Send us a text Content Warning: Cancer, death, losing a parent, mention of miscarriage, perinatal loss Description: On today’s episode of the PWO Podcast, Kate Love joins me to share her story of navigating the loss of a parent and becoming a parent herself. Highlights: 1:28 - Kate introduces herself 5:24 - Kate shares her story of her mom’s cancer diagnosis as she became pregnant 10:42 - Grieving and how Kate carries her mom with her and her mom’s passing 16:09 - Death phobia, gr...

Send us a text On today's episode, I am joined once again by Anneke to discuss the stress that the holidays can bring. We chat about the pressures of "the perfect celebrations," the weight of capitalism on gift-giving, and the unique mental load parents carry during the season. Highlights: 2:03 - Anneke's experience with celebrating holidays 6:47 - Capitalism and the impact on gift giving as parents 11:52 - Traditions and social norms and how isolating they can ...

Send us a text Content Warning: suicidal ideation, CAS involvement Episode description: On today’s episode I am talking with Elaine about the often unspoken challenges of parenting with a disability. From discovering her pregnancy at seven months to confronting societal stereotypes and medical assumptions, Elaine's story is a testament to resilience and the power of unwavering determination. Highlights: 1:44 - How Elaine came into parenting, 5:24 - Elaine found out she was 7 month...

Send us a text Content Warning: c-section, medical procedures, swearing, rage, mental illness On today’s episode I am talking with Amanda Gurman who hosts the podcast Honest as a Mother, about her introduction to motherhood and the impact on her mental health. Amanda shares honestly and openly about her experiences with postpartum anxiety, depression and rage as well as how her recent diagnosis with ADHD impacts her parenting. Amanda also talks about her recovery and how she supports new pare...

Send us a text On today’s special bonus episode of the Perinatal Wellbeing Podcast, I am thrilled to be joined by a panel of amazing guests, including Anneke Van Den Berg, Gabrielle Griffith, Laine Halpern Zisman, Lisette Weber, and Olivia Scobie. Together for this roundtable discussion, we delve into our pivotal roles in supporting our local communities across Ontario. We explore the everyday hurdles and obstacles individuals in these regions face to access vital perinatal mental healt...

Send us a text Please donate to the Climb here https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/healthy-start-healthy-future-inc/p2p/COTDCanada/team/team-ontario-virtual/ Episode Description: Today’s episode is a special one for PWO’s Climb Out of the Darkness fundraising event. On these 2 bonus episodes we are going to talk about accessing different types of supports in the Perinatal period when we are experiencing symptoms of a mood and anxiety disorder. On today’s episode I am so exc...

Send us a text Please donate to the Climb here https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/healthy-start-healthy-future-inc/p2p/COTDCanada/team/team-ontario-virtual/ Description: Today’s episode is a special one for PWO’s Climb Out of the Darkness fundraising event. On these 2 bonus episodes we are going to talk about accessing different types of supports in the Perinatal period when we are experiencing symptoms of a mood and anxiety disorder. Highlights: Karin Thoms discusses...

Send us a text Gabriella Carafa, MSW, PMH-C is a social worker, psychotherapist and consultant working with people in the perinatal period experiencing mental health issues as well as parents with disabilities. Gabriella welcomed her daughter 2 years ago and then at 3.5 months postpartum lost her sister to an opiate overdose. Gabriella shares her story of love and loss while trying to juggle adjusting to parenthood and grieving the loss of her sister simultaneously. I’m so grateful to Gabriel...

Send us a text Content Warning: Medical procedures, c-section procedures, physical functions, swearing, gendered language, poop talk, swearing To say that I’m excited for today’s episode would be an understatement. This is my dream episode because I just want to be real about the physical changes that come with pregnancy, birth and post birth. I love real talk and I love humour and Anneke brings both of those into whatever she does. Anneke van den Berg is a mother of 4, who made her home in C...

Send us a text Content Warning: fat phobia, labour interventions, COVID delivery, birth trauma, post-birth hemorrhage On today’s episode, Chelsey Creed shares her experience of having her first baby as a plus size person and the fat phobia she faced from her midwife. Chelsey’s experience is so relatable in that a lot of gestational parents face fat phobia in their care and this has a big impact on how they feel about and relate to their bodies and their pregnancy journeys. Chelsey also ...

