The Postpartum Abyss

The Postpartum Abyss

Nearly 50% of young women report negative healthcare experiences.  And that is more and more visible in postpartum care.  In this episode of The Fifth Wave, Avis Favaro explores why new mothers often “fall off a cliff” once the baby arrives, what the six week check up does and doesn’t cover, and how major gaps in Canada’s healthcare system are putting maternal physical and mental health at risk.  Leading voices, Dr. Graeme Smith, psychologist Dr. Naomi Giberson and Nestwell Health co-founder Ellen Cohen unpack the consequences of inadequate postpartum care:  missed diagnosis, untreated mental health concerns, inequitable access to support and overwhelmed clinicians.  They also highlight innovative solutions, from interdisciplinary virtual clinics to female led models that proactively support mothers before crisis hits.   Key takeaways:  * Postpartum care in Canada is inconsistent and often insufficient, with many mothers receiving only a six week check up.  If that.  This leads to missed issues like iron deficiency, hypertension, diabetes follow up and mental health concerns. * Mental health needs are critical and under-recognized.  In Nova Scotia, 31% of women experience postpartum depression or anxiety, with real impacts on mother baby bonding and long term child development.  * Women-led interdisciplinary models like Nestwell are emerging to fill dangerous gaps, but unequal access means many families still cannot get the wrap-around support they need.  System level change is essential.   The thing you really NEED to know: Postpartum care isn't something that’s “nice to have”.  It’s an essential medical care that protects mothers, babies and future pregnancies. --- Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode) * Dr. Graeme Smith, Professor of Maternal and Fetal Medicine and head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Queen’s University [https://obgyn.queensu.ca/faculty/graeme-n-smith]; editor- in- chief of The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology [https://sogc.org/en/en/content/featured-news/The-SOGC-is-thrilled-to-introduce-Dr-Graeme-N-Smith-as-the-new-Editor-in-Chief-of-the-JOGC.aspx]; The Postpartum Health Record [https://www.themothersprogram.ca/postpartum-health/postpartum-health-record] * Dr. Naomi Giberson, licensed psychologist and co founder and COO of Nestwell Health [https://www.nestwellhealth.ca/meet-the-team]; LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/giberson/?originalSubdomain=ca] * Ellen Cohen, co founder and CEO of Nestwell Health [https://www.nestwellhealth.ca/meet-the-team];    LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-cohen-59271593/?originalSubdomain=ca] * Jennifer Gillivan, president and CEO, IWK Foundation [https://iwkfoundation.org]; LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gillivan-icd-d-a8330619/?originalSubdomain=ca] * The MotHERS Program [https://www.themothersprogram.ca]

Delayed Diagnosis, Denied Relief

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 people who menstruate, nearly 190 million worldwide.  Yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed women’s health conditions.  In this episode of The Fifth Wave, public health Dr. Martina Alberani, women’s health advocate Maggie Archibald and Jocelynn Cook of the SOGC break down what endometriosis is, why severe period pain is not normal, and how stigma, a lack of education and long surgical wait times keep millions suffering, many in silence.  This episode exposes the systemic barriers that prevent early diagnosis and effective care.  Our guests also outline the critical reforms needed, like better menstrual education, improved physician training, expanded surgical capacity and national policy change.   Key takeaways:  * Endometriosis is common, but chronically dismissed.  Symptoms often mimic other conditions, like IBS and bladder issues.  With no simple test and ongoing stigma around menstruation, diagnosis can take 5-12  years.  * Lack of education fuels delayed care.  Many adolescents grow up believing debilitating period pain is just a part of life.  Clinicians often receive too little training, and imaging frequently misses the disease.  * System level change is essential.  Experts call for better surgical access, updated wait time strategies, stronger medical training, menstrual health education and investment in women’s health research, which still makes up only 7% of Canada’s research funding.   The thing thing you really NEED to know:  Severe period pain is NOT normal.  If your pain disrupts school, work, or daily life, it deserves medical attention, and could be endometriosis.  --- Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode)      [https://www.pehe-esep.ca/jocelynn-cook] * Jocelynn Cook [https://www.pehe-esep.ca/jocelynn-cook], Chief Scientific Officer for the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada [https://www.sogc.org]      * Dr. Martina Alberani, public health resident and chair of the Young Women’s Health Group [https://eurohealth.ie/young-womens-health-group/]; LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-alberani-98004a169/?locale=en_US]      * Maggie Archibald, women’s health advocate LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-archibald/]      * Jennifer Gillivan, president and CEO, IWK Foundation [https://iwkfoundation.org]; LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gillivan-icd-d-a8330619/?originalSubdomain=ca] Resources: The Endometrosis Network Canada [https://endometriosisnetwork.com] yourperiod.ca [http://www.yourperiod.ca]

