong information does to people in the perinatal period. Join us to learn more about why this information from the FDA is so dangerous to women.  Dr. Catherine Birndorf is a reproductive psychiatrist and the CEO, founder, and medical director of The Motherhood Center of New York. Dr. Birndorf is a founding director of the Payne Whitney Women’s Program at Weill Cornell Medical Center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where she is a clinical associate professor of psychiatry. A graduate of Smith College, Dr. Birndorf attended Brown University Medical School and did her psychiatry residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. For 10 years, Dr. Birndorf was a regular mental health columnist for Self Magazine and appeared on numerous television programs, including the Today Show, Good Morning America, MS

Today, I’m bringing you the second part of my 2 am Pep Talk. This time, I’m really focusing on supporting new parents, especially those of you who might be feeling anxious, lonely, or dealing with those tough, intrusive thoughts that can pop up during pregnancy or after having a baby. I know those quiet, late-night hours can make everything feel even more overwhelming, and I want you to know you’re not alone in that. I’m discussing setting aside “worry time” to help manage anxious thoughts, using thought labeling to get some distance from those worries, practicing grounding exercises to stay present, and I even guide you through a relaxing body scan technique to help calm both your mind and body. Your feelings are valid, and there are fundamental, actionable strategies you can use to navigate the ups and downs of perinatal mental health. Tune in to hear more! Show Highlights: Emotional challenges faced by new parents during pregnancy and after childbirth Feelings of loneliness, anxiety, intrusiv

Maternal rage is, unfortunately, more common than we want to think. The worst part is that not many people are talking about it, which only adds to the stigma and misunderstanding. New mothers are led to believe that they shouldn’t feel rage and anger, and they are shamed when they do. We are uncovering maternal rage, exploring how and why it manifests, and what can be done about it. Join us to learn more! Nicole McNelis is a licensed mental health therapist and a specialist in perinatal mental health counseling. She is the founder of an award-winning counseling private practice in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where she resides with her family. She has been featured as a mental health expert in print publications, online media, books, and podcasts, and she serves as a subject matter expert and conference presenter for Postpartum Support International. Nicole is passionate about serving the perinatal mental health community through life transitions, big and small.  Show Highlights: Understanding materna

This episode explores how doulas integrate themselves into the healthcare system to enhance outcomes for mothers, families, and babies. There are countless benefits to hiring a doula to improve the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. Join us to learn more! HeHe Stewart is a leading childbirth educator, advocate, and maternity care reform expert. With a master’s in human development and over a decade of experience, she empowers families with evidence-based birth prep, informed decision-making, and postpartum readiness. She is a fierce advocate for informed consent, reducing unnecessary interventions, and ensuring patient autonomy in birth. Beyond working with families, HeHe is actively involved in legislative efforts to improve women’s health policies and expand access to midwifery care. She works to reform maternity care by advocating for patient rights, increased birth options, and improved mental health outcomes. As the host of The Birth Lounge Podcast, HeHe interviews leading experts in women’s h

We are starting something different today that will carry through the next few Behind the Sessions episodes. I’m tackling those “middle-of-the-night” feelings during pregnancy and the postpartum. Nighttime can bring feelings of dread and loneliness that mothers experience as a heaviness, and all of this can magnify and intensify any perinatal mood and anxiety disorders to make life very challenging for a sleep-deprived parent. You are not alone, and there is a whole community of people experiencing the same things. Think of these subsequent few sessions as your “2 am pep talk.” Join me now! Show Highlights: The importance of connection Sleep deprivation makes everything darker. You may feel like you’re doing everything wrong. You are doing a LOT while giving love and care to your baby. You aren’t a bad mother if you don’t LOVE middle-of-the-night care. Don’t judge yourself because of how you feel at 2 am. The next few episodes will include coping skills for the middle