Genna was reassured that meds were safe for her baby, allowing her better sleep and fewer symptoms.
Transcript
I remember being concerned about it. I remember I asked for a second opinion from my midwife and she didn’t want to answer. Her response was that she didn’t want to tell me anything that would make me not take the antipsychotic. So she was going to refrain from talking about any potential impacts of breastfeeding. I was also speaking with a lactation consultant who had a great reference of medications and their implications on breastfeeding children and so between the psychiatrist and the lactation consultant, I felt reassured that I could continue breastfeeding while taking the medication.
More from: Genna
More content
- Medication and Treatment Approaches – Genna (clip 2)Medications paired with support from a psychologist who taught her how to reframe thoughts was the best source of help for Genna.
- Medication and Treatment Approaches – GennaGenna was reassured that meds were safe for her baby, allowing her better sleep and fewer symptoms.
- Seeking and Finding Reliable Information – GennaGenna suggests increasing education about mental health during perinatal classes to help reduce stigma.
- Gaps in Health Care System – GennaGenna used savings to pay for counselling supports.
- Communicating with Health Care Providers – GennaGenna feels her psychosis could have been identified sooner.
- Work, Finances and Mental Health – GennaGenna feels fortunate that her partner received compassionate care unemployment benefits to be home and support her.
- Support from Family and Friends – GennaA crises team came to Genna's house to assess the situation, and her family supported her when she was on a 24-hour watch.
- Managing Personal Challenges with Sleeping and Eating – GennaDuring her psychotic episode Genna developed a sort of algorithm to help her remember her daily tasks, as she often forgot to eat or sleep.
- Stigma and Feeling Judged – Genna (clip 2)All Genna could talk about was her depression and anxiety and she worried that her friends might judge her for it.
- Stigma and Feeling Judged – GennaGenna feels there is a kind of judgement that people struggling with mental health during and after pregnancy do not love their child.