Many researchers have found that marital satisfaction decreases after the transition to parenthood.  Dr. John Gottman observed that a whopping 67% of couples were unhappy with their relationship after their babies arrived!   The foundation of the family is the parent relationship.  If that partnership suffers, each individual in the family, particularly the baby, suffers. To  Continue Reading »

I REALLY want to gather a collection of easy recipes for new parents: healthy and easy preparation is critical to decrease stress during that time that you are too tired to think.  On the MomSource Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-MomSource/145887487287?ref=tn_tnmn) I posted a link to a recipe  (delicious white bean and kale soup) in hopes that others  Continue Reading »

I’ll never forget one of the first mothers I treated for postpartum depression.  Her baby was in the NICU and she had a two year old son at home.  Going back and forth to the hospital, pumping her breast milk to give her baby the best start she could, feeling torn between caring for each  Continue Reading »

Support. I find myself obsessing about how I can help new families get the support they need.  Often, there seems to be so many blocks: family distant, either physically or emotionally, one or both parents needing to work long hours to feel securely employed and make ends meet, being new to Connecticut or the community,  Continue Reading »

This Wednesday I will have the privilege to speak briefly to a group of parents of infants about nurturing your relationship, sort of a preview of our workshop on February 4th  at Blue Back Square.  Pat McClarney, RN, MSN, CPNP,  is a pediatric nurse practitioner with a marvelous nurturing manner with new parents and has  Continue Reading »

The MomSource’s focus of  helping expectant parents has a new venue!  We are again offering our workshop “From We to Three” , this time to new parents, with an infant less than a year old.  We received requests to offer this to not only expectant parents, but those who already have babies, so we are  Continue Reading »

The March Issue of  “American Baby” highlights “the secret sadness”  following births in an article by Alexa Joy Sherman.  Ms Sherman  discusses both the common “baby blues” and the symptoms of postpartum depression, which afflicts up to 20% of new mothers and fathers.  Check out this informative article, which includes quotes from Dr. Thomason as  Continue Reading »

I met with the most delightful individual today who shared with me her excitement about the MomSource’s mission to prevent postpartum adjustment problems, hereafter referred to as PPD, which  includes depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive symptoms. Kathleen Montesi, APRN, CPNP, is a pediatric nurse practitioner and is passionate about preventing PPD. Kathleen has presented her  Continue Reading »

The holiday season brings with it so much potential for loving connection . . . laughter . . . and  family traditions.   As we visit with family and friends, share food, gifts, and time while attending many celebrations of  light in the darkness, we enjoy timeless rituals and the power of hope.  Yet we frequently  Continue Reading »

The need for “a break” can be as range from a simple “I need to get up and stretch” to “I desperately need to get away for at least two weeks”, and encompasses many other points on that continuum. My recent vacation fell into the latter category, and I’m delighted to report that it provided  Continue Reading »