Writing & Ideas
Research, perspective, and practical clarity.
Explore Dr. Pensak’s published research, expert commentary, press, essays, and conversations about maternal mental health, anxiety, serious illness, and modern motherhood.
Search the archive by topic, publication, title, or exact category.
10 results
Postpartum Anxiety: The 3 Cycles Running the Show
A practical framework for recognizing reassurance, emotional reasoning, and avoidance cycles in early parenthood.
Good Inside
July 2026
Understanding Postpartum Anxiety
Dr. Pensak joins Dr. Ruta Nonacs to discuss matrescence, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and when ordinary worry may warrant additional support.
So Glad You Asked Podcast with Dr. Ruta Nonacs
April 2026
The Joys, Challenges, and Realities of Motherhood Today
Nine writers, policymakers, and thinkers consider what mothers need from their communities and institutions.
The Sunday Paper
May 2025
Rattled and the Power of the Postpartum Brain
A conversation about the overlooked complexities of postpartum mental health and the science behind RATTLED.
Healthful Woman
2025
Barriers and Facilitators to Taking CDK4/6 Inhibitors
A qualitative study examining patient experiences with oral treatment for metastatic breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
2022
Helping Caregivers of Oncology Patients Manage Distress
A pilot study evaluating a mobilized intervention designed to support caregivers of people with cancer.
Palliative & Supportive Care
2021
New Mothers Are Tempted by Ozempic but Don’t Have the Data They Need
Expert commentary on medication decision-making, postpartum bodies, and the need for evidence that reflects mothers’ realities.
Los Angeles Times
2025
Countering the ‘Mommy Brain’ Stigma
A science-led reframing of the postpartum brain as adaptive, plastic, and capable—not diminished.
Dr. Nicole Pensak
2024
Moms Want It All This Mother’s Day. Give It to Them.
A call for the structural, relational, and clinical support mothers need beyond symbolic celebration.
Newsweek
2024
The Brilliance of the Postpartum Brain
How neuroplasticity and matrescence can help parents understand the profound transition taking place after birth.
Dr. Nicole Pensak
2024