Addiction, Recovery, and Pregnancy: Navigating MAT and Reducing Stigma

Addiction doesn’t magically disappear when someone becomes pregnant. Yet pregnant women struggling with substance use disorder can face enormous judgment, including the assumption that continuing to struggle means they don’t love or want their baby.

In this episode, substance use disorder counselor and recovery advocate Christina Garafalo joins me to talk about what addiction during pregnancy actually looks like and why reducing stigma is so important if we want women to feel safe asking for help. We discuss physical dependence, shame and judgment in healthcare settings, trauma-informed care, and medication-assisted treatment, also known as MAT.

This conversation is about addiction in pregnancy, but it is also about compassion, recovery, advocacy, and treating people like people.

Christina Garofalo is a substance use disorder counselor, recovery advocate, and speaker with nearly five years of continuous sobriety. After overcoming her own struggles with addiction, Christina dedicated her life to helping others find hope, healing, and long-term recovery. She currently works as a counselor in a residential perinatal treatment program serving pregnant and parenting women and is passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding addiction, mental health, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Christina graduated from Palomar College with a 4.0 GPA in Drug and Alcohol Counseling and is pursuing a degree in Social Work. She has been featured on multiple recovery and mental health podcasts, where she openly shares her journey from active addiction to a life rooted in purpose, service, and recovery. Today, Christina is active in the recovery community, advocates for evidence-based treatment, and uses her voice to help others understand that recovery is possible for anyone willing to seek help.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/majorchristina89

Get access to discount codes for our favorite products and check out our Amazon Storefront lists for "Must Haves" during the Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Newborn phases HERE.

Are you a parent interested in learning more from Ciarra? You can check out her class offerings HERE.
For the pre-recorded, self-paced Birth Basics Class, click HERE.
For the pre-recorded, self-paced Newborn Sleep Class, click HERE.

Are you interested in training to become a birth doula? Check out Ciarra’s Birth, Baby! Academy Birth Doula Training and Certification HERE. 
Online, self-paced Birth Doula Training and Certification Program with Birth, Baby! Academy

This podcast episode is also on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with close captions, you can find the channel HERE.

Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and leave a review on your favorite place to listen to podcasts. www.BirthBabyPodcast.com

Send an email if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, you'd like to be a guest, or you have a recommendation for an episode idea! Email: BirthBabyPodcast@gmail.com

Follow on Facebook
Follow on Instagram

The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk.

Birth, Baby! Podcast was originally produced by Ciarra Morgan and Samantha Kelly.

Ciarra Morgan:
www.EmpoweredBeginningsATX.com
www.BirthBabyAcademy.com

Samantha Kelly:
www.beautifullymadedc.com