Ep. 41 - Motherhood and Mental Health with Dr. Jennifer Okwerekwu: How to Stop "White Knuckling" Through Motherhood

Ep. 41 - Motherhood and Mental Health with Dr. Jennifer Okwerekwu: How to Stop "White Knuckling" Through Motherhood

Author: Local Moms Network June 3, 2025 Duration: 42:07
Moms, making a baby is not for the faint of heart! Conceiving, carrying, and delivering a baby is so difficult...and it's just the beginning of finding health for a baby and for US. This episode is an encore presentation that, truly, is lifesaving for moms. Do I have baby blues or postpartum depression?Do I need medication to ease my anxiety and is it safe during pregnancy?Questions like these are completely normal-and the exact reason why motherhood and mental health should always be in the same sentence.Dr. Jennifer Okwerekwu has dedicated her career to this synergy!Dr. O, as patients affectionately call her, is a Harvard-trained reproductive psychiatrist who sees patients from before they conceive to long after they become moms. She is most passionate about erasing the “white-knuckling” that can sometimes define motherhood.As a mom of two young girls herself, she knows the stress and expectations we carry from both society and ourselves.In this incredible conversation, Dr. O brings agency and tranquility to our evolution. She reframes some of the most common concerns, like anxiety and judgment, and erases any possible stigma about reaching out for professional help. Whether you’re struggling or not, Dr. Okwerekwu is the boost that moms need as she - teaches us the definition of matrescence and the emotional stages of becoming a mother - validates the notion of birth trauma and birth disappointment and how to move forward with the stress that it leaves behind- nudges us to step out of the “stress soup” that is dangerous to ourselves and our children, both inside and outside of the womb- explains the changes in our brain that persist for years after having a baby, negating the idea of the “snap back” after deliveringYou can find Dr. O on IG @drjennifer_o or at her website coralpsych.comFind us at thelocalmomsnetwork.comFollow us on IG @thelocalmomsnetworkSend us your ideas for our next podcast!Email demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com

Hosted by Demetra Ganias-a writer and mother of three who’s navigating the same daily realities-MomCast is a conversation from the trenches of modern parenting. This podcast, from the Local Moms Network, moves beyond simple tips to explore the nuanced, often unspoken layers of family life, culture, and society that shape our days. Demetra guides honest talks with both leading experts and fellow moms who get it, tackling questions about child development, personal identity, and the balancing act that rarely feels balanced. The dialogue here is less about perfect answers and more about shared understanding, offering perspectives that resonate whether you’re in the car line or stealing a quiet moment. It’s a space where the complexities of raising kids intersect with everything else, acknowledging that motherhood is as much about the world we’re preparing our children for as it is about the snack currently ground into the car seat. Tune in for a genuine, sometimes messy, but always connecting look at this defining chapter. You’ll find a sense of community in this podcast, a feeling that someone is putting words to your own experience, making the journey feel a little less solitary and a lot more seen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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