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The Making Mama Well Podcast with Dr. Pip Houghton

Dr. Pip Houghton talks to real mamas, pregnant and parenting people about maternal mental health and the "normal hard stuff" that all newly parenting families experience. Through real patient stories, Dr. Pip will address common maternal mental health questions. Making Mama Well exists to make sure no mama feels alone in her experience. You are still a good mom. With help, you will be well. TRIGGER WARNING: Some of the episodes in the show will dive into hard topics including but not limited to miscarriage, stillbirth, suicidal thoughts and birth trauma. This podcast series is part of a perinatal mental health project and is an initiative ofthe Campbell River and District Division of Family Practice, supported with funding from the Shared Care Committee – a partnership of Doctors of BC and the BC government. Musical stylings and sound editing for this series were provided by Nick Houghton and Hootin’ Music.The stories in this podcast are intended for education purposes only and not to be viewed as a substitute for personal medical advice.

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The Making Mama Well Podcast with Dr. Pip Houghton

Counting Blessings, Not Chromosomes - Dr Pip chats to Abby about navigating unexpected news in pregnancy

August 10, 2022 • Phillippa • Season 1 • Episode 7

In this episode I speak to Abby, entrepreneur and founder of Pursuing Her Purpose and podcast host on the HERself Podcast. Abby is a mama to three and inclusion advocate. In this episode she shares her journey through a prenatal diagnosis of Downs Syndrome, the emotions and processing that came alongside that unexpected news and how she learned the power of the AND. You can love your baby AND grieve the image you had for them. You can be grateful that your baby arrived safely AND wish they had a simpler life ahead of them.

When it comes to unexpected news in pregnancy or after the arrival of a baby, all feelings are valid. It's ok to feel conflicted, confused, lost, sad or disappointed. It doesn't mean you love your baby less. It means you are human.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:
https://www.mother.ly/life/raising-child-with-down-syndrome/

https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/mama-is-our-baby-sick-they-stuck-a-foot-long-needle-in-my-stomach-i-just-wanted-it-to-be-over-down-syndrome-all-we-see-is-light-a/

https://theluckyfewfoundation.org/

https://www.jacksbasket.org/

https://gigisplayhouse.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_viWBhD8ARIsAH1mCd7VM_veFe6qbjyxBcpxDiJs40DQ9gQHJu-rrb7T_8j7cRXLAlykDwoaAoRaEALw_wcB

https://cdss.ca/

Abby can be found at:
https://www.pursuingherpurpose.com/
https://www.herselfpodcast.com/