May is Maternal Mental Health Month
No doubt, mothers have one of the most demanding roles on the planet. From the early stages of pregnancy to delivering their little one all the way to the daily grind of caring for their child, a mother’s work never ends. Whether a mom works inside the home, outside the home, or both, the term working mother is redundant because a mom is always working.
The added mental load of pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing takes a heavy toll on all women, especially new moms. According to Postpartum Support International, about 15 to 20 percent of women experience significant depression or anxiety during or after the birth of a child. Symptoms of perinatal mood & anxiety disorders (PMADs) can range from mild sadness to having worrisome thoughts of harming themselves or their babies. Many new moms feel alone without anyone to talk to. Additionally, if the mother has a PMAD, then their partners are 50% more likely to experience one themselves.
Mothers need all the support they can get to get through these difficult times, which is why May is declared Maternal Mental Health Month. This special month aims to raise awareness of maternal mental health globally. Various organizations worldwide lead efforts to educate people about maternal mental health through different social media campaigns and in-person events.
Maternal mental health is a crucial issue that everyone must be aware of. While many people are only familiar with the term “postpartum depression,” there are several ways perinatal mental health disorders can manifest.
Here are a few examples:
Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression
Mothers may feel lingering anger, guilt, sadness, irritability, and a lack of interest in the baby. They may have trouble sleeping and eating. Extreme postpartum depression brings about thoughts of self-harm or hurting their babies.
Anxiety during Pregnancy and Postpartum
Approximately 10% of women develop anxiety after giving birth. They may experience extreme worries and fears. These materialize through panic attacks, chest pain, dizziness, and a feeling of losing control.
Bipolar Mood Disorders
Many mothers are diagnosed with bipolar depression or mania for the first time when pregnant or right after giving birth. This disorder can look like severe depression or anxiety. A mother’s mood history must be evaluated to assess whether they have periods of an elated mood and over-average productivity. These are signs of an elevated high. A mother’s bipolar mood disorder may become severe if they are only rated for depression. Symptoms may include rapid speech and lack of need of sleep.
Postpartum Psychosis
This is a severe condition that requires professional help immediately. While this condition is rare, it only happens in .1 to .2% of births, whenever this situation arises it can become very dangerous for both the mother and her child. Symptoms of postpartum psychosis include hallucinations, highly irritable, paranoia, rapid mood swings, and severe depression. It typically occurs within the first two weeks after birth, but can appear anytime in the first year.
These mental health disorders range from moderate to extreme, but all disorders must be acknowledged and treated to help the mother recover. This is the main thrust of Maternal Mental Health Month – to raise awareness about the different types of maternal mental health issues that millions around the world suffer from.
If any of the mental health issues above apply to you, one way to get help is to ask for support whenever possible. As they say, “It takes a village to raise a child.” No mom should feel like they are alone during these challenging times. Ask your family and good friends if they can help you take care of the baby when things become too busy or overwhelming.
Having a support system in place is a must for new parents. If this is not available to you and you need to talk to someone about your mental health, contact your local mental health provider or Postpartum Support International. If you’re in Oregon, then locally we have Baby Blues Connection. These professionals can help you get through the challenging times of new motherhood and joining new parent support groups helps you know that you are not alone.
Another way to work through maternal mental health issues is to work with a new parent educators who can help you with topics unique to parents and mothers. Rosa Park Neves of RP7 Online supports parents preparing for parenthood, returning to work after giving birth, or returning to the workforce after years of working at home and raising their children, which includes a free in-person New Parent Support Group on Saturday’s about once a month. Follow this link to RSVP if you’re local in the Tigard, OR area and want to join us on June 3, 2023 or later this year Google Form.
This month, we are encouraging everyone to participate in the global campaign to raise awareness about maternal mental health. As all mothers play a crucial role in society, it’s important that we provide them with the necessary support to take care of themselves. To find out how you can help, please visit the official website of World Maternal Mental Health Day.
