New Mothers Struggle with Maternal Care
Being a new mother is hard. Not only are you trying to keep a new human alive but you're also dealing with your own physical recovery, with sleep deprivation, trying to figure out breastfeeding, and all the insurance and finance hurdles you have to navigate. It's a lot.
Transcript
00:00 Being a new mother is hard.
00:02 Not only are you trying to keep a new human alive,
00:04 but you're also dealing with your own physical recovery,
00:07 with sleep deprivation,
00:08 many with trying to figure out breastfeeding
00:10 and all the insurance and financial hurdles
00:12 that you have to navigate.
00:13 It's a lot.
00:14 Historically in the US,
00:15 the medical focus has been entirely on the baby
00:18 once they are delivered.
00:20 A new report card from the Policy Center
00:22 for Maternal Mental Health
00:23 ranked every state in 17 key areas,
00:26 and it found that the average grade was a D.
00:29 Many of the states that have the strictest
00:31 abortion restrictions are the same ones
00:34 where we're seeing the greatest need
00:37 for maternal mental health resources
00:38 and the least state action
00:40 in terms of addressing maternal mental health need.
00:43 Here's why this matters.
00:45 Mental health disorders are the number one complication
00:48 in pregnancy right now
00:49 and the leading cause of maternal deaths,
00:51 either from overdose or from suicide.
00:54 And half of maternal mental health disorders
00:56 are undiagnosed.
00:58 So the researchers behind the report card
01:00 also created a roadmap,
01:02 laying out steps for states to take
01:04 like screening new moms
01:05 and holding health plans accountable.
01:07 A moment where folks can really grab this information
01:12 and run with it for real policy change.
01:14 I spoke with a birth and wellness center in Colorado
01:16 that is seeing a lot of new moms
01:18 break the stigma and seek help.
01:20 And there are things you can do
01:22 to be your own health advocate.
01:24 Find somebody who's gonna listen.
01:26 And then from there, begin to think about
01:28 what are the resources you need.
01:30 It might be something like a postpartum doula.
01:32 It might be something more like
01:34 weekly therapy sessions via Zoom.
01:37 It might look like just getting out
01:38 for an after dinner walk with a friend.
01:40 There are also free support groups
01:41 linked to hospitals and to wellness centers.
01:44 Start by going back to your provider
01:46 to talk about your options and your struggles
01:48 and talk to your insurance provider to see what's covered.
01:51 The bottom line is if you feel like you need some help,
01:54 don't be afraid to reach out.
01:55 And if you need immediate help,
01:57 call the Maternal Mental Health Hotline
01:59 at 1-833-943-5746.
02:03 Or scan the QR code on your screen.