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Yuka Polovina, PhD, MPH

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Mama on the Mend

All about postpartum women, minutes to years after giving birth. Keeping it real and body positive.

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Dissertation

“Playing the Games: Diasporic Identity, Athletic Entrepreneurialism, and Elodie Li Yuk Lo’s Journey to the Olympics”

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Happy birthday mommy 💞 It’s been almost 17 years since we’ve last chatted, hugged, shared food. .. .. I think you’d be proud if your little rambunctious grandson who has your quirky spirit 🤪 .. .. You’d probably conspire with him to make some trouble. .. .. I wish I could have asked you a bunch of questions about your pregnancy, giving birth, nursing, and raising us kids all on your own. .. .. I think of you all the time and more so now that I’m a mom. .. .. Miss you 💗🌈🌈💜💞❤️💗♥️⛄️😕🍩👀🍃🍽 (emojis courtesy of your grandson)
I’ve known for a long time that postpartum depression (PPD) is all too common among new moms. But what I didn’t realize until chatting with a friend of mine is that symptoms of PPD can surface and linger well past the 4th trimester. .. .. And not all symptoms look the same. My friend, Jess, had a lot of anger and rage, not “the blues” necessarily. She didn’t experience PPD with her first child, but did with her second, and didn’t realize what was happening until almost a year later. .. .. As a society we know more about PPD and health practitioners are starting to screen for it more. But only in those early weeks. .. .. Jess let me write about her profound and heartbreaking experiences with PPD and how she initially fell through the cracks. She wants us all to talk about all the issues surrounding PPD so that there’s less stigma, better support, and more recognition of how PPD can manifest in so many ways. (Link in bio.) .. .. Thank you Jess for your bravery and sharing your truth 💕💗💞 .. .. Have you or someone you love struggled with PPD? What kind of help did you or didn’t you receive? How can we raise better awareness and conversations about this issue? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #mamaonthemend #postpartum #postpartumcare #postpartumhealth #womenhealth #4thtrimester #fourthtrimester #pelvichealth #postpartumprogress #selfcare #womenshealth #reproductivehealth #postpartumhealing #pelvicphysicaltherapy #postpartumdepression #PPD #postpartumsupport #nonjudgmentalsupport #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillnessawareness #NICUbabies #NICUparents
Gettin’ out for some fresh October air 🍂🍁🎃 . . . . . . #coxfarm #mamaonthemend #fallpumpkins
I struggled with anxiety during my pregnancy and after giving birth. I wondered how much of it was situational given the circumstances of having a child for the first time, and without my family near by. I noticed more often than not people tried to help by telling me “oh it’s normal, you’re about to have a baby” or “that sounds about right, you just had a baby.” I know those people meant well but it made me feel dismissed or like I wasn’t allowed to share these thoughts. .. .. Luckily a handful of those around me listened, without judgment or trying to “solve” my problems. For me feeling heard with love and concern went a long way in feeling supported. .. .. I’m fortunate to have had support from my family therapist, my doula, chosen sisters, partner, lactation consultant, and friends who shared their difficulties. .. .. I believe these things add up and prevented me from darker moments during the postpartum phase. .. .. In honor of World Mental Health Day I share this story and hope that others do the same so no one feels stigmatized for their mental health experiences. . . . . . . . . . . #mentalhealthawareness #postpartumhealth #postpartum #postpartumhealing #worldmentalhealthday2018 #worldmentalhealthday #supportwithoutjudgement #mamaonthemend
