Fertility, Technology, & Acknowledging Grief Part 1

In this important discussion with reproductive psychologist Dr. Julie Bindeman, we examine the issue of fertility and chasing parenthood. We review the current technology and options available to couples who desire to have a child, and very importantly, the psychological impact that is associated with difficulty in conceiving a child without intervention. Along with advanced reproductive technologies to assist couples come some very difficult choices, and the very real possibility that efforts may be unsuccessful. Often the inability to conceive is a grief that is not shared beyond the couple, sometimes because of a stigma associated with infertility, and a grief the depth of which is not fully appreciated.

Not Just Baby Blues: Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a serious health consequence to being a new mother. It is actually a lot more common than you might think. You probably know someone who has suffered from it, most likely quietly. And why? Why did it happen, and why would you not have known about it?

So in this episode we discuss postpartum depression. It’s not baby blues. It’s not just a little bit of hormones and it will pass. It’s not – you’re just too tired and you need to take some “you” time. It’s depression. Serious depression. 

Body Image, Fat Shaming, & Loving Ourselves

This episode, I have a powerful discussion with Jennifer Rollin, a therapist who specializes in body image and eating disorders. We take a deep dive into body image and fat shaming. No one will be surprised to hear that the ideal body in our culture is thin. Very thin. And not everyone is very thin. Or even thin. In fact most of us aren’t. So let’s consider the space between the ideal and real. The chasm between what we are, and what the idealized perfect is.

We discuss how fat shaming and the thin ideal have become so acculturated and normalized that it pervades nearly every aspect of women's lives and can seriously undermine our confidence. We discuss how we can break this unhealthy fixation and help our girl children grow up feeling good about themselves.