Breaking the Stigma on Maternal Mental Health: It's OK to not be OK

It’s 2020. Why is there still a stigma surrounding mental health?! Especially around maternal mental health?  Women are celebrated for doing it all. Society tells us we can juggle it all, when in reality it is IMPOSSIBLE to do it all without help. Postpartum is the most critical time in a mother’s life. A baby is born, but so is a mother. We still tend to forget about mom when the baby arrives. How does that make a woman feel? Their body has changed, their hormones are all over place, and they are now responsible for caring for a new human being. We cannot underestimate the weight of this transition in a woman’s life.  We cannot diminish the emotional weight postpartum carries and motherhood carries.  We cannot tell women to brush their feelings under the rug. We need to be open about postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety so women know the signs and symptoms to look out for. I am so honored to speak to Dr. Pooja Lakshmin (@womensmentalhealthdoc on Instagram. She is a Perinatal Psychiatrist and contributor for the NY Times. We speak about “Mom martyr mode,” Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety, and how to know when you need to talk to someone about your mental health.  Our hope is to break the stigma surrounding maternal mental health. Understanding things are not okay take strength. Getting help takes strength. We want to normalize therapy and the medications and diagnosis of postpartum anxiety and depression.  Follow us @pedsdoctalk and @womensmentalhealthdoc to continue the conversation. IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO TALK TO ABOUT HOW YOU'RE FEELING, CALL POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL AT 1-800-944-4773 Dr. Laksmin is also starting an online community called the Gemma Project, to empower mothers and guide them in their postpartum mental health journey. For more details, visit: https://www.gemmawomen.com/ Check out my weekly videos on child health & development by ⁠⁠subscribing to PedsDocTalk on YouTube⁠⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices