254: Mental Health Challenges through Miscarriages, Pregnancy, and Postpartum with Megan Monds, LCSW

Many people experience some kind of mental health condition through pregnancy and postpartum. The reproductive journey brings many challenges, and today’s guest gives us a glimpse into her story of recurrent loss, pregnancy, postpartum, and how she came to self-advocacy and empowerment through her challenges. Join us to hear Megan’s story! Megan Monds fills many roles in life, none more important to her than mother to her two small children, ages 5 and 3. She is a highly-sensitive person who works as a mental health therapist for children, adults, and families. Her passion is working with children and adults with complex trauma histories, and she has her own lived experience with anxiety, depression, and trauma. By sharing her story, she hopes to empower and validate others who are facing a challenging journey to parenthood.  Show Highlights: How Megan’s story includes three miscarriages before giving birth to her first child How Megan coped with her first miscarriage by using avoidance–and carried on with her very busy life How two more miscarriages occurred during the next two years, and they didn’t seem as emotionally jarring as the first one even though childhood trauma reappeared How her first full-term pregnancy was hard, making it difficult to connect to her baby How her induction and all the medical interventions did not follow her birth plan at all–again, feeling like it was all happening TO her and beyond her control How Megan saw a therapist and did the work on herself after her daughter was born How she felt more whole, healthy, and understanding during her next pregnancy with her son–much different than her pregnancy with her daughter How her son’s birth played out in a much more peaceful way than the raw and intense birth of her daughter How Megan’s sensitivity and anxiety contributed to her trauma response and impacted every aspect of her emotional experience How Megan realized with her second birth that she could have more control over her environment and her mental state What Megan wants others to know about mental health and getting support Why it is empowering to realize that your experience is more important than what any expert or provider might say, especially when “there isn’t research to support your experience” Why it’s OK if your needs and preferences don’t make sense to others Why it’s important to come at your challenges from a place of curiosity instead of rigid expectations Resources: Connect with Megan: Instagram Visit www.postpartum.net for resources! I’d love to hear from you! Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.   Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!