Send us a text Content Warning: Birth Trauma, Trauma responses, mention of c-section, medical procedures Jen Gillean and Emma Fernando are the co-facilitators of Birth Trauma Ottawa. After connecting for the first time in 2017 at a birth trauma retreat, it was clear that they shared a similar passion to spread the word, provide resources and support those that had been affected by birth trauma. Hoping to find a way to help others by holding the heartache that comes with the unique experience ...

Send us a text On today’s episode Lorraine Lowry talks about how her symptoms of ADHD and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) show up and impact her parenting. Lorraine is 3 years postpartum and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. Lorraine was also diagnosed with BPD after her son was born. Lorraine shares that “it’s been a whirlwind learning who I am while trying to help him figure out who he is, especially when I see similar traits and I get scared for his future”. Highlights: 1:36 – What i...

Send us a text Content Warning: C-section delivery, NICU stay, delivery during COVID, guilt, anxiety 🎙️Today’s episode is part 2 of Ashley and Adam’s story and their experience of staying in the NICU with one twin. Be sure to listen to last week’s episode where they discussed their journey to parenthood through a fertility journey. Ashley and Adam talk about the difficulty of having one twin in the NICU and one twin being discharged all with a toddler at home. Ashley and Adam continue to shar...

Send us a text Content Warning: Fertility challenges, fertility treatments, c-section delivery On today’s episode, Ashley and Adam share their journey to becoming parents. It started with fertility challenges that they faced head on despite the many ups and downs they experienced. Ashley and Adam very candidly share about their fertility testing and treatments including IUI attempts and IVF resulting in the birth of their first child as well as twins! Ashley and Adam explore their feelings ab...

Send us a text Content Warning: trauma, NICU stay, c-section, anxiety, challenges with nursing, grief Sydney shares her story of having her first baby and experiencing a NICU stay with him. Sydney talks honestly and openly about the challenges she faced when welcoming her baby into the world. Sydney discusses the delivery, the experience of baby going to the NICU, how traumatic that was for her and how that experience impacted her mental and physical health. Sydney also talks about her chall...

Send us a text Content warning: Labour and delivery story, cervical checks, induction, post-delivery, placenta delivery and being stitched, medical issues, baby in special care unit On today’s podcast episode Morgan Fancy, MA, RP she/her, shares her story of welcoming her little one into her family. I love hearing birth stories and people’s experiences of bringing their baby into the world! Morgan shares the ups and downs of birthing and becoming a parent in a real and authentic way. Take a l...

Send us a text Today’s guest is Katie Lamport, RSSW. Katie is a counsellor in private practice in the Barrie, Ontario area. I first met Katie when I started a new job as an addiction’s counsellor. Katie was fully pregnant as a gestational carrier and went on maternity leave a few days later. Katie shared her story of being a gestational carrier in season 1 so check it out. On today’s episode we talk about the impacts of beauty standards and ideals on us in the perinatal period and how we can ...

Send us a text On today’s episode we have Alesha Thomas from Adaptive Parent Project talking about parenting with a disability. Adaptive Parent Project is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering parents with disabilities. Alesha is currently working on a provider list of healthcare providers that have experience working with people with disabilities in California. Alesha is also gathering provider information for worldwide healthcare providers. Alesha is a parent to 4-year-old Nolan and lives in ...

Send us a text I’m so happy to share this week’s episode with you, featuring Drew Soleyn from Dad Central and Connected Dads. We had a great in-depth conversation about the challenges of becoming a parent from a dad’s perspective, including becoming a parent to twins and a 3rd baby after twins. Drew also provided some excellent ideas for seeking support, trying to take care of yourself as a parent and learning critical skills to help us be the best parents we can be! Drew is the Director of D...

Send us a text Content Warning: We like to swear, if you’re listening with kids or don’t like swearing, please be aware! Episode #25 is the 2nd part of my chat with Naomi about body hair and its impacts on our body image and parenting. My guest today is Naomi from Queer Nest. Naomi uses she and they pronouns, and is Founder and head Doula of Queer Nest, where she coaches and supports Queer and gender-non-conforming folks and entrepreneurs through one of their biggest life transitions— becomin...