The founder of osteopathic medicine, Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, said, "It is the object of a physician to find health; anyone can find disease." This philosophy resonates throughout Motherhood Survival Manual, which addresses mental health prevention even before pregnancy, emphasizing living a healthy life to prevent and mitigate the impact of postpartum mental health disorders.

Becoming a mother is a life-changing experience filled with joy, challenges, and exhaustion. Navigating the postpartum period can feel overwhelming, especially when you're recovering from childbirth, learning to care for a newborn, and adjusting to a new normal. Below are practical, expert-backed tips from seasoned moms and healthcare professionals to help you through this precious yet challenging stage.

Most people would probably prefer not to take any medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The concern every parent has when deciding to use medication or not during pregnancy is whether their actions could harm their unborn child. Many also assume giving medication to the birthing parent will harm the fetus. This idea is false and harmful because during pregnancy, mother and fetus are inseparable, otherwise known as a dyad.

The biggest harm with an all-or-nothing approach is this: when medications are stopped, changed, or not started during pregnancy, this can cause mental health issues that result in pregnancy complications.

Our very own Dr. Layne Gritti, DO was featured in a national blog published by the American Psychiatric Association discussing the impact of birth trauma on women. Refer to https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/maternal-mental-health-and-birth-trauma to read the entire blog.