This episode of the AllPaths podcast features Dr. Kim Murray, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified perinatal mental health provider, candidly recounting her history of recurrent pregnancy loss, the physical and emotional toll of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and her and her husband’s struggles with postpartum depression. Dr. Murray’s family building journey was shaped by a generational history of loss where women in her family often experienced one loss for every live birth — a pattern she ultimately mirrored with two miscarriages and two live births. During the two pregnancies carried to term, she dealt with hyperemesis gravidarum, a rare condition that eventually led to the difficult decision to stop after two children despite her dream of having a large family.
Beyond her personal experience, Dr. Murray offers vital professional insights into perinatal mental health, emphasizing that Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are biological and physiological crises, rooted in brain chemistry and hormones, rather than a lack of "grit." Dr. Murray talks about both her own and her husband’s experiences with postpartum depression and the stark differences in resources and understanding that existed for them. Dr. Murray also offers practical guidance on navigating changing relationships and family dynamics as you grow your family, such as how to talk to young children about pregnancy loss. Ultimately, Dr. Murray punctuates the discussion with a message of grace: if you’re struggling with mental or physical health during this complex time it is not your fault.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with perinatal mental health, reach out to Postpartum Support International for support and resources: https://postpartum.net/get-help/.
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
family building, perinatal mental health, perinatal mental health support, postpartum support for dads, mental health support, pregnancy loss, miscarriage, recurrent pregnancy loss, postpartum depression, mental health therapy, emotional support for parents, navigating family growth, creating a family, coping with loss, family therapy, pregnancy, hyperemesis gravidarum, support for new parents, mental health resources, coping strategies for infertility, discussing pregnancy loss, parenting after loss, mental health
