436: Healing After Birth Trauma and Postpartum Preeclampsia with Courtney Costello, LMSW

Today’s guest tells her story of birth trauma, postpartum preeclampsia, and how therapy helped her to process her emotions. I’m thrilled to have Courtney here to share her story and how she is helping other moms. Join us! Courtney Costello is a licensed master’s social worker with nearly 15 years of experience in the field. She worked predominantly with families and children before having her son in 2023, when she became personally and professionally passionate about maternal well-being and mental health. After going to therapy for her own postpartum challenges (birth trauma and PTSD), she was inspired to be more of a support for others in the perinatal period. Combining her education and lived experience, Courtney now works as a perinatal mental health counselor in Buffalo, NY. In addition, she runs an online maternal mental health training for other clinicians who are interested in learning more about supporting mothers. This year, Courtney is acting as a co-leader for Buffalo’s local Climb through Postpartum Support International.  Show Highlights: Courtney’s “normal” pregnancy and the labor/delivery that did NOT go according to plan Labor/delivery expectations vs. reality Feeling fear with a sense of not knowing what was happening Finally, a healthy baby—and a blizzard rolls in to complicate everything and add stress Uncertainty and conflicting restrictions about leaving the hospital with their newborn son Driving home, getting stuck in a white-out, and finally making it to her brother’s house A story of fear and multiple kindnesses from others A few days postpartum: feeling “off” and seeing floaters in her vision A diagnosis of postpartum preeclampsia and a hospital stay, but not much of an explanation from the nurses Getting home and facing fear and anxiety about being separated from her family Finding help with therapy with a therapist who was the perfect fit Questioning her return to her job and finding where she fits best in working with the perinatal population Finding healing and deciding to have a second child, which previously felt impossible Resources: Connect with Courtney Costello: Website, Instagram, and Psychology Today  Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services.  You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms. Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.   Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today! If you are a California resident looking for a therapist in perinatal mental health, email me about openings for private pay clients! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices