Meghan’s Perinatal Mental Health Story

Thrive • Oct 25, 2021

Going into my postpartum period, I never thought I would suffer from postpartum anxiety (PPA) or postpartum depression (PPD). Overall, I had a wonderful pregnancy and a supportive partner, and I was prepared in every way I could think of. I saw my primary care physician for a preconception check-up and went to every prenatal appointment being fully transparent of my medical history (which included anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and hypothyroidism). I built a strong support system and even had a prenatal therapy session.

My son was born healthy right on his due date. Despite developing an infection and having trouble sleeping in the hospital, I was feeling happy and healthy too. My son was doing well and slept a lot. I continued to have trouble sleeping once we were home. I had heard people describe having a ‘birth buzz’ after delivery, so I assumed that was what was going on.

At my son’s two-week appointment, he had gained back his birth weight plus some. This fueled my perfectionist desires and I told myself that I was rocking this whole “mom thing.” I informed our pediatrician that I was having trouble sleeping. We assumed the cause was anxiety and I promised her I would see my previous therapist. Unfortunately, she was booked out for three months. I thought I’d be fine to wait as I was comfortable dealing with anxiety.

Over the next weeks, things continued much in the same way. Still no sleep, but it didn’t seem to be affecting me. Then came my son’s two-month check-up where he came in underweight. This news amped up my PPA because I worried I would have to give up exclusively breastfeeding and I wanted my son to have the benefits of breastmilk. Also, I had found breastfeeding to be empowering in the same way pregnancy had been for me. I scheduled a lactation consultation and was advised to triple feed at each session. We did this for two weeks. I started dreading feeding because I was nervous about whether he was taking in enough. At our follow-up appointment, I got the news that shattered me — the triple feeding didn’t work. I was devastated. I felt like my body had failed me.

We saw our pediatrician and made a plan to switch to bottle feeding so we could track his intake. I started pumping and supplementing with formula or donor milk. I hated pumping. It was a constant reminder of what I had lost. Moreover, my baby had a hard time transitioning to a bottle.

During this time, I met with my doctor to rule out any medical issues as the cause of my low supply. I explained how I was having trouble sleeping and was waking up drenched in sweat, and that I was feeling anxious, irritable, and sensitive to light and sound, plus having heart palpitations. She assured me most of these were normal postpartum symptoms and hesitantly ordered labs. My results showed my thyroid was hyperactive. This explained why I had been energetic and was not sleeping. She adjusted my medication, but said it would take six to eight weeks to normalize. I requested a referral to endocrinology so I could see if this had affected my breastfeeding.

I couldn’t get into the endocrinologist for four months. During that time my PPA got worse. My baby had started his four-month sleep regression. He woke 10 – 20 times a night. I became obsessed with improving his sleep. I bought courses and watched videos. Nothing helped. A voice inside my head began to tell me I was failing. I knew it was a lie, but I started believing it. I told myself there must be something I’m doing wrong and obsessively started using Google to answer all my parenting questions. I became rigid about our baby’s feeding schedule and nap routine, afraid that swaying from it would derail any progress we were making.

I finally got to see my therapist, but I continued to get worse. I followed up with my doctor about my anxiety, but she only offered a prescription. I wasn’t ready to take medication due to my own stigmas about it. During this time, my PPD came forward. I had never experienced depression before and it terrified me. I became withdrawn despite feeling lonely, had trouble finding joy, felt overwhelmed, and numbed myself by listening to podcasts all day. I started having suicidal ideation. I would search “I regret having a baby” and “I miss my old life” over and over, only to have the SAMHSA hotline pop up.

At last, I got to meet with the endocrinologist. She confirmed my thyroid had played a part in my breastfeeding issues. Additionally, she informed me that what happened could have been prevented. Patients with known hypothyroidism should take extra thyroid medication during pregnancy. I drove home in tears. I was so angry that some of what was taking place could have been prevented.

I came to a turning point when I reached out to my OBGYN. She helped me put a plan together. She prescribed sertraline, developed a sleep plan that included diphenhydramine before bed, and referred me to Thrive Reno. They did an assessment with me to determine what level of care would be most appropriate, while also taking into account my family and work obligations as well as my insurance and financial restraints. For me, they recommended their ‘It Takes a Village’ Day Program for perinatal mental health.

Thrive Reno’s ‘It Takes a Village’ Day Program saved me. I gained a thorough understanding of my PPA and PPD diagnosis in their psychoeducation class. This allowed me to explain to my family what was going on as this was all new to us. I was able to get closure on what took place during my delivery and take comfort from others’ stories during our birth processing group. I gained a ton of new coping skills and was reminded of the importance of physical movement as well as fueling my body in a gentle, non-judgmental way. The empowerment group allowed me to start reclaiming my days and in my private therapy sessions, I was able to start defining a new version of myself. After two and a half months, I graduated from the program.

Now, I feel like I’m in the best mental health shape and I like the person I am more than ever. I learned many lessons on this journey and while I am glad it’s over, I’m happy for where it has brought me. I’m even wanting to have a second child in the future. I found healing with Thrive, art, and reading PPA and PPD recovery stories.