October is a really emotional month for me. This month reminds me of my late mother who was born in October. She also fought a really long battle with breast cancer and with all the pink ribbon campaigning, I’m inundated with reminders of her struggle. .. .. But during this time I also think about her work as a writer, a women’s health advocate, an activist, and also as my mommy. I think of her tenacity and resourcefulness as a single mother of three; her kindness and love for so many around her; and her work creating communities and support for women who need it. She is my inspiration 💞 .. .. Octobers just happen to be that month for me where I turn my energy inward and reflect. 🍂🍁 .. .. I’m grateful for this month and the opportunity it gives me to celebrate her life. It’s a month I find most grounding of all the months, and for that I’m happy it’s here.💕💕 .. .. #motherlessdaughters #womenshealth #womenshealthadvocate #fallreflections #postpartum #postpartumcare #postpartumhealth #womenhealth #4thtrimester #fourthtrimester #pelvichealth #postpartumprogress #selfcare #womenshealth #reproductivehealth #postpartumhealing #pelvicphysicaltherapy #postpartumdepression #PPD #postpartumsupport #mamaonthemend
The beautiful art you see above are created by survivors of sexual violence. This art project is led by Lauren Collins, a pelvic physical therapist @bodyconnectdc . She sub-specializes in work with survivors. This is just one of the ways Lauren helps survivors reconnect to their bodies. .. .. It’s has been a rough few weeks, especially for those of us who have experienced or been witness to sexual violence, or have cared for those who’ve survive sexual assault. .. .. I’ve been thinking a lot about so many women whose pregnancies and experiences with childbirth trigger the pain and memories of their sexual trauma. .. .. I’m so grateful for the work of Lauren Collins, and she generously shared her time to talk about what she does with me today. .. .. We talked about the importance of physical healing as part of a person’s overall healing from sexual violence, and the unique role pelvic physical therapy can play. .. .. We covered topics like the lack of consent in many medical settings, disassociating with the body, triggers during pregnancy and childbirth, special considerations and accommodations for survivors, chronic physical symptoms associated with the violence, the mind-body connection is her healing work, using art as therapy, advocacy and outreach, historical trauma among black women of color, among a ton of other issues. .. .. I’ll be sharing with you (through a blog post) in the coming weeks this important conversation with Lauren. .. .. In the meanwhile, she has an incredible YouTube channel on pelvic health called “Pelvic Love.” Please check it out! 💕♥️💜💗💞 .. .. #sexualviolence #sexualtrauma #suvivorsupport #healingfromsexualviolence #ibeleiveher #anitahill #christineblaseyford #nonjudgementalsupport #professionalpostpartumsupport #BodyConnectHealthWellness, #PelvicPT #Pelvichealth #pregnancy #breastfeeding #sex #sexualhealth #sexualeducation #postpartum #postpartumhealth #womenhealth #mamaonthemend #4thtrimester #fourthtrimester #postpartumprogress #reproductivehealth #postpartumhealing #postpartumsupport #PPD #mentalhealth #mamaonthemend
Today I got to chat with Jenna Perkins, a women’s health nurse practitioner @discovherhealth .. .. I’m so heartened to know that women like Jenna are out there dedicated to supporting and helping heal women in general, but also postpartum mamas. ❤️ ♥️ .. .. She specializes in sexual health and dysfunction, and related issues like vulvodynia, pain with sex, incontinence, hormonal imbalances, and more. .. .. I got to pick her awesome 🧠 about the kinds of postpartum issues that come up among her patients and what options they have. .. .. We talked about the difference between pain and discomfort with sex, the three general reasons why pain with sex occurs after childbirth, why she gives a handheld mirror to women during exams, how to find a provider with better training with sexual health issues, why she is passionate about the work she does, and why we need better sex education. 🤓 .. .. I’ll be sharing my chat with Jenna in a post later this month as part of a blog post series on sexual health and dysfunction for postpartum women and mending mamas with lingering issues with sex. 😫😫 .. .. Thank you so much Jenna for your knowledge, passion for what you do, and generosity! 💞 👏 Pic above: I snuck a little photo of a model on Jenna’s desk 😜 #postpartum #postpartumcare #postpartumhealth #womenhealth #sexualhealth #sexualdysfunction #sexed #bettersexed #urogynecology #womenshealth #nursepractitioner #4thtrimester #fourthtrimester #postpartumprogress #selfcare #womenshealth #supportwithoutjudgment #reproductivehealth #postpartumhealing #postpartumsupport #postpartumdepression #PPD #mentalhealth #mamaonthemend
