As we continue our season exploring how we hold space through the complicated parts of pregnancy and birth, we are turning our attention to how we approach the balancing act of addressing medical concerns AND holding space while supporting someone experiencing a high-risk pregnancy.
Our guest this week, Parijat Deshpande, is an integrative health specialist supporting those with a history of, or currently experiencing, high-risk pregnancies.
Parijat Deshpande, MS 
Maggie Runyon, MSN, RNC-OB
Parijat (she/her) is a trauma-informed health strategist, high-risk pregnancy specialist, somatic trauma professional, bestselling author, speaker, and advocate for women who have been through second or third trimester loss, preterm delivery, neonatal loss, and birth trauma, and are preparing for a high-risk pregnancy. Specializing in somatic trauma healing, integrative health, and mind-body medicine, I guide women like you to effectively restore the balance of your nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system to reduce your risk of pregnancy complications and preterm delivery in your next pregnancy. You can follow her work on Instagram and Facebook.
What does it look like to provide trauma-informed care to those experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or folks who have a history of one?
What can we learn about the impact of our language and our behaviors as someone navigates one of the most terrifying experiences of their lives?
Tune in to explore these topics:
~caring for folks who have already experienced the hardest outcomes of pregnancy and birth
~navigating the juxtaposition of medical practice & holding space
~understanding birthcare on a theoretical level vs the benefits of lived experience
~learning about the gaps in how we learn to relate to patients in high-risk situations
~cultivating a balance between leaving space for folks to process new information without making them feeling alone as they navigate that space
~specific techniques for engaging clients through non-verbal communication & language awareness
~preventing trauma through actionable items that maintain agency
~preparing for transition from pregnancy to postpartum
~healing trauma and mistrust with self & system when approaching a future pregnancy
To connect more with Parijat’s work:
You can listen to Parijat’s prolific Delivering Miracles podcast!
You can learn more through her book Pregnancy Brain: A Mind-Body Approach to Stress Management During a High-Risk Pregnancy. And if you are a provider looking for wholesale pricing you can get in touch with Parijat to offer that!
You can take Parijat’s Birth After Trauma Workshop for providers and our listeners can use promo code YOURBIRTHPARTNERS for 15% off the cost!
If you are seeking support navigating a high-risk pregnancy, reach out to Parijat here.
Further resources for navigating high-risk pregnancies include:
~High Risk Hope. This for-purpose org works with families navigating high risk pregnancy, NICU stays, and bereavement.
~Sidelines High Risk Pregnancy Support. This non-profit org connects families with peer support to navigate their high risk pregnancy and also engages in advocacy work.
Check out this episode’s full transcript or tune in wherever you enjoy podcasts.
We’d love to hear from you; join our community group to discuss!
Music from https://filmmusic.io
“Gonna Start” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)