There are significant ways that pregnancy and birth can shake our mental health. What can cause postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, and psychosis? Who can you turn to for help and support to pull you out of what can be an isolating experience? And what happens when the doctor's office itself causes even more anxiety?

Host Frantzces Lys first speaks with a doula and a reproductive psychiatrist on navigating mental health during pregnancy and how we can recognize the symptoms of postpartum disorders. Then Frantzces hears from a mom and patient advocate who navigated postpartum herself.

Dr. Shari Lusskin joins Dr. Nathan Fox to discuss anxiety before and during pregnancy. Dr. Lusskin explains that a possible pregnancy (planned or unplanned) is something she always considers when first treating women for anxiety since certain medications are not safe for pregnant women. Fortunately, most anxiety and depression medications are safe to take during pregnancy. Even still, having a detailed pregnancy and birth plan with your mental health provider and OB-GYN can be incredibly helpful for many women, especially those with diagnosed anxiety whose symptoms might worsen during pregnancy.

Dr. Shari Lusskin joins Dr. Nathan Fox to discuss Reproductive Psychiatry, or psychiatric treatment for women during pregnancy. In this episode, they review topics including treatment options, when medication can be used, and research into psychiatric treatment for pregnant women.

Perinatal depression is under-diagnosed and under-treated worldwide and in New York City. Recent studies have shown that 12% of pregnant women and 13% of postpartum women screen positive for anxiety and depression, essentially no different from the non-pregnant population.