Two VCU nursing researchers were recently featured on an episode of With Good Reason, a podcast produced by Virginia Humanities that airs on public radio stations across 38 states. Patricia A. Kinser, Ph.D., RN, WHNP-BC, FAAN, interim dean of the VCU School of Nursing and Sara Moyer, Ph.D., clinical research coordinator, joined host Sarah McConnell to discuss perinatal mental health and wellbeing and their work on the Thrive Guide, a planning tool they helped develop that encourages individuals to create a personalized support plan for their mental and emotional wellness as they prepare for and experience the perinatal period.

To listen to the episode, visit the link With Good Reason: Taking Care of Moms.

More than one in five people who are pregnant or recently given birth will experience a need for emotional and mental health support in some way. In my work as a women's health nurse practitioner, as a researcher, I have heard over and over from countless pregnant and postpartum people who wish they had an action plan or reminders from others to prioritize their emotional and mental wellness.

But we know that an obstacle for many people is that it's difficult to ask for help. There are so many demands on people. You're not often the center of your own or others’ attention. All of a sudden, especially once the baby arrives, the baby is the center of attention. And, in one of our team's recent research studies, our team heard from hundreds of pregnant and parenting women from across the nation who shared this same feeling—that they didn't have the appropriate resources to address their emotional wellness needs.

Patricia A. Kinser, Ph.D., RN, WHNP-BC, FAAN