LIFE AS A MOM AND A MOM-TO-BE
Are you exhausted from being pulled in every direction by endless, impossible demands? Does this keep you from completing your daily responsibilities and impact your family, relationships, work and personal life?
A few facts:
Depression is the #1 cause of disease burden in women of childbearing age
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder affects 5% of women of childbearing age
Depression is the most common complication of pregnancy
Up to 80% and 97% of pregnant women in their first and third trimesters, respectively, suffer from insomnia
80% of women experience “baby blues” postpartum
1 in 5 women struggle with postpartum mood and anxiety disorders
23% of bipolar symptoms begin in pregnancy, 52% during postpartum
Perimenopausal women are 2.5x more likely to experience depression
WHY SEE A PERINATAL PSYCHIATRIST?
My training offers an in-depth understanding of the nuances when diagnosing, treating or prescribing medications for moms and moms-to-be. One major hesitation for taking medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding is that such medication may negatively affect the baby.
Every patient is different, and my recommendations are always made on a case-by-case analysis. If together we determine that medication is beneficial, I’ll walk you through different options, thoroughly explaining the risks, benefits, alternatives and potential side effects, so you can be fully informed and content with your next steps.
A few examples:
50% of pregnancies in the US are unplanned. However, fetal organs, such as neural tube and the heart, are formed by 2-5 weeks and 2-8 weeks after conception, respectively, when most people are unaware that they’re pregnant. This means avoiding medications that may interfere with fetal organ formation is imperative for women of reproductive age, especially during preconception planning.
Pregnancy lowers or increases the serum level of some medications. For instance, lithium requires a dose reduction 24-48 hours before delivery to lower the chance of infant toxicity.
During breastfeeding, some medications are transferred to the breast milk more than others. Sertraline is considered one of the safest antidepressants, since only 0.4-2% of a mom’s sertraline dose can be detected in breast milk.
My Masters in Psychopharmacology and Applied Psychology add even more insight on all things medication and human behavior. As a perinatal psychiatrist and mom of 2 under 2, let me help you feel like your best self again, with any of the following:
Preconception Planning
Pregnancy
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Anxiety
Breastfeeding
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Perimenopause