Motherhood and Mental Health
5th December 2013
The period of time prior and immediately after birth is predominately viewed as a physical event for pregnant women with poor consideration of the emotional and psychological impact; yet as with other traumatic life changes the risk of mental health around this time is high. Women often feel that they should instinctively be able to cope with their new baby. Their high expectations coupled with a fear of having their baby taken away from them frequently cause women to feel reluctant to open up about any possible mental health problems that they do experience. Furthermore, when women actually are identified as having a mental health issue there is a distinct lack of specialist services. Improving the mental health provisions for pregnant women and new mothers should be seen as paramount, as it would not only impact on today’s mothers and babies but could help many future generations.