When it’s more than the “baby blues” Here’s a fun fact: there are just shy of 4 million babies born every year in the United States.  That means almost 4 million women become mothers or add to their families, annually.  A not-so-fun fact: of those 4 million women, as many as 1 in 5 will experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. Furthermore, it is thought 7 in 10 women hide or downplay their symptoms.  Despite this, postpartum mental health is not discussed nearly enough. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends in order to optimize the ... Read This Post

It’s 4pm and I cannot put my baby down. The moment I set him down he whines and cries until I pick him up. This happens until bedtime. It’s 2am and the only way my baby won’t cry is if I hold him…again. It’s 8 am and my baby just wants to snuggle instead of play. My baby is manipulating me. Or so I’m told.   Although it may feel that way, babies and young children are the purest form of truth possible. They don’t lie. Their brains do not know how to.  If they can’t be put down and need to be held, there is a reason. The reason might just be that they need to feel love, like we ... Read This Post

If your intention is to have a vaginal birth, your OB mentioning the possible need for a cesarean can come as quite a shock. There’s a lot to know about why they happen, how they happen, and what it means for your postpartum experience. As April is Cesarean Awareness Month, we thought we’d share some answers to some of the most common cesarean questions, answered by one of New Mom School’s advisory Doctors, Dr. Jeffrey Illeck, MD. Q: What are the main reasons a woman would need a cesarean? The most common reason for a first-time mom to have a cesarean is for arrest disorders (ie: she ... Read This Post