Balanced Mama

Doulas know how to pivot, and our little Balanced Mama family has certainly had some big practice in that this month.

A little over a week ago, our sweet Allison’s water broke at 29 weeks. She is having to pivot hard from the home birth she planned to working hard to stay pregnant while living in an antenatal room for the next several weeks.

This childbearing journey can be so very vulnerable and humbling, with so much out of our control. Support during this time is everything. We are here for it, and honored to support one of our own through this giant bass ackward pivot.

So here’s us at our monthly staff meeting, in Allison’s new quarters. We of course brought breakfast and coffee, and a few pints of from Loblolly for the nurses to show our appreciation for great care. We’ve been spending a LOT of time up there this month. 🙃😁

May is Mental Health Awareness Month…and mental health matters during pregnancy, too.
Perinatal mental health conditions can happen during pregnancy, not just after birth. Anxiety, depression, OCD, panic, and other mental health struggles can affect anyone during the prenatal period regardless of how wanted or loved the pregnancy is or if you had mental health struggles before then.
During pregnancy and postpartum the amygdala expands to help mamas be in tune with baby. This combined with rapid hormonal shifts can create the perfect storm for new and confusing feelings.
Perinatal anxiety can look like:
• Constant worry or racing thoughts
• Fear surrounding pregnancy, birth, mama’s health, or baby’s health
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling on edge all the time
• Panic attacks or physical symptoms of anxiety
Perinatal depression can look like:
• Persistent sadness or numbness
• Feeling disconnected from the pregnancy
• Loss of motivation or interest in daily life
• Guilt, hopelessness, or feeling like you’re failing
• Difficulty caring for yourself
Perinatal OCD can include:
• Intrusive or unwanted thoughts
• Compulsive checking or reassurance-seeking
• Intense fears about safety, contamination, or harm
Pregnancy is often portrayed as a joyful time, but the reality is that many people struggle silently while feeling pressure to “enjoy every moment.”
Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder that maternal mental health deserves attention at every stage… including pregnancy.
You deserve support, rest, compassion, and care while growing a baby, too.
You do not have to wait until postpartum to ask for help. 🤍
If you or someone you know is struggling with perinatal anxiety, reach out to our doula team for help with finding resources to best support you. One major function of a birth doula is to provide emotional support to help calm fears and create a space to trust your body.
You are not alone.
1-833-TLC-MAMA - national maternal mental health hotline.
Call…text…chat…get help.

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Postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency that can include:
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Confusion or paranoia
• Rapid mood swings
• Loss of touch with reality
If you or someone you know is experiencing signs of psychosis including hearing or seeing things that are not there, feeling like they are “out of body” and doing things that seem abnormal/unsafe, or are talking about things that do not seem to make sense or are real, seek emergency professional support immediately including but not limited to the nearest emergency room.
While it seems scary, this is a severe hormonal imbalance heightened by lack of sleep and other factors that needs professional support and monitoring.
Mental Health Awareness Month is about breaking stigma — especially around the parts of postpartum that people are often too afraid to talk about.
Parents deserve to know:
🤍 You are not alone
🤍 You are not “crazy” or broken
🤍 Help and treatment exist
🤍 Speaking up is a sign of strength, not failure
If you or someone you love is struggling postpartum, reaching out for support can be lifesaving. Contact our doula team for support if you need help finding resources.
We are here for you.
1-833-TLC-MAMA - national maternal mental health hotline.
Call…text…chat…get help.