Moms who need help are not alone

    For many women, pregnancy is naturally uplifting, bringing with it the bliss of motherhood and the joy of nurturing a new life. But for too many women, pregnancy and the birth of a baby come with feelings of anxiety and depression that they keep hidden for fear of not living up to our idealized vision of motherhood.
    Erin Kenworthy and her husband, Jason, wanted a baby more than anything and, at first, having a new baby at home was “wonderful.” Then came struggles with breastfeeding, constant care and exhaustion. She pretended she was happy but found herself growing angry — at her baby for always crying and herself for not being able to handle the demands of motherhood.
    After she started having thoughts of harming her baby, she and her husband sought help. Thanks to medication and a support group, she worked her way through it. Now, she has a happy 5-year-old and a new baby who enjoys the benefits of a mom who learned how to ask for help.
    New moms like Erin need to know they are not alone. Pregnancy-related depression and anxiety is the most common complication of pregnancy, affecting at least one in 10 Colorado moms. Many of these new moms report symptoms of anger or irritability, lack of interest in their babies or life, feelings of shame or hopelessness, or, in extreme cases, thoughts of harming their babies or themselves.
    If left untreated, pregnancy-related depression and anxiety can result in physical and mental health problems for mother and child. It can get in the way of bonding, lead to a mother’s illness and hinder a child’s intellectual and emotional development. Children of depressed mothers are more likely to have behavior problems than those born to mothers who smoke, binge drink or suffer from abuse.
 

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