Vim & Vigor - Spring 2020 - Northside Hospital - 51

51

Your Partner
in Mental Health

"When trying to conceive,
it's vital to take care of yourself
mentally and physically. That means
eating a healthy diet, exercising
regularly and finding relaxation
techniques that work for you, such
as prenatal massages, meditation,
acupuncture, yoga and counseling,"
says Nikeisha Whatley-Leon,
director of Behavioral Health
Services at Northside Hospital.
And if you are feeling down,
don't ignore it. "It's also important
to be honest with your partner and
doctor about how you're feeling,"
Whatley-Leon says. "These feelings
can be taxing, and you shouldn't
have to carry the burden of
infertility or difficulty conceiving
on your own."

PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES

COPING WITH
UNEXPECTED LOSS

There is no right way to experience,
reflect on or react to a miscarriage.
Although 10 to 20 percent of
pregnancies end in a miscarriage,
it doesn't change the fact that
unexpected loss is tough to
swallow. During this time, you
and your partner may experience
any number of emotions, most
notably grief. And going through
the five stages of grief-denial,
anger, bargaining, depression and
acceptance-can be a painfully
slow process that can't be rushed.
It's also common for many
women and their partners to relive
and question the miscarriage: Why
did it happen? Was there something
I could have done? What would
life have been like if we didn't
experience a miscarriage?
"These thoughts are a double hit
to the psyche," Whatley-Leon says.
"When you struggle to find answers,
this can lead to self-blame, guilt
and a loss of self, all of which can
be devastating."

Northside Hospital is staffed by
more than 30 highly trained, boardcertified mental health professionals.
For more information regarding
behavioral health services, please
visit northside.com/behavioralhealth.

"In these moments, even if it's
the last thing you feel like doing,
it's essential that you connect
with others," Whatley-Leon says.
"There are a variety of different
outlets for social support. For
some, it's going to a support group
and relating to other women
who have been through a similar
experience. For others, healing
can come from sharing their
story with friends and family
to help increase awareness of
miscarriage and dispute common
misconceptions surrounding it."

DEALING WITH
PRENATAL DEPRESSION

For many expectant mothers,
feelings of pure joy and excitement
are short-lived. While anxiety
surrounding pregnancy and
parenthood is to be expected, when
those feelings eclipse happiness
and excitement, it may be a sign of
prenatal depression, a condition
that affects between 14 and 23
percent of expectant mothers.
Similar to postpartum
depression, prenatal depression
may include worry, sadness and
anxiety, as well as shame and
trouble sleeping-two symptoms
unique to prenatal depression.
In rare cases, women may also
experience paranoia.
"Prenatal depression continues
to be a focus for many OB/GYNs
and behavioral health providers,
as it is often lumped in with
postpartum depression," WhatleyLeon says. "But as we continue

to better our understanding of
this condition, we're able to equip
mothers-to-be with important
information, identify symptoms
sooner and use more effective
treatment techniques."
If you think you might be
experiencing prenatal depression,
talk to your doctor. "The bottom line
is we want women to know that they
aren't alone," Whatley-Leon says.
"We want expectant mothers to trust
us, come to us and give us a chance
to help-that's why we're here." *
VIM & VIGOR SPRING 2020
http://www.northside.com/behavioralhealth
Vim & Vigor - Spring 2020 - Northside Hospital

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2020 - Northside Hospital
