Mary Kimmel, MD and Andrea Diaz-Stransky, MD-BHSc
When pregnant and postpartum people suffer from depression and/or anxiety, they can struggle to connect with their babies in healthy ways. This can lead to difficulties with bonding and attachment. Insecure attachment in mother-child dyads can lead to increased anxiety and emotional problems for the mother, as well as emotional and developmental problems in the child. In this presentation, Drs. Kimmel and Diaz Stransky will discuss the importance of secure attachment in the mother-child dyad, explain how perinatal mood disorders can affect the mother’s ability to bond with her fetus/newborn, and share tools to use in your practice to both assess quality of attachment and provide avenues of support for mom and baby.