Articles and Information
Articles to validate your experiences and to empower you to understand and navigate the world of perinatal mental ill health informed by research, lived experience, and reflection
For informational purposes only. For medical advice, diagnosis or support, please consult a professional.
Why We Need to Talk About Bipolar Disorder in Pregnancy and Postpartum.
When you think about maternal mental health, does bipolar disorder even come to mind? Pregnancy and postpartum include an increased vulnerability to the onset or recurrence of bipolar disorder, yet screening in antenatal and postnatal settings tends to only focus on depression. This is a missed opportunity, meaning bipolar disorder remains underdetected and undertreated in the perinatal period. So let’s talk about what bipolar disorder is and why it needs to be part of the conversation.
"Why is this happening to me?”: 7 gentle reasons to stop searching for the reason.
If you're struggling with perinatal depression or anxiety (PNDA), or any other perinatal mental illness, chances are you've asked yourself a question that feels both urgent and impossible: "Why is this happening to me?" Wanting to understand why you feel this way is completely natural. But when you’re in the middle of a mental health crisis, that search for a reason can actually make things harder. Here’s why it might be time to stop fixating on the cause of your PNDA - and how letting go of that pressure could actually be the first step towards real, compassionate support.
5 myths about self-compassion and why it matters to mothers.
Have you ever been told to “be kinder to yourself” and not known where to start? You’re not alone. For many mothers, self-compassion sounds so simple but feels incredibly hard to practice. In fact, it can feel selfish, indulgent, or even wrong. But these beliefs are myths and they keep us stuck in cycles of guilt and self-criticism. The truth is, learning how to be gentle with ourselves can transform not only how we mother, but how we care for our own mental and emotional wellbeing - which is why challenging these myths is important.
More than postpartum: mental health in pregnancy.
As the host and founder of Perinatal Stories Australia, I have the honour of interviewing mothers about what is often the hardest time of their life, during what is supposed to be the best time of their life. Something I hear far too often is how the symptoms of mental ill health in pregnancy were largely ignored - even by mothers themselves. It's just hormones, right? Maybe birth anxiety? This will all go away when the baby is here... won't it? And yet as a society and in health circles, the focus is usually only on postpartum. This needs to change.
Why is Mother-Centric Care Important?
Mother-centric care involves care from health and support providers who value the health, decisions, and needs of the mother.
Contrary to what some might have us believe, mother-centric does NOT mean we don’t value what’s best for our child/children.
To me, it simply means we aren’t putting the mother last.
Postpartum Planning: what is it and why does it matter?
What is postpartum planning?
Whether you formalise it or not, or use a postpartum planning service, a postpartum plan is any decision made to protect yourself, and your family, in the days, weeks, or even months, following birth. And we need to be talking more about this prior to birth.
Why does postpartum planning even matter?
Postpartum planning matters because YOU matter. It’s as simple as that. You - your health, your sleep, your nutrition, all of it - matters. And establishing support ahead of time can be crucial.
