mental health

Today we spoke with two special guests about the new Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (abbreviated PFML) and how to best prepare for parental leave after the birth of your baby! Our guests are Amanda Hemm and Sarah Douglas from Soutiens.

QUESTIONS we asked Amanda and Sarah:

While this law offers a variety of family and medical leave benefits, today we’re going to focus… Read more

Recorded Saturday, February 20, 2021. Our guest today is Becca Parrish Snowdon, a psychologist who specializes in evaluating children to determine if they would benefit from additional services at school.

Becca earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Development from Duke University, then worked in a private school for children with special needs. She went on to earn her master’s… Read more

Recorded Wednesday, January 20,  2021. 

Our guest today is Dr. Prakash-Zawisza, an obstetrician-gynecologist who currently serves as the Medical Director of the MassHealth Payment and Care Delivery Innovation Division and is the president-elect of the National Perinatal Association.

She joins us to discuss being pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic—she is expecting her second baby—and… Read more

Several hospitals across Massachusetts are routinely separating pregnant people from their partners or chosen labor support person — sometimes for hours, days, or even weeks. Discover why this is happening, and why it should never be allowed. Then, make your voice heard: sign our petition urging Governor Baker to issue an Executive Order to end this separation practice.

To read more and sign… Read more

Recorded Friday, November 13, 2020 

Today we’ll be talking about the words we choose and why they matter, in the context of infant feeding and parenting. 

Our guest today is my dear friend Renee Beebe, who is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in private practice in Seattle, Washington.  She’s been a lactation consultant for more than 20 years, doing home visits and… Read more

The words we use matter! Join us today as we explore the words we use when talking about feeding and parenting.  We're joined by International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Renee Beebe, who lives and works in Seattle, Washington. You can find out more about her at http://www.second9months.com Read more

Listen in as Emily—a nursing mom of more than five years—shares her experience planning to breastfeed while taking a significant medication, navigating postpartum depression, nursing the same child for five years, and exploring the concept of respectful parenting. Emily has been a middle school English teacher for 14 years and recently completed her second master’s degree in Counseling… Read more

Hear how our guest—an anesthesiologist and mother of four—endured birth trauma and navigated the system to file formal complaints against those responsible. She shares what she did to prepare for her births, what happened, and the trauma she experienced at the hands of a doctor and nurse. She also discusses the steps she’s taking to heal and offers recommendations for how others can help… Read more

Join us as we talk with postpartum doula and trainer Rachel Hess about how queer parents can empower themselves when interacting with care providers and other parents, as well as how those outside the queer community can help stop oppressive actions and comments during the perinatal period. Rachel offers virtual support groups for queer parents, and you can learn more about them at Rachel Hess… Read more

Join us as we speak with Rachel Gaillard Smook, PhD, a clinical psychologist in private practice, about how parents can navigate the communication struggles that come up as one is expecting a new baby and as couples have a new baby in the family. She shares some valuable wisdom and answers some questions sent in by members of the Babies in Common Community.

Rachel specializes in working with women… Read more

Join us as we talk with homebirth midwife, Dina Shea-Fraize, CPM, about how preparation for and the experience of birth is physical, emotional and even spiritual. Read more

Join us in this riveting 2-part interview with Teresa Stewart, sleep consultant and child development specialist.  She has 20 years experience educating, empowering, and supporting women and their families prenatally through their child’s adolescence. She is a child development specialist, maternal/ child health educator, family sleep consultant, first aid and CPR instructor, childbirth… Read more

Guest: Teresa Stewart, MS, MPH, sleep consultant
 
Our Videocasts are now called a SHOW!  Our conversation with Teresa is a two-parter! Be sure to watch Part One (SHOW #16) also!  Teresa has 20 years experience educating, empowering, and supporting women and their families prenatally through their child’s adolescence. She is a child development specialist, maternal/ child health educator,… Read more

Join us as we talk with visiting nurses Amanda Jessee and Amy Gallant about what a postpartum visiting nurse does during a postpartum visiting nurse visit.  Our guests, Amanda Jessee, RN, BSn and Amy Gallant, RN, IBCLC, are will share with us why this type of visit is important and how to get one.  Read more

Join us as we talk with Justine Leach, PhD, a childbirth educator and advocate for trauma-informed care. After the birth of her two children, she left academia to cofound Resilient Birth, recognizing the profound impact of past experiences on childbirth and the importance of supporting the emotional journey to parenthood. Justine believes that no matter where or how you give birth, it’s… Read more

Join us as we talk with psychiatric nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife Jill Fieleke about what it truly feels like to experience PPD, PPA, or perinatal OCD. We’ll explore why perinatal mood disorders go beyond just depression, how to get help, finding a therapist, and options for medication that are safe while breastfeeding. Plus, Jill will answer your questions! Read more

Join us as we talk with Melanie Salort, a pediatric occupational therapist with 18 years of experience. For most of her career, she has specialized in sensory processing, both in clinical work and teaching. In 2017, Melanie completed a fellowship in Infant Parent Mental Health and has a particular interest in supporting the parent-child relationship. She works at a sensory integration clinic in… Read more

Join us as we talk with Heather Chiancola, a birth & postpartum doula and a Reiki II certified energy worker who holds a degree in Nutrition/Dietetics with a focus on pregnancy, lactation, and children’s eating patterns from birth to age 5.  Read more

Join us as we talk with Chere Jalali, an experienced childbirth educator, HypnoBirthing instructor, yoga teacher and group fitness instructor and with Bec Conant, a long-time yoga teacher, meditation instructor, childbirth educator and Spinning Babies Certified Parent Educator.   Read more