How I Changed from a Toxic Mom-Manager to an Encouraging Soul Builder Guest post from New York Times bestselling author, Rachel Macy Stafford There was a time in my life when I barked orders more often than I spoke words of love … when I reacted to small everyday inconveniences as if they were major catastrophes … when normal human habits and quirks raised my blood pressure to dangerous levels. Rather than  nurturing  my family members, I took it upon myself to  manage  my family members until there was no room to bend or breathe. My artistic, busybody, dream-chasing older daughter’s desire to start projects, try new recipes, and leave trails wherever she went received disapproving looks on a daily basis.  My stop-and-smell-the-roses younger daughter’s desire to buckle in stuffed animals before we drove off, accessorize every part of her body before walking out the door, and move at a snail’s pace drew exasperated breaths and annoyed frowns. ...

Baby and adult brains ‘sync up’ during play, finds Princeton Baby Lab Liz Fuller-Wright, Office of Communications Have you ever played with a baby and felt a sense of connection, even though they couldn’t yet talk to you? New research suggests that you might quite literally be “on the same wavelength,” experiencing similar brain activity in the same brain regions. A team of Princeton researchers has conducted the first study of how baby and adult brains interact during natural play, and they found measurable similarities in their neural activity. In other words, baby and adult brain activity rose and fell together as they shared toys and eye contact.  The research was conducted at the  Princeton Baby Lab , where University researchers study how babies learn to see, talk and understand the world. “Previous research has shown that adults’ brains sync up when they watch movies and listen to stories, but little is known about how this ‘neural synchrony’ develops...

Postpartum Depression vs. Anxiety - What's the Difference Relevant Links mentioned in Podcast #11 You can listen to Episode 11 on Spotify .  Postpartum Depression vs. Postpartum Anxiety, we break it down and discuss what to look for and how it relates to our firsthand experiences. Links we mention on this episode: https://americanpregnancy.org https://womensmentalhealth.org https://postpartumprogress.com https://fit4mom.com/workout-classes/stroller-strides The term Misty referenced in this podcast that she couldn't recall: Altruistic Filicide: when a mother kills her baby to protect it from perceived harm or danger.

Ad For Being "Too Graphic" And It's Not, It's Real Life When are we going to stop pretending life after giving birth is glamorous? By  Krista Torres fridamom.com Frida Mom CEO Chelsea Hirschhorn told  Today  Parents  that the ad was supposed to air during the Oscars, but it was rejected for being "too graphic." After sharing it on their Instagram and YouTube pages, moms everywhere seemed to disagree. To see more of the advertisement, follow this link .

What Is Postpartum Depression? Recognizing The Signs And Getting Help Loveis Wise for NPR Shortly after she gave birth to her son last May, Meghan Reddick, 36, began to struggle with depression. "The second I had a chance where I wasn't holding [my son], I would go to my room and cry," says Reddick, who lives with her son and husband. "And I probably couldn't count how many hours a day I cried." Reddick is among the many women who suffer from  depression during pregnancy and after childbirth . "There's this kind of myth that women couldn't possibly be depressed during pregnancy, [that] this is such a happy time," says  Jennifer Payne , a psychiatrist and the director of the  Women's Mood Disorders Center  at Johns Hopkins University. "The reality is that a lot of women struggle with anxiety and depression during pregnancy as well as during the postpartum period." Read here for the entire article. 

Postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis: Know the signs and how to get help No one should have to suffer alone with postpartum mental health issues. May 8, 2018, 8:56 AM MDT  /  Updated June 21, 2019, 11:15 AM MDT  / Source: TODAY By Rebecca Dube If you're feeling overwhelmed as a new parent, the first thing you need to know is this: You're not alone. You may feel like you have no idea what you're doing, but trust us, millions of parents have gone through this same whirlwind of emotion and exhaustion. For many new moms, that may include postpartum mental health issues like depression or anxiety. 'You can get better' Postpartum mental health issues are totally treatable: According to Ann Smith, the president of  Postpartum Support International , 99 percent of women with postpartum mood disorders get better with treatment. But, she said, only 30 percent seek help. For the full article, read here . 

How To Support Your Partner Through Postpartum Depression By  Patrick A. Coleman flickr / Donnie Ray Jones You expect a lot of joy and a little stress when your baby arrives. You expect a learning curve and some moments of panic. And you’re certain that both of you will be so filled with love that it’ll be practically shooting out of your butts. And that’s what makes the darkness of postpartum depression (PPD) that much more pernicious. In what’s meant to be one of the brightest moments of your life, someone you loved enough to make a baby with is falling into a bleak psychological hole. The good news is that PPD will eventually pass with proper support and intervention. The bad news is that until then, you’ll need to dig deep and be the partner you signed up to be. Whether that was through a vow of sickness and health, or some spiritual oversoul bonding in the woods. Read full article here . 

Tips for Postpartum Dads and Partners From Postpartum.net Postpartum affects the entire family. As we prepare to go live with our Podcast this weekend on Saturday, March 7th, 2020, we want to let our listeners know, Postpartum isn't just a concern for new moms. It can affect dads too.  At Postpartum.net, there is a host of resources for new dads. Check it out here .

15 Things I’d Want to Tell a New Mother By  Joanna Goddard A few of my friends had new babies this spring, and while looking into their wide, shell-shocked eyes, I remember what it’s like to have a wriggly tiny life in your arms. Everything seems chaotic and hazy and wonderful and exhausting. Here’s what I’d tell those new mothers… First off, the first thing I would say — which is 10,000% true — is, IT GETS EASIER. A reader left the loveliest comment years ago: “Bless you, new moms. If you’re trying, you’re doing a great job.” Here are a few posts that may help during the first year: 1.  Here’s what no one told me about breastfeeding , including a book that saved me. 2.  10 tips for traveling with a baby , like our happiest discovery: sit apart on the plane! 3.  Fresh air cures everything  and somehow seems to cheer everyone up instantly. Find Jo's entire list here .