After Birth - Navigating the Stress and Anxiety of Pregnancy and Postpartum

Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., is a leading expert in Black mental health, emphasizing anxiety disorders among Black women and girls. Her latest efforts center around expectant mothers—Black women in particular—who may be suffering from PTSD or other stressors that can lead to increased pre-term births, infant mortality, and mother mortality. Through her Spirit of Motherhood program, pregnant women and their preschool children receive a multi-level intervention for PTSD. 

Dr. Neal-Barnett founded and directs the Program for Research on Anxiety Disorders among African Americans (PRADAA) Lab, which currently receives funding from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, American Psychological Association, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, and the Women’s Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation. The recipient of the 2020 ADAA Jerilyn Ross Clinician Advocate Award, Dr. Neal-Barnett is the author of Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman's Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Fear (Simon & Schuster).
 

Birdie Gunyon Meyer is an RN with a Master’s Degree in Psychology and Counseling. She is the Founder of the Perinatal Mood Disorders Program at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is Certified in Perinatal Mental Health, and is an internationally known expert and speaker.

She is a Past-President and Past-Chair of Education and Training for Postpartum Support International and currently is the Director of Certification and Training. Birdie is also on the President’s Advisory Council for PSI and for the International Childbirth Education Association. Birdie specializes in the recognition and treatment of pregnancy and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. She is a childbirth educator and a lactation counselor.

Birdie has been interviewed frequently for radio, television, and print media.

Birdie is highlighted as a PMD expert in PSI’s video that is shown around the country. “Healthy Mom, Happy Family: Understanding Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders”. Birdie has been speaking to audiences for over 35 years and is an International Trainer for PSI’s 2-day “Perinatal Mood Disorders, Components of Care” and “Advanced Psychotherapy” 1-day training. She also speaks frequently to communities, nursing schools, grand rounds, and conferences.

Nicole Smith is a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist and Medical Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her overarching focus is in advancing health equity by decreasing stigma and bias, and more recently in building programs focused on optimizing health for historically marginalized populations, including pregnant persons with mental health disorders and substance use disorder.