Show Notes
Emily is a small animal clinical veterinarian and Doula specializing in supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She is passionate about helping veterinarians plan their postpartum experiences and advocating for better social support for mothers in the veterinary profession.
"It's interesting, in the last few years since I started having babies, there almost wasn't social support, and then a few Facebook groups popped up, and they have turned into a movement" - Emily Yunker
Emily Yunker has always wanted to be a vet and a mom, so it's no surprise that motherhood and veterinary medicine have always been in the picture for her. After having her third baby, a COVID baby, Emily realized that motherhood in the veterinary profession was vastly underrepresented and underappreciated. This led her to move professionally and pursue a career supporting other veterinarians through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Research indicates that 1 in 5 women experience a maternal mood disorder, and 75% of those go untreated. The leading cause of death in postpartum mothers is at their own hand, and shockingly, 14% of equine practitioners got less than two weeks off after having a baby before returning to work.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. The Unique Experience of Veterinary Medicine and Motherhood: How did Emily Yunker's childhood and professional goals inform her journey to becoming a professional doula?
2. The Statistics Surrounding Maternal Mood Disorders: What are the statistics on postpartum depression and anxiety among veterinarians, and what barriers prevent people from seeking help?
3. US Versus International Postpartum Care: How does the US compare to other countries regarding postpartum care, and what are the differences in the support structures?
Resources:
https://www.veterinariandoula.com/
Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetthrivecollective/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetthrive/?originalSubdomain=nz
Website: https://www.vetthrive.org/?r_done=1
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