Over her 25 years of specializing in women’s emotional health and clinical conditions, Dr. Sanford has created multiple education tools for healthcare providers to use in their clinical settings with women who are “at risk” or already experiencing pregnancy and postpartum depression, anxiety, etc. Her new book with co-author, Dr. Ann Dunnewold, Life Will Never Be the Same: The Real Mom’s Postpartum Survival Guide offers a self-directed approach to optimal emotional health in motherhood and beyond through self-care, self-assessment and steps to seeking professional health. It is an excellent tool for healthcare providers to use with their patients during pregnancy and post-birth.
To enhance patient practice of self-care skills, Dr. Sanford has created a mini-self-care workbook with worksheets and exercises about self-care, obstacles to self-care, managing stress wisely (stress diary), and promoting emotional health. Her relaxation CD, “It’s Okay to Slow Down: The Mother’s Relaxation CD” is available as a stress management tool and includes deep breathing, focused breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.
Dr. Sanford developed the Postpartum Adjustment Class Curriculum for providers who want to offer a program for postpartum moms who are experiencing stress-related issues and clinical anxiety or depression. This 7-session solution-focused psycho- educational group which can be led by a counseling professional or a nurse who understands emotional health and is in a setting with counseling back-up. It works well in a hospital, health center or public health clinic where integrated, multi-disciplinary care is available.
A qualitative study of the curriculum showed a reduction in depression scores on the EPDS, improved quality of life scores, and women reporting, “This class saved my life. I never thought I’d feel better again.” The cost of Dr. Sanford’s “Postpartum Adjustment Curriculum” is $395 for individual practitioners and an agreed upon cost for hospitals and other health organizations. It comes on a CD with reproducible lesson plans, participant worksheets and participant handouts.
