Your Mental Wellbeing As a Mum
When you care as much as I do about women entering motherhood, every day is Maternal Mental Health Day….but this whole week is actually the time to bring it to the spotlight because it’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.
One of the themes of the week this year is that Motherhood is not black and white, that there can be many grey areas. I interpret this to say that it can be different for every woman and even with different children for each mother.
The mental health of all mothers is really important to me. One group of mum’s that I work with is women who have struggled with fertility. Often these women don’t feel like they “should” or “be allowed” to have any issues with their mental health during or after pregnancy. They wanted their baby so badly how could they possibly be struggling now that their baby is here. This is just not the case. You can love your baby, have wanted it with all your might, spent all your $$ and given years of your life to create your little one and you can still find it hard after your baby arrives.
In regards to fertility and post partum depression, the first study I came across when I looked it up was a Swedish study on 3532 women and it showed that IVF treatment doesn’t increase the risk of postnatal depression. But notice one really important point, IVF didn’t decrease the risk of it either. It’s still very common in women who’ve been through fertility treatment. In fact other research shows that it may be higher in women who’ve been through fertility treatments.
What are some of the big areas that I think you need to think about for your mental health as a mum? Nutrition though pregnancy and after, making sure your body is in optimal health through pregnancy and post partum, your birth and the community and connections you have throughout your pregnancy and once your baby is here. Let me circle back though to this theme of not everything being black and white. These areas I’ve just mentioned are all really important but there will be a woman who considers all of this and still experiences post partum depression because there are all the other grey areas that can be involved as well.
Your health, physically and emotionally through your pregnancy is really important. It’s not as black and white as simply good nutrition, but nutrition pre-conception and through pregnancy may help support you in your postpartum experience. Levels of nutrients such as vitamin D, iron and iodine, might all impact the way you feel-emotionally and physically. It’s ideal to make sure these nutrients are as good as they can be during pregnancy but if they haven’t been checked thoroughly and from optimal through pregnancy then this can definitely be done in the post natal period.
Optimal health during pregnancy and post partum is also really important. There’s a strong, well documented link between gut health and mental health and digestive function is something that changes for many women through her pregnancy and after. The load on the thyroid gland through pregnancy and after can also impact your mental health. I always suggest women have these tested and checked from optimal reference ranges both through their pregnancy and post partum too, especially if there is any risk factors for post natal depression or they’re not feeling emotionally well.
It’s really important to also think about your entrance into motherhood and your birth. The saying healthy mother, healthy baby, around birth is simply not that black and white. While of course I want there to be a healthy mum and a healthy baby the way you experiences your birth can have a huge impact on your mental health, even if the outcome was a healthy mum and a healthy baby. I suggest you get really informed and empowered through your pregnancy so that hopefully you have a really positive birth experience and to feel prepared to be able to handle whatever turn your birthing takes (I recommend HypnoBirhing but it’s important you find what helps you- maybe that’s the 1:1 support of a doula as well). While I think it’s a powerful way to help prevent the risk of birth trauma, birth trauma is something that exists and if you feel any trauma then it’s really important you have the opportunity to work it through with someone. Regardless of your birth experience, that birth story will be important to you for the rest of your life so I think it’s really important that you have the space to talk it out loud, even just with a supportive partner or friend.
Connection and community are really important through your pregnancy and postpartum to. You’re experiencing a major transition in your identity, your daily life, your physical body, your sleep- basically life as you’ve known it. Having connections to support you through it absolutely can’t be overlooked. It might be your partner, friends, family, co-workers, your church community, your sport community, your neighbours and of course health professionals too. I always plan a mum’s postnatal appointments before her baby arrives because I need to know that you have something planned for this. I often also recommend my mum’s see a pregnancy/postpartum counsellor through their pregnancy too if there are risk factors for post natal depression.
The maternal health of a woman matters. I think postpartum support is needed far more than what women often seek, it’s such a significant time of transition and every woman should feel supported through that time.
If you want or need support email me, reach out to your GP. Your physical and emotional health is so important for your wellbeing and for the wellbeing of your family.
