“The postpartum brain is brilliant, and we want to nurture that process versus hinder it.”

-Dr. Nikki Pensak, PhD, PMH-C

In this episode of A Mind of Her Own, Dr. Jennifer Reid, host and author of Guilt Free, sits down with Dr. Nikki Pensak, clinical psychologist, perinatal mental health specialist, and author of Rattled: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain (Paperback arrives April 14th!) Together they explore the science behind how a woman’s brain radically transforms during pregnancy and the postpartum period, why this developmental phase has a name (matrescence), and why virtually no one is talking about it.

Dr. Pensak shares her own deeply personal story of experiencing postpartum depression twice, including a severe episode with symptoms of OCD during COVID while her son was in the NICU, and how hitting rock bottom as a mental health expert motivated her to write the book she wished had existed. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who is pregnant, postpartum, or supporting a new mother.

Dr. Pensak’s Three Moves to Matrescence

1. Plan It

From the moment you find out you’re pregnant, establish care with a mental health provider or prescriber who specializes in perinatal mental health. Get a baseline assessment, understand your unique risk factors, and have your support system in place before the baby arrives, not after.

2. Name It

Understand that what you’re going through is matrescence, a recognized, science-backed developmental phase. Name the identity changes, the emotional upheaval, the relationship stress. Knowing it has a name, and that it is expected, is itself therapeutic.

3. Use It

Once mental health is stabilized, harness the brain’s remarkable neuroplasticity. Rise to challenges, pursue positive emotional experiences, and lean into post-traumatic growth. Your brain is primed for new learning. It’s time to use that superpower.

Resources Mentioned

Rattled: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain by Nicole Pensak, PhD, PMH-C. Available in hardcover, paperback (new cover, releasing April 14), audiobook, and Kindle.

Connect with Dr. Pensak: @drnikkipensak on all platforms

Guilt Free: Reclaiming Your Life From Unreasonable Expectations by Jennifer Reid, MD. Available now, including audiobook (read by the author) and e-book.

*Consider leaving a book review — it makes a huge difference for authors!

• Postpartum Support International (PSI) — free support groups for new mothers, fathers, anxiety, depression, and more. Also maintains a searchable database of certified perinatal mental health providers by state. https://www.postpartum.net

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Dr. Nicki Pensak is a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating postpartum mental health conditions, anxiety, OCD, depression, sexual dysfunction, and symptoms and side effects associated with medical issues (such as cancer and chronic medical conditions).

Dr. Pensak received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from University of Rhode Island and completed her APA accredited internship and specialty training in behavioral medicine at Yale School of Medicine. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School in psychiatric oncology and an NIH T32 fellowship at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Center in Aging and Palliative Care.

She currently serves on the Expert Review Board of Parents Magazine and is the author of RATTLED, How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain. Dr. Pensak provides in-person therapy in Monmouth County, NJ and telehealth therapy in 40 states, nationwide.

Reminder: Both the host and guest are healthcare professionals, but they are not your healthcare professionals. Please consult your own providers with any personal medical or mental health questions.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or psychological advice. If you are experiencing symptoms of postpartum mental health conditions, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or contact Postpartum Support International at postpartum.net. You can also contact the mental health helpline by dialing 988.

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