15 Comments
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Quinn Emmett's avatar

Hell of an interview. So important. Can’t wait for everyone to transition from this essential journalism to our pod convo about (checks notes) Freak Like Me.

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Holly P's avatar

I was so curious after today's episode that I went to look at my son's playlist and I don't recognize ANY of that music

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Heidi's avatar

I loved this article and can’t wait to read the book. As a perinatal and reproductive focused therapist (and mom who had several different postpartum experiences) I think it’s essential to move toward adopting a Matrescence framework which is essentially that motherhood is a totally new developmental stage of life and it is full of challenges and ups and downs and not all sunshine and roses. The brain of a mother/caregiver gets completely transformed! We need systemic changes to support women and families during this time - it’s unreal that this is still mostly unknown. We learn more and more every day and yet it’s still not widely taught even to doctors.

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Claire Zulkey's avatar

no, i think it is a rude awakening for a lot of new American moms to feel like the star of the show at the obstetrician only to have the kid and feel like you’re suddenly just the person who takes the baby around to the pediatrician.

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Katie DeGraff's avatar

Oh, this topic. So critical and so often swept under the rug. Thank you for this interview. I just finished this books of poems on the same topic (cannot recommend it enough). Glad this conversation is (finally) happening!

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/A/bo247038384.html

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Claire Zulkey's avatar

thank you! It was a little validating in a weird way to go through PPD and be like "Surely they have figured this out by now; what did I miss?" and the answer is not much! They haven't figured it out at all. I wish we had a midwife program like in the UK (this is based on me watching "call the midwife" where some nice lady would come visit you and check on you after birth. Instead I got the Baby Bella photo service coming by my hospital room, playing a video, making me cry, and saying this was my one and only chance to get newborn photos done. /rant

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Jackie Cornell Laabs's avatar

On year 8 of perinatal mood disorder fuckery and to say it has shattered my life is an understatement. But hey kids are cute right? Thank god for SSRIs & therapy.

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Claire Zulkey's avatar

I’m glad we have so many normal qualified people at the governmental level who will make sure future new mothers will get what they need with no stigma. Serene smile

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Megan's avatar

PERINATAL MOOD DISORDER!? what is that? I don’t think it’s a coincidence that almost every mother I know is on an SSRI.

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Jackie Cornell Laabs's avatar

Totally. With “a lack of social support” as a known risk factor, I don’t see that changing anytime soon for us in the US.

I will add for anyone who needs help out there check out https://www.babybluesconnection.org/ Having someone a text away was a lifesaver in the really early dark days (& nights).

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Miranda's avatar

Oooo thank you for this. Ordering the book now!

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Angharad Walker's avatar

This was a fascinating read, thank you for sharing Claire. I see many of the themes reflected here in the UK, although I'll never take for granted our NHS, health visitors and perinatal teams. Moran points out such an interesting pattern of how infant-led care has been a Trojan horse for improved perinatal care for mothers. I hope the growing conversations around this are the start of us seeing more dyad-centric models of care. And agreed, maternity leave can be a dismal time. Off the order the book...

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Claire Zulkey's avatar

Thank you Angharad!

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Hannah Gersen's avatar

Great interview! Have you seen the documentary, "Witches" by Elizabeth Sankey? It's about postpartum depression & psychosis. The director is based in UK and it touches on many of the subjects discussed in your interview.

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Claire Zulkey's avatar

No! Fascinating, thank you. I’ll check it out.

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