Flora Massage and Wellness Services

08/28/2025

Update and gratitude!

Thanks for your patience with my practice being on hiatus. Tending to my coursework and balancing community/family needs is an ongoing journey of love and self-discipline, one that I am sure you can all relate to—you know, the teeter-totter on which we so often mentally exist.

I am on target to complete my master's degree in developmental psychology in August 2026. My coursework is in quarters, so there is a great deal of information to absorb and papers to write, as well as engaging with peers. I typically have 11 ½ weeks of class and then a week and a half off before the next quarter starts.

The emphasis of my study is on health and human development, with a focus on the identity shifts and health experiences associated with motherhood. Last quarter, I completed a course in health psychology that enabled me to further understand the various layers of life experiences, both personal and societal, that contribute to our responses to disease. The application of this information to the perinatal period is clear to me due to our medicalized system of birth. A challenge many people face is how to normalize birth and also adapt when things go unexpectedly. Questions that concern me: how do we critically examine and address the social determinants related to prenatal care, access to doulas, the time needed to recover from childbirth, the necessary time to develop new parenting skills, bonding with babies, and forming a new relationship with our partners, all while staying financially afloat?

This quarter, I'm taking a women's health course. Today, I find myself reading about PTSD and inflammation in women, as well as the increased incidence of women experiencing autoimmune diseases. This course will additionally focus on adolescence, sexuality, childbirth, aging, eating disorders, disease, substance abuse, and violence. This quarter, I will revisit my roots in my early career (circa 1990s) and develop a comprehensive program to address a specific health need. I am considering developing a program tailored to meet the postpartum needs of birthing people who have had babies in NICUs. If this topic is approved and you would like to share your experience, I would love to hear from you. I'll keep you posted!

Thanks for your continued support. My greatest goal is to make life better for Indiana families!

06/28/2025

Helping support birth options locally by offering up my studio every couple of years for local midwives and their assistants to recertify in neonatal resuscitation. Supporting the home birth option since 1998!

05/24/2025

Happy Spring and thanks to you all for your continued understanding while I am full up with my studies.

For the next year, I'll be diving into my specialization, which is health and human development. This quarter, I'll focus on health psychology which is a relatively new subfield of psychology. As a bodyworker, I've never viewed health as a biomedical issue. Over the next year, I'll get to examine how we arrived at a dualistic approach to medicine and the theories and practices that will help us change direction and bring balance to the health paradigm, with the focus on birth and postpartum in order to optimize the experience of becoming a parent.

In the meantime, it has been amazing to watch our community of perinatal support grow in the last year. Cheers!

05/07/2025

Here's a wonderful opportunity to work with Molly!

Embrace the Journey of Motherhood with Prenatal Yoga 🌸🤰

Join us for our beloved Pop-Up Prenatal Yoga sessions with the wonderful Molly McDonald, now happening on select Saturdays once a month at noon! 🧘‍♀️✨

Prenatal yoga is a beautiful way to nurture both your body and mind during the transformative journey of pregnancy. Benefits include:

Increased Flexibility and Strength: Gentle poses help strengthen the muscles needed for childbirth.

Stress Relief: Breathing techniques and relaxation exercises promote calmness and reduce anxiety.

Improved Circulation: Enhance blood flow and reduce swelling.

Connection with Baby: A mindful practice that fosters a deeper connection with your growing baby.

Community Support: Meet other expecting mothers and share experiences in a warm, supportive environment.

Molly has over 25 years experience guiding mamas through a safe and soothing practice tailored to your needs. 🌟

Summer Dates on Saturdays at 12pm: May 10, June 14, and August 9th. We can't wait to see you there! 💖

04/06/2025

I'm currently working on a final project that examines the impact of social media on maternal wellness. When we have babies our use of social media increases and remains high for the first nine months of our babies' lives. Moms report using social media to seek health and parenting information, as well as support. The pitfalls are comparing ourselves to other moms, exposure to influencers who have well-curated online personas, and images of over-idealized, unrealistic views of motherhood which can increase anxiety and depression. Does the research match your experience?

