Porter County Mothers Need Support Too
By: Hadassah Moore | Project Coordinator, First Things First Porter County
May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, and First Things First Porter County is committed to helping our youngest ones by empowering our local mothers to feel supported, connected, and confident. One in five mothers will experience a perinatal mood disorder such as postpartum depression/anxiety—I am one in five.
My anxiety began during my pregnancy and only increased after giving birth. Having sought professional support for anxiety and depression prior to pregnancy, I knew my risk factors were higher than the average mother. My postpartum nurse did the required screening and gave me a folder of pamphlets containing resources to take advantage of…and that was it. I felt heard and seemingly equipped, but then I got home. Five days after giving birth, I found myself blurry-eyed, dissociated, confused, angry, and knowing I needed more support than local friends and family who meant well and a hands-on husband.
I needed a deep system of care that could provide me with reassurance of my baby’s health, a giant dose of self-confidence, and a sense of belonging as I became a new version of myself.
My son is now 14 months old, and I look back on my early postpartum season with a flurry of emotions—one being compassion. Compassion for myself that leads me to emphatically speak about the importance of postpartum care to help new moms like myself, and to help my future self as motherhood is an ever-changing existence. What are some things I took advantage of to survive the early stages?
My first step was to call the Postpartum Support International National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, a free, confidential hotline that can be reached 24/7 at 1-833-852-6262. I spoke with a trained, gentle, reassuring voice who helped me get through one more unbearable night.
Connecting with a professional mental health counselor allowed me to move my anxiety out of my head and into productive strategies. Each week, I knew I could talk out all the intense thoughts in my head and free up some mental space to allow joy and confidence to seep in.
The lactation consultant from my birth hospital was generous with her time and encouragement as my son and I tried to get a handle on nursing, which ultimately led to bottle feeding. She saw me as a whole person, not just a milk bank, and reassured me that the work I had done in trying to successfully nurse my baby was valid, important, and to be celebrated even if it didn’t last as long as I had hoped.
Our local park system maintains walking trails that got me outside of my house and outside of my head. The ease of having a content (usually sleeping) baby on a gentle walk was a welcome break in the hectic days of crying and confusion.
My son’s pediatrician guided me through many many many many questions, scenarios, and worries. His doctor cared for my son and myself by providing me with some confidence through encouragement and helpful tips.
The local library provided a joyful change of scenery, oh-so-precious adult human interaction with staff, and a place where I could read while my baby played on the floor.
Other new moms to talk with and “compare notes” on all the questions, worries, joys, fear, and laughter were so important to me. Having a few friends who became first-time moms within a few months of myself was such an asset. If you don’t have anyone that fits this bill, attending a Books, Blocks, Balls event could lead to some new connections and friendship.
How in the world did I acquire all of these resources? It didn’t happen all at once, and it took a few months of adding to my toolbox as my capacity changed. I had to find the tools on my own, but it doesn’t need to be this way. Help Me Grow Porter County can help fill your toolbox much faster as they are the “one-stop-shop” for connecting you to family support opportunities.
First Things First Porter County is consistently looking to create and expand access to systems that directly provide postpartum care. Together, we can help our Porter County mothers feel seen and supported.