How to Have a Healthy Pregnancy and Avoid Postpartum Depletion

Melissa Dean is a midwife and the founder of Casa Natal Birth and Wellness Center, located in Los Gatos, California. As a functional and integrative medicine practitioner, Melissa combines her expertise in women’s health with her midwife practice. She provides care with an emphasis on holistic health modalities to bring wellness to women in every stage of their health: including childbirth, transition to motherhood and beyond.

Download and listen here or find wherever you get podcasts.

Continue reading “How to Have a Healthy Pregnancy and Avoid Postpartum Depletion” →

More Stories from the Mental Illness Memory Vault – My Surprise Pregnancy

My baby graduated high school this weekend! It brought up so many emotions for me. I can’t help but feel weepy and nostalgic as I reflect on her life – and who I was when she entered my life.

In case you don’t know my story… I found out I was pregnant with her my senior year of college.

I was not stable mentally and taking a pretty heavy dose of Depakote at that time – something you definitely should not be on if you’re going to get pregnant, due to major risk of birth defects. I was encouraged to terminate the pregnancy.

Continue reading “More Stories from the Mental Illness Memory Vault – My Surprise Pregnancy” →