Pregnancy and postpartum are times of profound change and nowhere is that complexity more visible than in psychiatry. In this episode, Dr. Christina Wichman, Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical Director of The Periscope Project, and Director of Women’s Mental Health at the Medical College of Wisconsin, joins us for a deep dive into reproductive psychiatry. Co-hosted by Erica Browne, an M4 at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, this conversation explores how to care for both mother and baby with empathy, evidence, and balance. We walk through distinctions between baby blues, perinatal depression, and major depressive disorder, discuss how to identify red flags for perinatal psychosis, and explore the ethical and clinical nuances of treating psychiatric illness during pregnancy and lactation. Dr. Wichman explains how to approach risk–benefit decisions around psychotropic medications, highlights validated screening tools, and offers real-world strategies for supporting patients who face barriers to care. We also spotlight The Periscope Project, a pioneering model for connecting clinicians with reproductive psychiatry expertise—and discuss how the field is expanding training, access, and awareness for the next generation of women’s mental health specialists.
Takeaways:
Pregnancy changes everything, but not always for the worse. Psychiatric treatment during pregnancy can and should be individualized, balancing the safety of both mother and baby.
Know the distinctions. Baby blues typically resolve within two weeks; perinatal depression lasts longer, while postpartum psychosis requires urgent evaluation.
Medication decisions are about risk versus risk. Untreated psychiatric illness carries real dangers, sometimes greater than the medications themselves.
Access matters. Programs like The Periscope Project expand reproductive psychiatry consultation to clinicians everywhere, improving outcomes system-wide.
The future is integrated care. Psychiatrists, OB-GYNs, and primary care providers working together can transform perinatal mental health into standard, not specialized, care.
Key References & Clinical Resources
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