Postpartum Health Alliance Archives

11 06, 2016

Postpartum Health Alliance Update

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:36-08:00June 11th, 2016|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Health Alliance|Tags: perinatal mental health, peripartum mental health, postpartum therapy, san diego|0 Comments

The other night I enjoyed an evening of catching up with the executive board and members of the Postpartum Health Alliance. PHA is a San Diego non-profit that provides resources and support to new families and to the providers and agencies that serve them. The members and volunteers also happen to be lovely and fun people.

Gretchen, who remains the board’s President, surprised me with an award recognizing my year of service as the Communications Chair. Although I am not serving on the board this year, I stay connected as a vetted provider member and volunteer.

I have also enjoyed sharing the privilege of hosting the rotating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) study group this year. If you are a provider, student, […]

13 05, 2015

Fox 5 TV Appearance: Preventing Postpartum Depression

By Abigail Burd|2018-02-28T21:09:50-08:00May 13th, 2015|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Health Alliance|Tags: fox5, media, postpartum depression, san diego, tv appearance, video|4 Comments

Watch Abby talk on the morning news with Fox 5 morning anchor, Shally Zomorodi.

It was my privilege to talk a little about postpartum depression in moms and dads and how to prevent it. In case you missed it, watch below:

1 03, 2015

How to Get Involved with the Postpartum Health Alliance

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:40-08:00March 1st, 2015|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Health Alliance|Tags: perinatal mental health, san diego resources|2 Comments

This coming Wednesday the Postpartum Health Alliance is hosting the Annual Meet and Greet at Gordon Biersch in Mission Valley. The happy hour is an opportunity to find out about how to get involved with PHA, chat with current members and meet the 2015 executive board. (Spoiler: Yes, I’m on the board this year.)

As my grandpa used to say, “Food is very unimportant,” (usually while going for a fourth or fifth helping.) The PHA will host heavy appetizers and there will be drinks available for purchase. I’ve also found the company to be friendly, diverse and interesting.

The Postpartum Health Alliance is a San Diego non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about postpartum emotional disorders and providing support and treatment referrals to women and their families who are struggling with them.

We are a volunteer driven group and help is ALWAYS needed. Here […]

6 12, 2014

Why I Want to Look at My Phone Less around My Baby

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:42-08:00December 6th, 2014|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Parenting, Postpartum Health Alliance|Tags: development, early child, emotional development, maternal mental health, parenting|6 Comments

I have found my New Year’s Resolution for 2015. I want to consciously avoid using my cell phone around my young children. Specifically, checking email, social media, and all those other things I do with my smart phone other than talk. My motivation is not fear of radiation. (Although I do have some concerns about radiation from cell phone use, especially around young brains, and have pre-ordered a SafeSleeve anti-radiation smart phone case.) My concern is being “checked out” and the pain it could cause my babies.

I recently watched a video of the 1975 “Still Face Experiment” by Dr. Edward Tronick. It was painful to see the baby’s distress at seeing her unresponsive mother. The mother is […]

15 10, 2014

Culture and Language in Therapy with New and Expecting Parents

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:57-08:00October 15th, 2014|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Health Alliance|Tags: evidence based practice, mental health, perinatal mental health, peripartum mental health, postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, pregnancy, psychotherapy, san diego therapist, therapy for postpartum anxiety, therapy for postpartum depression|6 Comments

Recently I attended a lecture sponsored by the Postpartum Health Alliance on “Cultural Considerations when Working with Expecting and New Parents.” The lecturer happened to be an old friend of mine, Dr. Mariela Shibley, Psy.D. She shared with a group of maternal mental health practitioners, First Five home visitors, and other professionals interested in helping pregnant and postpartum women. As I focus on helping women of childbearing years in my psychotherapy private practice in San Diego, I always look forward to learning more and connecting with other practitioners at the PHA lectures. You can see more posts inspired by the PHA lectures here: Postpartum Couples and the

10 07, 2014

Postpartum Couples: Keeping a Strong Relationship After Baby

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:31:00-08:00July 10th, 2014|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Health Alliance|Tags: postpartum, relationship, san diego, therapy for postpartum couples|2 Comments

The postpartum stage is not just a vulnerable time for mothers, but for couples and their relationships. Baby changes EVERYTHING. The bad news is that relationship satisfaction tanks for over two-thirds of couples after a baby. * Worse, 50% of marriages end in divorce after 7 years. The good news is that there are things we can do to keep relationships strong, happy, and satisfying after growing from a couple to a family. Loving that little squish is easy. Staying kind and calm and forgiving with your spouse when you are both sleep deprived, stressed and possibly hormonal? Read on…

Here are my top 6 tips for keeping your relationship strong after baby:

1. Go to bed at the same time, in the same bed.

I am all for cosleeping […]

14 05, 2014

Helping Parents Overcome the Trauma of the NICU Experience

By Abigail Burd|2014-10-15T09:56:19-07:00May 14th, 2014|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Health Alliance|Tags: mental health, NICU, post traumatic stress, postpartum depression, san diego therapist, therapy for postpartum depression|2 Comments

Thanks to my association with the Postpartum Health Alliance, I recently attended a lecture by Dr. Krishelle Marc-Aurele, of UC San Diego/Rady Children’s Neonatology Division, on “Coping with the NICU experience.” Dr. Marc-Aurele is board certified in pediatrics, internal medicine, neonatalogy, and palliative medicine. She has been a Medical Director at San Diego Hospice and neonatal attending at UCSD. She is also a lovely human being who conveys a genuine caring for her patients, a deep understanding of very difficult times, and a sincere desire for families to overcome the trauma of the NICU experience.

Her talk covered birth stress and birth trauma for parents who have had experiences in the neonatal intensive care unit. I was surprised to learn how prevalent birth trauma can be, which she states […]

17 03, 2014

Postpartum Health Alliance Member Provider

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:31:01-08:00March 17th, 2014|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Health Alliance|Tags: perinatal mental health, postpartum anxiety, san diego therapist, therapy for postpartum depression|2 Comments

I am proud to support the Postpartum Health Alliance. The PHA has supported women in San Diego since 1998 by focusing on Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Also known as “Maternal Mental Health,” Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), which include Postpartum Depression, affect 1 in 8 pregnant and new mothers.

And I am very proud to have been approved as an official provider, or psychotherapist approved by the Postpartum Health Alliance. And I can now share that the PHA is very careful in screening therapists before recommending them to pregnant and new parents. The PHA provides support and referrals for treatment through their “warmline,” which is staffed by trained volunteers. The warmline takes messages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can be reached at 619-254-0023.

Want to know if you may be at risk for postpartum depression or depression during pregnancy?

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