With all that’s happening, mental health and emotional wellness can feel a little unsure during pregnancy. It’s also for exactly these reasons that taking a little extra care for mental and emotional well-being is so important during this time.
The term “mental health” can feel like a scary way to start to think about moods and emotions, but moods and emotions can have a huge impact on overall wellness.
Emotional wellness
A focus on emotional wellness can begin at any time, and can help people who are never diagnosed with mental health conditions. You can focus on emotional wellness by taking time to notice patterns in your feelings and by figuring out positive ways to talk about your emotions. It can also help to talk to a doctor about patterns you notice, and positive ways to cope with them.
Mental health conditions during pregnancy
On top of the normal stresses and concerns that come with pregnancy, there are specific mental health concerns that can go with pregnancy. These include peripartum depression (depression during or after pregnancy) and related concerns like peripartum anxiety and the much rarer peripartum psychosis. These are medical issues which should be treated for the health of both mom and baby.
Another concern is the safety of medication during pregnancy. All medication decisions during pregnancy should go through a healthcare provider, but there are a few general truths about mental health medication during pregnancy. First, while there are a few mental health medications that are considered somewhat risky during pregnancy, they’re generally not prescribed. Second, if a medication is prescribed, it’s because a healthcare provider has decided that the benefits of treatment outweigh the risk to mom and baby.
How can I take care of my mental health?
The best thing you can do is to listen to your body. Everybody feels sad now and then, but if your emotions are disrupting your life, it’s a good idea to seek help. You can speak with your Included Health personal healthcare assistant if you think you might have depression or anxiety. They can help answer your questions, and help you find a doctor that might work for you, if needed. They can even help you meet with a doctor over your computer.
Your benefits
Walmart offers several programs to assist you in finding the right mental health providers to support you.
- Doctor On Demand by Included Health – offers access to Mental Health providers directly from your phone.
- Your Included Health your personal care team can help you manage your healthcare. From finding a top doctor in your network to explaining your health benefits or medical bills, they’ll get the help you need, when you need it.
- My Mental Health Resources, provided by Lyra – Get immediate access to confidential mental health resources through our mental health partner, Lyra. You and your eligible family members can access 20 therapy or mental health coaching sessions per person per year at no cost, even if you’re not enrolled in Walmart medical benefits. Call Lyra at 800-825-3555 or visit their website to learn more.
