Maternal mental health matters.
That’s the main message of “You’ve Got This: A Pocket Guide for Maternal Mental Health,” a slim, easy-to-read volume by two local Jewish health care professionals, Robin Giles, a nurse practitioner, and Joy Subrin, a doctor of behavioral health.
“During your pregnancy so much attention is given to physical changes, we encourage you to pay equal attention to your mental health,” the authors write in the foreword.
Organized alphabetically, “You’ve Got This” offers brief, practical bits of self-care advice.
The page for “A,” titled “Ask for Help,” suggests, “Be specific in your asks. Can you hold the baby for me? Can you pick up the groceries? Can we talk about our schedule for the next week? Can you take the second nighttime feeding? Will you attend my next appointment with me?” A few blank lines provide space for readers to jot down their own ideas.
Written for new or expecting mothers and the family members and friends who support them, the book is “a valuable way to raise awareness about a topic and a condition that can be really misunderstood and then can go untreated,” Subrin says. She’s referring to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, or PMAD, a more modern and inclusive term she and Giles prefer to use instead of postpartum depression. PMAD also covers a longer timeline, starting with pregnancy.
The authors intentionally kept “You’ve Got This” concise.
“The book is evidence-based, although it is not an academic book that is lengthy and filled with citations. We created it to be welcoming, comforting, and succinct,” Subrin says.
Most of the entries are a single page, just a few short paragraphs.
The only two-page entry is “P,” for “Postpartum Depression and Anxiety,” which notes that knowing the signs to watch for and establishing a care plan can reduce risk.
“Prevention is key,” says Giles, who recommends “talking to your provider, talking to your family, … just like you would buy diapers or bottles or the perfect car seat or the perfect stroller and crib, get your mental health resources in order.” Those resources might include a therapist and/or letting friends know you’ll need extra support.
Destigmatizing mental health issues — making them easier to talk about — is one of the driving forces behind “You’ve Got This,” Subrin says.
One in seven women will experience perinatal depression, she says, noting that it is the most common complication of childbirth.
The book’s “F” entry, for “Fourth Trimester,” explains that “the fourth trimester is now recognized as the crucial 12 weeks following delivery that is filled with adjustment, both physically and mentally.”
This period can last more than 12 weeks, adds Giles.
The authors each have more than 20 years of experience in women’s healthcare and have worked together for eight years.
“We’re like-minded and passionate about this project,” Giles says.
Caring for and educating others are both Jewish values, Giles says, but “You’ve Got This” is universal.
A resource guide at the end of the book highlights national and international organizations, making the book useful for readers nationwide.
It is available from local bookstores, online booksellers, and the Pima County Public Library.
When the authors promote their book at events, Giles says, people often approach them to say, “Hey, this is what happened to me, or this is what’s going on with my daughter, my partner, my sister, my neighbor.” The anecdotes reinforce the data on the prevalence of PMAD.
