postpartum mental health and how to Get help

May is Maternal Mental Health month and for me I am going to focus on the postpartum mental health. Everyone talks about it, but what are we doing for mamas? Besides offering them a standardized test at their six week check up? If this is an issue and we can see it in the data, especially since 2020, how are we making sure that mamas are okay?

I wasn’t okay. When I scored low on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale I was told, in 2020, that everyone was struggling. How did that help me? I NEEDED SUPPORT. Alone during a pandemic, while Mark worked full time and our friends or families couldn’t visit with premature babies, difficulty breastfeeding, severe sleep deprivation, birth trauma (didn’t know that at the time), postpartum anxiety and depression, oh and don’t forget the leftover placenta that was causing the breastfeeding and body issues. (Which no one believed me there when I said there was an issue as well.) This wasn’t simply a low score, no one took into account me as an individual or my situation and my postpartum mental health.

You might think, well Tijana, go and find help then. I did eventually and the wait times were almost a year. A YEAR! If someone had flagged me in early postpartum or even six months into postpartum, I would’ve been referred to a clinic, counselling and most importantly SUPPORT. I know every country is different. Where I live if you are struggling in postpartum, flagged and referred within one year of giving birth we have great programs to help mamas. If mamas who need assistance aren’t taken seriously or referred they have to pay out of pocket for services, search for their own help, when they’re already at their max and possibly struggling to function every day.

These mamas need tools to help them cope. People who believe them. Someone to listen to how they’re feeling. Most importantly, want to make sure they get back to feeling like themselves. They need someone to say, I’m sorry this is happening, you are not alone and we can get through this.

I know, for myself, as someone who struggled in postpartum, I thought there was something wrong with me. At every turn I was told, you’re fine, everyone’s struggling, yes this is normal but I knew how I was feeling was not right, but no one would listen or help.

Mama, if this is you, there are places you can find the support you need.

Postpartum support International

They have a help line if you need to speak with someone. Over 50 support groups, including birth trauma, NICU parents, pregnancy and postpartum mood, pregnancy after loss, parents of multiples, single parent support, and more.

Anxiety Canada

A great resource for information with a podcast, anxiety app, group counselling, no cost counselling and more. If you’re struggling with postpartum anxiety, this would be a great place to start.

Mother to Baby

Great resources, fact sheets, blogs and a podcast to help you navigate everything pregnancy and postpartum mental health.

Maternal Mental Health Hotline

This is a hotline in the USA. It’s a 24/7, free, confidential hotline for pregnant and new moms in English and Spanish. If you’re struggling in postpartum, need to talk to someone or have questions about how you’re feeling, this would be a great place to start.

YOUr Community

If you want to find something local to you whether it’s an in person support group or counsellor or postpartum meet up. Use key words and search your town or area. I’m sure there are a lot of resources out there, all we have to do is look.

For me, I never searched online for postpartum mental health resources. Even though I didn’t feel like myself and was struggling in so many ways, Everyone was telling me I was fine, or normal. A part of me thought this is what it feels like to be a new mama. I didn’t know any different. Now I know. I should’ve fought for myself, said you’re wrong, I am 1 IN 3. HELP! I couldn’t do it for myself, so I try my best to provide all the data, information, my personal journey, so you know you can ask for help, fight for yourself and make sure you are taken care of. You’ve got this mama!