My son was watching a video recently of a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis and it reminded me of a story I often talk about with clients. A boy found a chrysalis of a butterfly. He sat and watched the […]
Before having their baby, many women make the assumption that breastfeeding will come easily and naturally. But sometimes things don’t go to plan. Insufficient milk supply is one of the most common reasons given for women not meeting their breastfeeding […]
It’s PNDA awareness week. This year’s theme is “I wish I knew”. So I thought I’d write a post about something that I wish people knew about PNDA. Close your eyes and picture someone with postnatal depression. Though the person in […]
I was talking with a woman recently who couldn’t understand why issues she had worked through in therapy so long ago had resurfaced following a traumatic birth of her baby. It reminded me of something I had read by Friedrich […]
I’m so tired I can’t think straight! I remember a particularly tough time with my kids. We’d had gastro go through the house. For about a week my husband and I had been up in the middle of the night […]
Perinatal mood disorders (antenatal and postnatal depression and/or anxiety) are common conditions. One in seven mums and one in ten dads experience depression in the first two years after having a baby. One in 10 women experience depression during pregnancy. [In this […]
I’m putting my ranty-pants on today. *Please note this post contains references to child harm, self-harm and suicidality* I’ve recently seen some very rigid and judgmental memes about infant sleep which equated mothers walking away from a crying baby with […]
This is a REALLY common question that I get asked as a psychologist with a perinatal focus. And the honest answer to that question? It’s complicated. The research suggests that it is breastfeeding DIFFICULTIES, rather than breastfeeding, that is a […]
When babies are in a state of distress, what is it that calms them down and makes them contented? Normally, it is the loving, caring actions of another person (usually their primary carer, but not always). John Bowlby studied how […]
A couple of years ago, I decided to take my newborn, 2yo and 4yo to the local major shopping centre… on the bus… without a pram… to go Christmas shopping. (I think in my sleep deprived state I was delirious). It […]
