Here’s a little nugget that I found in my upcoming book during the editing process. I thought it was important to share with fathers in the childbearing year. Fathers and Hormones* © Diane S Speier, PhD One of the most exciting developments in the last decade is the discovery that fathers go through natural hormonal changes, along with their pregnant partners, that shape them into devoted dads. We know that when the father is cohabiting with his Continue Reading …
Postpartum Wellness Plan
This is an excerpt from my book – Life After Birth: A Parent’s Holistic Guide for Thriving in the Fourth Trimester now in press. It’s a bit long for a blog and I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please share your comments below. Postpartum W.E.L.L.N.E.S.S. Plan © Diane S Speier, PhD At the start of this book, I talked about the importance of simplifying your life during the postnatal period. One way of doing that is by creating Continue Reading …
The Tyranny of Expectations
I recently received an email about dealing with disappointment, which often happens as the result of unmet expectations we have about how things should be or turn out. We can feel a range of emotions when we feel let down, by ourselves or by others. It’s a tough feeling to experience but it’s a natural part of life. Sometimes those expectations are external, imposed on us by others who expect us to behave in a certain way, leaving Continue Reading …
#MHAW16 – Perinatal Relationships and Mental Health
As this Mental Health Awareness Week (16-22 May 2016) winds down, I felt compelled by this year’s emphasis on ‘relationships’ to write about the importance of strengthening partner relationships in the transition to parenthood. Although I have worked with couples in a variety of formats over many years – birth and parent preparation, The Birth Empowerment Workshop®, and relationship counselling and therapy – I have recently become a Certified Becoming Us™ Facilitator, which has really upped my game Continue Reading …
World Maternal Mental Health Day 2016
Today, 4 May 2016, is World Maternal Mental Health Day, and starts a month of focused attention on the challenges of perinatal mental health issues worldwide. With 1 in 7 women suffering from postnatal depression, and 1 in 10 fathers also experiencing depressive symptoms, the effects of this illness for each individually, their relationship, and their developing child are pernicious. Another growing trend is perinatal anxiety, which affects 33% of mothers and 17% of fathers. Even though it Continue Reading …
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