Maternal mental health care to nurture your pregnancy.
Pregnancy and motherhood is a transformative time that comes with many challenges. Amongst all the chaos, it is important to remember that your wellbeing is also a priority. Don’t forget to give yourself the care you need.
What is Mental Health Illness During Pregnancy?
For many people, pregnancy can trigger or worsen mental health issues. An individual’s body undergoes intense physical and hormonal changes, and the rapid and dramatic change in life circumstances alone can be enough to cause unmanageable stress.
Every person’s experience of pregnancy is unique, but a few common factors have been identified as the need for additional support from loved ones and reducing overall stress.. Unfortunately, even with the best intentions, this doesn’t come to fruition in every case, and some people may experience mental health challenges as a result.
Pregnancy increases susceptibility to perinatal depression, perinatal anxiety, perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder and more. These issues can arise either during pregnancy or after birth.
Medical issues/trauma, bodily changes, financial strain, a lack of sleep, and the overall stress of adapting to parenthood can all contribute. Pregnancy and childbirth are rarely easy and difficult with one’s mental health experiences can increase the challenges that inevitably come during the phase of life. Prioritizing mental health is not only important for the person themselves, but can be a supportive factor in better caring for their baby as well.
When Should I Consult a Maternal Mental Health Therapist?
As with any type of therapy, if you feel you could benefit from seeking help, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to an available practitioner. Whether you’re going through mental health struggles before, during, or after pregnancy or even if you have mild concerns, you deserve support and understanding. You don’t have to wait until your symptoms are extreme to give yourself the care you need.
That being said, a few clear signs you should consult a maternal mental health therapist are:
- persistent feelings of sadness
- persistent negative or self-critical thoughts, particularly if causing disruption to daily functioning
- recurring panic or anxiety attacks
- extreme mood swings
- high levels of apathy
- unending fatigue
- insomnia
- thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby
- unfounded fear and paranoia
- engaging in risky behaviors
These are all warning signs that something is off and you’ve gone beyond your ability to cope. A handful of milder symptoms may also be a loss of libido, social isolation, being nervous or “on edge”, frequent brain fog, as well as feelings of intense inadequacy.
It’s normal to not quite feel like yourself during and after pregnancy, but you don’t have to live with troubling issues like these listed symptoms. There’s plenty of support available for expecting and new parents, and maternal mental health therapy is one of the best tools for quickly neutralizing dangerous behaviors and establishing a healthier pregnancy and postpartum journey.
What Does Maternal Mental Health Therapy Focus On?
Maternal mental health therapy aims to prioritize the wellbeing of mothers. This looks different for every case since it depends on the personal needs, struggles, history, and desires of each client.
However, a common thread in practically all maternal mental health therapy is a holistic and client-centered approach. Physical, emotional, and mental health are interconnected, and treating one aspect without the others is unlikely to restore wellbeing as effectively.
At Supportive Therapy, we work to address any immediate mental health concerns through talk therapy, as well as educate clients on coping strategies and help set in place a supportive environment of maternal care. This can include normalizing ones experience, boundary setting, identity (re)development, identifying and/or creating support networks and so much more.
Partners and family members can also play an important role in maternal mental health. Individuals can feel drained or unwell since a lot of their energy is dedicated to caring for their baby, and having the support of loved ones caring for them can be exactly what turns their maternal mental health struggles around in some cases.
How Can Perinatal Mental Health Support Help?
Maternal mental health intervention can be beneficial at any stage, but an early introduction to mental health support during pregnancy gives both the mom and baby the best chance of thriving.
It allows pregnant people and their loved ones to monitor their mental health and act before issues accumulate. Pregnant individuals can then take preventative steps to optimize their health and life situation during this stressful time to be in the best place possible for them during a time of great transition.
Counselling can also benefit the baby’s health since factors like birth weight, several health issue risks, newborn behaviour and more are correlated with the mother’s mental health status.
Finally, it’s also important to remember that pregnancy is not always a planned or welcome surprise either. Some individuals may be traumatized or have difficulty adjusting to becoming pregnant at all and need the immediate support of pregnancy counselling.
Every pregnant person has a unique story, and personal history that can be a contributing factor to maternal mental health outcomes. The more informed and aware an individual is of their mental health, the easier time they may have traversing the tough but rewarding journey of parenthood.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Prioritize your well-being and your baby’s health by seeking early mental health support. Our sessions can support you in rebuilding your sense of self and new identity as a mother. Schedule your maternal mental health session and receive the compassionate care you need during this important transition.