Prenatal Counseling

newborn baby
 

Emotional Support During Pregnancy

 
 

Women have access to more information regarding pregnancy and childbirth than ever before, but many feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options and opinions. You might feel increasingly anxious about what’s safe for your baby, or find yourself dreading the prospect of giving birth. Prenatal counseling can help you work through your worries, develop a birth plan that suits your needs, and feel more confident and secure in your choices.

Read more about the benefits of prenatal counseling here.

Just as your OB-GYN or midwife looks after the physical health of your pregnancy, I provide vital emotional healthcare as you take these first steps into motherhood. Empathic, non-judgmental, evidence-based emotional support is critical for the prenatal period. We often hear that “it takes a village,” but many women don’t have this type of community to turn to for pregnancy-related guidance and support. Medical providers may be too busy to attend to the emotional aspect of this monumental life transition, and female friends and relatives - while well-intentioned - often have their own agenda and opinions that can add to the confusion.

I can help you clarify what YOU want as you navigate pregnancy and prepare for labor, and we will work together to develop a plan to help achieve these goals. We can also identify and resolve underlying anxieties or painful past experiences so that you can approach your pregnancy with peace and confidence.

in prenatal counseling, we will work to:

  • Uncover your hopes, fears, dreams, and expectations about becoming a parent by exploring your relationship with your own parents, childhood experiences, and cultural messages surrounding parenthood

  • Create a birth plan that honors your preferences and clearly communicates your goals to medical providers

  • Prepare your home - both emotionally and physically - for baby’s arrival, as well as preparing your significant relationships (with your partner, your family, older children, and even friends) for the upcoming changes

  • Filter through all of the safety recommendations to figure out how to mitigate risk to baby while also being able to relax and enjoy your pregnancy

  • Develop a plan for parental leave or time off from work, and prepare for how to balance work and family responsibilities

You are coping with so many physical, mental, and emotional changes during pregnancy, along with the amazing responsibility of growing a baby. Contact me today to prepare for meeting this brand new little person with confidence and joy!