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Mental Health
Gemma .
Gemma is the first digital education platform focused exclusively on women's mental health, centering impact + equity. At Gemma, we believe that the problems lie within our broken social systems, not within us. Founded and built by physicians specializing in women's mental health, our curriculum is conceived using an evidence-based public health model. Gemma empowers, validates, and supports women through the big and little life touch points so they are buffered against injustice -- and can spearhead meaningful change in themselves and in their communities


Gemma-.-image
Mental Health
Gemma .
Gemma is the first digital education platform focused exclusively on women's mental health, centering impact + equity. At Gemma, we believe that the problems lie within our broken social systems, not within us. Founded and built by physicians specializing in women's mental health, our curriculum is conceived using an evidence-based public health model. Gemma empowers, validates, and supports women through the big and little life touch points so they are buffered against injustice -- and can spearhead meaningful change in themselves and in their communities


“Changing the conversation about women's mental health“
- Gemma .
My Mission

Gemma is a leader in the movement to invest women with self-knowledge and liberation.

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Recent Posts
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Myth-Busting Postpartum Mental Health
Taking care of your mental health is one of the most important priorities of the perinatal period. Yet, there is no shortage of myths surrounding mental health in pregnancy and postpartum—in particular, around taking anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications in this time period. As a psychiatrist specializing in women's mental health and perinatal psychiatry, I’m an expert in how to treat and prevent conditions like postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety (also called Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, or PMADs for short). I take care of patients who are struggling with these conditions using talk therapy, and sometimes, medications. I’m sharing some of the misconceptions that I see in my practice around the use of SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors), which are the most common medications prescribed for depression or anxiety, and providing some clarification. Please note this information is for education only — always make sure to talk to your OBGYN, midwife or mental health professional in order to get personal medical recommendations! Treatment Risks and Benefits Untreated depression or anxiety in pregnancy and postpartum comes with risks. When we are considering prescribing medication in pregnancy or during breastfeeding, we are balancing the risks of untreated depression or anxiety in pregnancy or postpartum with the risks of exposure to the medication. Research shows that untreated depression and anxiety during pregnancy can be associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, difficulty bonding and other issues. Untreated depression and anxiety in mom has been associated with difficulty with attachment, higher levels of cortisol in baby, and emotional and cognitive issues. It’s important to understand that untreated mental health conditions are an exposure to the baby. This is one reason why a mother’s mental health is so important during the perinatal period. Are SSRIs Dangerous for Baby? In general, taking SSRIs in pregnancy and breastfeeding is low risk. To be clear, none of my patients love the idea of taking medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Of course, in an ideal world, nobody would suffer from these conditions and we would not need to prescribe medications. However, the reality is that about 10-15% of people who give birth will suffer from a mood or anxiety issue during pregnancy or in the first year postpartum (this number is higher for women of color, for people living in poverty, and for women who struggled with infertility). For this reason, in general, when there is moderate to severe depression present in either pregnancy or postpartum, experts recommend treatment with psychotherapy, and, if needed, SSRIs. SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed and most well studied group of psychiatric medications in pregnancy. They include medications like Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac and Citalopram. For evidence-based information about medications in pregnancy, you can read more here. For evidence based-information about medications during breastfeeding or pumping, you can read more here. Postpartum Depression Meds Aren't Forever Just because you take a medication for PPD or PPA doesn’t mean you will need to take it forever. Many of my patients worry about becoming “addicted” to antidepressant medication. Let me reassure you that you cannot become addicted to an SSRI — that’s not how these medications work in the brain. And, the good news is that treatment with medication and psychotherapy is very effective for PMADs. Taking these medications is not a life sentence, though, it is important to make the decision under the care of your doctor. - Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in women’s mental health and the founder of Gemma, a digital education platform focused exclusively on women’s emotional well-being, impact and equity. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician for questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. If you are having a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.


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Gemma .
Women's Mental Health Experts
Tip
Tackling The Stress of Feeding Decisions
One of the most difficult aspects of motherhood is figuring out how to feed your baby. As a psychiatrist specializing in women’s mental health and perinatal psychiatry, feeding is one of the areas where I see my patients struggle the most. It’s not just the logistics of figuring out a schedule that works or finding the right method for you and your baby, either—it’s also the expectations and judgements about feeding. Even the most well intentioned new parents can get caught in the trap of social expectations and pressure. Our culture has very strong feelings about what feeding is supposed to look like. It’s common to bump up against these expectations in your partner, your parents/in-laws, and your friends. Even in yourself! Moreover, if you have a type A personality or struggle with perfectionism, the metrics of feeding, like milk supply and baby’s weight gain, can start to feel like a weekly report card. Despite all of this, for many of my patients, it’s a surprise when breastfeeding just doesn’t work in the way they might have imagined it was supposed to go (easy, breezy, and second nature). Our culture doesn’t do a great job of preparing mothers for just how much pressure comes with this aspect of parenting. And it’s all too common to blame yourself when feeding isn’t going well. Making decisions about how to feed your baby are emotionally trying for all of these reasons. I am here to remind you that the best feeding relationship is exactly that: a responsive relationship between parent and baby that takes into account the unique situations of both parties. Given the just how fraught these decisions can be and the psychological toll they can take on a new parent, below I’m sharing some coping strategies that you can use. Avoid Extreme Thinking Black and white thinking occurs when your mind immediately goes to “all or nothing” thoughts. For example, as you supplement or switch to formula, you might say to yourself: "Breastfeeding isn’t working out, so I’ve failed as a parent." In times of stress (like having an infant that you’re trying to keep alive!) it’s easy for our minds to slip into black and white thinking. Try to catch yourself when these thoughts come up, and remind yourself when you are discounting reality: there are many healthy ways to feed your baby. Manage Expectations It’s powerful to recognize ahead of time that feeding—whether it's through the breast, pumping, or formula—is, at best, a fraught process. You are discovering so much about this new little human being, and the learning curve is steep in the best of times. Instead of getting caught up in perfectionism or trying to “get it right”, focus on compassion and flexibility for yourself and your baby. Grieve The Changes It’s okay to grieve the loss of an exclusive breastfeeding relationship if it’s not in the cards for you and your baby. There are many reasons why this could be the case—medical, situational, or otherwise. Many of my patients are surprised at the sadness they feel when they let go of breastfeeding because they had not realized how much they idealized this aspect of parenthood. One effective way to let go of guilt or shame about a situation that did not go as planned is to give yourself permission to feel the hard feelings, including sadness or even anger. Make Your Own Wins Instead of solely focusing on hyper-specific goals (exclusive breastfeeding for 12 months or never using a bottle), align your infant feeding plan with your values. While goals are tangible outcomes that we can check off a list, values are qualities that we can embody, whether or not we reach our goals. So, for example, think about what values you want to bring to your feeding relationship with your baby: Curiosity? Compassion? Love? You can live those values no matter how you feed your baby! Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in women’s mental health and the founder of Gemma, a digital education platform focused exclusively on women’s emotional well-being. This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician for questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. If you are having a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.


Gemma.-image
Gemma .
Women's Mental Health Experts