Mental Health, Postpartum Kayce Hodos Mental Health, Postpartum Kayce Hodos

The #1 Complication of Childbirth May Surprise You

Even after experiencing postpartum anxiety myself, I was shocked that Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are the #1 complication of childbirth. PMADs is an umbrella term used to refer to postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, pregnancy/postpartum OCD, PTSD, insomnia, postpartum psychosis, and postpartum bipolar.

Yeah, that’s probably pretty surprising, too, that the risk of suffering from at least one of a whole host of mental health conditions is much higher than the risk of any of the other terrible outcomes you’ve played out in your head.

What The Research Shows

Studies tell us that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men (yep, it happens to dads, too!) will struggle with perinatal depression or anxiety.

By the way, the term perinatal refers to the entire pregnancy and the full year after childbirth. I wish we’d use this term more often because I find it more normalizing for clients than ‘postpartum’ in relaying the time period when these mental health concerns may arise.

The perinatal period is a long time, but I'd go as far as to say years 0-5 of a child’s life are the most mentally challenging for mothers (and why I decided one-and-done was the way to go for me).

Common Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety

It’s important to know that the symptoms aren’t always clear cut. You may be feeling scattered, overwhelmed, tearful, disappointed, and a bunch of other emotions.

In my 20-something years of experience in the mental health field, nearly ten of which has been specializing in supporting mothers, I’ve come to see depression and anxiety as two sides of the same coin.

Not for everyone, of course, but for most of my clients, their anxiety looks like intrusive thoughts, imagining worst-case scenarios, and overthinking the tiniest detail (among a multitude of other worries), all of which (to no one’s surprise) can lead to symptoms of depression.

Depression often looks like low energy, crying, overwhelming feelings of sadness, hopelessness, very little interest in activities you used to find enjoyable, lack of motivation, difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, lack of appetite, even feeling numb, all leading back to, you guessed it, symptoms of anxiety.

If you’ve ever felt depressed, then you understand exactly what I mean when I describe this cycle of anxiety —> depression —> anxiety and so on . . .

Let’s Talk About Intrusive Thoughts

Here’s a statistic for you: According to the Perinatal Anxiety Research Lab at the University of British Columbia, 100% of new moms report having unwanted intrusive thoughts about accidentally harming their baby. 100%! Do you know how often a scientific study proves something happens at a rate of 100%??? Almost never.

The same study reports 50% of new mothers report unwanted intrusive thoughts about harming their baby on purpose.

I want to make this very clear:

These are unwanted thoughts. That is, women do not intend to harm their babies, and they do not act on these thoughts.

Thoughts are not intent.

And they do not want to even be having these kinds of thoughts — hence the term intrusive.

These dark and vivid thoughts seem unlike anything that would typically cross your mind, and they’re very disturbing in nature. They’re a common symptom of postpartum OCD, but they can also occur as part of other PMADs, including during pregnancy.

Remember: Perinatal = pregnancy + the entire year after giving birth (possibly longer).

If I'd had this information, you can bet I would've spent way more time on my postpartum plan than my birth plan, and I'd like to think I would've been more open to asking for and accepting help.

If you’re thinking “NO KIDDING!” and you’d like some support with your adjustment to motherhood, start here to see if we’re a good fit. You are not alone.

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Kayce Hodos Kayce Hodos

The Most Important Baby Prep Info No One Talks About

Pregnancy and motherhood can be terrifying, and there's actually plenty to fear because there are very real risks.

BUT you don't have to allow these fears to consume you. You can learn to manage the anxiety and tolerate the distress that arises when you find yourself worrying about the unknown.

Parenthood is full of adventures in weighing risk vs. benefits, and that, my friend, is something worth preparing for.

I've been thinking about how very lucky we are to live in a time of amazing preventative steps we can take to manage risk during pregnancy and protect babies and mothers.

For example . . .

🚙 You aren't planning to crash your car with baby in tow, but I bet a carseat is one of the first items you started researching when you found out you were expecting.

😷 Even though you don't intend to hang out with folks suffering from whooping cough or the flu, you will follow your healthcare provider's advice to get immunized.

🛑 If you're anti-vax, you’re reading the wrong blog. 🛑

☀️You exercise, try to eat your veggies, and you're probably taking a prenatal vitamin.

But why don't we do more mental health prep? 🧐

(probably because the human brain is extremely uncomfortable with uncertainty, so we avoid sitting with it for very long, but that's another story for another email)

What does proactive mental health even look like?

There are plenty of resources to help you figure out the baby gear you actually need.

But what I do is help you prepare to cope with the challenges no one tells you about, such as . . .

✅ decision fatigue

✅ feelings of doom

✅ intrusive thoughts

✅ postpartum rage

✅ sensitivity to all the new stimuli

and the list goes on and on.

In other words, we'll lower your risk of perinatal mood + anxiety disorders (PMADs) using reality-based mindful coping tools and 0 bullshit.

❌manifesting

❌tarot

❌astrology

❌energy healing

Look, I'm not trying to yuck anyone's yum, but I'm probably not your person if you're into that stuff.

