Hi, I'm Rachel McLaughlin, LPC, PMH-C.
After becoming a parent in 2020 during what people loved to call "unprecedented times," I sought my own treatment for postpartum depression.

And, no, it wasn't the "baby blues" like many folks nonchalantly insisted it was.

  Even as a therapist, it felt impossible to know where to start or how to find the right support. I realized how much more support new moms (actually - ANY mom/parent/ caregiver) need and how challenging it can be to find it.

After my own healing, lots of trainings (thanks to the Postpartum Support International), I am on a mission to help parents in a way I know they need.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety following the birth of a baby are very common for women and can even sometimes be considered normal in the first few weeks following birth. There are many reasons for this, including lack of sleep, homronal shifts after birth, lifestyle changes due to having a new baby, and the physical recovery moms go through after childbirth.

Symptoms that last longer than a couple of weeks or are severe may indicate post-partum depression and anxiety.

Symptoms can include the following:

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• Feeling sad, down or depressed

• Having low energy and motivation

• Difficulty sleeping or resting in general

• Intrusive or unwanted thoughts

• Feelings of guilt and shame, often related to motherhood, relationships, and/or your baby / other children

• Unmanageable worry

• Rejecting or ignoring support from others

• Feeling emotionally distant with baby, partner and/or support system

• Having difficulty experiencing joy or feeling happy

• Hopelessness or helplessness