Author: Radhika Haralalka
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A Therapist Mom’s Book-kit: Navigating Separation Anxiety
When my daughter was younger, as a ‘therapist-mom’, I was determined (read: armed with way too much developmental theory and zero chill) to be the perfect Secure Base. I was expecting tears (though maybe not so many!) at school drop offs but did not expect my own internal pressure to skyrocket. I was terrified of…
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Baby Number 2: Are you ready for the transition?
The decision to have a second baby may be a very exciting yet deeply personal one. You may have a vision for what you want your family to look like and have fond memories of what it was like for you to grow up with siblings. It may be your dearest wish to have a…
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Breastfeeding Grief: You’re Not Alone
Breastfeeding is a common goal for many Singaporean mothers. But for some, the breastfeeding journey can be challenging and lead to unexpected emotions, including grief. Research suggests that around 7% of women experience breastfeeding trauma [2]. A study by Moran et al. (2010) found that mothers who stop breastfeeding often feel a deep sense of…
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Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts
You’ve just had a baby – you’ve dreamed of this moment for so long, this tiny bundle is finally in your arms and is the cutest squishiest little bundle of joy you could imagine. You’re holding him, bursting with love and all of a sudden – wham! “What if I dropped him?” this thought pops…
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Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month: Helping Your Loved Ones Cope with the Loss of Their Baby
Too many families lose their little ones to pregnancy loss, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, SIDS or stillbirth and others; and yet, their grief is rarely acknowledged. In 1988, the US President Ronal Reagan declared October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month as a bid to shine a light on the weight bereaved families carry. Something…
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The Birth of a Mother
We go through pregnancy, labour and delivery, and a child is born. Along with a child, a mother is born too. The term “matrescence” was coined by medical anthropologist Dana Raphael (1975) who labels it as a period of transition quite similar to adolescence where a mother-to-be experiences dramatic hormonal, physical, and emotional changes including…