If I could tell my past self a few things they would be:

Trust the process.
Never stop advocating for yourself.
Ask for help.
Prioritize sleep.
Manage your expectations.
Create a backup plan for breastfeeding (not just birth).
Don’t be scared to try medication. Sometimes our brains need a “recalibration” as one therapist put it.
You can do hard things.

I’m so thankful for what our community has to offer and hope every new parent can get the support they need. Parenting is tough and it does take a village.

A note from Thrive

Thrive Reno’s “It Takes a Village” Perinatal Day Program and additional perinatal outpatient services cater to new parents struggling with their mental health. Through integrated care from our perinatal specialists, new parents will be empowered to confidently and joyfully embrace their roles. Reach out to us anytime to learn more.

The post Meghan’s Perinatal Mental Health Story first appeared on Thrive Wellness.

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Clean House, Healthy Mind: Spring Cleaning Benefits for Mental Health

By Sage Tippie • 23 Apr, 2024

Spring Cleaning Benefits for Mental Health Spring is a time of new beginnings, change, and transitions, including in our homes. With the warmer weather kicking motivation into high gear, Spring can be a prime time to do a deep clean. Not only is a clean space aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, but it can also help to improve your mental health. Learn about how tidying up your space can also tidy up your thoughts below along with tips for cleaning when you’re struggling with your mental health. 4 Reasons Why Cleaning is Beneficial to Mental health 1.Decreased Stress Not only does an uncluttered space provide a sense of calm, but the physical act of cleaning can release feel-good endorphins, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. As you cross tasks off your checklist, your body also releases Dopamine. Also known as the “happy hormone”, Dopamine provides a sense of accomplishment and pride that can promote motivation in other areas of our lives. 2. Improved Focus Studies have shown that an uncluttered space can also lead to an uncluttered mind. Your focus can be drawn away from important tasks by a chaotic, messy space. Research has also shown a connection between procrastination and clutter, as an unwillingness to tackle larger chores like cleaning can translate over into various areas of our lives. By keeping your space tidy, it can inspire you to stay on top of other major tasks like work and school assignments. 3. Regulated Emotions According to this 2015 study , cleaning can function as a practice in mindfulness, providing an increased sense of calm and inspiration. Slowing down while cleaning gives you room to relax and free your mind of burdens, stressors, and irritants that can affect your mental health. Cleaning can even be considered a practice of self-care as the action helps you to connect with yourself and the outcome allows you to better enjoy your own space. 4. Sense of Order and Control When experiencing mental health struggles, people may feel a lack of control over their lives and emotions. Cleaning even small areas of the home can provide an increased sense of order and control as you cross tasks off your to-do list. Through realizing your own power by simply completing minor tasks like cleaning, it can reaffirm your ability to do more. 10 Tips for Cleaning When Struggling with Mental Health Mental health struggles and disorders commonly create barriers to one’s ability to clean and properly practice personal hygiene. Although these behaviors are normal side effects of mental health disorders, we want to work to aid our clients in cleaning to the best of their ability even in difficult times. Below, Thrive Wellness occupational therapist Meadow Deason shares some helpful tips she gives to clients when they struggle with cleaning due to mental health conditions: 1.Ask For Help Having support to clean can make a huge difference. Do the cleaning with the person helping you and have them hold you accountable. 2. Don't Wait for Motivation Motivation might not come before action, but it can build as you begin to see the results of your efforts. 3. Start Small Start with one area or one task and go from there. For example, concentrate on your bedroom first and then move on to the living room and bathroom. 4. Do Something Daily Even if you do only one small cleaning task a day, doing that one task creates momentum and prevents small tasks from building up and becoming overwhelming. 5. Use Sensory Modulation Change your environment by playing music, adjusting the lighting, or using aromatherapy. This can help to put you in a new headspace for cleaning. 6. Start with "High Impact" Tasks Start with more intensive or all-over cleaning tasks such as picking up clutter or doing the dishes. The visual "noise" of some tasks makes a large impact on the entire space, building motivation to continue cleaning. 7. Make a To-Do List Write a detailed to-do list of tasks and cross them off as you go. Physically marking down what you’ve accomplished can promote increased motivation. 8. Reward Yourself Set up a reward system where you reward yourself with a favorite activity or item when you complete a task as an incentive to clean. 9. Use the Rocket Method Don't think about it, just choose a task, countdown from five or ten and then start. This can help you to avoid potential anxiety and dread that can prevent you from cleaning. 10. Gamify Tasks Make up a game for your tasks or time yourself to promote increased engagement in cleaning. Your ability to complete tasks can be affected by a multitude of different factors and conditions including OCD , anxiety, depression , ADHD , and more. If you are struggling with motivation due to your mental health, help is here at Thrive Wellness.

child getting bandaid from doctor while mother smiles

The Importance of Whole Family Primary Care: A Q&A with Dr. Stephanie Wright

26 Mar, 2024

By serving the whole family, physicians are able to have a better understanding of family dynamics, family health care goals, and history of disease in the family.