Meet Lindsey Basler, the courageous creator behind Courage Maker Studio, where she intertwines art and storytelling to navigate the complexities of birth trauma and postpartum mental health. Lindsey’s journey began amidst the challenges of the pandemic and pregnancy, leading her through unexpected health issues, a traumatic birth experience, and the profound impact of postpartum struggles. Her openness about these experiences serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to embrace their own narratives and seek healing through creativity and community support. In this interview, Lindsey shares her personal insights, challenges, and triumphs, offering valuable advice and a glimpse into her mission of fostering maternal mental health awareness and advocacy.
Can you share with us your personal journey with birth trauma and postpartum mental health, and how it led you to create Courage Maker Studio?
If anyone happens to remember that big, terrible thing that we were all collectively dealing with four years ago, the pandemic, is when I found myself pregnant. In February 2020, I had no idea about how the pandemic or pregnancy would change my life.
The short version? I was incredibly unprepared for what pregnancy, birth, and motherhood truly were. I had only ever been given the rosy version of what it was like. The happiness and the smiles, never the tough parts. I didn’t know how concerning my blood pressure and the swelling of my face was. The multiple hospitalizations during pregnancy to make sure everything was okay. I simply didn’t know what Preeclampsia was until I did.
Preeclampsia forced me into a lengthy labor induction that led to extended pushing and an eventual c-section. (It also led to still being on blood pressure medication almost four years later. Which is not uncommon at all for other preeclampsia survivors.) After all that though, my baby was here. My husband and I were elated. I more so from being on a cocktail of induction/surgery medications. I tried to do what is typically deemed so natural; I tried to breastfeed my new baby. Instead, she turned blue and stopped breathing in my arms. I can envision the nurse running in and yanking her out of my arms. I can hear my baby girl gasping for air as she begins breathing again.
Another thing I didn’t know? How I would make it an hour to the NICU a few hours after having major abdominal surgery. “And how will I be getting there?” I said to the nurse who looked at me confused. I didn’t know I wouldn’t be going. I didn’t know I would have to stay in the hospital for two more days while my baby was so far away. I didn’t know how hard and strange it would be to walk out of the hospital with no baby. I hold great sorrow for the mothers who leave the hospital with no baby only to never be reunited on earth.
After some NICU time and a trip back to the ER at a month old when we all caught COVID I was left at home: a new mother supposed to be loving every second of every day.
My wonderful husband and partner had gone back to work. I was getting more lost every day. I was so used to working as an educator around the clock. Planning, grading, and finding time for myself in between. Now I just wasn’t sure what my purpose outside of motherhood would be. I had never had such a loss of identity or extreme pangs of anxiety. I knew something else bad was bound to happen. I had to mark every feeding to the exact milliliter. I researched things like SIDS and GURD constantly. Getting little sleep because I was so obsessed with waiting for the next bad thing to happen.
Somewhere in all of this I was able to write on a paper at my doctor’s office “I CAN’T STOP CRYING.” and burst into tears at the receptionist. I finally told someone.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while coping with these experiences, and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge was accepting myself and my feelings. I had a hard time accepting that I was struggling and that my birth was traumatic. Where did that golden newborn hour go? In the early days, I spent a lot of time feeling jealous and upset with others’ seemingly wonderful birthing and postpartum experiences. The reality is that my feelings were/are valid and not everyone is having as wonderful a time as it looks on the outside.
One of the reasons why I felt so blindsided by the birthing and postpartum period is because women aren’t generally accepted for speaking up about the tough times they are having. Making this realization empowered me to share my story with others and tell the full truth when asked about all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Fittingly, the theme for Maternal Mental Health Week this year is “storytelling saves lives.”
How has Courage Maker Studio helped you in your healing process, both personally and creatively?
Creating Courage Maker Studio gave me a space to tell my story and share my art with the world. In the early months of new motherhood, I could feel myself so desperately wanting to create. Wanting to create anything. At the time I didn’t realize that this part of me was yearning to express myself creatively the way I had done my entire life. As a child, I colored, danced, sang, and played music. I was fortunate enough to be able to keep some of those things up through early adult life, but I completely stopped when I became a mother. It was through first picking up a paintbrush that I realized I needed a creative outlet for all of my feelings and to find myself again apart from motherhood.
In 2023, I dedicated myself to starting therapy and painting a full postpartum series (available for viewing on my website) to process my traumatic birth and get comfortable sharing my story to help others share and process their own.
What lessons have you learned from your journey that you believe can inspire others facing similar struggles?
