Motherhood and Maternal Health Access: Difficulties surrounding Pregnancy, Preterm Labor, and Postpartum Depression

Women share their personal and professional experiences on childbirth

DELMARVA – Mother’s Day is around the corner, which can be a day of joyous celebration for many. However, for some, the journey can come with complications and sadly, even loss.

Pregnancy

“I love my children, but the honest truth was, I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t have a clue. I didn’t want to harm my babies at all… but I did not want to live.” Danielle Houston is a Seaford, Delaware resident and mother of two. She tells us that being a mom hasn’t always been an easy journey for her. “I went through postpartum with both my kids, I can remember kissing them, at night, tucking them in, and crying and ready to kill myself… There wasn’t anyone to tell me big emotions are ok, sadness it a part of motherhood, it was just a lot.”

Alexis Sheldon is a Registered Labor and Delivery Nurse, and volunteer at the Eastern Shore Pregnancy Care Clinic. Not only is she sympathetic to a pregnant woman’s plight, but she has seen a lot of situations similar to Danielle’s. “It was a blessing for me to have a village. I know there are a lot of moms who don’t have that village. Sometimes if you don’t have a village, it can be an emotional strain on you.” She tells us there are resources available for those in need. “The Eastern Shore Pregnancy Care Clinic is a non-profit organization, and we help moms with unplanned pregnancies, planned pregnancies, with parenting classes, baby items, ultrasounds, what to expect when you’re pregnant, and what to expect when you go home postpartum.”

Pre-term

In Maryland, 136 premature babies are born every week, according to the March of Dimes. Sheldon explains what it means to give birth prematurely and the risk factors that may come along with it. “A premature birth is when a baby is born prior to 37 weeks gestation. There are so many risk factors, where there are also things that happen where we don’t know a woman goes into preterm labor.” The Clinic reports if you are pregnant with multiples, increased risk of a preterm birth. Also, your lifestyle choices- smoking, drugs or alcohol usage, age, mom less than 17 or older than 35 are at risk. Your weight, over or under, and pregnancy status and previous history. “The number one way to try and prevent it or get ahead of it is seeking prenatal care early. As soon as you know you’re pregnant or you’re planning a pregnancy, you should reach out to your health care provider. If you plan to have multiple children, that you pace them out between 18 months… There are still some risks that we don’t know, and some moms have no risk at all and still have preterm births” says Sheldon.

Post- Partum

Motherhood looks different for everyone. Unfortunately, not everyone has access adequate health care or emotional support. Danielle is one of those women who fell through the cracks. “No one explains that when you go from womanhood to motherhood, there’s a difference… Post partum was never described to me. and they never said what to look for, the signs the symptoms, or anything like that… If I have to give any suggestion to any mother, it would be to find a support group or find friends to talk to.”

As we prepare to celebrate mothers, Danielle insist that postpartum depression shouldn’t be something that women are ashamed of, but that the health care industry should do a better job of informing the public. “I wish I knew what it was, not just the word, but what is it? What’s it’s supposed to be like? [and] Is it the same for everyone?… My youngest daughter just had a baby, and I can remember what postpartum was for me, and my biggest thing for her, was to make sure emotionally and mentally there was someone there to support her.” Danielle tells us that even though her children are in their twenties, she still has mom guilt about certain things. She shares her personal trauma, and adds that motherhood comes with big emotions, and each one is important to the journey. “I’ve experienced 2 live births, and I’ve lost 8 babies. So, Mother’s Day isn’t just for the babies that made it, it’s for the babies that didn’t.”

The Eastern Shore Pregnancy Care Clinic in Sailsbury aims to educate women on what to expect on the journey to motherhood. They provide community resources like their mobile care unit visits underserved neighborhoods and provides pre- and post-natal care, and resources for children.