MÈRE Health: Pregnancy & Postpartum Wellness
As a perinatal therapist, I see firsthand how maternal mental health is an urgent public health crisis. Too many new and expecting mothers experience significant gaps in care, particularly when it comes to mental health support.
MÈRE Health’s initiative to provide preventative maternal mental health care is a critical step in closing this gap.
Imagine if we, as a global community, viewed maternal mental health as a proactive investment rather than a reactionary solution. There is a pressing need for continued policy action, healthcare innovation, and collaboration to ensure that all mothers receive the care they deserve.
Motherhood is a journey filled with love, joy, and a lot of unexpected emotions. One minute, you are staring at an ultrasound picture of your baby in awe, and the next, you are crying because someone finished the last of the cereal. (Totally normal, by the way!)
That is why learning about your mental health during pregnancy and postpartum is so powerful–it allows you to be informed, feel assured, and supported.
Reduces Fear of the Unknown
Many moms experience mood swings, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, but do not always know why. Learning about hormonal changes, physical changes, sleep deprivation, and mental health shifts helps them see these experiences as common and manageable rather than something to be ashamed of.
Helps Moms Recognize When They Need Support
Many moms suffer in silence because they think, “I’m just supposed to push through.” Understanding the difference between normal worries vs. intrusive thoughts, or exhaustion vs. burnout helps moms know when to reach out for help – without guilt.
Teaches Practical Coping Tools
Knowledge isn’t just about knowing what is happening–it is about learning what to do about it. Psychoeducation gives moms evidence-based strategies like mindfulness, self-compassion, and ways to manage stress and sleep. Having these tools before challenges arise can make all the difference.
Strengthen Support Systems
There is a pressure for moms to “do it all” alone. Learning about the importance of a strong support network–partners, family, friends–helps moms lean on others when needed, improving both mental health and overall well-being.
Shifts the Narrative Around Motherhood
Because motherhood is often portrayed as purely joyful, it takes immense courage to name where you are struggling. When moms learn that feeling overwhelmed, grieving their pre-baby identity, or that struggling with perfectionism is a real part of the journey, they experience less guilt and more self-compassion.
While the world talks a lot about morning sickness and baby bumps, the emotional shifts, anxiety, and changes in intimacy often get overlooked.
Pregnancy Hormones Can Lead To:
Mood swings
Anxiety about the unknown
Changes in self-image
Fluctuations in libido & intimacy
Fear of losing independence
It is also helpful to have an understanding of when symptoms signal that it is time to reach out for help.
There is so much unknown in pregnancy, including unexpected health challenges for both mothers & babies in utero. Physical unknowns and mental unknowns both contribute to the emotional burden / weight that a pregnant mom carries. One ultrasound or blood test can turn your whole world upside down.
If therapy is in place — there is a safe space to process the news.
While all of these things are “common” they are not NORMAL and there is support for you.
Baby Blues vs. Postpartum Depression:
It is totally natural to feel teary-eyed and a bit “off” after giving birth (hello, hormones!). But learning when those emotions last a little too long or become more intense can help you take the next step to feel better.
Anxiety & Intrusive Thoughts:
Our maternal instincts cue us to worry about our baby. But if your worries spiral into intrusive thoughts that won’t quit, knowing that this is common–and treatable–can offer some much-needed peace of mind.
Emotional Triggers:
Hormones are playing their own game, you haven’t slept a full night in months, and life is changing (really changing!). Understanding why this is all happening breeds curiosity and compassion rather than isolation and helplessness.
Birth Trauma:
The “why didn’t anyone tell me” moment is very real. Many moms feel blindsided by how birth unfolds. Maybe the medical team was rushing, things got intense, or no one really explained what was happening. Processing your birth experience or birth trauma can be a relief.
Just like we wouldn’t wait until we are in labor to pack our hospital bag, it is helpful to have mental health support in place before challenges arise.
I have experienced the impact that investing in pregnancy and postpartum mental health care can have on mothers, children, and families. I frequently sit with women as they share their stories of suffering in silence, battling anxiety, depression, or trauma while grieving a miscarriage, walking through infertility, or caring for a newborn.
One of the most powerful ways to create change here is to recognize that mental health challenges during pregnancy & postpartum are not signs of weakness or personal failure but rather natural responses to the immense physical, psychological, hormonal, and emotional shifts of motherhood.
Conditions like perinatal anxiety, depression, and birth trauma should be understood as medical conditions that require treatment, not simply emotional struggles to endure.
Early intervention in pregnancy through psychotherapy, psychoeducation and routine mental health screenings can prevent these conditions from escalating into chronic mental health challenges. The mind and body are deeply interconnected, and untreated perinatal mental health conditions can have profound physiological and psychological consequences.
I often hear from clients, “Wow, looking back, I was a shell of myself when I first met with you.” When a mother receives the care and support she needs, it does not just change her life—it shapes the relationship with her own self, the life of her child, and the generations to come.
Despite growing awareness, barriers such as stigma and limited access to care still prevent women from receiving the mental health support they need.
As a therapist dedicated to this field, I believe integrating psychoeducation and psychotherapy into standard prenatal and postpartum care is not just an option—it is a necessity.
It’s a true honor and joy to walk alongside a new momma in her journey, creating a space that’s not just safe and supportive for today, but one that can continue to be a source of comfort and strength for a lifetime.
— Becca Hamilton, LPC, PMH-C
Becca Hamilton, along with all mental health providers at Mère Health, holds a Perinatal Mental Health Certification from Postpartum Support International. This specialized training equips Becca with the expertise to recognize the importance of preventative mental health care during the perinatal period, ensuring that women receive the support they need before challenges arise.