Women's Mental Heatlh

You want the best for your baby

My goal is to keep you healthy, and informed

Many women with depression, anxiety or bipolar wonder what to do when they want to have a baby. "Should I stop or continue my medication? Will my symptoms come back? Will the baby be ok? Will I get post partum depression?" First I will perform a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, clarifying your diagnosis and understanding the severity of your symptoms, and what treatments have worked in the past. Then we will talk about your hopes, fears and goals. Then I will share with you and your family the best scientific data about about your illness and treatment options during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Then, together, we will come up with a plan that maximizes safety for you and your baby.

You are not alone

Get help with common issues such as:

Preconceptional planning--understand your options and optimize your health before you conceive. Managing pre-existing conditions like depression, anxiety,  PTSD, OCD, bipolar, substance use disorders, during pregnancy and in the postpartum by making a plan (sleep, therapy, social supports, +/- medication) that is good for you and your baby. Dealing with mental health symptoms that arise for the first time when pregnant. After delivery: baby blues, postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis. Sex, sleep and marriage after baby. Helping women and couples deal with infertility or pregnancy loss.

Accurate information

Don't spend all your time worrying, or on "Dr. Google"

It is easy to freak yourself out. I recommend, especially if you have anxiety or OCD, to limit searching on the internet, where you can find a lots of inaccurate or misleading information. Good sources of medically accurate and helpful information are:

1. Postpartum Support International https://www.postpartum.net/

2. Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women's Mental Health https://womensmentalhealth.org/

3. Treating for Two from the CDC  https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/meds/treatingfortwo/

Caring and compassionate expert in Women's Mental Health

Unique background in both ObGyn and Psychiatry

• Resident in Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital 2004-5, delivering babies and assisting in surgeries, before switching specialty to psychiatry

• Co-facilitated GBMC Post Partum Depression Support Group with RN/lactation consultant as a psychiatry resident

• Established and ran x 2 years a co-located, collaborative psychiatric consultation service embedded in the University of Maryland Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics faculty and resident West Penn Clinic

• lead psychiatric consultant for patients admitted to gynecology, obstetrics and gynecologic oncology at University of Maryland Medical Center for >5 years

• over 10 years experience teaching medical students, residents, and psychiatry, ObGyn and Primary Care providers about perinatal mental health

• Appointed to VA Central Office Reproductive Health-Mental Health Initiative to design training modules in perinatal psychiatry and to set up tele-web based consultation service for pregnant and breastfeeding women with mental illness, 2012-16

• Appointed to State of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Women’s Health, Maternal and Child Health Bureau Task Force on Intimate Partner Violence, which developed information website, screening tool and state wide survey. 2012-16

• Appointed by Governor Hogan to represent the Maryland Hospital Association on state SB-74 Task Force to Study Maternal Mental Health, 2015-16

Lithium can increase the risk of a rare congenital heart defect called Ebstein's Anomaly.

So, should women who are pregnant stop their lithium?

Not so fast! See Dr. Harrison-Restelli discuss risks and benefits of lithium in pregnancy, and the risks of untreated bipolar disorder in pregnancy, in an educational video designed for medical students. A perinatal psychiatrist can help women sort information, address fears and worries, and make a well informed choices.