World Maternal Mental Health Day

May 4th is World Maternal Mental Health Day; a day dedicated solely to strengthening awareness about pregnancy, motherhood and the struggles many moms face as they enter into this new phase of life.

You’ve probably heard of the Baby Blues: sadness, fatigue, irritability, mood changes, restlessness, worry…all of the emotional and physical changes our bodies go through within the first few days following delivery. Up to 80% of women experience the baby blues: it’s pretty common.

Though for some women, about 1 in 5 women globally, the baby blues become something more.

Adjusting to motherhood can be hard, really fucking hard.

You lose sleep, your body goes through all kinds of crazy changes, and you suddenly find yourself responsible for keeping another human being alive.

“I don’t know anything about taking care of babies, how can I keep my child alive and well?”

“What if I hurt my baby? How do I know the right thing to do?”

The worry about being a good mom takes over and before you know it, you don’t recognize yourself.

You feel out of control. You can’t get out of bed. You’re struggling to meet the needs of both yourself and your baby.

This is the point where a case of the baby blues can grow into a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD).

PMADS can be experienced by anyone. No mom is immune.

PMADS are more worrisome than the baby blues because they can make it difficult for moms, especially new moms, to function.

They can affect a mom’s ability to care for herself, care for her baby, and even care about caring for herself or her child.

And because there’s little discussion in our culture about what it’s like for a woman to become a mom, many moms find themselves dealing with this pain alone.

This is one of the many reasons for World Maternal Mental Health Day: we need to continue our efforts to raise awareness for moms, the difficulties of motherhood and the effects PMADS can have on a mom trying to do her best for her children.

If you’re a new mom, or expectant mom, struggling and feeling alone, there is help!

Trained Licensed Mental Health Counselors can be a great resource for helping you learn how to manage the distress you’re feeling and navigate your journey through motherhood.

To find a trained mental health professional or get more information on perinatal mental health, visit Postpartum Support International.