The biggest lesson I have learned since becoming a mother is the need to focus on yourself while taking care of those around you. We hear things like “you can’t pour from an empty cup” in various situations, but when becoming a new mother it can be hard to remember that ideology and take care of yourself. Society places a lot of emphasis on the “superhero” mother role, but I guarantee even Wonder Woman had to stop and pursue something that was just for her. Something that sparked joy and peace within herself. That is what coming back to art has done for me. Finding my creative passion again has allowed me to step outside of my role as mother, wife, sister, aunt, daughter, etc., and take time to spark joy and peace for myself. I urge all new parents to stop and remember something they loved doing before they entered parenthood and find a way to incorporate that into their lives.
Could you tell us about your role as a BlueDot Ambassador for Postpartum Support International and how it aligns with the mission of Courage Maker Studio?
TheBlueDot Project aims to raise awareness for maternal mental health by letting the blue dot symbol stand as a beacon of hope and community. No one is in this alone. Courage Maker Studio has a similar mission: have courage and be kind. Holding onto hope takes courage. Fostering a community takes kindness.
BlueDot ambassadors work as a “boots on the ground” advocate. Some ambassadors work with their local medical providers to provide information about maternal mental health while others focus on raising funds for Postpartum Support International. The ambassador program is new and the ideas put forth by other ambassadors all over the US so far have been inspiring.
While I have taken my Postpartum Series to a few showings, I am excited to take that to a new level this year. I was able to have a lot of great conversations surrounding my series, but this year with the help of TheBlueDot Ambassador program I will be able to share my artwork as well as maternal mental health materials for visitors to take home. I am also selling a new print to help raise funds for Postpartum Support International. 100% of the proceeds will be donated. It is available on my website now: www.couragemakerstudio.com.
What advice would you give to individuals who are dealing with birth trauma or postpartum mental health challenges?
My biggest advice is to accept yourself for what you are feeling. Even if you can’t put a name on the feeling or pinpoint exactly how your birthing experience was traumatic, give yourself permission to not be 100% enjoying every second of motherhood. You would never tell a friend that what she is feeling isn’t real, so please don’t tell yourself that. Acknowledge that something doesn’t feel right. Remember, your experience is unique to you. If your birthing/postpartum experience feels like it was traumatic then it was and healing is possible.
The next step for me was even tougher.. but tell someone. Tell anyone.
Tell your partner, your doctor, your child’s pediatrician, or write it on the bottom of your paperwork and burst into tears as you hand it to the receptionist like I did. The sooner you can tell someone the sooner you can receive support.
In what ways do you integrate creativity into your healing process, and how does it contribute to your overall well-being?
The best and hardest part about using creativity for healing is that there are no rules. You have the freedom to create whatever it is that you want but that also opens you up for having feelings that you may not realize you needed to process. Again, there are no rules so you can not only create but also destroy as you wish. Many of my paintings have multiple layers of ideas and feelings that I decided to cover up or “destroy” that only I know are there. This process also allows for me to get my daughter and niece involved in my paintings. Some days they want to create and connect with me creatively. We enjoy creating together. All are good for my overall well-being.
Can you share a specific moment or project from Courage Maker Studio that you feel particularly proud of or that has had a significant impact on others?
I am extremely proud of selling my first original artwork last summer in 2023. I attended my first art market and was able to connect with so many individuals who asked questions about my work and shared how it made them feel. My piece “In Silence” was purchased by a man who felt so touched by the woman’s emotions in the painting. That woman was me and I felt so seen to have a stranger feel so connected to my work. Another proud moment was raising money for the Freedom to Read Foundation in 2023. I have a feeling this year’s advocacy activities with TheBlueDot Project will soon be my most cherished moments.
How do you balance managing Courage Maker Studio with your personal life and self-care routines?
Fortunately, Courage Maker Studio for the most part is part of my self-care. Creating art that will impact others is what brings me joy. I am also lucky that my girls enjoy creating with me so I get to connect my personal life to art and Courage Maker Studio. However, I am the first to admit I have traded in late newborn nights for late-night painting. I am still working on the perfect balance.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for Courage Maker Studio, and how do you plan to continue making a positive impact in the realm of mental health support?
I am planning to lead a climb this year with TheBlueDot project to support Postpartum International’s programs. A climb is the act of climbing out of the darkness and removing the stigma around maternal mental health. My climb event is still in its infancy, but I am planning an event where mothers can meet and find enjoyment in the creative process. I am hoping the success of this event will make it an annual event for Courage Maker Studio.
On a more personal level, I am pushing myself to apply to calls for art to share my work and continue to advocate for maternal mental health.
