Carrying More Than A Baby
Just a quick note: I offer peer-based emotional support, education, and resource guidance as a birth support companion. I am not a medical provider, and this does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or care from your healthcare team.
Nobody really talks about the mental health side of morning sickness, body changes and exhaustion.
I always thought that morning sickness was just that, sickness you get in the morning when you’re pregnant.
My first pregnancy tragically ended in premature labor and infant loss at 24 weeks, but I have experienced three pregnancies in all with two live births. It was in my second pregnancy in late 2016 that I realized morning sickness can happen any time throughout the day and throughout pregnancy. I first got an aggressive flu early on, then stayed sick throwing up throughout the day even if the only thing I had on my stomach was water. This lasted up until my 30th week. With my third and last pregnancy (better be anyway) I wasn’t sick until I had it move in with my grandma and the sickness subsided once my now husband and I got an apartment.
There were moments where I felt like my babies wouldn’t grow properly but luckily I saw a high risk doctor every 2 weeks that measured their growth.
Looking back there’s one thing my “morning sickness” phases had in common,
STRESS..
Especially in black and brown women!!
The truth is pregnancy is physically and mentally exhausting. Your body is going through so many changes and your mental health is affected by that plus exhaustion.
I started looking into this and realized there aren't a lot of studies or articles about how mental health is affected by symptoms of pregnancy.
While everyone’s pregnancies are different, many people experience morning sickness, exhaustion, and body changes that affect more than just the physical body. These experiences can impact mental health, self-image, and emotional stability in ways that aren't talked about enough.
This is why I have decided to become a birth support companion and a postpartum doula. The mental and emotional side of pregnancy is something that goes unnoticed by many physicians and support systems. While I wouldn’t label pregnancy a miracle, I do acknowledge that it's nothing short of amazing. The physical changes like nausea, exhaustion, and shifting body image can quietly impact how someone feels within themselves every day.
If you’re craving community, education, and support that feels grounded and real, I’d love for you to join us!
I have created a space centered around women’s health, mental and emotional wellbeing, pregnancy, and the real, unfiltered parts of life that often go unspoken. I also share from my own journey as an aspiring doula and my path toward certification, while offering holistic support, encouragement, and resources for women in every season.
Come be part of the conversation here: [Insert Facebook Group Link]
Also please leave your birth stories in a comment below, I would love to read them!
Some articles I found helpful!
National institute of child health and human development
NIH Study Links Morning Sickness to Lower Risk of Pregnancy loss
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/releases/92616_nauseapregnancy
Maternal Mental Health Alliance
How your physical health during pregnancy can affect your mental health.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Black Mental Health Fact Sheet https://blackmamasmatter.org/literature/
