All Posts

By Nkechi Conteh https://www.fruitfulmd.com/ Rarely has a case gripped the country as tightly as this one. The national response has been equally intense. With social media and artificial intelligence amplifying the conversation, thousands of people have joined sometimes aggressive debates through memes, podcasts, blogs, reels, and opinion pieces about what happened, what should have happened, and who was right or wrong. Hindsight makes complicated events seem deceptively sim

There are some news stories I can follow with interest. There are others I know I need to keep at a distance. For me, the Lindsay Clancy trial falls into the second category. But by virtue of my profession as a perinatal psychiatrist and an educator, I invariably get asked for my thoughts and opinions on the trial. As more and more news cycles tune into the courtroom, it has become almost impossible to avoid. Every social media outlet has an opinion; comment sections are rife

The baby is finally asleep. The house is quiet. You walk into the bedroom expecting to find your partner resting, but instead, she is sitting on the edge of the bed with tears rolling down her face. You ask, “What’s wrong?” She whispers, “I don’t know.” And maybe that is the hardest part. This was supposed to be a joyful season. There are baby pictures on your phone, congratulations from friends, tiny clothes folded in drawers—and yet the woman you love seems to be disappeari

Some things in life can feel unavoidable: rising gas prices, housing costs, and the bus being late when you’re already running behind. But is postpartum depression one of those things? Not necessarily. As a psychiatrist, I’m often asked whether depression can be prevented. Mental health rarely comes with a simple checklist. But when it comes to depression during pregnancy and after childbirth, we do know about certain factors that can increase risk—and some of them can be add

Postpartum depression can make a new parent feel trapped inside their own mind. Postpartum psychosis can go further, changing what a person believes, sees, hears, or feels is safe. In both situations, a partner’s response matters. Calm attention, quick action, and steady support can protect the mother, the baby, and the whole family. This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical care. If there is any immediate danger, call 911 or go to the n

Fertility treatment can ask people to carry two opposite truths at once. There is hope, planning, and the possibility of a long-awaited child. There is also fear, loss, financial strain, and the quiet exhaustion of living from one appointment, injection, test result, or phone call to the next. For many people, the hardest part is not one single event. It is the buildup. The missed work. The pregnancy announcements that sting even when love is still there. The lab numbers that

The short answer is: it depends. As telepsychiatry expands access to perinatal mental health care, this is an important question—and the answer requires nuance. Virtual care can be incredibly valuable for prevention, early recognition, access to specialized expertise, family involvement, and ongoing care after stabilization. For new parents, it can also remove significant barriers such as travel, childcare, and time away from a newborn. But postpartum psychosis is different.

Mental health care tailored specifically for women is essential, especially during critical reproductive transitions such as fertility challenges, pregnancy, and postpartum periods. These phases bring unique emotional and psychological demands that require specialized attention. I have observed that many women benefit greatly from psychiatric care that understands these nuances and offers compassionate, expert support. Understanding Psychiatric Care for Women Psychiatric care