Have you ever had a friend or family member you suspected was suffering from a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorder and just didn’t know if or how to approach them? With more then 20% of new parents suffering from Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorder it is important to have the tools and language to help.
In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I welcome back licensed social worker and program director of the Motherhood Center, Paige Bellenbaum. Paige discusses how to approach a person you suspect may be suffering from Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder. She offers a way to gently converse with the parent without making them feel probed and awkward. This is a very important episode for birth workers and those supporting a new parent.
In this episode:
- How common is PMAD, PPA and PPD
- The difference between PPA and PPD and the “baby blues”
- Symptoms to look for
- Why the switch from the blanket term “Postpartum Depression” to the newer terminology that encompasses prenatal and postpartum anxiety as well?
- How an outside people may step in if they see a student or client or friend or partner with behavior they find concerning.
- Protocols and suggestions when approaching the person in need
- Specific questions you when trying to see if the person needs help
- Is it ever appropriate to reach out to their emergency contact or their care provider?
- Some things to listen for that may indicate a person needs immediate action. And what steps would you recommend taking
- Suggestions for places to refer to in NYC and outside
Enjoy a past episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies featuring Paige (https://prenatalyogacenter.
About Paige:
Paige started her social work career working at a homeless shelter for families in San Francisco, where she built a $4 million Housing and Aftercare Program for families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. She then moved to New York City in 2000 to get her Masters of Social Work at Columbia University. After she graduated, she worked for an organization called the Center for Family Life located in Sunset Park Brooklyn as a Community Developer, where she was responsible for community outreach and relations for the organization. She also oversaw a food pantry and advocacy clinic. Paige then worked as the Director of Advocacy and Community Outreach for Habitat for Humanity – New York City for many years. While at Habitat, she had her first child – Max.
After Max was born, Paige suffered from severe postpartum depression that almost cost her her own life. Once she began to heal, she became committed to fighting for education, screening and treatment for postpartum depression so that no more women would have to suffer silently. She drafted legislation in New York State that was championed by State Senator Liz Krueger, mandating education and strongly encouraging screening of all new and expecting mothers that was signed into law in 2014. Paige has been an outspoken advocate on the issue of postpartum depression, and uses her own story as a tool for change. She has appeared on the Today Show, NPR, PBS Newshour and in Women’s Health Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and several other print publications.
Paige left her post as Director of Community Programs at Settlement Housing Fund to help open The Motherhood Center, where she oversaw a portfolio of programs ranging from a homeless shelter for families, transitional housing, a state of the art computer lab, and an alternative to incarceration program for young adults.
Paige is currently on the steering committee of the NYC Maternal Depression Collaborative that is responsible for implementing the First Lady’s commitment to screening every new and expecting mother for postpartum depression. She also is a Board Member of a non-profit called Refoundry that trains formerly incarcerated people to repurpose discarded materials into home furnishings, and incubates participants into their own businesses. Paige has been a member of Community Board 6 in Brooklyn for 4 years, where she serves as the Chair of Human Services.
Connect with Paige:
https://www.themotherhoodcenter.com
Instagram: @motherhoodcenter
Facebook & Twitter: @motherhoodnyc
