Perinatal support
The perinatal period includes pregnancy and the first year after childbirth—a time of heightened vulnerability, with many women experiencing emotional challenges. Common issues include depression (1 in 7 women) and anxiety (1 in 5 women). The changes and challenges faced with the arrival of a child can similarly affect men. Pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood can bring a great amount of changes, stress, and concerns – even when everything seems to be going smoothly. Although it is a wonderful and exciting time, all these novelties can also lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, fear, guilt, inadequacy, uncertainty, and confusion. In cases of infertility, gestational problems, miscarriage, perinatal loss, traumatic birth, and other difficult situations, the emotions can become so overwhelming and complex that they require immediate help.
The goal of perinatal support is to accompany and empower women (and couples) throughout their journey to parenthood. Those seeking perinatal support often report experiencing the following situations recurrently:
- anxiety, pressure in the chest, panic attacks
- feelings of inadequacy and believing they are not good parents
- shame, guilt, regret
- loss of interest, pleasure, and joy
- desire to escape
- anger, irritability, sadness, or despair
- disturbing thoughts and fantasies about the baby
- fear of being alone with the newborn
- inability to calm thoughts and difficulty concentrating, insomnia, exhaustion
What can you expect from the perinatal support program?
The perinatal support program offers a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental space where women can express their experiences, emotions, doubts, and fears surrounding motherhood. Specific knowledge on mental health in the perinatal phase allows me to provide valuable support for the particular challenges encountered before, during, and after pregnancy.
During our meetings, we explore and process various topics related to the arrival of a child, such as specific fears, changes in the couple’s relationship, and the challenges of the new roles. Particular attention is given to past experiences that might negatively impact not only the pregnancy and birth but also the relationship with the child in general. Many people are marked by experiences and educational models from their family of origin, which they would like to improve and implement by working on themselves and gaining new insights. In this process, we seek and value what is valid and useful, while working to change, correct, and heal everything the new parents do not wish to transmit to the child. Pre-birth meetings are dedicated to an emotional and psychological preparation for the arrival of the new member, while post-birth meetings focus on supporting adequate emotional attachment to the newborn, resolving difficulties, and stabilizing the mother in her new role.
Technical Information
Perinatal support sessions are tailored to the needs of the mother or couple. Partners are encouraged to participate. Pre-birth courses and group meetings for moms are occasionally organized – follow my Facebook page to view the upcoming events.