Maternal Mental Health is the balance of women’s emotional and mental health:

1. Pre-pregnancy
2. During pregnancy
3. Postpartum and up to 2 years post child birth.

A women’s transition to motherhood can be uniquely overwhelming with mixed emotions aside from the physical changes.

10% of pregnant women and 13% of postpartum women develop a mental health disorder.

Maternal mental illness is usually defined as postpartum depression. A common misconception of Maternal Mental Health is that it only refers to depression during the postpartum period. However, perinatal mental health disorders can manifest as:

1. Depression
2. Anxiety
3. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
4. Panic disorder
5. Psychosis
6. Post-traumatic stress disorder.

New mothers experience high pressure and over extend themselves, acquiring supernatural strength to overcome:

• The massive hormonal shift
• Sleep deprivation
• Biological
• Psychological and,
• Social changes.

Therefore, many mothers hesitate to acknowledge something is wrong in fear of judgment and failure in motherhood.

• Are you feeling sad or depressed?
• Do you feel more irritable or angry with those around you?
• Are you having difficulty bonding with your baby?
• Do you feel anxious or panicky?
• Are you having problems with eating or sleeping?
• Are you having upsetting thoughts that you can’t get out of your mind?
• Do you feel as if you are “out of control” or “going crazy”?
• Do you feel like you never should have become a mother?
• Are you worried that you might hurt your baby or yourself?

These are some symptoms that could indicate that you have a form of perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. Even though many women experience mood changes during pregnancy, and after the birth of a child, 15 to 20% of women experience more significant symptoms of depression or anxiety. Please be advised that with proper care and treatment you can fully recover and avoid worsening of symptoms. If left untreated negative consequences can affect the mother, baby and family.

Birth trauma refers to a real or perceived traumatic event following childbirth. About nine percent of women would experience postpartum Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after childbirth. Some trauma may include but not limited to

• Emergency c-section
• Prolapsed cord
• Baby going to NICU
• Severe physical injury or complication to either mother or baby during childbirth or pregnancy
• Previous trauma such as rape or sexual abuse
• Miscarriages and Stillbirth

Mayeling “May” Angelastro, MA | Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern is a wife and mother who uses her outgoing personality to connect with children, individuals and couples. May’s clients mention how much they love how easy she relates to others. May’s passion for counseling stems from her own experience of relationship struggles, postpartum mood disregulation and poor self esteem. In her journey she has found ways to heal from the past and have healthy relationships as well as self confidence! She has also reveals her personal experience in the rewarding struggles of parenting, and the challenges of balancing a healthy life between career, motherhood and family. May loves to help others find life enrichment, manage their emotional and mental health and guide others to overcome life challenges.