Julie could not use her usual method of managing stress because of a birth injury.

Written testimony

So, I walk. Like, walking is, like, a thing that I do, and exercising. And I think I leaned on that, but that was also a challenge because of my birth injury. I had always leaned on doing physical activity to help with stress and as a coping technique and then I couldn’t rely on that as a tool anymore because I was also dealing with the physical injury itself.

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• Advice for Policymakers – Julie
  Julie offered this perspective:
• Advice for Health Care Providers – Julie (clip 2)
  Julie advocates for less medicalized approaches to birth.
• Advice for Health Care Providers – Julie
  Julie advises giving women information at the appropriate times, when they can absorb it.
• Coping with Perinatal Mental Health – Julie
  Julie could not use her usual method of managing stress because of a birth injury.
• Gaps in Health Care System – Julie
  Julie advocates a whole-person approach to the pregnancy journey.
• Seeking Help and Getting Diagnosis – Julie
  Despite having clearly stated that she was not feeling well, Julie still had to wait weeks before getting support.
• Relationships – Julie
  Julie's husband did not know what to do or how to navigate the health care system to get help.
• Support from Family and Friends – Julie
  A friend of Julie recognized the red flags and helped to get the support she needed.
• Managing Personal Challenges with Sleeping and Eating – Julie
  Looking back, Julie realizes how a chronic lack of sleep spiraled into heightened anxiety.
• Managing New Routines – Julie
  Going from a successful working life to being with her child every day has challenged Julie to expand her skillset.