Summary: Pregnancy and resulting motherhood are supposed to be all unicorns and rainbows, right?Pregnancy and resulting motherhood are supposed to be all unicorns and rainbows, right? Most of us know that's a complete and utter myth. Postpartum depression has long been recognized as a real medical issue new moms face. Get farm to table ingredients and recipes delivered right to your door every week with Sun Basket. Go to SunBasket.com/wholehealth to save $35 off of your first order. - sponsor There are other considerations that women encounter prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy, and long after -- some aren't as severe as postpartum, but they all deserve the closest attention. Dr. Catherine Birndorf, co-author of the book How Come No One Told Me? The Emotional Guide to Pregnancy and The First Year of Motherhood, joins Dr. Taz in this interview to provide some insight as to what women are going through, as well as some of the myths surrounding becoming a mom -- whether for the first time or after previous births. One big misunderstanding is that of "mother's intuition." Of course you'll figure out what to do once the baby comes... won't you? Not in the least. There's often a difficult and unexpected adjustment women experience. Dr. Birndorf herself didn't know what to do with her newborn and went back to work sooner than she should have, simply as an attempt to restore normalcy. Awareness is a large piece of the puzzle, and talking about all the emotions that accompany motherhood makes it part of the common experience. The more aware you and those in your inner circle are about the potential for uncomfortability, the better equipped you are to address it. That's not saying the emotions won't come -- that part will be what it will be. But at least you'll hopefully be able to navigate them as they fluctuate. Dr. Birndorf also stresses that women need to try to get over the idea of "failing" at motherhood. No one woman's experience is going to be the same. Bliss is not typical, much less guaranteed. If you're looking for some answers but don't know where to start, www.postpartum.net is a great resource for syncing you up with someone who can advise next steps. Sponsor: Get farm to table ingredients and recipes delivered right to your door every week with Sun Basket. Go to SunBasket.com/wholehealth to save $35 off of your first order.