I'm hosting a Zoom meeting on Monday, April 14th from 1:00 to 2:00 to hear about the experiences of moms and to share a little bit about what I've learned. If you have transitioned to motherhood in the digital age, please send me a private message and I will send you the link to our Zoom meeting. Cheers!

03/31/2025

Dads need support too!

Calling all dads! Join us for our free online Dads Support Group!

Our online groups are here to help you connect with other dads who have newborns up to toddlers. Our groups allow you to talk and listen to other dads as they process their experiences. Whether you are going through stress, feeling overwhelmed as you adjust to parenting, or trying to figure out how best to support your partner, our groups are here for you. You will learn about helpful tools/resources and realize you are not alone. We do not allow group observation by students or professionals. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

View the schedule and register ➡️ bit.ly/FindSupportGroup

03/28/2025

Great opportunity!

We have one spot left for our Evidence Based Birth Childbirth Education Class starting on April 3rd! Sign up today!

03/24/2025

Go see the wonderful folks at Milk Matters. Note this week's location change. Cheers!

The Boys and Girls Club is not available this Saturday (3/29) so we will be holding Milk Matters at the Monroe County WIC Clinic. The clinic is located at 333 E Miller Dr, Bloomington, IN, and there is plenty of free parking.

Our virtual meeting will be held as usual; we look forward to seeing you in person or online! We will be back at the Boys and Girls Club next week, 4/5.

Thank you for your understanding and thank you to our friends at WIC for generously letting us use their space!

03/14/2025

Hello! I am really excited about a project that I am currently working on about the transition to motherhood and the development of our identities as parents. Would you be interested in a small group discussion about how social media has impacted your pregnancy or postpartum? If so, leave a comment or send me a private message. Cheers!

01/29/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14adFZdYL5/

When you're recovering from labor and delivery and sleep-deprived, it can be hard to tell if you're experiencing the Baby Blues, Postpartum Anxiety, or Postpartum Depression.

💠 The Baby Blues are short-term dips in mood caused by the changes of having a new baby. They dissipate on their own without treatment, and are experienced by up to 80% of new parents.
💠 Postpartum or perinatal depression includes anger and irritability, sadness, guilt, appetite and sleep disturbances, and possible thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. It is temporary and treatable, and needs some kind of treatment.
💠 Postpartum or perinatal anxiety is characterized by constant worry, feeling that something bad is going to happen, racing thoughts, and physical symptoms like nausea and dizziness. It is temporary and treatable, and needs some kind of treatment.

Get help now ⤵️⤵️⤵️

You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help, you will be well.

🔷 Call or text the Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773. You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.
🔷 Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
🔷 In a crisis situation, call or text the National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
🔷 Visit postpartum.net for additional programs and resources.
🔷 Download the Connect by PSI App in the App Store or Google Play Store

12/27/2024

Milk Matters: A drop-in gathering for parents & babies will be available tomorrow!

Milk Matters will be meeting as normal throughout the winter holidays and we would love to support you! We have TWO meetings every Saturday, 1-3pm - one in person and one on Zoom. Come get your infant feeding questions answered by IBCLCs and meet other parents in a group setting.

In person: Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington, Lincoln Street Club located at 311 S Lincoln Street. Masks are required and will be provided. Weight checks available! No registration required.
Virtual: Must register in advance by 5pm Friday. Email milkmattersbloomington@gmail.com or send a Facebook message to receive a new, secure registration link each week.

12/16/2024

I've worked with a lot of amazing parents over the years. While we don't give near enough attention to maternal mental health, attention to paternal mental health is almost non-existent. For the winter quarter, I'll be able to focus on research about paternal postpartum depression. A recent study from 2024 that I've reviewed indicates that paternal postpartum depression occurs in as high as 26% of new fathers and peaks between three to six months after the birth of their new baby. I am curious if these stats apply to all non-birthing partners during the postpartum period and expect that there is even less research in this area.

Paternal postpartum depression is likely to unfold over the first year postpartum and can easily be dismissed because symptoms can appear differently in men, including increased anxiety, withdrawal, increased substance use, and the inability to make decisions.

Let's normalize the need for mental health services during times of intense transition. Let's bring these challenges and the lack of support new parents experience into the mainstream discussion.