Did you know that one in five new parents and pregnant folks have a PMAD (Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder)? About ten percent of the cases come from having a traumatic birth. These are huge numbers and these are just the reported cases. It’s more likely that one in three pregnant people and new parents have a PMAD. Given how incredibly prevalent PMADs are, we need to learn to recognize the traits, know how to support people experiencing them, know how and where to seek help, and most importantly, take the stigma away from them.
To have this conversation I welcomed Nancy Layish LCSW to Yoga| Birth| Babies. Nancy is certified in the field of perinatal mental health and the co-founder of the non profit Central Florida Postpartum Alliance and member of Postpartum Support International. She’s got a ton of great information and she’s just so excited and willing to share it. I hope this episode encourages anyone suffering from a PMAD to know they’re not alone and to seek help. For those that are supporting pregnant people and new parents, I hope this helps you to see some of these signs and be a solid listening ear for the new parent that’s suffering and to hold that space for them. I think you’re going to get so much from this conversation. This is one of those that I bet you’re going to bookmark and come back to over and over again.
In this episode you will learn:
- Learn about Nancy and what inspired her to start Central Florida Postpartum Alliance
- An explanation of PMADs
- Misconceptions & stigmas around PMADs
- How does someone can figure out if they’re experiencing more than the typical “baby blues” or the results of hormonal dropping and a major life adjustment
- How a partner or family member can identify that the new parent has PMADs
- How to start a conversation about seeking help
- Treatment options & types of support someone can find
- Are PMADs just for Pregnant People or the Birth Parent? Can partners or parents who didn’t birth a baby still experience PMADs?
- Who might be more prone to PMADs
- What to do before pregnancy and birth to prepare for the possibility of a PMAD
- Signs and Symptoms of PMADs in pregnancy
- Getting rid of the guilt, embarrassment or self judgment, around PMADs. You are not alone in this and there is help.
- One final tip/piece of advice Nancy would like to offer new or expectant parents
- Where you can find Nancy’s work
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About Nancy:
Nancy Layish is a licensed clinical social worker in Orlando, Florida, and is certified in the field of perinatal mental health. She is a co-founder of the nonprofit, Central Florida Postpartum Alliance in Orlando, FL, and is the Outreach Director at the Alliance. Nancy has also been a member of Postpartum Support International since 2013 and was a Central Florida PSI coordinator, providing peer support and referral resources, from 2013-to 2018. She also has volunteered with new mothers and families through a hospital initiative in North Carolina. Nancy is a postpartum depression survivor and is a mother of three children. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis.
Connect with Nancy:
- Central Florida Postpartum Alliance (CFPA): www.centralfloridapostpartumalliance.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CFLPostpartum
Additional Resources:
- Postpartum Support International (PSI): www.postpartum.net
Articles by Nancy Layish:
- Hiding in Plain Sight-Postpartum Depression (https://breastfeedingusa.org/hiding-in-plain-sight-postpartum-depression/)
- Nancy With the Smiling Face (https://www.jlifeorlando.com/features/nancy-with-the-smiling-face)
- I am a Postpartum Depression Survivor (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/i-am-a-postpartum-depression-survivor_b_4702084)
Presentations:
- Out of the Blue-An Introduction to Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders for Providers (Kimberly Fann, LMHC: Kelly Walker, LMH-C Nancy Layish, LCSW, PMH-C (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjqHlvNMYck&t=2332s)
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To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center
