MMHRC Blog
Patient Expert Advisors
Patricia Tomasi: Maternal Mental Health is a Women’s Rights Issue
I got pregnant pretty fast. We thought it would take at least six months because that was the norm among our couple friends. But all it took was one quick romp on the couch before dinner on a Tuesday to make it happen. We didn’t even take our clothes off except, for, you know… We…
Read MoreKristina Dulaney: Research is a Catalyst for Change
My name is Kristina Dulaney and I am ecstatic to be a Patient Expert Advisor with the Maternal Mental Health Research Collaborative. My background is in nursing and yet I had little education surrounding maternal mental health. When it came to my own mental health after the birth of my children, I lacked understanding and…
Read MoreSarah Kotranza: Anti-Depressants Saved My Life… Slowly
Anti-depressants saved my life…..slowly. For those of you who have not taken anti-depressants before you may not know that they can take 2-4 weeks to be fully effective. That means if that particular anti-depressant does not work well for you, then you have to wait 2-4 weeks to find that out, wean off of it,…
Read MoreLeah Anderson: Here I Am with a Passion for Change
I’ve struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. I finally have a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder at the age of 29 and almost 20 months postpartum. It has been a long 2 years of saying something is wrong. I still don’t feel normal for me. And to make things worse I…
Read MoreSam Nenninger: Over the Last 7 Years I’ve Gone From Sufferer to Survivor
When I was handed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) on a piece of paper at my six week postpartum appointment, I remember reading each of the ten questions numerous times; slowly and carefully. “That’s it. I AM crazy” I thought to myself. None of the questions were like the jumbled ball of continuous horrific…
Read MoreLisa Tremayne: Children Were Everything I Ever Wanted
6 years. 72 months. 72 times I got my period and was so disappointed that my body had failed me again. That’s how the inability to conceive feels and the words that we in the medical field – I am a maternal child health nurse use – the inability to conceive. Just to make sure…
Read MoreKat Schuknecht: We Are Working to Change Things for the Mothers Who Come After Us
My name is Kat and I’m extremely excited to be a part of MMHRC! I’m the mama of two girls – ages 9 and 5. I developed postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA) shortly after my oldest was born. It wasn’t until my younger daughter came along four years later that I was really…
Read MoreCeleste Chapko: Evidenced-based Research Means our Daughters will Have a Different Reality
My name is Celeste Chapko and I am SO excited to be joining the Maternal Mental Health Research Collaborative as a Patient Expert Advisor. My experience with maternal mental health began when I was pregnant with my daughter, just over five years ago. When I was seven months pregnant with her, I started to experience…
Read MorePatient Expert Advisors: Moms with Lived Experience
We’re excited that we’re finally ready to introduce our first group of amazing Patient Expert Advisors to the MMHRC community. Late last fall we put out a call for moms to join MMHRC and put their insight as patients to good use. We learned a lot from interviewing applicants. These conversations helped to set the…
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