Understanding and protecting your mental health pre, during and beyond pregnancy

In today’s interview, I interview Dr. Dawn Kingston,  an award-winning researcher and mental health clinician with over twenty-five years in medicine.  We explore the complex relationship between mental health and pregnancy along with challenging common misconceptions about the emotional experience during this critical phase of life. We dive deep into understanding nervous system regulation and how life experiences impact mental well-being. Dr. Kingston shares innovative brain-based therapies and provides a hopeful perspective on managing mental health before and during pregnancy. 

Episode Highlights:

• Dr. Dawn Kingston's background and initial motivations for studying mental health in pregnancy.
• Common misconceptions about mental health during pregnancy. 
• Why emotional challenges during pregnancy are not just ‘simply hormonal’.
• The concept of nervous system dysregulation and how life experiences can impact mental health.
• The idea of a "ladder" of emotional states and how to move between different levels of regulation.
• Alternative therapeutic approaches for mental health and nervous system regulation.
• Introduction of brain-based therapies like neurofeedback, brain spotting, and vibroacoustic stimulation.
• The concept of fetal programming.
• How a mother's mental health might impact her unborn child.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Dawn Kingston is an award-winning researcher and mental health clinician with over twenty-five years in medicine, including thirteen as a neonatal ICU nurse. She holds a master’s in nursing, a master’s in counselling, a PhD in mental health, and a postdoctoral fellowship in mental health. A professor at the University of Calgary, she holds the inaugural Lois Hole Hospital for Women Cross-Provincial Research Chair in women’s mental health. Dr. Kingston developed the HOPE 3.0 digital mental health platform for women, offering online tools and resources. 

Related Links:

• Sign up for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here
• Website: Drdawnmentalhealth4women.com
• Facebook: Drdawnkingston
• Instagram: @Drdawnkingston
• Book: Your Brain On Pregnancy- A Guide to Understanding and Protecting Your Mental Health During Pregnancy and Beyond
• Free resources: include being able to assess your current mental health with science-based screeners, a description of therapies that can support your emotional wellbeing, bite-sized features on a variety of mental health topics and more. https://hopementalhealth4women.com/

Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.