Pregnancy Mental Health is So Important. Here’s 10 Reasons Why:
Pregnancy is often portrayed as a time of pure joy and excitement, filled with dreams of the future and love. Although there are endless reasons to be thankful and feel excited for this time, the truth of the matter is, that this transformation also brings with it immense challenges with pregnancy mental health.
How Pregnancy Affects Mental Health
Despite the whirlwind of excitement for bringing your child into the world and beginning your journey into motherhood, the truth is that pregnancy can bring about intense changes in a woman’s life, relationships, and support systems. Moreover, the widespread scaremongering surrounding birth and motherhood only adds to the pressure and anxiety experienced by expectant mothers.
While there is growing awareness about mental health issues, the struggles faced by pregnant women often remain overlooked. Thankfully, we are beginning to hear more about women’s experiences of postpartum depression, but the truth about how to deal with mental health during pregnancy is often still overlooked.
It’s time to shed light on the importance of perinatal mental health and why it deserves more attention, not only for the health of our mothers but for the healthy upbringing of our children, too. This is a cycle we must start giving more attention to.
1. The Transformation of Pregnancy Mental Health Issues
Pregnancy triggers significant physiological and hormonal changes, impacting a woman’s mental well-being. The hormonal fluctuations, combined with physical discomfort and fatigue, can contribute to mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
This is even more valid, when the pregnant woman has been sensitive to hormonal changes before pregnancy or has experienced significant trauma in childhood, surrounding being a woman, or previous birth trauma.
Supporting pregnant mothers involves recognising the physiological basis of these changes and providing education and coping strategies to manage them effectively.
2: Lack Of a Supportive Village
Many pregnant women feel isolated and misunderstood due to a lack of support and empathy from healthcare providers, family members, and society. It’s crucial to create a supportive environment where women feel safe to express their concerns and seek help without fear of judgment.
It was once the norm for the whole village to support the mother in nourishing her body and her unborn child. Now we still see pregnant mothers working up until her due date, being immensely burnt out, and unprepared for the immense transformation that’s taking place within them.
The village would once offer their full support in bringing up the child so that the mother could still prioritise her holistic health through rest, creativity, teamwork, learning, movement and nourishing herself.
Yet now, we hear of one person taking on all these immense roles on their own, struggling to eat, sleep, shower and even take 5 minutes to breathe. – Especially, in those early years!
The foundation of implementing this change for the health of our children and mothers is by destigmatising perinatal mental health issues and promoting open dialogue about the challenges of pregnancy, especially when we aren’t supported.
3: Increased Risk of Pregnancy Mental Health Disorders
Pregnancy, undoubtedly, is a phase of profound change, both physically and emotionally. Throughout the anticipation of new life, it’s crucial to acknowledge the heightened vulnerability to mental health challenges that many expectant mothers face.
Research consistently emphasises the increased risk of depression, anxiety, and perinatal mood disorders during this period. However, this awareness can be seen as a gift, as it supports us with proactive measures we can take, to minimize these risks and foster healthier outcomes for both mother and child, as they begin their new life together.
If we can learn how to be more in touch with our bodies, and recognise signs of distress promptly, healthcare providers can offer tailored support and resources to empower expectant mothers on their journey towards self-awareness and healing perinatal mental health issues.
Whether through counselling, therapy, or peer support groups, these interventions provide a lifeline for women navigating the complexities of pregnancy while enduring mental health challenges.
Furthermore, integrating mental health education into prenatal care equips mothers with essential coping strategies and resilience-building techniques. Imagine a world where expectant mothers are armed with the knowledge and tools to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy with grace and strength. By destigmatising discussions around mental health and fostering open dialogue, we create a supportive ecosystem where women feel empowered to seek help without hesitation or shame.
4: Impact on Maternal Health
Untreated perinatal mental health disorders can have serious consequences for maternal health, including complications during pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Supporting maternal mental health involves integrating mental health care into prenatal care services and ensuring access to appropriate resources and interventions. This may include therapy, medication, or peer support groups tailored to the needs of pregnant women.
5: Effects of Pregnancy Mental Health Issues on Infant Development
Maternal mental health during pregnancy can influence infant development, with research suggesting links between maternal stress and adverse outcomes for children.
Understanding the effects of maternal mental health on infant development is essential, but it’s equally crucial to approach this topic with empathy and compassion.
While research highlights the potential impact of mental health in pregnancy on infant outcomes, it’s important to recognise that struggling with mental health challenges during pregnancy does not make a woman any less of a capable or loving mother.
