Maternal Mental Health Matters
Because it’s not just a buzzword. It’s a lifeline.
For 1 in 5 women, a mental health disorder will affect them in the first year after birth.
I was one of them. I just didn’t know it at the time.
The Anxiety I Couldn’t Name
I had postpartum anxiety, though I wouldn’t have called it that then. My mind was a swirl of intrusive thoughts I couldn’t shake. I became hyper-focused on my daughter’s sleep, her breathing, whether someone might break in and take her.
I was constantly scanning for danger, even when nothing was wrong.
And while I can’t speak to postpartum depression or anyone else’s experience, I can say this: I thought that because I had bonded with my baby, loved her deeply, and wasn’t having any dark or self-harming thoughts, it couldn’t possibly be a problem.
But in hindsight, I see it clearly.
I wasn’t depressed.
I was terrified.
Terrified that something would happen to her. That someone might grab her on a walk, or steal her while I slept, or that she’d stop breathing for no reason at all.
Why I Thought I Was “Fine”
No one had ever talked to me about postpartum anxiety, so I didn’t have the words to name it.
So I didn’t.
I told myself I was fine because I wasn’t depressed. I didn’t fit the description I thought I was supposed to. And since I was high-functioning on the outside, I convinced myself I didn’t need help.
But the truth is, I did need help.
The Power of Support
Honestly, I credit my husband. He was incredible.
(Do not tell him I said that.)
He never made me feel dramatic. He never said, “You’re overreacting.” He just said:
“You’re scared. I get it.”
Then he took the monitor from me and said, “I’ll watch her. You go sleep.”
He did this every night. Those nights gave me the space to rest, reset, and finally think:
What’s the harm in talking to my doctor?
That conversation changed everything.
What Help Looked Like
I started medication.
I worried it would make me feel different or numb. I thought I could just push through.
But what it actually felt like was taking a deep breath.
Within days, I felt a shift. I could finally hear myself again. The mental fog, looping fear, and panic didn’t define me anymore.
Pregnancy, SSRIs, and Stigma
Later, when the unimaginable happened and we received Charlotte’s diagnosis, I was already pregnant with Teddy.
I was on an SSRI, and while it is considered safe by many, it can still feel taboo to take during pregnancy. I had internalized that fear too.
After talking with my OB, we made a careful plan. I would stay on my medication during pregnancy but taper before delivery.
But then Charlotte was diagnosed. Everything shifted.
I was unraveling, and my OB looked at me and said:
“This is not the time to wean. You’re staying on it.”
She doubled my dose the day I delivered.
We will never know how different things could have been if she hadn’t stepped in. I tell her every time I see her:
Thank you for not letting me find out.
She advocated for me when I could not yet advocate for myself, and I will never stop being grateful.
Why Awareness Matters
And for anyone weighing in on whether a woman should stay on SSRIs while pregnant? Kick rocks. 💅
I’m sharing this so someone else might not feel so alone.
Because a healthy mom is a good mom.
And every mom deserves to feel whole, safe, and supported.
Why Sharing Matters
Talking about maternal mental health isn’t easy. But silence is harder.
By sharing our stories, we create ripples of connection that can change how another mom feels in her hardest moment.
Connection Is the Lifeline
Maternal mental health matters because no mom should have to face these fears in silence. Connection, honesty, and support can be the lifeline. And sometimes, the smallest story shared becomes the biggest gift of hope for someone else.
That’s also at the heart of what we do at Brave Bears Club—because sharing matters, connection matters, and hope is something worth giving, again and again.
If telling my story helps even one person feel seen, it’s worth every wo rd. 💜
If any part of this resonated with you (or someone you know), please reach out, share, or find help. No mom should have to go through this alone.
💜 Resources
- Mind Your Motherhood Resource Library
- Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA)
- Postpartum Support International