Suicide is a leading cause of maternal death in the first year following childbirth. Yet, the importance of postpartum mental health is rarely discussed during pregnancy. Having a new baby is supposed to be a joyful time, but for a lot of women, the stress of a newborn can be overwhelming. Some moms get the “Baby Blues,” others may develop Postpartum Depression or Postpartum Anxiety.  Let’s talk about Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) and how it relates to maternal suicide.

We have a special guest with us for this episode, Sherry Duson. Sherry is an LPC and LMFT and the Founder and Director of The Center for Postpartum Family Health in Houston, TX.  Sherry gives us insight into why so many new moms feel blindsided by the transition into motherhood. She also talks about the symptoms of Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety, and other disorders that may occur during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.  We know that a key component to good mental health is proper sleep, something very hard to get when you have a new baby in the home.  To understand how sleep affects our total well being, check out this week’s blog, “How a Good Night’s Sleep Can Literally Change Your Life.”