Understanding Maternal Mental Health

Becoming a mother is a transformative experience. It can feel magical and rich with purpose and meaning, but it can also bring forth a range of challenging emotions. Many of these are misunderstood and very under represented in the language around becoming a mother.

Maternal mental health is an essential aspect of a mother’s well-being, as it directly impacts her and her child’s overall quality of life. Sometimes, it’s difficult for mothers and loved ones in their support circle to recognize what is actually a mental health concern. In the moment, it doesn’t necessarily feel like something is wrong, it might just feel hard, or sad, or disconnected, or apathetic, or a number of other emotions. Because these feelings are inside, they seem very true and it can be extremely difficult to recognize them as symptoms. 

Unfortunately, many moms interpret these symptoms as personal failures and the dreaded mom-guilt kicks in. If you’re a new mom (for the first time or a new mom for the next time), it’s important to try to hold some compassion for yourself. You should try your best to be non-judgmental of the emotions your body produces and try to hold some patience for yourself. 

Maybe instead of being a bad mom, you’re someone who has a body which has recently done something very hard and is still being impacted by that process.

Maternal mental health is a broad term and we could share pages of information but we’ll try to create a quick summary of common diagnosis and treatment options here!

Postpartum Depression (PPD):

Postpartum depression is an extremely common mood disorder that affects new mothers. It’s identified by feelings of sadness, guilt, and apathy. Often it also includes feeling disconnected with your baby, feeling angry, or feeling resentful.. PPD can make it challenging to bond with the baby and disrupt the mother’s ability to care for herself and her child. PPD creates considerable distress for mothers and can be difficult for moms to recognize. We really want you to know you are not alone and this is a very common experience even if social media makes it seem like everyone else is thriving.

Postpartum Anxiety:

Postpartum anxiety is another common condition that affects mothers during the first year after childbirth. And it makes sense. Suddenly there is another human you are responsible for but did not come with a manual and generally cannot protect itself for a while. That’s a lot. Postpartum anxiety often involves excessive worrying, racing thoughts, restlessness, and physical symptoms such as heart palpitations or shortness of breath. PPA can make it difficult for mothers to relax, sleep, or engage in daily activities.

Postpartum OCD:

This one is far more common than many realize and also very poorly understood.Postpartum OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder.. It involves intrusive thoughts or fears that lead to compulsive behaviors. Common obsessions revolve around the safety and well-being of the baby, and mothers may feel compelled to engage in repetitive actions to alleviate their anxiety. Like other OCD types, intrusive thoughts tend to show up around things that matter most to us. They attack our worst fears. For mothers these can include hurting their babies (accidentally or purposely) despite any actual wish to follow through with these thoughts. Such thoughts can create significant distress, especially when they are not understood to be a symptom of OCD.

Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (P-PTSD):

Take a moment to really think about the process of becoming a mother. Think about the process of pregnancy and childbirth. Think of your story and think of the stories you’ve heard. Sometimes it all goes smoothly but for so many, it is a long, complicated, scary, and isolating journey. Postpartum PTSD can develop after a traumatic childbirth experience. Mothers may experience nightmares, or intrusive memories related to their childbirth and they might begin to avoid situations or triggers of this memory. This condition can significantly impact a mother’s emotional well-being and her ability to care for her child.