Happy World Heart Day 💗. I know the day is generally about physical heart health but there are lots of ways to keep the heart healthy! ..🧡 ..💛 ..🧡 Like having wonderful friendships with people who have hearts of gold!! ..💚 ..💜 ..💚 This amazing woman holding my new born is one of my dearest childhood friends. She flew across a continent and ocean to help when I couldn’t figure out up from down and to support our entire family when my son got hospitalized at two weeks. ..💞 ..💞 She changed diapers, made us food, helped with laundry, held and rocked my colicky baby, made me crotch-sicles, helped me figure out breastfeeding, and made no judgments and thought nothing of it as I walked around topless with bleeding nipples crying at everything. ..💕 ..💕 Best of all she just kept telling me that I was doing great and gave me lots of hugs. I mean, come on...this woman?!?!!! How did I get so lucky? 👯‍♀️ .. .. I hope everyone has a friend like this in their lives. If you do, give her/him a hug RIGHT NOW!!!😍😍😍 .. .. #worldheartday #postpartum #postpartumcare #postpartumhealth #womenhealth #mamaonthemend #4thtrimester #fourthtrimester #postpartumprogress #selfcare #womenshealth #supportwithoutjudgment #reproductivehealth #postpartumhealing #postpartumsupport #motherlessdaughters #postpartumdepression #PPD #mentalhealth #frienship #sisters #chosenfamily #mamaonthemend
My friends and family are scattered across the globe, which meant that the first year of having my son, support was limited. I know many of you can relate. .. .. I’m also a motherless daughter. 💐💔 For me, my mom would have made up more than half of my village of support. .. .. Even if we were all physically closer to our loved ones, our modern lives make it hard to be fully present for those bringing new life into this world. Women especially are pulled in too many directions 🛒💵🖥🍳🤱🏻👶🏻💪🏽🤧😫🚘🚦🏢📱🛏📆📚... .. .. I don’t know exactly what support would looks like for so many of us living far from “home.” I know asking for help was really really hard for me. My type A, overachieving tendencies had me believe asking for help was some how conceiting to not being able to hack it 🤦🏻‍♀️. I sometimes wonder where I got those ideas. Perhaps you could relate? .. .. I’m so grateful for the support that I did receive though, especially from my chosen family and doula, Lactation consultant, and partner. .. .. What did/does support look for you? How did you ask for it? What did your village look like? .. .. .. #postpartum #postpartumcare #postpartumhealth #womenhealth #mamaonthemend #4thtrimester #fourthtrimester #postpartumprogress #selfcare #womenshealth #supportwithoutjudgment #reproductivehealth #postpartumhealing #pelvicphysicaltherapy #postpartumsupport #motherlessdaughters #postpartumdepression #PPD #mentalhealth #mamaonthemend
Re-starting this blog was a simple decision but hard to get going. I’m a classic over-thinker and thought “I don’t have enough stuff yet,” “I’m not where I want to be, personally or with this blog.” 🤦🏻‍♀️ . I was reminded recently, I’m exactly where I need to be 💕💕 . . It’s been on my heart and mind to get back to writing about postpartum health for a long time now. And now that I have a smidgeon of more time (I just graduated woot woot!!), I can. 🤸🏻‍♀️🤸🏻‍♀️ . In this short month of collecting my ideas and reviving this blog, I’ve received a floodgate of support from practitioners who work with postpartum women and other moms. 😍I’m so humbled by this encouragement!!🙏 . . I’m also reminded of the long road ahead. We’re all clamoring for better information on our postpartum health and healing. We want recognition for our experiences. . We also want sleep! Am I right?🙋🏻‍♀️💆🏻‍♀️ . . As October rolls around I’ll be touching on community support when you don’t have that “village,” a different look at postpartum depression, sex after childbirth, and physical therapy for childbirth trauma. . I hope you’ll check out mamaonthemend.com regularly and join a different conversation about postpartum healing. I’d love if you shot me a DM or comment below👇🏼👇🏼 . . . #postpartum #postpartumcare #postpartumhealth #womenhealth #mamaonthemend #4thtrimester #fourthtrimester #pelvichealth #postpartumprogress #selfcare #womenshealth #reproductivehealth #postpartumhealing #pelvicphysicaltherapy #postpartumsupport #postpartumdepression #PPD #sexualhealth #sexualdysfunction #pelvicpain #mamaonthemend https://www.mamaonthemend.com/blog/personal-is-political-writing-about-the-body
