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When Kira S.* discovered she waspregnantin 2012, she was optimistic at first.
D’Ara Nazaryan
But there were difficulties, too, that weighed on hermental health.
There was her previousmiscarriage, which left her fearful.
There was her high blood pressure, which developed into preeclampsia.
Her ob/gyn, also a black woman, was invested, Kira tells SELF.
Kira gave birth to a beautiful baby boy via an emergency cesarean section when she was seven months pregnant.
From there, her worries only grew.
In the months that followed, her relationship dissolved.
She was left alone to recover from her C-section while caring for her premature son.
If my doctor had referred me to a therapist, I wouldve gone, Kira says.
Maybe I wouldve felt like my feelings were validated.
But Kira never told her doctoror anyone elseabout her postpartum suicidal thoughts and feelings of despair.
As a baseline, a reproductive psychiatrist does need to have anM.D.
or D.O.degree, as does any other jot down of psychiatrist.
(The paper identified 12 womens mental health fellowships nationwide.)
Similarly, reproductive psychology doesnt have aconcrete training trajectory.
What is necessary for moving the field forward?
What is holding it back?
How can black pregnant people and new parents remain empowered, given the circumstances?
We talked to five reproductive mental health experts for answers to these questions and more.
Keep reading for their insights.
Reproductive therapists need to validate black womens feelings.
The field has since expanded to discuss issues like fertility,postpartum depression, and traumatic birth.
But theres a lot more that reproductive mental health professionals need to do.
Cultural competence is an area where the mental health fields need to put forth time and attention.
Yes, we have to study the brain and brain chemistry.
We have to study the mind and human relationships.
But we also have to look at culture.
I give a shot to be with them emotionally and help them to trust that their feelings are valid.
That validation is one of the most powerful things therapy can provide.
Alexandra Sacks,M.D., reproductive psychiatrist and host of theMotherhood Sessionspodcast
2.
We need more psychiatric research to adequately address black pregnant people.
Most people do not die during birth.
Research is far behind and catching up when it comes to adequately exploring what is driving the disparity.
We really need studies that compare black pregnant people to other groups.
Clinicians need to better screen for postpartum mental health issues in black people.
If someone is a little anxious about the possibility of traumatic birth, thats one thing.
But providers also really need to be screening everybody for symptoms appropriately.
Depending on the population, black women are less likely to be identified as depressed even when they are.
Telehealth services may make it easier for black mothers to get culturally competent mental health care.
This can feel like an added burden because theyre already dealing with challenges related to fertility and reproductive health.
This can also help widen the pool of black mental health providers.
Andreka Peat, Psy.D., M.P.H., clinical psychologist atWomens Wellness Atlanta
5.
The medical system should bear the burden of solving black maternal mortality.
Black maternal mortalityis a problem that cannot be remedied with do-it-yourself stress reduction techniques.
The medical system is neglecting a large percentage of the people it is charged with caring for.
Care that is affirming of black women’s experiences is very rare.
The psychological toll that these statistics and birth experiences take is insidious.
I tell patients that it’s worth fighting through that self-consciousness because this really is a life-or-death issue.
Still, Im optimistic.
I think that will be helpful.
*Name has been changed upon request.
