Let’s talk about…

Before we talk I’d like to make an important distinction: there’s a difference between parenting and parenthood. Parenting is all about babies and children: what little ones need to be happy, healthy and thrive. I’m not an expert on that, but there’s plenty of awesome people who are. Parenthood, on the other hand, is all about what parents need to be happy, healthy and thrive. This, I can talk about.

I’m passionate about raising awareness of:

• The many, maany, maaany benefits of taking a “whole family” approach to parenthood

• Ways to include fathers and partners in all aspects of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, including breastfeeding

• The stresses of pregnancy and new parenthood and how they’re likely to impact mothers, fathers, partners and families

• Preparing parents for the unexpected challenges of new parenthood

• How parenthood affects a couple’s relationship and what care providers can do about it (lots!)

• Perinatal Mental Health for mothers and fathers and ways to reduce risks for perinatal anxiety and depression

• The life transitions of early parenthood (there’s at least 12 of them!)

• The stages of pregnancy and early parenthood (there’s 8 of those!)

• The impact of perinatal trauma on a couple’s relationship and ways to prevent and manage this

• Perinatal loss and grief and ways to manage this to bring couples closer

• How perinatal professionals and employers can support parents to cope, grow and thrive as a new family