PERINATAL/TRYING TO CONCEIVE COUNSELING

Parenthood is not hard because something is wrong with you......

Its hard because our current system does not support the ideal experience of parenting and family, while the antiquated expectations remain that it looks and feels picture perfect.

what is the perinatal period?

The perinatal period is the time from pregnancy to one year after giving birth. It's a time of significant physiological and psychosocial ch​ange and adjustment for the birthing parent.  Simultaneously, this adjustment period impacts partners as well, the relationship, and the vision of family.
Some of the common challenges during this period include pregnancy discomforts like morning sickness, swelling, sleep disturbances, labour and delivery complications, sometimes trauma, postpartum depression/recovery, sleep deprivation, and hormonal changes.

As well, you may be experiencing perinatal mood changes and anxiety, OCD, and for some psychosis,  identity shifts like adjusting to the new role of being a parent and loss of independence,  guilt and self doubt, relationship strains such as changes in intimacy, communication, and perhaps social isolation.

Financial stress, work-life balance, breastfeeding difficulties and lack of support are not uncommon during this transition either.

what to do

We can be as prepared as possible for the newborn, having read all there is to read, particpated in prenatal education and groups, spoken to family and friends, and perhaps even cared for newborns ourselves.​
But this doesn't prepare us for the physiological and social/emotional experiences of hormone changes, sleep deprivation, separation anxiety, social isolation, etc that could follow.  Having a community of supports, be it family, friends, mental and physical health professionals, spiritual connection if that supports you.....makes a difference in our experience of this new and exciting role as parents and partners with children.

The truth is, we can only prepare for what we can imagine.  There are those things we can't imagine that we might now have to deal with.  Or perhaps, we are struggling to find or maintain those supports, maybe our child is presenting with challenges we didn't expect.

You can support yourself by opening to those who want to support you.  There is a plentitude of services out there waiting for you to register, there are other parents looking for your company in raising children together, there are professionals in all areas of competence, such as lactation, midwifery, doula, postpartum doula, sleep specialists.....and the list goes on.
Supporting you in finding the right formula for you and your family is my interest here.  Trained in Perinatal Mental Health, I am here to support you.  Give me a call or book online to start your journey.