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Why Does Maternal Mental Health Matter?
Pregnancy and matrescence (the transition to motherhood) are vulnerable times for women who are subjected to surging hormones, changes in their bodies and roles, and poor sleep. In many ways, it is the perfect melting pot for mental illness; whether the recurrence of an existing condition or a first episode. Motherhood is demanding, and for a depressed, anxious, psychotic, or traumatised mother, the moment-to-moment care of their infant may feel overwhelming. This can have consequences for the child’s development and the mother’s physical and emotional well-being. Let’s imagine a mother and baby. This is Aisha. Aisha would describe herself as generally being “a bit of a worrier”, and is having…