The Relationship Between Postpartum Mood Disorders and Sleep
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The Relationship Between Postpartum Mood Disorders and Sleep – Podcast Ep 87

Pediatrician and author, Dr. Harvey Karp, is sharing how postpartum mood disorders and sleep are connected and how moms can combat them.

Published June 21, 2022

by Nina Spears

The Baby Chick®: Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Expert
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A woman with her hair tied back is sitting and looking away, appearing deep in thought. She is holding a sleeping baby close to her chest, possibly reflecting on postpartum mood disorders. Both are indoors with soft lighting from a window casting gentle shadows on the woman's face.

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We recently learned that there is a higher chance of postpartum depression for women with poor sleep quality.1 This doesn’t come as a surprise because sleep is vital to a person’s mental and physical health. It’s also not a secret that sleep deprivation is inevitable when welcoming home a newborn. So, how can new parents prepare for parenthood and combat this statistic? Because new parents need to care for their babies at all hours, how can they prioritize sleep to help avoid postpartum mood disorders? We’re chatting with Dr. Harvey Karp to learn more.

Who is Dr. Harvey Karp?

Dr. Karp headshot


Dr. Harvey Karp is one of America’s most trusted pediatricians and child development experts. He is on the USC School of Medicine faculty and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Karp practiced pediatrics in Los Angeles for over 25 years and is the best-selling author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block.

His landmark discoveries and unique ability to translate complex science into effective techniques to empower parents have revolutionized our understanding of the needs of young children. He is the founder and CEO of Happiest Baby, a smart-tech and parenting solutions company that invented the SNOO Smart Sleeper. This responsive bassinet mimics the sounds and motions of the womb.

In this episode, Dr. Karp shares his experience as a parent and pediatrician. We discussed sleep’s role in maternal and pediatric health, changing the mindset that mothers also need sleep, his advice for tired new moms, and more!

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We hope you found this episode helpful. If you did and enjoyed it, please subscribe to our podcast, Chick Chat, and leave us an honest review. Links below!

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Nina Spears The Baby Chick®: Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Expert
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Nina is The Baby Chick® & Editor-in-Chief of Baby Chick®. She received her baby planning certification in early 2011 and began attending births that same year. Since then, Nina has received her birth doula and postpartum doula certifications from DONA International, her childbirth educator certification from ICEA, her Hynobabies Hypno-Doula certification, and her infant massage instructor certification from Loving Touch, among other certifications. Nina has used her knowledge and expertise to teach and support families during their pregnancies, at their births, and throughout their postpartum journeys for over a decade.

Early in her career, Nina acquired her nickname from one of her birth doula clients, who lovingly referred to her as “The Baby Chick.” The “chick” who knows all about babies.…

See all from Nina Spears
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