What Is Maternal Mental Health?

 Did you know that May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month? This is a month dedicated to increasing awareness, decreasing stigmatization, and improving abilities to seek and receive help. What is maternal mental health, you ask? Let’s start there…

Maternal mental health (MMH) refers to the emotional, psychological and social well-being of birthing persons during pregnancy and postpartum. MMH can impact one’s ability to care for themselves and their child, as well as affect the child’s future development and behavior. MMH is a complex and multilayered issue that can involve stress, adjustment difficulties, sleep disturbances, relationship challenges, and trauma.

The perinatal period, defined as the moment from conception through the first year after childbirth, presents specific challenges for each birthing person and is a time of exquisite vulnerability to mental health difficulties. Here are some of the most common perinatal mental health symptoms to be aware of:

1. Anhedonia (loss of pleasure or interest in things you used to find pleasurable)

2. Sleep difficulties greater than interrupted sleep due to newborn

3. Struggles with attaching to and bonding with your baby

4. Recurrent thoughts of death, harm to self or to baby

5. Increased self-doubt about abilities to care for baby

6. Persistent depressed mood, feeling sad, anxious, empty or down

7. Increased irritability

8. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, or helplessness

9. Restlessness

As I list these mental health symptoms, I am also acutely aware that some of them feel like common responses to pregnancy or having a newborn or small child. And while this could be true, it is always best practice to be on the safe side and seek support if you notice them increasing in severity, sticking around longer than 2 weeks, and impacting your abilities to function in daily life. It is also important to note, that many birthing persons experience many other symptoms that don’t fall neatly into these categories and it is incredibly common to experience a combination of symptoms.

Unfortunately, many moms struggle with mental health issues and do not receive the adequate care they need. Estimates vary depending on the study and population, but research suggests that anywhere from 10-20% of birthing persons experience a mental health disorder during the perinatal period. To complicate matters further, many birthing persons do not seek help due to stigma, lack of awareness, or difficulty accessing mental health services. In fact, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that less than half of women with postpartum depression receive treatment.

There are several barriers to treatment for new moms who are struggling with maternal mental health. Here are some of the common barriers:

1. Stigma

Unfortunately, even in the year 2023, there is often a stigma associated with mental illness. This may prevent new moms from seeking care due to fear of discrimination or judgment.

2. Lack of awareness

Some new moms may be unaware of the signs and symptoms of perinatal mental health disorders. Additionally, some may not know that there is help available.

3. Lack of access

There are several barriers to access to care for new moms including, but not limited to: cost, transportation, or proximity to the where services are offered.

4. Childcare responsibilities

Many new moms struggle with finding childcare during their appointments. While this may seem like a barrier, many therapists who specialize in perinatal mental health invite babies along!

5. Lack of support

Lack of adequate support from family members, friends or partners may provide a barrier to seeking treatment.

6. Time constraints

Many new moms find it difficult to even find time to shower and brush their teeth some days! Finding time to schedule therapy may be even more difficult.

7. Cultural or linguistic barriers

Some new moms may experience cultural or linguistic barriers to seeking adequate and appropriate treatment.

It is incredibly important to address these barriers and provide new moms with accessible, affordable and culturally sensitive mental health services to support their well-being. If we zoom out for a moment and consider how the well-being of society improves when we take care of mothers, we become more aware of how important it is to prioritize care. When mothers seek help, there is a ripple effect felt through their families and their communities. When mothers receive adequate care, it positively impacts future generations. If we can think about the bigger picture, we can also notice how when mothers receive help, they are able to be more regulated and present caregivers and community members. Those they are taking care of and interacting with also receive these benefits. Creating awareness, education and access to maternal mental health services truly is a key to a better world. 

There are many resources you can access if you are finding yourself in need of support. Here at Embody and Mind Collective, we specialize in treating perinatal mental health. If you find yourself resonating with what you just read, please reach out to discuss further. If you are in need of immediate assistance, please visit your nearest emergency room, dial 911 or call the suicide prevention hotline at 988.  

In health and ease,

Tesa