Mindful Parenting

Many new parents and parents-to-be reflect on the question, “What type of parent do I want to be?” This question can seem so monumental and challenging to answer. This article offers a way to sort through how to arrive at answers. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help us in this exploration. The goal of…

The Birth of a Mother

When a woman gives birth, she births not only her child but also a new identity: that of a mother. This identity has been in the making since the moment she found out she was pregnant — and perhaps even before then — especially if her decision to start a family was an intentional one.…

10 Tips for Postpartum Wellness

Source: Photo by Kevin Liang on Unsplash  The first postpartum year is full of challenges, but there are ways to ease the transition. Trying to power through the many trials and difficulties of this period is never a good idea. Below are helpful tips to help you survive and thrive as you adjust to motherhood.…

Perfectionism and Postpartum Depression

I can still clearly remember sitting in the new moms group that I participated in when my daughter was first born, now nearly 15 years ago. I remember sharing my birth story and describing how my hopes of having an intervention-free birth were dashed when I developed HELLP syndrome (preeclampsia with its usual suspects of…

Virtual Support Groups for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Starting April 2020

We are excited to announce the launch of virtual support groups for pregnant and postpartum women at Wildflower. Under the best of circumstances, the transition to motherhood is an unpredictable, all-encompassing, and often bewildering journey. Experiencing it during the coronavirus pandemic is an entirely uncharted territory. Let us support you in facing the challenges of…

What Do Babies Really Need?

On Monday, September 16th, 2019 we are hosting What Do Babies Really Need? as part of our Wildflower Talks series. As parents, we want what is best for our children. We fret over infant care items, the crib, the feedings. We want to be good parents. No matter how intensely we pursue this goal, questions…

Postpartum Blues or Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorder?

One of the most frequent questions we get asked at Beyond the Baby Blues is what defines the distinction between baby blues and a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder or PMAD. The description that the women we see in our groups provide over and over of how they are feeling is that they don’t feel…

What to Expect When You’re Expecting (In Your Sex Life)

Pregnancy can be an exciting but also an unexpected transition for new parents. On one hand you are looking forward to bringing your newborn into the world, mentally and physically preparing for your growing family, all the while dreaming about what your bundle of joy will look like and how they will feel in your…

Demystifying Depression in New Dads

While the mental health field has made major gains in recognizing and treating depression experienced by moms in the postpartum period, less attention has been given to fathers who are impacted by depression during this critical period.  The lack of discussion about postnatal depression means that many struggling dads are not always aware that such…