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.
April 10, 2020 | by: Lesley Pascuzzi, LCCE, BSc, MSc, Dip
As childbirth educators, we don’t need reminding that the mind-body connection holds incredible significance for safe and healthy pregnancy, labour and birth. Anxiety, stress, fear, and worry all hinder the cocktail of birth hormones we pay frequent tribute to in our classes. Birthing in the time of COVID-19 means adapting our childbirth class curriculums and content to the new stressors facing pregnant people today.
May 24, 2019 | by: Cara Terreri, LCCE, CD(DONA)
May is National Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. Perinatal mood disorders (depression, anxiety and more) are the most common complication of pregnancy and/or postpartum. It is estimated that one in five pregnant people are dealing with the challenges of pregnancy mood disorders. One in seven people transitions to life with a new baby while also suffering from a postpartum mood disorder.
Childbirth educators would be remiss if they did not allocate time during classes, from the very first moment of connection onward, to discuss this topic. Based on the above estimates, 20% of the people sitting in your classes preparing for their labor and birth are already dealing with a mood disorder but may not have the information or the bandwidth necessary to receive the support they need during this vulnerable time
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