pregnancy deserves mental healthcare

Pregnancy and becoming a Mother is one of the most emotionally and physically intense times in life.

Our medical system knows this—with all of the routine check-ups, foods to eat and foods to avoid, caring for baby classes, and much more - we’re counseled on everything from fetal development to the hospital bag checklists. But the one critical area that remains glaringly neglected is the expectant Mother or Mother’s mental health.

Despite the fact that 1 in 5 women will experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder (PMAD) (Postpartum Support International), and many more will feel some version of anxious, overwhelmed, or isolated, preventative mental health care is rarely offered as a standard part of prenatal care.

Let’s dig into why.

The Problem: A System Built Around Crisis, Not Prevention

Our healthcare system tends to treat mental health the way it treats cavities or broken bones: respond once there’s a clear problem. But waiting for a crisis isn’t just ineffective—it’s dangerous. The earlier mental health challenges are acknowledged and addressed, the more manageable they are.

And yet, most pregnant people are left to navigate this terrain alone until (or unless) things get severe.

What’s more, OB-GYNs aren’t trained mental health providers. While they may screen for depression once or twice during pregnancy, usually with a questionnaire like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), time constraints and limited training can mean subtle warning signs go unnoticed (ACOG Committee Opinion 757).

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Untreated perinatal mental health conditions don’t just affect the birthing parent. They impact birth outcomes, bonding, breastfeeding, relationships, and long-term child development (Harvard Center on the Developing Child).

There are economic costs too—studies estimate that perinatal mental health issues cost the U.S. $14.2 billion annually, largely due to lost productivity, missed work, and increased healthcare needs for both parent and child (Mathematica & Sage Therapeutics, 2020).

What Preventative Mental Health Could Look Like

Preventative care doesn’t mean assuming everyone will struggle. It means equipping all pregnant people with tools to recognize, navigate, and talk about their mental health early and often. This could look like:

• Journals and self-guided workbooks grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness
• Normalizing therapy as part of prenatal care, not just a reactive solution
• Peer support groups led by trained facilitators (NIH Study on Peer Support in Postpartum)
• Routine emotional check-ins during OB visits—not just once at intake
• Access to psychoeducation, mindfulness tools, and digital resources tailored to the perinatal journey

The Bottom Line

We prepare pregnant people for birth with classes, apps, and diagrams. But we don’t prepare them for the emotional landscape of becoming a parent. Preventative mental health care during pregnancy isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.

We’re on a mission to change the standard. Start your Maternal Mental Health journey with us.