By Rachel Rabinor, LCSW
Riding the Postpartum Waves: Understand the wide range of feelings that come with a new baby and how to let your community support you
Becoming a mother is the biggest transition a woman goes through in her adult life. We’re taught to think and plan for the birth: Will I have an epidural? Pitocin? Vitamin k? I’ll bring music, wear an eye mask… There’s such a huge range of considerations. But what about after the birth? We anticipate happiness, love, deep connection with our partner and an instant bond with our baby. How will we foster these emotions and experiences? Will they just happen? And what else might I expect?
When baby is up all night and your partner is snoring, how will that impact you? What about the emotions coursing through your body after a few weeks in the NICU—is it anxiety or the oxytocin you’ve heard so much about. Despite your text-book home birth that you planned to a T, you might find yourself crying uncontrollably for what feels like no good reason. The postpartum period can feel unpredictable to a new mother and even like a roller coaster at times.
So what does it feel like to be a mother? What is normal? In this workshop we’ll discuss the common range of emotions new mothers may experience. We’ll talk about the baby blues and if what you’re feeling is something more, like depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.
We’ll also talk about some of the many (many) myths of motherhood that can contribute to feelings of guilt, fear or shame and strategies for cultivating more joy while coping with the challenges of motherhood.
Bio
Rachel Rabinor, LCSW is a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker. She has a private practice in Banker’s Hill where she specializes in reproductive and maternal mental health. She is passionate about supporting women (and those who love them) on their journey to and through motherhood. She has specialized training in treating pregnancy and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, traumatic birth, infertility, miscarriage, loss, and early parenting. She believes in the healing power of community support and enjoys facilitating groups for new mothers and women experiencing infertility. Rachel is a member of ASRM, Resolve and San Diego’s Postpartum Health Alliance where she was the former training chair. She is often featured on podcasts and webinars, and regularly presents to local groups and organizations on topics of maternal mental health.
