how many children do you have?
one
how many pregnancies have you had?
1
how old were you when you gave birth?
23
what are your childrens' ages?
3
did any of those end in early release? (miscarriage, still birth or abortion?) if so, can you share a little about those experience?
N/A
what surprised you about the mushroom journey?
How supportive people have been that I've told, especially in the Deep South Alabama. How it helped me with finding a community and all the other areas of my life that benefitted since I started microdosing.
Protocol & Dosing
with psilocybin, what has been your dosing experience?
microdose (.1 - 1 gram), mid dose (1-3 grams)
how long did you dose for?
three months or more
if microdosing, what size would you have? (.1 - 1gram)
.15g
in what form were you ingesting the mushroom?
capsules, teas, whole
how often did you dose?
intuitively -- as needed
if you were on a protocol, what protocol did you follow?
N/A
did you have any support with dosing?
when did you start ingesting mushrooms?
after i gave birth
After Birth & Breastfeeding
why did you choose to ingest mushrooms after you gave birth?
I felt thrusted into motherhood and my mental health was not great. I felt the immense pressure of raising a human while feeling like I didn't know how to even raise myself. I judged myself constantly, cried a lot, and felt hopeless while also knowing I was doing my best within my circumstances. Microdosing was something I had heard lots about online and I felt compelled to try it for the mental health (namely depression and anxiety) reduction benefits. It allowed me to have more compassion for myself in this journey, aided in my path of self love/discovery, and overall helped me grow and be a better mom.
did you ingest mushrooms while breastfeeding?
Yes
did you notice any benefits to a) yourself b) to your baby and what were the benefits when ingesting mushrooms while breastfeeding?
I'm happier, I desire to take care of myself to a greater degree, and I find it easier (and more compelling) to connect with my son. I'm still breastfeeding my son (he's nearly 4) and he has a robust immune system, is intelligent, empathetic, and is overall thriving.
did you notice any challenges to a) yourself b) to your baby and what were the benefits when ingesting mushrooms while breastfeeding?
I didn't notice any challenges besides the guilt/unknowns associated with microdosing while breastfeeding and the stigma I may have received from people around me. Overall, though, most of my friends were very understanding and supportive and I believe it is safe and benefitted me and my son.
Parenting
what benefits did you notice in your parenting that you attribute to the mushroom?
More patience, compassion, the desire to connect and put down the never ending to-do list. More interest in his process of learning and emotions. More loving and playful. More desire to love/take care of myself so that it trickles down into him.
what were the unwanted effects or challenges of ingesting mushrooms while parenting?
Some days when I had a "spicy" dose my anxiety was a little heightened and I would want to spend time processing what was going on instead of being a parent and tending to his needs. But I was able to make it work. :)
what benefits have you noticed about your children that you attribute to the mushroom?
He's in touch with his emotions and empathetic, intelligent.
Summary
what would you like to say to other mothers & pregnant/birthing people about your own experience?
I'm so glad I did it and didn't let the stigma stop me from healing myself. When I heal myself, I heal my children. It's allowed me to make myself a priority in this role of constant care-giving and I find that to be one of the most treasured lessons that I want to pass along to my children.
would you recommend this path to other people?
Absolutely
