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Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month

  • May 8
  • 5 min read


“MayCember”. You don’t know until you know. I’m a tired mama facing the fact that it is only May 8th… You guys. What. Is. Happening?


Hang out with me while I try to give voice to the vital importance of Maternal Mental Health Awareness in my messiness and chaos of real-life.


Please read this blog to the end. It’s important.


My kids are in public school now, even my little one as of last fall. They’re thriving, for the most part, and it’s been a positive thing for my family. However, we should have called it good enough on April 30th.  The teachers (bless them) are tired, yet somehow able to create joy and magic for these kids while running on fumes. The kids are wrecked and anticipating change, which…nobody is good at. The parents? Well, we’re about one field trip on a workday away from some sort of nervous system collapse. Can I see a show of hands???


Sunday May 10th, 2026, is Mother’s Day. I just want a nap and for no one to need me for the entire day. I don’t want to sign anything, cook anything, wipe anything or have to be anywhere. I want quiet and peace and a deep breathe before Monday. That’s all, and it’s impossible.

Oh, and… I don’t want to pack the lunch boxes. Justin, (husband extraordinaire) you’ve got that right!?


Being a human is so hard, especially right now. There is so much going on in the world that is scary, overwhelming and overtly unbelievable. We’re not hardwired to know this much, see this much or feel compelled to do something about this much. We’re sad, we’re tired, we’re pissed off and confused. We keep coming back to the truth that all we can do, all we are called to do, is love our people well. We must go home, we must love our partners, and we must squeeze those little ones who need our nervous systems to balance their own. But holy guacamole. This is a lot. We must not underestimate the power of how we show up.


The normal words we see and use in text about mental health don’t seem quite right for this season we’re walking through. They don’t seem like enough, but they still need to be said. I’m here, and I’m going to do my best to tackle the insurmountable task of discussing Maternal Mental Health.


Perinatal mood disorders affect 1 in 5 women. Are you in public place right now? Look around. If you’re in the presence of five women, one of them is a survivor. I say survivor because perinatal mood disorders are a beast… a mountain to climb… a torture to endure.


Symptoms include:

·      Feeling anger/rage and irritability

·      Lack of interest in or connection to baby

·      Changes in appetite or sleep

·      Sadness and crying

·      Feelings of guilt, shame, or hopelessness

·      Loss of interest in the things that you once enjoyed

·      Possible thoughts of harming yourself, or your baby

·      Life altering anxiety

·      Panic disorder including many extreme physical symptoms

·      Intrusive thoughts and images that show up randomly

 

Dear readers, these mothers really suffer.


Due to the stigma around mental health that has withstood the test of time, these mothers often endure these seasons alone. They often keep quiet because they think they’re isolated in their experience. What if they confide in someone and then they face judgement and shame? What if their partner thinks they’ve gone crazy? Shouldn’t they be happy and feel celebratory in this season?


Mothers often keep quiet because they don’t feel safe talking about their pain.


There are many things we may not be able to change right now, but supporting mothers through perinatal mood disorders is not one of them. We can stand with them. We can make maternal mental health part of our normal conversation when we’re visiting with the mothers in our lives.

We already take food (hopefully), we offer to clean the house or hold the baby during a nap, we celebrate by providing a baby gift. So, I would implore you to include one of the following (or something similar) into your NORMAL dialogue the next time you check on a new mama:


  • ·      “Hey, I know this time can be tricky and impossible, are you doing okay? I’m ok to hold any big feelings you have in confidentiality and to sit with you without trying to fix it. I see that having a baby is a lot and understand it comes with a lot of changes in the body and in your life.”


  • ·      “Outside of celebrating with you, what is something that would feel like love? I can cook, grab takeout, come do your dishes or take the baby on a walk so you can sleep?”



    In times of deeper concern: 

  • ·      “I’m a bit worried about you, are you dealing with some emotional health challenges? That’s really common right now and you’re not alone. What you’re feeling is temporary and there are some things we can do. I know a safe number we can call that can help us.”


  • ·      “Loved one are you having scary thoughts, or do you sometimes think you won’t survive this? It is going to be okay. Can I help you find more support and help? You will feel better, this is not your forever.”


She might say she’s “fine” or “doing great, just tired”. Follow your intuition in a loving and gentle way about meeting her where she is at. Our words matter. Naming the beast matters. Even if all you do is bring up how common this experience is during the postpartum period, or in the journey of motherhood, she WILL feel less alone.


You might not be the person she confides in, but you might plant a seed of confidence that will lead her to the right person. Please, don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions and to really check on the mothers in your life. Don’t push an agenda or an assumption, just listen. Truly hear her and be willing to just sit in her experience with her without having all the answers... just offer your steady presence.


If you are lucky enough to have a mama trust you with her truth, you don’t have to know exactly what to do, but you can give her these resources:



For Local Durango:


Additional Note from Author:

Fathers suffer too (1 in 10 men are affected by perinatal mood disorders). Ask them how they are. Invite the conversation. Hold space without fear. We are all in this together.


In honor of Maternal Mental Health month, I thank you for reading and learning. Thank you in advance for understanding that with the ecstasy that a new baby brings, there is often hardship too. Sometimes a little support is all that is needed. Sometimes its therapy or medication or both. Whatever the treatment, what she’ll remember is those who showed up for her and really tried to see her. She'll remember the people that weren't afraid of her big feelings and overwhelming thoughts.


In closing I wish to recognize the mothers that have walked before me and after, the mothers that make up the team of For Love & Babes and for the mothers in the community that we serve. You are amazing. You are strong. You are not in this alone.


Happy Mother’s Day, and thank you for your awareness around Maternal Mental Health!!


We are here if you need us. Forloveandbabes.com


With all my heart,

Beka Blythe

Director

For Love & Babes

970-403-5081

 

 
 
 

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