But if you're here for unsexy-and-boring-but-effective skills that actually work, that's my jam. 🤓

I'm very honest with moms-to-be. Not because I love fear-mongering, but because it's insulting to gloss over fears with dismissive "this is a natural and beautiful process" type of fluff. 🙄

Pregnancy and motherhood can be terrifying, and there's actually plenty to fear because there are very real risks.

BUT you don't have to allow these fears to consume you. You can learn to manage the anxiety and tolerate the distress that arises when you find yourself worrying about the unknown.

Parenthood is full of adventures in weighing risk vs. benefits, and that, my friend, is something worth preparing for.

Comment below with the #1 fear about becoming a mother that keeps you awake at night.

One more thing — educating yourself through trusted resources is a great way to cope with worry, so in case you missed it, my Mindful Mom-To-Be audio series is full of trusted info on getting mentally prepped for postpartum.

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Postpartum, Mental Health Kayce Hodos Postpartum, Mental Health Kayce Hodos

Show Notes + Resources from the Mindful Mom-To-Be Audio Series (AKA The Everything Page)

Proactive Pregnancy = Peaceful Postpartum

Welcome to the Everything Page for the “Mindful Mom-To-Be” audio series! If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do that here.

You’ll find all resources discussed on the podcast listed below by episode. If you don’t see something you’re looking for, shoot me an email and let me know, or message me on Instagram.

Professional Mental Health Support

This audio series is not a substitute for professional mental health support. Read on for free and confidential resources.

TTY users can use a preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 1-833-852-6262.

Episode 1: Nutrition + Perinatal Mental Health with Katie Gantt

We're all aware of how our appetite can affect our mood. (Hangry, anyone? )

Nutrition during pregnancy and postpartum is Katie Gantt's passion, and she's giving us the lowdown on what a nutritionist is, how she serves expectant mothers, the ways nutrition can impact mental health, and tips for prioritizing your needs.

Connect with Katie:

Episode 2: The Many Benefits of Hiring a Doula with Aida Algarin

Central Carolina Doulas founder Aida Algarin on why hiring a doula can benefit new parents in many ways and doula working with pregnant mother in background

Considering a doula? This conversation with Aida Algarin of Central Carolinas Doulas of Fayetteville, NC, should help with your decision.

Aida tells us how having a doula's support can play a key role in your perinatal mental health. We discuss doula history, what to look for when hiring a doula, the many kinds of support doulas provide for expectant families, and so much more.

Connect with Aida + Resources:

Episode 3: Sleep + Your Mental Health with Jen Varela

guest sleep expert Jen Varela on how newborn sleep actually works yawning baby background

Ah, sleep! Yes, your relationship with sleep changes forever when you become a parent, BUT there are some things you can do to grab those zzzs and give your baby the gift of a healthy sleep routine.

Jen Varela knows her stuff, and her passion for supporting new parents is obvious if you've ever heard her speak on this topic.

In this episode, we discuss tips and expectations, why newborns have the weirdest sleep habits ever, and the link between sleep and your mental health. You and your partner will both need to listen to this and save it for later (typically, when baby is around 4-5 months, at the earliest)!

Connect with Jen + Resources:

Episode 4: Breastfeeding 101 with Lorraine Rocco

Lorraine Rocco talks about proactive steps during pregnancy to prepare for breastfeeding problem solving baby and mom in background

If you're planning to breastfeed, you want someone like Lorraine in your corner! She's kind and warm, and she knows her stuff.

She takes an evidence-based approach to helping new moms resolve their breastfeeding worries, and she has extra training in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), so she has all the bases covered when it comes to educating women on the impact that lactation can have on their mental health.

Lorraine drops facts and dispels myths all over the place, and we are here for it!

Connect with Lorraine + Resources:

Episode 5: Baby Proofing Your Pet with Jen Shryock

Jen Shryock helps new parents prepare for helping dogs adjust safely to baby. dog on sofa in background

I'm so excited to spread the word about Jen Shryock and her amazing organization, Family Paws.

Jen and her team have been helping families transition from pet parents to parents with pets since 2002. You can hear how passionate she is about her work and prevention.

Educating yourself about how to safely bring baby home to meet your dog should be on your prep list, and Jen makes it so simple with her team of trained Dog Aware educators.

Connect with Jen + Resources:

Episode 6: Supporting Dads + Partners with Dr. Dan Singley

We couldn't have a postpartum mental health prep podcast without an episode all about dads and partners!

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) affect fathers, too, at a surprising rate. We tend to have some harmful stereotypes when it comes to a partner's role in becoming a parent, and Dr. Dan Singley is here to enlighten us.

We bust myths, we talk relationship maintenance strategies, and much more.

Connect with Dan + Resources:

Episode 7: Boundaries, Expectations, + PMADs with Kayce Hodos

Kayce Hodos on the importance of setting boundaries and clarifying expectations during pregnancy to lower risk of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders sleeping baby in background

This episode is a solo experience with yours truly.

I'm sharing a little about my own story and discussing the benefits of setting boundaries and expectations with family, friends, your partner, and yourself.

Plus some real talk about the lowering your risk of PMADs and easing your transition to parenthood.

Connect with me + Resources:

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