Maternal Mental Health Research Collaborative
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The Challenges Faced By Moms with IDD and Mental Health Issues When Looking for Health Care

Women with special needs

It can be hard to be a mom. But it can be even harder if you have an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) and mental health issues and are looking for healthcare. Navigating the healthcare system can be difficult – especially when you face stigma and bias from healthcare providers. We asked moms who participated…

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How Receiving a Diagnosis of Postpartum Depression Saved My Life – Megan’s Story

I’m a 38-year-old suburban soccer mom who’s soft in all the wrong places and could never be mistaken for Britney Spears. Except when I look at photos of her as a young mom, tears in her eyes, looking trapped and alone, all I see is me. Finding Common Ground With Britney Spears Britney and I…

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A Black Body in the Healthcare System – Brianna’s Story

I have many identities as I navigate through the world. Through observation alone you may gather that I am wife, a mother, a black woman. You may make educated guesses about my status if you take note of what I am wearing that particular day or my mode of transportation. As I navigate my work…

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Reflections of Mothering with a Mental Illness During a Pandemic – Fightress’ Story

It’s All Hard This quote resurfaced on social media recently: “Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard. Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard. Life will never…

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Marathon of Moms: Your Stories Break Down Stigma

Our first ever Marathon of Moms was a huge success and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our MMHRC community. After putting out our call for your stories of lived experience with maternal mental illness, we received submissions from women from across North America. Common Bonds and Shared Experience It was…

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Katie’s Story: My Experience Made No Sense to Me

I’m an average woman. I’m a nurse who went away to college for four years and I’m married to a wonderful man. We make a decent living, and I have a great group of friends I’ve stayed close with since college. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be in a situation where…

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Lauren’s Story: Panic Attacks are Never Normal

Mom and Dad with new baby

“Oh my God, I know how women hurt their babies!” I cried as this thought replayed in my head over and over, while I held my screaming baby at arm’s length. My husband took my daughter, and I collapsed into my bed. “I need help. There is something seriously wrong with me,” I said through…

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Allison’s Story: The Need to Escape My Life Didn’t Stop

Mom and dad with toddler girl

Sometimes I wonder if it was all just a dream; a really, really frightening dream. The way I feel now towards my daughter can’t compare. Only when I dwell on certain pictures or my husband brings it up do I remember that we in fact lived it, and we somehow survived. My deepest hope is…

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Beth’s Story: My New Normal Now Includes Mental Illness

My pregnancy was blissful with very little morning sickness or fatigue. I had perfect blood work and perfect ultrasounds. Everything was perfect, perfect, perfect.  My body was doing exactly what it should do and my baby was growing beautifully. There Were Still Risk Factors I had absolutely no depression, and just general (normal) worry about…

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After Postpartum Depression, There’s No Shame in Only Having One Child

Woman sitting on beach holding young son

After a nightmare experience with postpartum depression, anxiety and PTSD, I have one child and I’ve put the reproductive stage of my life behind me. I was blessed with a magical little boy who turned five only a month ago. His status as an only child will stay, and it’s taken me the last five…

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