Parenting support + Education Class: Conventional & Alternative Treatments for Sleep, Depression, Anxiety

This will be a medically-supervised educational class + support group offered over 4 weeks (one class weekly on Tuesday evenings from 6-730 from

What is a medically-supervised class? This means the group is led by a medical provider & a mental health therapist who are trained in the topics to be discussed. We will also provide light snacks and time to socialize and connect with other parents/caregivers through group sharing. This group is available to anyone caring for children or expecting children or raising children.

We will cover the following:

Depression

Anxiety

Panic attacks

Insomnia (and pregnancy-related problems such as restless leg syndrome or nasal congestion or heartburn that may contribute to poor sleep)

Irritability/anger

Review of symptoms, treatments (conventional + alternative), mental health first aid, and local resources that may help.

Address common myths and facts of pre-natal/post-partum mental health and therapies.

Who are the educators?

Havilah Brodhead is integrative family nurse practitioner who sees pediatric patients and adults in her private primary care practice, Hearthside Medicine. She has worked in ER, ICU, maternal-child health, public health, mental health, and family care over the last 10 years. She is mother to a 2 yr old and 3 yr and works closely with women dealing with depression and anxiety, especially new or expecting mothers.

We have several guest therapists who will co-lead as well.

Can I bring my baby?

If baby is non-crawling, then yes! We encourage you to bring baby. If we have enough interest, we may be able to provide childcare as well

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q I don't feel depressed, just really irritable, sometimes angrier than normal. Would this be appropriate for me?

A Yes! Symptoms of depression may sometimes manifest mostly as irritability or anger, sometimes also as excessive worry or fear.

Q. I'm having disturbing thoughts and dreams. Is this part of normal pregnancy?

A. It could be--but if it is impacting your quality of life, this group may be for you.

Q. I am not depressed or anxious right now, but I have had depression and anxiety in the past or during/after other pregnancies. Am I at risk for having depression again?

A. Yes! Having a history of depression and anxiety increases possibility of having it again. This class will also provide education and support for those who want to come but may not feel they have "high need" yet, and are wanting to be proactive in their mental health.

Q. My friend told me that antidepressants can hurt my baby. Is this true?

A. We will talk through the evidence for and against medications, as well as safety and pregnancy categories and what that means. We will also explore the connection between maternal mental health and overall infant health, and how medication may support maternal-child health. We will discuss which medications have been studied the most and have the highest safety ratings. We will also discuss the contraindications for taking a medication.

Q. I don't believe in medications and want to treat my symptoms naturally. Will you discuss alternative options in your class?

A. Absolutely. We remind patients that herbs/supplements, like medications, can also have unsafe side effects and drug interactions, so there are some that are discouraged from use, and others with evidence to show they are safe during pregnancy.

Q. I'm not depressed, just really worried. I'm also having a hard time sleeping. How will this class help me?

A. Sleep can be impacted negatively by depression, and likewise, depression can cause sleep disturbances. It is a cycle. We will discuss how to get better sleep, what you can safely take for sleep during pregnancy, and how the body's brain chemicals are influenced by sleep.

Q. Can I bring my child/infant?

A. Non-crawling infants are welcome to come. However, once a baby is crawling, it distracts too much from the class.

Q. Do I have to attend/pay for all the classes?

A. We have found that to create a safe space where women can build connections with other women and establish trust with the provider, continuity is key. Therefore, yes, a commitment to attend the full class schedule is needed. Obviously, missed classes are permitted, but if more than 2 classes will be missed, it is encouraged you find another date/time to attend a different session.

Q. I'm breastfeeding and concerned don't know what is safe or not safe to take in terms of medications or herbs/supplements for my depression, sleep problems, or anxiety. Will you cover this?

A. At Hearthside Medicine, we love integrative medicine--providing herbal options and alternative options in addition to conventional medicine. So YES!!

Q. I think I really need this but can't afford it. Are there any discounts?

A. We can offer a sliding scale depending on your income & number of dependents. This follow federal poverty income levels. Please send us an email if you would like to apply. We will need taxes from 2017 and 2018. If you do not have taxes, we will accept a letter of income from your employer along with proof of 3 months of pay stubs and and bank account statement.

Q Will you be prescribing medications during these classes?

A. No, however, you are invited to establish care with Havilah Brodhead, FNP, for primary care, and she will work with you on deciding if a prescription would be needed/appropriate as part of your care as her patient.