welcome to Dr. Lauren Jensen's blog
Perinatal Mental Health Resources
Here to make your healing journey less lonely.
The Intersection of Breastfeeding and Mental Health
Like most decisions we make about our health and well-being, there are both risks and benefits to breastfeeding. There tends to be a polarizing perception that an infant is either breastfed or bottle fed, and not necessarily a combination of both methods of feeding. It may be helpful to keep in mind that it doesn’t necessarily have to be breast or bottle, but can be a combination of both depending on what best suits the family.
Coping with Infertility During the Holidays
Managing infertility is challenging, but during the holiday season it can feel as though the challenges are on another level. Whether it’s increased time with loved ones who are well-intentioned but can feel interrogative about your conception journey, or the focus on children (and the constant sharing of that on social media) during the holiday season. Regardless of what the stressor is, the holiday season can be especially painful for those who are childless and trying to conceive.
The Postpartum Brain Explained
Recent MRI studies show that there are structural changes (decrease in volume of gray matter in the brain) that occur following pregnancy. This is likely a result of the many hormonal, physical, and emotional changes that one undergoes during pregnancy. And this tends to be true for those that conceive naturally or via assisted reproductive technology such as IVF.
The Best Medicine for New Parents: Sleep
You’ve probably heard more times than you can count to “get as much sleep as you can before the baby gets here.” If only it worked that way and we could “bank” our sleep for times when we really need it. While sleep deprivation is to some degree, somewhat normal during the newborn stage, there are ways that we can ameliorate the negative effects of sleep deprivation. Sleep is especially important because when we don’t get adequate sleep, we put ourselves at increased risk for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. While the newborn phase surely won’t be a time when you get your best sleep there are ways to get better sleep than you might imagine.
Finding Hope After Pregnancy Loss
If you’re reading this after experiencing your own pregnancy or infant loss, you may be in an acute state of grief or the loss may feel a bit more distant, a bit less overwhelming. The truth about pregnancy and infant loss is that no matter how much time has passed, you may still wonder what that little one would have been like if they were still here today.
When birth doesn’t go as planned, and other ways birth is traumatic
Perhaps one of the most challenging things about birth is, in fact, that it often doesn’t go as planned as there is no surefire way to make it so. We’re often so busy making plans that we don’t set forth some expectations that things may not go as planned. I like to think that this is one (of many) sources of traumatic birth. Others may involve medical complications, need for emergency treatment, or a NICU stay, to name just a few. To quote trauma expert Katie O’shea, trauma can be defined as “anything for which the mind is not adequately prepared.”
Mom guilt and how to manage
Let’s be honest here… If you’re a mom there’s no doubt you’ve experienced guilt related to your role as a mother at some point. With the insurmountable expectations and demands put on mothers its almost inherent that we feel guilt for not being able to do it all.
How is EMDR different than traditional talk therapy?
You may have heard about EMDR and its profound impact on healing trauma and other mental health issues. If you’re asking yourself how it works, then you’re in the right place. EMDR is different from other psychotherapy approaches for a number of reasons.
First, EMDR is what’s considered a “bottom-up” approach while traditional psychotherapy or talk therapy typically involves a “top-down” approach.
What is the fourth trimester and why is it so hard?
When we think about growing a baby, we often think of it ending after three trimesters and with the birth of a child. But what really happens during babies first three months of life? Well, according to Dr. Harvey Karp, the baby is longing for life as they knew it inside the womb. Sometimes understanding what to expect and why this period can be so hard can allow you to feel more prepared and equipped.
Sad Dads: Postpartum Depression in Men
It’s not uncommon to hear about postpartum depression in women, but in these conversations, men are often left out. The reality is that about 1 in 10 dads struggle with postpartum depression. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get as much attention as maternal postpartum depression, often leaving men to try to manage it and figure it out on their own. The good news is, that doesn’t have to be the case as there are lots of treatment and support options to help men through the transition to fatherhood.