Maternal Mental Health 101: Breaking Stigma and Supporting Moms
- havenplacedoulas
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
You’re holding your baby for the first time, and everyone smiles and says, “You look so happy.”
But inside, you feel exhausted, anxious, maybe even afraid. Your thoughts race. You wonder if something is wrong with you. You’re not alone.
Maternal mental health struggles are far more common than people realize. Studies show that about 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum (Postpartum Support International). And that doesn’t even fully capture the stress for parents juggling multiple challenges or high-pressure circumstances.
Understanding Maternal Mental Health
Maternal mental health isn’t just about feeling “a little sad” after birth. It’s a spectrum.
Perinatal depression can strike during pregnancy or after birth. It can make you feel numb, hopeless, or disconnected from your baby.
Perinatal anxiety might show up as racing thoughts, constant worry, or even panic attacks about your baby’s safety.
Perinatal OCD brings repetitive, intrusive thoughts and urges, often around harm coming to your baby, that interfere with everyday life.
Perinatal PTSD can follow a traumatic birth, pregnancy complications, or loss, leaving you reliving moments and feeling unsafe.
Bipolar mood disorders sometimes first appear postpartum, alternating between intense highs and deep lows.
Perinatal psychosis, though rare, is a serious emergency requiring immediate care.
These conditions can feel isolating, and often, new parents hesitate to speak up because of stigma or guilt.
Why Stigma Makes It Worse
Too often, moms feel pressure to “have it all together.” Social media shows the smiles, the perfectly swaddled babies, the calm morning feeds. But your reality may look very different. Feeling anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed doesn’t make you a bad parent, it makes you a parent in need of care.
Breaking the stigma starts with conversation, education, and compassion. We need to normalize talking about these challenges and ensuring families know that support is available.
What You Can Do as a Parent or Partner
Check in daily: Ask how your partner or friend is really feeling.
Look for signs: Notice changes in sleep, appetite, mood, or engagement.
Reach out: Professionals, doulas, and support groups can help. You’re not alone.
Hear From the Experts
Last July, I had the privilege of joining a Samaritans webinar titled Beyond the Baby Blues: Understanding and Supporting Maternal Mental Health. Samaritans has been a lifeline in Massachusetts for over 50 years, providing suicide prevention services and training volunteers to support those in crisis.
In the webinar, we explored the realities of perinatal mental health, common misconceptions, the impact on families, and how intentional care and early intervention make a difference.
You can watch the full webinar here:
If you want to see the topic specifically from a doula perspective, I created a YouTube series where I clip my answers from the webinar’s Q&A session.
Supporting Maternal Mental Health in Boston and Massachusetts
At Haven Place Doulas, we walk with families through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond, offering care rooted in empathy, skill, and lived experience. We proudly serve Boston and surrounding areas in Massachusetts, helping parents navigate the highs and lows of new parenthood with confidence, understanding, and support.
Because maternal mental health is not just about surviving, it’s about feeling seen, supported, and empowered as you welcome your baby into the world.
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