Greater Mental Health Support Is Still Needed During Pregnancy

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Key TakeawaysMental health support is needed on a larger scale for pregnant individuals.When a mom deals with depression or anxiety during pregnancy, it can affect the child’s neurological development.A referral system within the medical community for expecting parents that need mental health support would be a step in the right direction.

Key Takeaways

Mental health support is needed on a larger scale for pregnant individuals.When a mom deals with depression or anxiety during pregnancy, it can affect the child’s neurological development.A referral system within the medical community for expecting parents that need mental health support would be a step in the right direction.

“Pregnancy impacts the woman’s entire being. Early and appropriate access to mental health services can significantly reduce the negative health impacts for both mother and infant,” states Gwenneth Simmonds, PhD, CNM in Atlanta, Georgia.

What Is Perinatal Depression?

Study Details

Researchers gathered information about the mental health problems women experienced during pregnancy from self-reported questionnaires. Participants came from a hospital in Wales and included expectant women and midwives.

Those who reported symptoms of depression and anxiety in early pregnancy, but were not receiving mental health services, were then asked additional questions regarding their mental health challenges. There were 20 participants for the interview portion of the study.

Gwenneth Simmonds, PhD[The] current level of support is inadequate. All pregnant women should be screened early for possible mental health issues and follow-up care provided to those identified to be at risk.

Gwenneth Simmonds, PhD

[The] current level of support is inadequate. All pregnant women should be screened early for possible mental health issues and follow-up care provided to those identified to be at risk.

Findings showed that nine women reported having mental health disorders late in pregnancy. Additionally, 15 women had symptoms of mild to moderatedepression, and 15 women had symptoms of mild to moderate anxiety.While the study sampling was small, it paints a bigger picture—that pregnant people don’t receive the mental health care they need during this vulnerable time.

“[The] current level of support is inadequate. All pregnant women should be screened early for possible mental health issues and follow-up care provided to those identified to be at risk,” advises Dr. Simmonds.

The current study findings highlight the strong prevalence of mental health issues in pregnant mothers, and the fact that not enough is done about it within the medical community.

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How Women Have Managed

Hormonal changes, financial difficulties, relationship problems, uncertainty about the future, and numerous other circumstances can cause stress, anxiety, or depression for a pregnant person. Support and help with processing these emotions are important for expecting parents. Unfortunately, a number of barriers hinder adequate mental health care.

“Some possible barriers to care include shame [and] embarrassment on the part of the mother, failure of the [obstetrician] provider to recognize the need for mental health services, lack of transportation, and in the US lack of access [to mental health care],” notes Dr. Simmonds.

Even if a woman does have access to mental health care, she often has to find it on her own. The search process itself can be a deterrent.

“You have to seek it out yourself, you have to decide that you need it, then you have to find a practitioner that you’re comfortable with,” notesRachael Benjamin, LCSW, Director,Tribeca Maternity. “You have to seek them out either through a clinic system or a social support network, or community or private practice, but you have to find it. Most [obstetricians] do not have a ready list available, so that’s a barrier,” Benjamin adds.

The barriers, coupled with the lack of a streamlined process to provide mental health services, have led women to seek help in other capacities. Support groups and family members provide comfort and support. Books and online blogs have also helped bridge the gap in mental health care. These self-care solutions have been a band-aid on a larger problem. Experts say greater awareness and action in the medical community is needed.

Rachael Benjamin, LCSWI think practitioners, therapists, or [obstetricians] should try to connect with each other and build community together so there’s a referral system in place.

Rachael Benjamin, LCSW

I think practitioners, therapists, or [obstetricians] should try to connect with each other and build community together so there’s a referral system in place.

[Obstetricians] and midwives should be asking how someone is actually emotionally feeling. ‘Are you feeling anxious about this? How’s your mood these days?’ Benjamin explains. “I think practitioners, therapists, or [obstetricians] should try to connect with each other and build community together so there’s a referral system in place,” she suggests.

Pregnant individuals need better education on the impact of depression,anxiety, and stress during pregnancy. They should be given information on mental health care available to them, and how to access it. And they should not feel ashamed of what they are feeling.

How Postpartum Depression Affects Dads

Future Outlook

“Adequate prenatal recognition and management can significantly reduce the negative impact of postpartum depression as these women would be receiving themental health carethat they need,” Dr. Simmonds notes.

People who are expecting and their children can only benefit from more importance being placed on mental health care. If incorporated as a part of prenatal checkups, it can be advantageous to everyone.

“Society needs to view mental health as just another form of necessary health care. Currently the stigma attached keeps many people who need the care from seeking the services. Family, providers, and the community can help women recognize they have a problem and encourage them to seek appropriate intervention,” Dr. Simmonds concludes.

What This Means For You

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3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Savory NA, Hannigan B, Sanders J.Women’s experience of mild to moderate mental health problems during pregnancy, and barriers to receiving support.Midwifery. 2022;108:103276. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2022.103276Scheinost D, Sinha R, Cross SN, et al.Does prenatal stress alter the developing connectome?Pediatr Res. 2017;81(1-2):214-226. doi:10.1038/pr.2016.197Madigan S, Oatley H, Racine N, et al.A meta-analysis of maternal prenatal depression and anxiety on child socioemotional development. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;57(9):645-657.e8. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2018.06.012

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Savory NA, Hannigan B, Sanders J.Women’s experience of mild to moderate mental health problems during pregnancy, and barriers to receiving support.Midwifery. 2022;108:103276. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2022.103276Scheinost D, Sinha R, Cross SN, et al.Does prenatal stress alter the developing connectome?Pediatr Res. 2017;81(1-2):214-226. doi:10.1038/pr.2016.197Madigan S, Oatley H, Racine N, et al.A meta-analysis of maternal prenatal depression and anxiety on child socioemotional development. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;57(9):645-657.e8. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2018.06.012

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Savory NA, Hannigan B, Sanders J.Women’s experience of mild to moderate mental health problems during pregnancy, and barriers to receiving support.Midwifery. 2022;108:103276. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2022.103276Scheinost D, Sinha R, Cross SN, et al.Does prenatal stress alter the developing connectome?Pediatr Res. 2017;81(1-2):214-226. doi:10.1038/pr.2016.197Madigan S, Oatley H, Racine N, et al.A meta-analysis of maternal prenatal depression and anxiety on child socioemotional development. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;57(9):645-657.e8. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2018.06.012

Savory NA, Hannigan B, Sanders J.Women’s experience of mild to moderate mental health problems during pregnancy, and barriers to receiving support.Midwifery. 2022;108:103276. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2022.103276

Scheinost D, Sinha R, Cross SN, et al.Does prenatal stress alter the developing connectome?Pediatr Res. 2017;81(1-2):214-226. doi:10.1038/pr.2016.197

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