In approximately 1-2 out of every 1,000 births, a woman will experience an illness termed postpartum psychosis. Some common symptoms of this illness include hallucinations, insomnia (inability or lack of perceived need to sleep); delusions (strange beliefs); hyperactivity/rambling/rapid speech; persistent/heightened irritability; paranoia; difficulty communicating and rapid mood swings. This illness most often has a very...Read More

Recently, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), published an updated review on “Pregnancy-Related Deaths.” Find it HERE. The 2017 review gives more information on the following key findings from 14 state Maternal Mortality Review Committees- including Florida: Approximately 1 in 3 deaths during or within a year of pregnancy were pregnancy-related. What does that mean?...Read More

Your team at Better Beginnings The Better Beginnings team is passionate about caring for the individuals and families we have the honor of working with.Read More

Becoming a parent is one of the most significant transitions of a person’s life span. One of the things we often do not expect are the “ghosts” of our personal and family history that show up causing issues in our own relationship with our children. Whaaaat? A clinical social worker and child psychoanalyst, Selma Fraiberg...Read More

This week, 4/29-5/3/2019 is recognized as Maternal Mental Health Awareness week. Social media shares have included a look at individual experiences, education, common symptoms, the lack of care and addressing the many myths that motherhood can hold. How do we reduce the statistics from 1 in 5 (or 1 in 7, depending on what end...Read More

Thank you Nicki for sharing some of your story. Real Moms, real life- not always what we are told to expect. Nicki entrusted the Better Beginnings team to partner in her health. “My Better Beginnings story started 3 years after my daughter was born. I never in a million years thought that I would still...Read More

On Tuesday, March 19, the FDA announced approval of (brand name) Zulresso, a first of it’s kind medication for Postpartum Depression. Zulresso (generic name is brexanolone) was developed through clinical trials by pharmaceutical company, Sage Therapeutics. You can find more about the development and history of Zulresso HERE. The medication is potentially a game-changer for...Read More

Fellow providers, please do not stand in the way of your patient receiving mental health services.  There are plenty of obstacles already in the way of individuals finding and engaging with mental health services; other medical providers should not be one of them.  Mental health stigma, lack of awareness or education, fear, cultural biases, finances,...Read More

Discussing topics frequently asked by parents who WERE NOT expecting this! Remember that book your sweet Aunt gave you when you announced you were pregnant? Something about “…expecting”? You know, the pregnancy guide from which you learn almost NOTHING you actually needed to know?! Follow with us as we talk about the many frequently asked...Read More

On Tuesday, February 12th, the United States Preventative Services Task Force issued a recommendation statement  on Interventions to Prevent Perinatal Depression; find it HERE. (Learn more about what the USPSTF is and does HERE.) This recent recommendation builds upon a 2016 Recommendation Statement from the USPSTF specifically addressing depression screening and adequate support systems for pregnant and...Read More