303: Perinatal Mental Health through In Utero Diagnosis with Kate Stacom, MSW, LICSW

Today’s guest shares the personal story of her unborn baby’s traumatic diagnosis in utero. She hopes her story assures others that they are not alone in facing this type of diagnosis, and she explains coping skills and how to remain hopeful through a bleak and terrifying time. Join us to learn more! Kate Stacom is a licensed clinical social worker and mother of two who has lived experience of perinatal trauma, depression, and anxiety. Her perinatal mental health journey began when her daughter, Clare, was diagnosed with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) at 36 weeks gestation, leading to a traumatic birth and several chaotic weeks before and after delivery. Kate has become a passionate advocate for more mental health support and the role of intuition and spirituality for caregivers after hearing the news of in-utero diagnoses of congenital anomalies. Kate has a private practice where she utilizes her clinical skills coupled with her intuition to help others live meaningful, joy-filled lives where they feel most connected to their soul purpose.  Show Highlights: Kate’s pregnancy story: gestational diabetes, a mother’s instinct that something wasn’t right, and an in-utero CDH diagnosis at 36 weeks How Kate felt the range of emotions from anxiety, fear, grief, anger, and guilt What it was like to get MRI scans on her unborn baby, be induced at 39 weeks, and go through a traumatic birth with massive medical interventions How Kate and her husband navigated a long NICU stay where they constantly worried that their daughter would not survive How Kate and her husband handled their daughter’s surgery as a newborn and the isolation they endured at the hospital How Kate went into survival mode during her daughter’s six-week NICU stay Why the anxiety didn’t stop when they brought Claire home A happy update of how Claire is thriving today as an energetic four-year-old Kate’s biggest takeaways about what helped her the most through her experience Kate’s advice to other parents in similar situations Resources: Connect with Kate Stacom: Website, Instagram, and Facebook Mentioned by Kate for more information about congenital diaphragmatic hernias and help for families: Tiny Hero Visit www.postpartum.net for resources and support!  You can now watch the Mom & Mind Podcast on YouTube! Check it out! 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!