The Utah Department of Health is spreading education on Maternal Mental Health and the information is worth sharing. 44.8% of Utah mothers experience maternal mental health issues. Most people assume this means a mother is exclusively having thoughts of self harm or thoughts for harming their baby but the truth is that there are many signs to look for leading up to those. Things to look for include numbness and apathy, anger, insomnia or too much sleep, not letting oneself relax even with trusted help, irritability, isolation, brain fog, body tension, stomach issues, headaches or heart palpitations to name just a few. One way to approach this issue is if you do not feel like yourself, or if your family and friends notice that you are not acting like yourself, then there is no harm in getting extra help. Some ideas to get help include talking to a professional, like your midwife, nurse practitioner, OB/GYN, family doctor, a therapist, or finding a support group. If specific issues are triggering mental health issues (like trouble breastfeeding or pelvic floor issues), get a referral and specific help. Share with a trusted friend or family member. To learn more about Maternal Mental Health, visit www.mihp.utah.gov.
