@CourtneyJo | What is one thing that you experienced during pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period that nobody warned you about?

@mommy.scrubs | What is one thing that you experienced during pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period that nobody warned you about?

Click here to reply to @mommy.scrubs [https://swellcast.com/BornInLA/b6b4e214-4f1d-4f8c-a365-17cf80ab6be9?utm_source=swellcommunitypodcast&utm_medium=swellepisodereply] "One thing that I experienced postpartum after having my first child via c section at 37 weeks one day was severe postpartum depression and anxiety. I was very overwhelmed. I was very ashamed and embarrassed regarding my feelings of just loneliness, depression, anxiety. I was crying, the baby was crying. But the worst part is I suffered in silence. I have a supportive husband who travels for work."

@mommy.scrubs | What do you wish your health care provider had said or done during your pregnancy or postpartum period related to your mental health?

Click here to reply to @mommy.scrubs [https://swellcast.com/BornInLA/f8d09258-39d6-49b5-ae8d-ff4b00e9f5c9?utm_source=swellcommunitypodcast&utm_medium=swellepisodereply] "Another thing that I was not prepared for after a c section was the constipation. Oh, gosh, I wish someone told me about that. But thankfully, I made it. But, yes, double up on the stool. Softeners for sure."

@CassieJoy02 | What kind of support do you think all birthing people should have when they welcome babies into their families?

Click here to reply to @CassieJoy02 [https://swellcast.com/BornInLA/73dbb8bc-d9d8-4a35-878a-a0f2c309f4a8?utm_source=swellcommunitypodcast&utm_medium=swellepisodereply] "The US surgeon general recently released an advisory about the rising levels of stress among parents, and this issue is especially urgent for black and marginalized families who are disproportionately impacted by inadequate maternity care, systemic disparities, and financial hardships. The US healthcare and social systems need a dramatic shift in how we view and treat the postpartum period."

@CourtneyJo | What is one thing that you experienced during pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period that nobody warned you about?

Click here to reply to @CourtneyJo [https://swellcast.com/BornInLA/cb8f8434-2a1c-481e-a138-5fe13cce8c7d?utm_source=swellcommunitypodcast&utm_medium=swellepisodereply] "No one really warns you about that, you know, and my mental health. My mental health absolutely plummeted after my second baby, and I wasn't really aware of postpartum depression. So if I had been aware of postpartum depression, I probably would have, you know, seeked help, but I wasn't aware that postpartum depression was really even a thing. So I did not seek help, and I should have."

@BornInLA | What do you wish your health care provider had said or done during your pregnancy or postpartum period related to your mental health?

Click here to reply to @BornInLA [https://swellcast.com/BornInLA/505fb205-477f-4627-8fa7-8ce1f78d3f70?utm_source=swellcommunitypodcast&utm_medium=swellepisodereply] "So it just demonstrates the importance of providers really spending time with their patients to give them all the information that they're looking for so that they are prepared mentally for childbirth."