Pregnancy can be an incredibly overwhelming experience, and it’s normal to have moments of doubt or fear. However, these feelings do not define a woman’s ability to nurture and care for her child.
No matter the struggles faced, it’s imperative to underline that every woman is inherently a good mother if they yearn to be. Her worth as a parent is not determined by her mental health status.
By fostering a culture of understanding and support, we can create an environment where women feel empowered to seek help without fear of judgment or stigma.
It’s vital to underline that seeking support is not a sign of weakness but rather a way of seeing a mother’s strength and commitment to their well-being as a family.
Moreover, it’s essential to acknowledge that every mother’s journey is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. Just as every pregnancy is different, so too are the challenges that come with motherhood.
By embracing the diversity of experiences and offering support tailored to individual needs, we can ensure that no woman feels isolated within motherhood.
Supporting pregnant mothers involves promoting stress-reduction techniques and providing resources to enhance maternal-infant bonding, such as prenatal education programs and parenting classes.
If you’d like some more in-depth examples of practices you can follow with your child in reducing stress, building resilience, and regulating yourself, you can read along, here: Nervous System Regulation Techniques for Mothers.
6: Relationship Dynamics
Pregnancy can strain relationships, exacerbating conflicts and communication breakdowns, due to the struggles that the pregnant woman is going through being reflected onto those closest to her, as well as during times she may not be supported the way she deserves.
Supporting pregnant mothers involves addressing relationship issues proactively through couples counselling, mindful communication, as well as education about the impact of pregnancy, together as a family.
Encouraging open and honest communication between partners can strengthen relationships and provide much-needed support during this challenging time.
7: Financial Stress
Financial stressors associated with pregnancy and parenthood can contribute to mental health issues, particularly for women facing economic hardship. Supporting pregnant mothers involves providing access to financial resources and social support services, such as government assistance programs, affordable healthcare options, and community-based organisations offering practical support, such as food assistance and childcare subsidies.
8: Societal Pressures
Societal pressures to meet idealised standards of motherhood can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and guilt in pregnant women. Supporting maternal mental health involves challenging societal norms and promoting realistic expectations of pregnancy and motherhood. This may involve media literacy education, advocacy for inclusive representations of motherhood, unlearning your negative imprints, and promoting self-compassion and self-care practices, including nervous system regulation.
9: Access to Mental Health Services
Despite the prevalence of perinatal mental health issues, many pregnant women face barriers to accessing mental health services, including cost, stigma, and lack of awareness. Supporting pregnant mothers involves improving access to mental health care through initiatives such as increased funding for maternal mental health programs, training healthcare providers in perinatal mental health screening and intervention and expanding telehealth services to reach underserved communities.
Perinatal mental health services encompass a range of specialised support and tailored to the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum women. These services may include counselling, therapy, medication management, support groups, and educational programs focusing on mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
They aim to provide pregnant women with the tools and resources necessary to cope with the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood while promoting emotional well-being and resilience.
Finding perinatal mental health services can be daunting, but it’s essential to normalise seeking help and support during this critical time. Start by discussing your concerns with your healthcare provider, who can offer guidance and referrals to appropriate resources.
Additionally, reach out to local mental health organisations, community centres, or online support groups specialising in perinatal mental health. By actively seeking out these services and recognising the importance of prioritising your mental well-being, you’re taking a proactive step towards ensuring a healthy and fulfilling pregnancy journey.
Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and you deserve the support and care necessary to thrive during this immense time in your life.
If you’d like some further information on mental health through pregnancy, and you are in the UK, you can check out the NHS Website here.
If you’re anywhere else in the world, you can read further here:
10: Added Importance of Self-Care and Advocacy
In the face of these challenges, it’s essential for pregnant women to prioritise self-care and advocate for their mental well-being.
Supporting pregnant mothers involves empowering them to advocate for their needs, whether seeking support from healthcare providers, joining peer support groups, or practising self-care techniques such as mindfulness, exercise, and relaxation techniques.
By fostering a culture of self-advocacy and self-compassion, we can empower pregnant women to prioritise their mental health and well-being.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is a transformative journey filled with both joy and challenges. By acknowledging the importance of breaking the silence surrounding pregnancy mental health issues, we can ensure that all women receive the support and care they need to navigate this critical period in their lives. It’s time to prioritise mental health in pregnancy and ensure that every woman has the resources and support necessary for a healthy and fulfilling pregnancy and motherhood journey.
To support you during this time, I’ve curated a FREE in-depth guide to help you regulate in times of stress, anxiety and mental health issues, that will be supportive to you during pregnancy, birth and beyond, WITH your child.