Pregnancy and the time after delivering a baby is different for everyone. It can be full of happiness and excitement, and it can also be scary, overwhelming and hard. These feelings can also occur for people trying to get pregnant, those who have lost a pregnancy, and individuals at different stages of nursing or pumping. From the time we try to conceive (if we are trying), through pregnancy, and into the early parenting years, our bodies and lives go through a lot of changes.
To help us learn more about perinatal mental health, we talked to Megan Steen. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Regional Chief Operating Officer of Brightli’s North/Central Region. She also serves on the board of Postpartum Support International in Missouri.
“There is a ton of support out there and people who feel really passionate about this subject – people who want to help and increase resources,” Steen said.
Why is perinatal mental health so important? Twenty percent of pregnant people have a diagnosis of postpartum depression or anxiety (K. Womersly & H. Alderson, 2024). At the same time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 8.3% of pregnant people have gestational diabetes (2023). Steen points out, “We screen everyone for gestational diabetes, but we don’t screen everyone consistently for post-partum depression or anxiety.” Additionally, mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal death in the U.S. (CDC, 2020).
Learn more about perinatal mental health including symptoms and support in the tool below.