Having a child is life-changing.

Priorities shift, identities grow, bodies change, and even time seems to flow differently. For many there are also

sudden changes in mental health. Welcome back to savvy psychologist. I'm your

host Dr. Jade Wu.

Every week I'll help you meet life's challenges

with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear

and zero judgment.

There's more to post- of mental health than baby blues and even postpartum depression.

So today on the show, we talk about lesser known challenges that may not get as much attention as postpartum depression but are no

less real to new moms who experience them. And this episode is very special

because in addition to our usual science-based programming I

chatted with author Phyllis Grant about her personal experience with some of

the postpartum symptoms that we're going to talk about today. So stick around for that. It's very good.

So the challenges, joys, love, and sheer existential whiplash of having a child are difficult to describe.

As a new parent myself, I know this wild ride all too well.

My own experience and talking to many parents, as well as many patients who also happen to be new

parents, have shown me that there are many emotional layers involved in becoming a parent.

For women who carry a pregnancy, there are particular

hormonal, physical, emotional, and social changes that come rollercoasting through

around the time of giving birth.

After all, a birthgiving mom is literally creating a human

and delivering this delicate thing into the world

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