Infertility
It's easy for your loved ones to say just "relax" when they aren't living with the anxiety and stress that infertility brings. I'm sure you could write a book on all of the "wrong things" people have said! It is so hard finding someone you can truly open up to.
Miscarriage + Loss
It comes from a sincere place in the hearts of those who say "at least you know you can get pregnant" after you tell them of your recent miscarriage but sometimes their words do more harm than good.
Perinatal Mood + Anxiety Disorders
You were told to prepare for "baby blues" but these feeling are different. You can't handle being a new mom. You feel overwhelmed, hopeless, irritated and angry. You are exhausted but can't sleep. You love your baby but feel like you made a huge mistake.
Third Party Reproduction Services
I work closely with REs and attorneys to provide mental health evaluations for third party reproduction services.
Baton Rouge Perinatal Counseling Group Therapy
Please contact me for details.
Infertility
We are 1 in 8…
If one more person tells you of someone they know who went on vacation and Voila! They got pregnant! you are going to scream. In their face. While waving all of the medical bills you've accumulated. You feel like they just don't get it---and you're right because most don't.
I've walked that pain you are feeling. I've been flooded with tears of fear and disappointment along with unshakeable hope and unrelenting determination. It's hard opening up to someone. I totally get how scary and frustrating it can be. What if they say the same ole' thing that everyone else has been saying? How can she possibly understand? These doubts are perfectly fine to have and I encourage you to be selective when opening up to others about infertility---especially about infertility.
I promise you won't have to explain the following to me: HSG, IUI, IUI with injectables, IVF, IVF with ICSI, clomid, letrozole, lupron, follistim, menopur, trigger shots, PIO, delestrogen, PCOS, Endo, DOR, MFI, TWW, beta testing, how important the thickness of your lining is, FET, PUPO, eggs retrieved/fertilized/frozen, donor sperm, donor eggs, donor embryos. Plus a few more I probably left out.
Miscarriage + Loss
Whether you were pregnant for 6 weeks or 16 weeks before having a miscarriage--the loss is still the same. And boy it can be a heavy, unexplainable kind of loss. You know you are grieving but society might tell you otherwise (with pretty hurtful comments).
You learn that two embryos didn't make it to Day 5. You learn one didn't make it through the thaw the morning of your FET. You learn your transfer didn't work. You aren't sure what to make of these feelings because it doesn't fit a specific category---but it does: grief.
You are allowed to grieve these losses. The loss of the future you planned for each pregnancy and embryo. The loss you have experienced needs to be processed just like any other loss.
Perinatal Mental Health
Can you relate to any of these?
Feel it is more than just the "baby blues"
Feel more irritable or angry
Difficult bonding with your baby
Lack of interest in your baby
Exhausted but can't sleep
Feel like you should have never become a mother
Feel like you are "going crazy"
Constant worry and racing thoughts
Hopeless that things will get better
Intrusive thoughts and upsetting mental images related to your baby
Counting, checking, cleaning to ensure the safety of your baby
If you found yourself nodding yes while reading the list then please know you are not alone and it is not your fault. Symptoms of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders can happen anytime during pregnancy and the first postpartum year. It affects 20% of women (dads, partners and adoptive mamas can get it, too!) and it's not just postpartum depression. It includes Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety, OCD and Postpartum PTSD as well as Postpartum Psychosis.
And yes, there are risk factors but no woman is invincible.
Third Party Reproduction Services
I work closely with Reproductive Endocrinologists and attorneys to provide mental health evaluations required for third party reproductive services including but not limited to egg donors, embryo donation and gestational carriers. The fee associated with each evaluation includes the required documentation and ongoing communication with both your Fertility Clinic and legal team.
Please email or call me to inquire about these services.
Group Therapy at Baton Rouge Perinatal Counseling
Please contact us if you are interested in joining one of therapy groups facilitated by a seasoned expert in perinatal mental health.