Caitlin Winnicki, LCSW

02/08/2021

If you’ve ever had butterflies in your stomach before giving a talk, a stomach ache when you had to have a ‘tough conversation’ with someone, or had to run to the bathroom a bunch of times before going into a job interview, you know first-hand that acute stress messes with your gut. That’s because your brain has a direct connection to what goes on in your gut - hence why we call the gut “the second brain”.⁠
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Ongoing stress has a powerful impact on your digestive system; trauma is also now known to be a ‘hidden’ form of stress that can unfavorably alter the microbiome in an ongoing way (i.e., there’s strong correlation between history of sexual trauma and IBS). In fact, new research shows that IBS is a combination of irritable bowel and ‘irritable brain.’⁠
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The major effects of stress on gut physiology include:⁠
🌀 Speeding up or slowing down your gastrointestinal motility (loose stools, constipation, gas, IBS)⁠
🌀 Increase in visceral perception, meaning you’re more aware of sensations, including pain, in your gut⁠
🌀 Increasing leaky gut, partly through the release of mast cells via your immune system⁠
🌀 Negative effects on the regenerative capacity of gastrointestinal lining and reduction in blood flow⁠
🌀 Negative effects on intestinal microbiota numbers, types, and diversity⁠
🌀 Decreased levels of an important antibody called secretory IgA which protects the intestinal lining⁠
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When the Stress Response gets activated, blood flow gets diverted away from your digestive system - digestion can happen after the emergency is over - but when the emergency never fully ends because you’re chronically stressed, this can lead to a variety of changes in your immune system and directly in your intestinal cells that cause leaky gut, including increased production of mast cells.⁠
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I have so much to share with you on this in my upcoming book (TBA in just one week!!!). In the meantime, you can find the top herbs recommend for healing stress and anxiety - and the symptoms that stem from them - at the link below.

https://avivaromm.com/7-herbs-anxiety/

12/11/2020

“It is important to acknowledge that women’s experiences of pain are influenced by the relationships with their caregivers. When women are able to form a trusting relationship with their caregiver, they report more positive experiences of birth overall, regardless of the pain relief method used.

If women do not feel supported, this can cause stress and distress. A lack of positive relationships or support from maternity care providers may increase the likelihood of a traumatic birth experience.

Women need to have timely access to information about different pain-management methods, including the risks and benefits of each approach so that an informed decision can be made. Assumptions should also not be made regarding women’s ethnicity, class, ability or disability. Research shows that women who face more complex issues can be further disadvantaged during childbirth, and are at greater risk of disrespectful care practices. Doctors and midwives must be attuned to their potential biases to ensure all women receive equitable care.

Most of all, understanding and supporting individual needs is essential to safe, respectful and dignified maternity care.”

Anaesthesia aims to relieve labour pains, whereas natural methods aim to help women cope with it. What does the evidence say about the options?

10/23/2020

A group for postpartum BIPOC

10/23/2020

10/16/2020

Reports are on the rise of symptoms like headaches, stomache problems and flare-ups of autoimmune disorders. Here's why chronic stress can make our bodies hurt, and what to do about it.

07/21/2020

Our next in person birth doula training will take place this November in Dix Hills. Gail Janicola is the instructor for the course. Registration is open and seats are limited.
Sign up at www.lidoulas.com

07/01/2020

When a pregnant woman experiences trauma, its effects can sometimes impact her child – even in utero.

So how does this happen?

Well, we created an infographic you can use with clients to help them visualize how trauma can get passed on by caregivers.

If you’d like to print our infographics you can check them all out here: https://www.nicabm.com/category/group-3/infographic/

06/13/2020

Is there a link between PTSD and our body’s immune response? Well, research published in the Journal of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity has stretched beyond focusing on what happens to the body’s nervous and endocrine systems after trauma. . . . . . and researchers have discovered a connection bet...

06/11/2020

Another birth circle next weekend from

06/07/2020