For many women, pregnancy is naturally uplifting, bringing with it the bliss of motherhood and the joy of nurturing a new life.
But for too many women, pregnancy and the birth of a baby come with feelings of anxiety and depression that they keep hidden for fear of not living up to our idealized vision of motherhood.
Erin Kenworthy and her husband, Jason, wanted a baby more than anything and, at first, having a new baby at home was “wonderful.”
Then came struggles with breastfeeding, constant care and exhaustion. She pretended she was happy but found herself growing angry – at her baby for always crying and herself for not being able to handle the demands of motherhood.
After she started having thoughts of harming her baby, she and her husband sought help. Thanks to medication and a support group, she worked her way through it. Now, she has a happy 5-year-old and a new baby who enjoys the benefits of a mom who learned how to ask for help.
New moms like Erin need to know they are not alone. Pregnancy-related depression and anxiety is the most common complication of pregnancy, affecting at least one in 10 Colorado moms. Many of these new moms report symptoms of anger or irritability, lack of interest in their babies or life, feelings of shame or hopelessness, or, in extreme cases, thoughts of harming their babies or themselves.
If left untreated, pregnancy-related depression and anxiety can result in physical and mental health problems for mother and child. It can get in the way of bonding, lead to a mother’s illness and hinder a child’s intellectual and emotional development. Children of depressed mothers are more likely to have behavior problems than those born to mothers who smoke, binge drink or suffer from abuse.
While no single cause for this condition has been identified, women with a personal or family history of depression or anxiety are more at risk. The social pressures of motherhood, the biological changes of pregnancy and birth and the psychological stress of being responsible for a new life can trigger clinical depression and anxiety.
Additional stressors can play a role as well, such as having a sick or colicky newborn, a lack of available family support or financial issues and other challenges. In other words, the things that make motherhood joyful for some can make it terrifying for others.
Despite their suffering, many women don’t get help. They feel guilty about not living up to society’s expectations of new moms and fearful of the stigma attached to those who need mental health care. They’re ashamed to tell others that for them, the journey of motherhood has become a roller-coaster of conflicting emotions and quiet desperation.
But there’s hope for these women. If pregnancy-related depression and anxiety is identified early and treated, mother and child can flourish. The first step is realizing that help is available. Mothers can reach out to loving family and friends for moral support, for help caring for the child or just to talk.
Mental health screening should be part of an ongoing health care conversation during pregnancy between doctors and patients. And women can take care of themselves by eating healthy, staying physically active and getting the rest they need.
State and local health departments are helping as well. We recognize pregnancy-related depression as a serious public health issue and recently launched a public awareness campaign and a web page with Colorado-specific resources in English and Spanish.
Mothers can visit www.postpartum.net/colorado to find a toll-free help line (800-944-4773), a list of local support groups and access to local coordinators who can connect them and their families to the help they need. Health care providers can find materials there to encourage women who visit them to talk about their symptoms and get help.
All of us play a role in making sure all Colorado moms get the support they need. Let’s make sure new moms struggling with depression and anxiety know they are not alone, they are not to blame and help is available.
Let’s make sure they have what they need for a happy Mother’s Day.
Dr. Tista Ghosh is a mother of two and deputy chief medical officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Reach her at tista.ghosh@state.co.us.
