I can still clearly remember sitting in the new moms group that I participated in when my daughter was first born, now nearly 15 years ago. I remember sharing my birth story and describing how my hopes of having an intervention-free birth were dashed when I developed HELLP syndrome (preeclampsia with its usual suspects of…
Perinatal and Reproductive Mental Health
Virtual Support Groups for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Starting April 2020
We are excited to announce the launch of virtual support groups for pregnant and postpartum women at Wildflower. Under the best of circumstances, the transition to motherhood is an unpredictable, all-encompassing, and often bewildering journey. Experiencing it during the coronavirus pandemic is an entirely uncharted territory. Let us support you in facing the challenges of…
Being Real and Nonjudgmental as a Mother: Why Sharing Your True Feelings is Critical to Your Health and Wellbeing
Many years ago, when my daughter was about 2 years old, and I was at home during the endless hours of toddlerhood, I remember talking on the phone to my first friend to have children. Not only was she about 4 years ahead of me in the parenthood journey, but she was one very wise…
Understanding Premenstrual Disorders
In my practice it is quite frequent that I hear women reporting various levels of emotional and physical discomfort around their periods. Severity of symptoms may differ from cycle to cycle, and so does the ability to function at a regular, so-called base level. Indeed, during reproductive years women go through various hormonal fluctuations, not…
What Do Babies Really Need?
On Monday, September 16th, 2019 we are hosting What Do Babies Really Need? as part of our Wildflower Talks series. As parents, we want what is best for our children. We fret over infant care items, the crib, the feedings. We want to be good parents. No matter how intensely we pursue this goal, questions…
Postpartum Blues or Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorder?
One of the most frequent questions we get asked at Beyond the Baby Blues is what defines the distinction between baby blues and a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder or PMAD. The description that the women we see in our groups provide over and over of how they are feeling is that they don’t feel…
What to Expect When You’re Expecting (In Your Sex Life)
Pregnancy can be an exciting but also an unexpected transition for new parents. On one hand you are looking forward to bringing your newborn into the world, mentally and physically preparing for your growing family, all the while dreaming about what your bundle of joy will look like and how they will feel in your…
Breathe: A mind/body workshop for women facing infertility will be held on June 2, 2019
Breathe: A Mind/Body Workshop for Women Facing Infertility will be held at Wildflower on Sunday, June 2nd, 2019 from 10 am to 2pm. No woman feels prepared to confront her infertility diagnosis and treatment. It is impossible to anticipate the shock, grief, isolation, and exhausting cycle of hope and fear that characterize the experience of…
Demystifying Depression in New Dads
While the mental health field has made major gains in recognizing and treating depression experienced by moms in the postpartum period, less attention has been given to fathers who are impacted by depression during this critical period. The lack of discussion about postnatal depression means that many struggling dads are not always aware that such…
Why Do I Help Parents Teach Their Children How to Sleep?
In the parenting community, there are a number of, what I think of as, “hot button topics.” Whether or not to vaccinate or circumcise your children, should your child wear a puffy coat in their car seat, should or shouldn’t you breastfeed and for how long, and whether or not to sleep train your child.…
