The second trimester left me drained and exhausted, dreading what every pregnancy book was telling me: the third trimester is the hardest and would leave you MORE tired and achy! It was around this point I finally committed to seeing a therapist for the first time in my life. Again, finding someone good seemed like a daunting task, but this time, learning from past mistakes, I went for the pricier option, which was Rachel Benson, who specializes in therapy during pregnancy and postpartum. From my very first (Zoom) meeting with Rachel I began to get a grip on the anxiety and stress that had become an everyday struggle at this point. She helped me pinpoint and manage the fears and anxieties around birth and pregnancy, which had slowly started to set in.
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders actually affect up to 1 in 5 new or expectant mothers and their families (these numbers are also likely up because of the current pandemic). These mood and anxiety disorders can be serious and very difficult, but can be treated with a combination of self-care, social support, talk therapy, and medication if necessary.1 Don’t forget that postpartum depression is also common in partners and new dads, as many new challenges arise for them, also!2
So, go for it: reach out, make the appointment, take care of yourself. We’re in a pandemic, stressful political climate, and if you’re also pregnant or postpartum there’s probably a ton of stress in your life. Here are some amazing resources, including many that are free and can be done from the comfort of your own couch!
Support Groups and Therapists
- Free resources from Postpartum Support International
- @postpartumsupportinternational
- postpartum.net
- PSI Helpline Call: 1 800 944 4773
- Text English: 800 944 4773
- Text Spanish: 971 420 0294
- Private sessions with Rachel Benson, LCSW (virtual and in-office) tustincounseling.com
- Private sessions with Quentin Hafner, LMFT quentinhafner.com
- *Free* Postpartum Support Group w. Rachel Benson (every Thursday)
- Email beachcitiesmidwifery@gmail.com to get a Zoom link.
- *Free* Black Mothers Support Group (every first Wednesday)
- Email beachcitiesmidwifery@gmail.com to get a Zoom link.
What the Heck is My Pelvic Floor?
The other, much more proactive appointment I made, was to see a Pelvic Floor Therapist. I had never thought about my pelvic floor much before pregnancy and didn’t even know that pelvic floor therapists exist, but so many friends and birth teachers spoke highly of the benefits of pelvic therapy in pregnancy and postpartum. Dr. Whitney Sippl was so helpful! With just one appointment I got so much information about tightness I’m holding in my abs, legs and pelvic floor and how to massage and find relief from all of these aches and pains. Also, how to help prevent diastasis recti and possibly help make labor easier. It was such an informative and helpful visit, even if it is just one prenatal or postpartum visit it could be really helpful to pregnant people and anyone experiencing this type of pain.
Pelvic floor therapists can help with a number of issues related to incontinence, pain with sex, back pain, pubic pain, diastasis recti and so much more. They can also help find the most comfortable position for you in labor using biofeedback, teach you how to successfully relax your pelvic floor for labor and coach your partner in managing back discomfort and more!
Pelvic Floor Therapists:
- Whitney Sippl, DPT, WCS with Restored Physique (Costa Mesa, home visits & remote) restoredphysique.com
- Whitney’s FREE class: Pelvic Floor & Core During Pregnancy, Postpartum & Beyond
- (upcoming classes will also be posted on the Beach Cities Instagram Page)
- Pelvic Sanity (Laguna Hills & remote) pelvicsanity.com
- Carri Dominick, PT, CSCS with Recharge Therapy (Long Beach & remote) rechargetherapy.com
- Women’s Advantage (Long Beach, Torrance, San Pedro) womens-advantage.com
I am now 32 weeks and feeling better than I have for a while! Allergies are under control with daily Claritin and occasional saline rinses, I have not had to go back to the chiropractor for weeks (though I will probably visit again before labor). I also look forward to yoga and group chats every week and have noticed a huge improvement in my level of stress and anxiety through therapy with Rachel Benson.
One More Support Person?
The last support person I haven’t yet enlisted (which should perhaps be your first!) is a prenatal, birth or postpartum doula! Doulas typically don’t have formal obstetric training, but focus on providing guidance and support to pregnant people before, during or after labor. Doulas can offer so much emotional and physical support it’s only fair to give them their own blog post.
You can ask the front desk at the birth center or your midwife for recommendations in finding a doula for pregnancy, birth or postpartum.
*Always consult with your midwife about which treatments are best for you.
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