So honored that this amazing mom shared her incredible story with me today about postpartum struggles, especially her battle with mood disorders. The struggle is so real and what she shared made me realize postpartum depression (PPD) is complex, under diagnosed, not well supported or researched, and most of all it looks REALLY different for many moms. . @maggiemoore202 Was so real, so honest, and said out loud what most of us fear admitting because of judgment and stigma. If we can all be this brave then perhaps fewer moms would feel the need to suffer in silence or worse harm themselves or their babies. . As we head into October and mental illness awareness week, let’s all have this difficult but necessary conversation with each other about PPD. ... Blog post on Maggie’s incredible journey to come. Early October. 💕🌈🤱🏻 ... #postpartumdepression #postpartumsurvivor #postpartumhealth #postpartumjourney #mentalillnessawareness #momlife #postpartumhealing #mamaonthemend #sharingiscaring
This has been one of the best Saturday afternoons in a long while. I had 3 full hours where I made space to connect with my core (physically and emotionally). At this workshop we journaled, listened to each other’s stories, moved our bodies in supportive ways and heard from an amazing panel that talked about doula support, pelvic physical therapy, sexual health and dysfunction, nurturing oneself through eating, and cognitive behavioral therapy to quell anxiety!!! It was such an emotionally nourishing experience and a great place to reconnect with my body and maternal spirit! Sometimes that gets lost in the hustle of life. My big take away was to create more space (if only for a few minutes) to physically and emotionally connect with myself everyday. For that reminder I’m so thankful. #mamaonthemend #postpartumhealth #postpartumjourney #selfcare #pilates #womenshealth
I'm climbing back on the saddle. It's been waaaay too long and I owe you 1,000 apologies. Life temporarily steered me in another direction. Starting next Wednesday I'll be blogging again about all things postpartum. I'm really excited about reviving this blog. For October, I'll be interviewing practitioners who know a thing or two about postpartum sexual health. Also, a really courageous mom I know agreed to share her struggles with postpartum depression for mental illness awareness week, next month. I'm really excited to share their experiences with you, and I hope you'll find them helpful! #postpartum #postpartumcare #postpartumhealth #womenhealth #mamaonthemend #4thtrimester #fourthtrimester #pelvichealth #sexualhealth #sexualdysfunction
Vulvar Pride #marchonwashington #womenshealth #mamaonthemend
Happy new year mending mamas. May 2017 have fewer moments where you want to put a bucket over your head just to get a minute of peace 🎉 #postpartum #mamaonthemend #toddlers

About Yuka Polovina, PhD, MPH, CHES

Welcome to my website. I’m currently working on two projects. The first is my dissertation on a Chinese Mauritian Canadian woman who competed in beach volleyball at the 2012 Olympics. Her story is fascinating because she represents many issues that confound what we think about sports, the Olympics, immigration, and multiculturalism. This story isn’t another clichéd rags to riches or hard work always wins kind of account, typical in sports narratives. I’m starting off by simply asking, “How did a Chinese immigrant from Canada come to represent an African nation in the 2012 Olympic Games?” The second is a website for and about postpartum women, an under-recognized segment of our population. The goals are to provide resources on postpartum care and raise awareness on issues women face after giving birth. Both projects draw on my education and training, and are also deeply personal. I passionately work on the two almost everyday. Thanks for stopping by!

~Yuka

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