Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
May 25, 2022 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
This month’s Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators recognizes that May is Maternal Mental Health Month. A simple activity that encourages pregnant and new parents to reach out for support when they are experiencing some emotional bumps in the road. You can find all the Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators posts here at this link for free.
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May 12, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
May is Maternal Mental Health Month. This is an excellent time to check in and reevaluate what information you are currently sharing in your classes, when you share it and what resources you provide to families who might be dealing with a mood disorder related to their pregnancy or postpartum period. Childbirth educators are in a unique position to normalize perinatal mood disorders (PMDs) which impact up to 20% of pregnant or postpartum people. Untreated perinatal mood disorders impact quality of life and parenting experiences for the entire family including the children.
January 26, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published a study, “Pandemic-related pregnancy stress and anxiety among women pregnant during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic” that found that anxiety and stress was more common than it had been before with the combined stressors of pregnancy and new parenting and the complications of dealing with COVID-19 pandemic concerns.
One of the ways that this increased stress and impact of PMADs can be moderated is by information, awareness and screening. Childbirth classes are a great source of all three of these components that contribute to lower PMAD rates. Unfortunately, the number of people currently attending childbirth classes is reduced due to restrictions on public gatherings and appropriate concerns for personal safety and health. People may not be aware that many childbirth classes have moved to virtual platforms and are still available.
January 07, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Google has announced that they are committed to providing specific information and screening tools when someone uses their search engine to search on the topics of perinatal mood disorders. This is the fourth mental health self-assessment directly available from Google Search. Previously, people who searched for information about anxiety, depression and PTSD were directed to screening tools. Now perinatal mood disorder screening tools will be provided too.
September 08, 2020 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
The global pandemic created by COVID-19 has had significant impacts on pregnant, birthing and postpartum families. Isolation, lack of social support, financial challenges and health concerns all contribute to the stress that expectant families are experiencing. Many childbirth classes and postpartum support groups, along with prenatal care visits with health care providers have pivoted to virtual offerings and in-person connection is limited at best.
November 27, 2018 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
The Harvard T.H. Chan School for Public Health is offering a free webinar "What happens if she screens positive for postpartum depression? Moving postpartum care from screening to treatment and beyond." Register now.
June 13, 2017 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
One out of ten fathers experiences mood and anxiety disorders from the first trimester of pregnancy through the first six months of parenthood. Having resources on hand for those who may face this challenge is a key component of childbirth education.
December 11, 2012 | by: Walker Karraa, PhD
Regular contributor Walker Karraa has written an excellent three part series on Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD) and what the childbirth educator or birth professional can do to help women get the help they may need when dealing with mental illness during the prenatal and postpartum
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