Menopause At Work

This episode of The Fifth Wave dives into one of the least discussed but most consequential workplace issues today:  menopause and its massive impact on women, employers and the economy.  With nearly 2 million working women in Canada aged 45-55, unmanaged symptoms like insomnia, heavy bleeding, hot flashes and brain fog are driving burnout, reducing productivity and even pushing women out of the workforce.   Featuring insights from Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, Dr. Stephanie Faubion of the Menopause Society and Rhode Island legislators Senator Lori Urso and Representative Karen Alzate, this episode uncovers the stigma, the silent suffering and the transformative policy movement emerging across North America.  From invisible symptoms to groundbreaking legislation, this conversation reveals why supporting menopausal women at work isn’t just compassionate, it’s economically essential.   Key takeaways:  * Menopause symptoms are often invisible, and women are silently powering through.  Night sweats, insomnia, heavy bleeding, anxiety and cognitive shifts aren’t always visible.  Many women “push through” to avoid stigma or being seen as unreliable.   * Stigma keeps women quiet.  And careers are paying the price.  Fear of being labeled “hormonal” or “unstable” leads many women to hide symptoms.  This silence can cost them promotions, earning potential and long term retirement security.   * Policy change is finally happening.  It’s reshaping the workplace.  Rhode Island is the first US jurisdiction to mandate menopause accommodations.  Other states are already moving to follow.  Experts emphasize that menopausal women are not a liability.  They are often an organization’s most experienced, strategic and valuable contributors.   The thing you really NEED to know:  Unmanaged menopause symptoms cost the Canadian economy $3.5 billion every year.  It costs individual women $33.3 billion in lost income due to reduced hours, lower pay, or leaving the workforce entirely. --- Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode): * Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, naturopathic doctor https://drsarahv.ca/ [https://drsarahv.ca/]; Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/sarahvadeboncoeur/] * Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of the Menopause Society [https://menopause.org/] and director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health [https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/faubion-stephanie-s-m-d-m-b-a/bio-20199366] * Senator Lori Urso, State of Rhode Island [https://rilegislature.gov/senators/Urso/Pages/Biography.aspx] * Representative Karen Alzatee, State of Rhode Island [https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/alzate/Pages/Biography.aspx] * Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation [https://iwkfoundation.org/]:  LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gillivan-icd-d-a8330619/]

Carrying The Mental Load

In this episode of The Fifth Wave, we expose the deep rooted gender bias baked into women’s healthcare, from being dismissed as “emotional” to receiving later diagnoses and poorer mental health support.   Featuring insights from healthcare leaders, psychologists and researchers, we uncover how systemic bias, outdated medical norms and the invisible mental load are shaping women’s physical and mental health.  The message is clear:  women are carrying a burden that is neither imagined or inevitable and the system must change.   Key takeaways:  * Women’s symptoms are routinely dismissed.  Often with real consequences.  Experiencing fatigue and pain, women are often told they are “overreacting”, “emotional”, or imagining symptoms.  This bias delays diagnoses, worsens outcomes and erodes trust in the healthcare system.   * The mental load and systemic pressures hit women hard.  Caregiving, workplace expectations and societal norms create a perfect storm.  This invisible labour intensifies stress, fuels mental health struggles and disproportionately affects mothers, women of colour and those facing economic barriers.   * Healthcare research still centers on men and women pay the price.  With 97% of research historically based on men or sex neutral models, women’s symptoms are misunderstood, mislabeled or minimized.  Even postpartum depression studies face pushback for not including male subjects despite biology making that impossible.   The thing you really NEED to know: Women are still diagnosed two years later than men across more than 1,300 medical conditions, including depression, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease.  Not because their symptoms are rare, but because their symptoms are labeled “atypical”, even when women make up the majority of cases.  --- Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode) * Dr. Liisa Galea, Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [https://www.camh.ca/en/science-and-research/science-and-research-staff-directory/liisagalea]; https://www.galealab.com/ [https://www.galealab.com/] * Dr. Christine Korol, registered psychologist [https://www.christinekorol.com] https://drchristinekorol.ca/ * Dr. Naomi Giberson, licensed psychologist and co founder and COO of Nestwell Health [https://www.nestwellhealth.ca/meet-the-team]; LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/giberson/?originalSubdomain=ca] * Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation [https://iwkfoundation.org/]:  LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gillivan-icd-d-a8330619/]

Not Built For Us

In this deeply compelling episode, we hear how racism, bias and systemic inequities shape the healthcare experiences of Black, Indigenous and women of colour.  Featuring powerful conversations with entrepreneur Vivian Kaye, cancer advocate Michelle Audoin and researcher Dr. Thirusha Naidu, this episode exposes the hidden ways discrimination shows up.  From diagnostic delays to insufficient medical training tools to the emotional labour women must carry just to receive adequate care.   Through lived experiences and expert insights, this discussion reveals the urgent need for inclusive medical education, culturally informed care and healthcare systems that recognize and respond to the realities of racialized women.  It’s essential listening for anyone committed to equity in women’s health, patient advocacy and dismantling harmful medical biases.  Key Takeaways: * Racial bias in healthcare isn’t rare.  It’s built into the system.  From dismissive interactions to unequal treatment pathways, women of colour face structural barriers that affect diagnoses, pain management,surgical outcomes and trust in providers.    * Representation in medical tools and research still has a long way to go.  Most anatomical models, reference images, and clinical training material fail to reflect women of colour.  This leads to things like misdiagnosis and care that doesn’t align with real patient needs.  * Advocacy isn’t optional.  It’s a survival skill.  Guests share strategies for self advocacy, raising questions, requesting alternatives and pushing back when care falls short -kills many women rely on simply to be heard.  The thing you really NEED to know:  Black, Indigenous and women of colour are navigating a healthcare system that was not built for them and the consequences are real.  Until representation, research, and training change, women of colour will continue to unfairly bear the burden.  Awareness and advocacy are the first steps toward fixing a system that urgently needs transformation.  --- Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode): * Vivian Kaye, business and empowerment expert and keynote speaker:  https://viviankaye.com/ [https://viviankaye.com/] * Michelle Audoin, educator and cancer care advocate:  LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-audoin-b96346272/?originalSubdomain=ca] * Dr. Thirusha Naidu, associate professor, department of innovation in Medical Education at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa [https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-medicine/directory/dr-thirusha-naidu]