We are going to present today the third part of this extensive Babies interview and more to the psychologist Meritxell Sánchez, specialized in Perinatal Psychology.
Today we will talk with her about trauma and guilt, about emotional support, attachment, bonding and about empowering motherhood. We hope you are interested in reading it as much as we liked to make this third installment and the previous ones.
How do you guide the mothers who come to your consultation?
As a psychologist I always recommend to mothers who come to my office everything that favors and reinforces a secure attachment with their baby and favors emotional states of well-being such as, for example, breastfeeding, go to support groups between mothers, parenting groups , associations, perform relaxing and enjoyable activities, have a space to take care of yourself, etc.
Sometimes, in consultation we have to work with that guilt that seems inherent to all mothers, so that it decreases and learn to handle it better. Learn and feel from the heart that to take care you have to take care of yourself, that to take care of our children we have to take care of ourselves.
Do we understand how important emotional support is in motherhood?
During pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, women especially need emotional support. The support of the couple, the social environment and health professionals during pregnancy and childbirth positively influences the postpartum, favoring women feel more supported, more emotionally supported and protected during childbirth and postpartum .
How will it help the mother to have this emotional support?
All this allows the woman to enjoy a better self-esteem, feel more confident of herself, and helps her to establish a healthy bond with her baby, a breastfeeding and a satisfactory upbringing for the mother, respecting the needs and Evolutionary processes of your baby. If a woman who has just become a mother feels good about herself, her motherhood and her baby, she will be in a position to offer her baby better arms. This will promote and facilitate the emotional health of both.
Is the secure bond important for the child's psychological health?
Neuroscience has confirmed that building a safe bond during early childhood is the basis of mental health and a key factor in raising children who will become resilient adults..
What tools can help mothers if there has been trauma or painful circumstance at birth or immediate postpartum?
As health professionals help a mother who has had a bad experience allowing emotional expression, listening to the previous story, investigating and deepening fears and causes, listening empathically, without minimizing, without judging, without blaming the mother, encouraging the expression of emotions and feelings, etc. The general objective is to prevent and minimize psychological distress during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium.
Sometimes support is not enough, right?
If Trauma has occurred or there are suspicions of a postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress, etc. It is important to seek help from a mental health professional expert in Perinatal Psychology. In cases where disturbance and emotional distress are very intense and lasting, it is also convenient to seek specialized professional help. It is important to keep in mind that the trauma does not heal itself, speaking without more or with the passage of time. When there is trauma, when a painful or traumatic experience has left a negative and lasting imprint over time, the processing of that experience or event in that person's life has been blocked, so specialized professional help is needed to process and integrate This experience, always within a framework of security and strengthening of the person's resources, thus resolving symptoms and discomfort, increasing well-being and self-esteem. One of the most powerful tools for the treatment of traumatic and painful experiences is EMDR, a scientifically validated integrative psychotherapeutic approach that accelerates the treatment of traumatic events, painful experiences and a wide range of problems and disorders.
Does motherhood empower us?
Whether or not you had a painful experience during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum, motherhood is an excellent opportunity for personal growth. High self-esteem and self-confidence after childbirth is a solid basis for starting motherhood and we know that work and personal growth are associated with rewarding experiences of childbirth and postpartum.
We thank the psychologist Mertitxell Sánchez the interview he has given to Babies and more and we promise to continue talking about Primary Health and Perinatal Psychology in the next few days.
