by Ashley Bearden Campbell (Ashley@impactmanagement.com)
Mothers have a fundamental role in the fabric of our families and society. Each May allows us the opportunity to express our profound gratitude for their love and sacrifice, and to acknowledge the importance of maternal health – a value deeply rooted in Arkansas’ commitment to family and life.
May is also Maternal Mental Health Month. As a mom and maternal health advocate who has openly shared my own battle with postpartum depression, anxiety, and PTSD, I have a profound understanding of the importance of sharing our experiences to spark change in the way we approach maternal mental health before, during, and after pregnancy.
After delivering my daughter via an emergency cesarean at just 28 weeks and 5 days gestation, I was not only unprepared for the physical challenges I had to overcome due to complications from pre-eclampsia and a high-risk birth, but I was also unaware that NICU moms are more pre-dispositioned to experiencing mental health issues.
Image by Klara Kulikova