The month of May asks us to look directly at mental health. For women in the peripartum and postpartum period, that look must be steady and kind.
The peripartum period runs from late pregnancy through the first year after birth. It is a time of major physical and emotional change.
Hormones shift faster than many people expect. Within 48 hours of delivery, oestrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply.
This also affects serotonin and dopamine levels. Sleep becomes broken, often coming in two-hour stretches. Identity also changes through a process researchers call matrescence. It can feel as confusing and emotional as adolescence.
At the same time, social expectations grow louder. Be grateful. Be glowing. Be unchanged. Ageism adds another burden. It suggests a woman’s value fades as her body and priorities change. Bianca did not age out of relevance.
The world aged into her wisdom. Yet many mothers absorb the opposite message. They carry their distress quietly.
That distress has names. The baby blues affect up to 80 per cent of mothers. They usually appear around the fourth or fifth day after birth. Symptoms include tears, irritability, and feeling overwhelmed. In most cases, they ease within two weeks.
When those feelings continue or become worse, it may be postpartum depression or anxiety. Some women also experience postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder or birth-related post traumatic stress disorder. Postpartum psychosis is rare but serious. It can involve confusion, paranoia, or delusions. Immediate medical care is needed.
These conditions are not signs of weakness. They are among the most common complications of childbirth. They are more common than gestational diabetes or preeclampsia. When left untreated, they affect the whole family. Infant sleep, feeding, and development may suffer. Partners can also struggle. About one in 10 fathers experience depression during the first year after birth.
Mental Health Month began in 1949 to create space for such conversations. The World Health Organization now describes maternal mental health as a human right. Kenya’s Ministry of Health recommends routine screening. However, access still depends on location and income. Stigma often causes more harm than limited services.
That is why community support matters. In Nairobi and across Kenya, peer support spaces continue to grow. Still A Mum supports women through pregnancy and infant loss. It offers grief counselling, support groups, and remembrance events. WOW MUM, Women on the Way, creates support networks for new and expectant mothers. It provides meet-ups, education, and practical help. Dochas Mums, Mummy Tales KE, and hospital-based groups at Aga Khan University Hospital and Nairobi Hospital also offer support. One safe support circle can change the path to recovery.
Healing also begins in the body. Sleep is treatment, not a luxury. Families can organise night shifts so each parent gets at least one uninterrupted four-hour block of sleep. Nap when the baby naps. Let the laundry wait.
Nutrition also matters. Blood sugar crashes can worsen anxiety. Regular meals with protein and complex carbohydrates help. Ndengu and brown rice, omena with ugali, eggs and sukuma wiki, and fortified maize meal support mood and milk supply. Omega 3 from fish, iron from beans or liver, and morning sunlight for vitamin D also support brain health.
Movement helps too. Even small amounts matter. Twenty minutes of walking, once cleared by a doctor, can reduce the risk of postpartum depression. Postnatal yoga, stretching beside the crib, or dancing in the sitting room all count.
Thoughts also need care. Naming an emotion can reduce its power. This is anxiety. This is grief for my old life. Journaling or recording a short voice note can help make struggles feel more manageable. Replace the word “should” with something more honest. Some moments are hard, and that is human.
Social media also shapes emotions. Keep accounts that normalise struggle and growth. Mute those that promote a fantasy of effortless motherhood.
Asking for help is also important. Be specific. Can you bring dinner on Tuesday? Can you hold the baby from two to four on Saturday so I can shower and sleep?
Partners can also check in daily. Ask: “On a scale of one to 10, how was your stress today?” If both numbers are high, it may be time to ask for support.
Professional help is not a last resort. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is a 10-question screening tool used worldwide. A score of 10 or more means it is time to speak to a clinician.
Cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal therapy are among the first-line treatments. Teletherapy through Mindful Kenya or Chiromo Lane Medical Centre has widened access.
Many SSRIs are considered safe during breastfeeding. However, decisions about medication should be made with a doctor. The risks of untreated illness must also be considered. If thoughts of self-harm or harming the baby appear, that is an emergency. In Kenya, support is available through 1199 for mental health and gender-based violence support. Befrienders Kenya can also be reached on +254 722 178 177.
Culture can either support or silence women. The 40-day confinement period practised in many Kenyan communities was meant to provide rest, warm meals, massage, and fewer visitors. Keep what restores you. Let go of what silences you. Prayer, meditation, or even 10 quiet minutes on the balcony can help calm the nervous system.
This May, choose one small action. Take the EPDS screening online. Book a non-baby activity, such as a hair wash or coffee with a friend. Tell one trusted person the truth without apology: “I am finding this hard.” Save a crisis line in your phone before you need it. Reach out to Still A Mum if you are grieving. Join a WOW MUM circle if you need support for the journey ahead.
Maternal stress is not a personal failure. It is a physical, psychological, and social response to one of life’s biggest transitions. With screening, support, and practical strategies, recovery is possible.
It should also be expected. A mother’s mental health is not secondary to her child’s care. A regulated mother helps regulate her child. A society that honours mothers in May must continue to support them throughout the year.
The writer is a wellness doctor passionate about social change, gender, and mental health advocacy
Comments 0
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign In Create AccountNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!