The journey through pregnancy and early motherhood is often painted as an exciting, happy time; but the reality is far more complex, and we can't ignore that with the highs come the lows. In fact, maternal mental illness is sadly more common than you might think, with 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth developing a mental health problem of some kind. This can have far-reaching and significant consequences.
A 2018 report highlighted that, shockingly, suicide is the leading cause of death among women in the year following their pregnancy in the UK and Ireland. And disorders like anxiety and depression, the most frequently experienced perinatal mental illnesses, can be debilitating for the person affected, and potentially seriously affect the child's life outcomes too.
The good news is that technology is paving the way for better maternal wellbeing, and these opportunities are only likely to grow... so what does the future hold?
