Laura Winters, LCSW, PMH-C is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who graduated from Fordham with a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work. She received advanced clinical training in infertility counseling, as well as treating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Learn more
Lauren Gorman, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and graduated from Seton Hall University with a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling. She has advanced clinical training in infertility and prenatal/postpartum counseling. Learn more
Jessica Falzarano, LSW is a Licensed Social Worker and graduated from Rutgers with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work. She has advanced clinical training in maternal mental health and perinatal loss. Learn more
Being a new mother can be a roller coaster experience. On one hand, there is so much joy that comes from creating a life. And on the other, there’s a lot of difficulty. You may have had so many hopes and dreams prior to giving birth, but one thing you weren’t prepared for was the feelings of loneliness and overwhelm that comes with motherhood.
Many people who experience pregnancy loss don’t want to talk about it. They may feel uncomfortable with their grief, believing that it’s not valid, because they “didn’t know their baby” in the physical world. Another thing that happens is loved ones become awkward as they aren’t sure whether to ask questions or talk about the baby. When this happens, it can feel more comfortable for everyone if you act as if you are no longer grieving the loss.
Read MoreMothers are always the ones thinking of and planning for everyone else in the family. Not only this, carrying out the details of the plans often falls to moms as well. As a result, you often feel like your brain never turns off. Like you have a running list of to-dos inside your head and that no one else can accomplish the tasks but you. So, at the end of the day, you feel massively overwhelmed. And worried and anxious and sad.
Read MoreSome of us are lucky to have partners who are “naturals” when it comes to providing support during infertility treatment. Probably the majority feel that their partner is helpful and caring and wants to be there for them, but sometimes might not know the best way to do so or the right things to say. This of course is complicated by what you need at that very moment, which could constantly be changing.
Read MoreThere have been days where I’ve been so proud of having figured out some great twin Mom parenting hack, followed by days where I have felt clueless and lost. There have been (many) days where I have burst into tears from frustration only to find myself, minutes later, laughing uncontrollably from how sweet and silly they can be with each other.
Read MoreWhen you were in the thick of infertility treatment, if someone told you that one day you might look back and appreciate the process, what would you think? Most likely, you would think they were crazy . . . But someday, when you are off the infertility rollercoaster, you may look back and think, “I would not change a thing.” Here are some reasons why, from women who have been there.
Mother’s Day can be a particularly challenging and heartbreaking day for women who are struggling to conceive. If you are undergoing fertility treatment or trying to conceive without success, you may have already noticed some anxiety building up in the days before Mother’s Day. While there’s no denying that the holiday can be a painful reminder of what you are missing, here are a few tips on how to make the day a little bit easier for you.
Read MoreDropping my daughter off at school the other day, I walked into her classroom to realize that it was pajama day and she was the only kid not in pajamas. I had forgotten to check the school calendar. And while I’m being honest, it wasn’t just that day. I hadn’t checked it for the entire month. There had been no posted reminders or verbal heads up the day before. How was I supposed to remember? Immediately, my mind went to “I screwed up.”
Read MoreWhen we think of grief, we often think of losing a loved one. But grief can also be losing the plans you mapped out for your life or losing part of your identity.
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