Motherhood is not black and white. It’s a colorful and diverse tapestry of experiences. Life changes around pregnancy and due to the coronavirus many moms are facing turbulence. These changes make mothers more vulnerable to mental illness.
Many women feel overwhelmed, sad, or anxious at different times during their pregnancy and even after the baby is born. For some, these feelings go away on their own. But for others, these emotions are more serious and may stay for some time.
Depression and anxiety that happen during pregnancy or anytime during the first year after the birth of your baby are medical conditions. These feelings are not something you caused by doing or not doing something. And, they can be treated if you seek help.
It can be helpful to talk about concerns or feelings with a mental health provider. Talk to yours to see about meeting remotely.
Outside of counseling you can:
- Connect with other moms. The peanut app is a cool tool for this.
- Make time for yourself
- Do something you enjoy
- Be realistic
- Ask for help
- Rest when the baby rests
- Be with others physically or remotely
- Seek out adults who provide you with comfort and company
Resources:
- Frida Mom has many products to make the journey a little easier. See also:
- PSI Closed Facebook Group
- Postpartum Progress
- New Mom Mental Health Checklist
- MGHPDS Mobile App
- Mental Health America’s Free Screening Tool
- APA: Postpartum Depression Fact Sheet
- How to Prepare for Postpartum During a Pandemic
- To the mama battling depression: You are not alone
- How to find the best therapist for you (and what to expect)
- Postpartumdepression.org and their list of helpful links
- ACOG Guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding: A Message for Patients
- Ivy’s PPD Blog with so many resources on the right side as you scroll down
Being your own advocate is okay and you deserve to be well. You may feel like you’re the only person in the world who experiences these emotions, but you are not alone.
