Hello Mom. I’m Caryl.
LCPC, Perinatal Coach
I work with seasoned moms, new moms and moms-to-be prepare for the arrival of her baby and help her transition to the world of motherhood, by focusing on mental health, emotional well-being and planning for what’s ahead.
Wait…What is “perinatal”?
“The perinatal period, includes pregnancy and the first year postpartum. [It] is a time of great vulnerability for women, involving substantial physiological and lifestyles changes. Perinatal mental health is a crucial, but frequently overlooked and neglected element of maternal and infant care.”
Who Needs This?
Moms-to-be, new moms and seasoned moms who need coaching, advice, emotional support and a safe space to voice anything she needs to in order to prioritize her mental health and overall well being during pregnancy and post-delivery.
-
There are a lot of subjects and issues that overlap with the postnatal experience, but there are some topics that are exclusive to this stage of your journey.
Let’s talk about things to prepare for. What are you most concerned about? What things can we put in place to help your experience smoother and better?
Topics include: birth plan, managing expectations, effective support systems, identifying help and resources, packing a hospital bag, important supplies/gear for baby.
-
It is common to feel sad, have feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and other thoughts and emotions you may feel concerned or guilty about.
You will learn some symptoms and signs to look out for to be proactive and put in protective factors to stay healthy
Topics include: intrusive thoughts, self-care, boundaries, baby blues, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), sleep deprivation, strength-based solutions
-
Hormones are everywhere, which results in a roller coaster of feelings and emotions that range from bliss to rage…yes, sometimes rage.
You may feel like to don’t recognize yourself. Little things annoy you. You are tired and have brain fog, which makes it super challenging to work through these times.
Topics include: fears, joy, shame, birth stories, loneliness, bonding with baby or lack or bonding, new partner dynamics, increased arguments and change of a sense of self.
-
Your body is AMAZING and grew and nurtured a human being! Your body goes through a lot and needs time to recover.
It is normal to feel certain things about your body during pregnancy and after.
Topics include: body image, sex and intimacy, rest, meals, pelvic floor health, vaginal care, c-section care and body acceptance.
Think about it….hmmm…
There is acknowledgement of many life milestones: terrible twos, adolescence, quarter life crisis, menopause, mid-life crisis and your golden ages. There are celebrations for all kinds of occasions: birthdays, weddings, engagements, baby showers (c’mon, that’s for the baby), the list goes on. Yet, there is nothing for the most transformative event of a woman’s life…giving birth! Becoming a mother! Women are just expected to grow life, pop out a whole human being and keep it moving as if it doesn’t impact and change her in EVERYWAY.
We prepare for everything in our lives, so why don’t we give more thought to how life may need to be for a while after the baby is born? What do we look out for? What’s normal? What can we put in place to make things easier? Let’s talk about expectations. Let’s talk about things that no one talks about. Let’s focus on supporting you, mama!
Whether it is your first time or your fifth, being pregnant, childbirth and motherhood will change you. Once your little one is here, you’re gonna want to talk about it. You’re gonna to need to talk about it. You will face challenges and difficulties as you are finding your footing as a new mom. There are more worries on your mind. There are new parts of you emerging. Let’s start a partnership that will maximize your potential in creating the most rewarding, nurturing and supportive environment for yourself during this time of motherhood.