The Importance of your Maternal Mental Health to Postpartum Depression
Depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and postpartum psychosis are examples of maternal mental health conditions that are categorized as happening during most of the perinatal period. This encompasses either the postpartum phase, or the first year following childbirth, and the prenatal period, during which a woman is pregnant. However, anxiety and mood disorders can linger over a very long time.
The majority of complications associated with childbirth and mental problems are experienced by 15 to 20 percent of women throughout the perinatal period. And alarmingly, those figures have been increasing.
Why are pregnant women and new mothers so vulnerable? According to many studies, factors including hormonal fluctuations, insufficient sleep, and having to take care of a newborn all play a role. And because of institutional racism's effects on mental health, the strain placed on women and mothers in America is significantly greater.
The severity of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as well as when to seek care, should be addressed to expecting and new mothers, as well as to family and friends. There is no shame in needing help, and it is crucial for maternal mental health and wellness to de-stigmatize and normalize women who seek care.
You should consider scheduling a preconception or pregnancy consultation with a mental health expert to explore concerns if you intend to get pregnant and have a history of anxiety or depression.
Your doctor will inquire about your mental health in the same way that they inquire about your physical health if you are pregnant or have just given birth. Typically, a short questionnaire is used to screen for issues of maternal mental health. If the questionnaire indicates that you have a maternal mental health condition, you and your care team have a number of options for lessening symptoms:
To help you form reasonable expectations, read about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.
Have a network of people who can assist you with small chores around the house or watch the kids while you relax
Adopt healthy self-care practices, such as getting enough sleep and eating healthily.
Exercise awareness and meditation. You may be able to manage your stress and be less reactive to the cues you may encounter as a new parent by practicing meditation and mindfulness.
Start a yoga routine to help you be more resilient.
Women of colors, black moms in particular experience discrimination and prejudice, which has a terrible impact on the health and happiness of their entire family.
In order to help Black and any women of color who are going through difficult struggles discover resilience in the short and long term, we advise the following steps:
Search for and get in touch with other mothers of the same color online who value their physical and emotional well-being. One space to quickly connect with women who have similar life experiences is Instagram.
Take up gardening. One of the best ways to unwind and re-establish a connection with the natural world in a way that calms the nervous system is through plant interaction.
Connecting with a therapist who is your same race can change your life because they can serve as a mirror for you, helping you to integrate and recover from trauma in your body.
Fortunately, support is available for all women, and yoga, mindfulness, and meditation are very useful methods. We sincerely hope and wish that you find all the support that you need and enjoy these joyous times of expecting and nurturing a child of your own.
