Roots Expert Spotlight: Meet Amanda of Lucent Perinatal
At Little Seeds, we believe that caring for families means tending not only to babies—but to the emotional worlds of the caregivers raising them. Our Roots Expert Spotlight series introduces the professionals we trust to support families during pregnancy, postpartum, and the early years.
Today, we’re honored to introduce Amanda Medrano, a clinical psychologist specializing in perinatal mental health and early family transitions.
A Little About Amanda and Her Work
Amanda is a clinical psychologist who supports individuals, couples, and families as they navigate transitions within their family systems. She specializes in working with families with young children, particularly ages 0–3, and offers thoughtful, developmentally informed care during pregnancy and postpartum.
Amanda is bilingual and works with Spanish-speaking families, many of whom have immigrated from Spanish-speaking countries. Her work honors both cultural context and the deeply personal nature of early parenthood.
She is the founder of Lucent Perinatal, where she supports families through this transformative season with compassion and clinical depth.
What Drew Her to This Work
Amanda’s journey into the perinatal world began professionally during her training in a hospital setting, where she worked with pregnant and postpartum families—often in high-risk and complex situations. She felt deeply connected to this work and continued supporting families in similar roles throughout her career.
Later, her work became personal.
After experiencing her own challenges with conception, pregnancy, and postpartum, she encountered firsthand how easy it can be to fall through the cracks when seeking help. A lactation consultant ultimately connected her and her son with specialty providers when their concerns had been dismissed elsewhere. That responsive and collaborative network of care changed the trajectory for her family.
Those experiences now guide her work—ensuring families feel seen, heard, and supported rather than overlooked.
Family Life in This Season
Amanda describes family life right now as an ever-changing landscape.
There are moments when everything feels rhythmic and flowing, and other times when it feels more like a chaotic jazz band. Through these fluctuations, she’s become especially aware of the importance of community—having people who validate life’s challenges and help hold her through them.
What Parents Need More Support Around in the Early Days
The short answer, Amanda says, is: it depends.
Every family’s circumstances are different. However, she consistently sees parents struggling with isolation and difficulty finding space to process complex emotions—grief, anger, resentment, ambivalence—that often accompany the postpartum period.
These feelings are common and expected, yet they frequently evoke shame. Amanda works to normalize these emotional experiences and create safe spaces where parents can process them without judgment.
How She Hopes Families Feel After Working With Her
Amanda hopes families leave their work together with a clearer understanding of themselves.
She wants caregivers to better understand how their own histories and experiences show up in their relationships—including with their baby—in both joyful and challenging moments. From there, she hopes families feel empowered to shape a caregiving approach that genuinely fits them and feel more connected within their family system.
One Small Piece of Advice for New or Expecting Parents
There isn’t one right way to parent.
What matters most is finding an approach that aligns with you and your family. When things don’t go as expected—and they often won’t—there is always an opportunity to pause, reflect, and adjust in ways that feel right for you.
Favorite Rituals During Busy Days
Amanda finds comfort in tea during cold days, offering warmth and soothing calm.
She also pays attention to how much she holds in her body and prioritizes outlets like exercise, time outdoors, and acupuncture to release tension and restore balance.
A Tool She Often Recommends
Deep breathing.
It’s simple, accessible anywhere, and available at any moment. A few intentional breaths can create just enough space to reset during overwhelming moments.
What Support Looks Like in Her Own Life
Support right now means connection.
Friends, family, and community—people who remind her of her strength when she struggles to see it herself—are essential in this season.
Something Just for Her
Amanda intentionally makes space for activities that uplift her—whether that’s attending a group exercise class, reading, meeting friends, or indulging in her favorite shows on Bravo.
Small moments of joy matter.
Why Community Matters During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Pregnancy and postpartum can feel isolating and overwhelming.
Community reminds us that we are not meant to do this alone. Being with others who understand and can reflect our experiences helps us feel seen, understood, and strengthened through connection.
Connect With Amanda
Website: lucentperinatal.com
Instagram: @lucent.perinatal
Email: amedrano@lucentperinatal.com
Amanda welcomes families navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or early parenthood to reach out and explore whether working together feels like the right fit.
