About 1 in 5 parents can expect to experience a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, etc.) during pregnancy and in the year following birth. How did we get here??

• Regardless of how one came to be a parent, there are massive hormone fluctuations, identity and role changes and of course… insufferable sleep deprivation.

• Expected or unexpected challenges such as fertility issues, traumatic birth, NICU stays, feeding difficulties, and so many more may arise and can stress our already fragile sense of balance when moving into the parenthood role.

• To be a parent in America is to swim upstream in a river of unhelpful messages and policies that enforce toxic individualism. The lack of federal parental paid leave, affordable childcare and other basic supports is a set up for burnout and impossible choices.

• Any and all of this just makes us so. damn. tired.