Mental Health in Motherhood: How to Care for Yourself Through
Grief, Overwhelm, and Everything in Between
Motherhood is often described as beautiful, transformative, and full of love… and it is all of those things. But it’s also messy, overwhelming, and, at times, deeply emotional. Whether you're trying to conceive, navigating pregnancy, holding your newborn, or chasing toddlers through the house, your mental health matters at every phase.
At Crescent Health Collective, we believe in caring for the whole person, body, mind, and soul. That means recognizing the emotional weight many women carry, even when they’re smiling through it. It means offering support that meets you where you’re at, especially when motherhood feels heavier than expected.
You Are Not Alone in the Overwhelm
So many mothers suffer in silence. The emotional toll of trying to conceive, the anxiety that creeps in during pregnancy, the identity shifts that come with postpartum life—it all adds up. And yet, we’re often taught to keep going, keep smiling, keep giving—often until we have nothing left.
But motherhood was never meant to be done alone, it was meant to be done in community.
One of the most healing things we can do is speak honestly about the hard parts. The invisible load. The sleepless nights. The grief we may be carrying for a birth plan that changed, a version of ourselves we no longer recognize, or for a baby we never got to hold.
Dr. Casey, the founder of Crescent Health Collective, knows this grief personally. A little more than a year after welcoming her first daughter into the world, she experienced a miscarriage at 10 weeks while trying to grow her family. That loss became a deeply personal part of her motherhood journey, and a powerful reminder of just how important emotional support truly is.
Her story continues to shape the way Crescent Health shows up for its community. It’s a reminder that behind every practitioner is a human who understands. And that through community and compassionate care, healing is possible.
Practical Ways to Support Your Mental Health
No matter what phase of motherhood you’re in, your mental wellbeing deserves to be tended to. Here are some gentle, grounding practices that can help:
Daily Emotional Check-In
Ask yourself daily: How am I really feeling? Give space for honest answers without judgement. Sometimes, naming the emotion can ease its intensity.
Build Your Village
Whether it's a friend, a partner, or your care team at CHC, connection is key. You weren’t meant to do this on your own.
Make Time for Micro-Moments
You don’t need an hour of self-care to make a difference. A few deep breaths, stepping outside for five minutes, or drinking an herbal tea while the baby naps can be incredibly nourishing.
Honour the Hard Days
Grief, sadness, frustration, they’re all valid emotions. You don’t need to rush through them. Holding space for the hard moments can be a radical act of love.
Seek Professional Support
Sometimes we need more than a deep breath, and that’s okay. Psychotherapy can offer a safe, non-judgmental space to process what you’re feeling and begin to heal. At Crescent Health Collective, our psychotherapists are specialized in maternal mental health and are here to support you.
Holding Space for Grief and Loss
While this blog is about mental health in all phases of motherhood, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the unique emotional pain of pregnancy and infant loss. It’s a grief that is often invisible, yet it runs deep. And it deserves to be seen, supported, and spoken about.
That’s why we’re so grateful for organizations like Bridget’s Bunnies, a local charity offering comfort kits, emotional support, and community to families experiencing the loss of a baby. Their work is a beautiful reminder that even in the darkest moments, no one has to walk alone.
You Deserve Care Too
You are allowed to need support. You are allowed to have hard days, to feel overwhelmed, to grieve what you’ve lost and still celebrate what you’ve gained.
Caring for your mental health isn’t selfish, it’s sacred. It’s what allows you to show up fully in your life and your relationships. And you don’t have to wait until you’re in crisis to start.
If this message resonates with you, consider this your sign to check in with yourself.
Whether you're looking for clarity, connection, or a safe space to talk things through, our team is here to support you with care that meets you where you are. Get started here.