For Mothers — eMAMA Resource Library

Understanding

Pregnancy and the months after birth bring big changes — not just to your body, but to your mind and feelings too. Knowing what is happening, and when, can help you understand yourself better and notice when something needs extra care.

eMAMA infographic showing emotional changes from pregnancy through the first year after birth, divided into six stages: during pregnancy, birth, first days, first weeks, first months, and towards one year. Each stage describes the hormonal and emotional shifts that are common at that time.

Bonding is not a single moment. It is something that grows — and it can begin long before your baby is born.

During pregnancy

Talk to your baby. Your baby can hear your voice from around 18 weeks. Talk, sing, read aloud. It does not matter what you say. Your voice is already familiar and comforting.
Respond to movements. When your baby kicks or moves, place your hand on your belly and respond — talk, tap gently, breathe slowly. This is the beginning of a conversation.
Learn about your baby. Attending antenatal visits, seeing your baby on an ultrasound, and learning about how they are developing all help you begin to think of your baby as a person — which is the start of attachment.
Take care of yourself. Eating well, resting, and reducing stress are all ways of caring for your baby too. Looking after yourself is an act of love.

After birth

Skin-to-skin contact. Holding your baby against your bare skin in the first hours and days after birth helps regulate their temperature, heartbeat, and breathing — and releases hormones in both of you that support bonding. Even if birth did not go as planned, skin-to-skin can happen when you are ready.
Look at your baby. Eye contact is powerful. When you look at your baby and they look back, connection is forming — even in the earliest days.
Respond to their cues. You do not need to understand everything your baby is communicating. Simply noticing — and responding — builds trust. Picking them up when they cry, feeding them when they are hungry, soothing them when they are unsettled. These small acts repeated every day are what bonding is made of.
Talk, sing, and narrate. Tell your baby what you are doing. Sing to them. Hum while you feed them. Your voice remains the most familiar and reassuring thing in their world.
Touch and carry. Holding, carrying, stroking, and massaging your baby all strengthen the bond between you. Physical closeness matters.

If bonding feels difficult

Not every mother feels an instant rush of love. For some it comes gradually — over days, weeks, or even months. This is normal and does not mean something is wrong with you or your baby.

If you feel little connection to your baby and this worries you, talk to a health worker. It may be a sign that you need some extra support, and that support is available.

Some things make the early months harder for almost every mother. Knowing what they are — and that you are not the only one feeling this way — can take some of the weight off.

Cover slide of a swipeable guide titled "3 Things That Increase Stress in New Mothers."

Slide explaining how broken sleep affects mood, patience, and confidence in new mothers, with a tip to ask someone you trust to take the baby for a few hours so you can rest.

Slide on feeling alone after birth, reassuring mothers that isolation is common even when surrounded by people, with a tip to tell one person how you are really feeling.

Slide on the pressure to be a perfect mother, reminding mothers that no one can do everything right and that being good enough is enough.

Tell someone you trust and go to your nearest health facility straight away. This needs urgent care.

Asking for help is not weakness. It is the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby.

eMAMA guide for mothers titled "When to get help — you can watch and rest if." Lists three signs that feelings may pass on their own: feeling tearful or irritable, feeling tired and overwhelmed but still able to care for your baby, and feelings that started recently and are not getting worse.

eMAMA guide for mothers titled "When to get help — talk to a health worker soon if." Lists six signs to seek support: feelings lasting more than two weeks, sadness or worry most of the time, struggling to feel close to your baby, not sleeping even when the baby sleeps, losing interest in things you used to enjoy, and feeling like you are failing even when your baby is healthy.

eMAMA guide for mothers titled "When to get help — get help today if." Lists four urgent warning signs: thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, hearing or seeing things others cannot, feeling confused or unable to think clearly, and behaving in ways that feel out of your control.

Knowing when to seek help

At some point during pregnancy or after birth, a health worker may ask you some questions about how you have been feeling. This is called mental health screening. It is a normal part of your care, and you have every right to know what it is and what happens next.

Cover slide of an eMAMA guide for mothers titled "Understanding Screening — what happens when a health worker checks in on your mental health." Introduces screening as a set of questions a health worker may ask during or after pregnancy.

eMAMA guide answering five common questions about mental health screening: what screening is, what kind of questions a health worker may ask, whether it is confidential, what happens if answers suggest support is needed, and what comes next. Reassures mothers that there are no right or wrong answers and that a positive result does not mean something is wrong with them as a mother.

Looking after yourself is not selfish. It is one of the most important things you can do for your baby. Here are seven simple things you can try — start with one, and add more when you can.

Cover slide of an eMAMA guide titled "Taking Care of Yourself — simple things you can do to support your mental health." Reminds mothers that looking after themselves is not selfish and that small steps can make a real difference.

Slide titled "Rest when you can." Explains that sleep deprivation makes everything harder and suggests sleeping when the baby sleeps, letting housework wait, and asking someone to take the baby so you can rest.

Slide titled "Eat regularly." Reminds mothers that the body needs fuel to recover and that simple, regular meals help stabilise mood and energy, even when appetite is low.

Slide titled "Move your body." Suggests short walks of around ten minutes outside, explaining that fresh air and movement help release natural mood-boosting chemicals.

Slide titled "Drink water." Notes that dehydration affects emotional as well as physical wellbeing, and is especially important when breastfeeding.

Slide titled "Accept help." Encourages mothers to say yes when others offer support — letting family hold the baby, neighbours bring food, or a partner take over for an hour. Frames accepting help as wisdom, not weakness.

Slide titled "Do one small thing for yourself each day." Suggests small acts like stepping outside, calling a friend, or sitting quietly for five minutes, noting that these small moments matter more than they seem.

Slide titled "Talk about how you are feeling." Encourages mothers to find one person they trust and share how they are really doing, reassuring that they do not need the right words — just to start talking.

Your community and you

A short film about how your culture and your healthcare can work together.

A short film about why no mother is meant to walk this road alone.

Many different people are trained to help mothers during pregnancy and after birth. Each has a different role, and you may meet several of them along the way. This guide explains who they are and what they can do for you.

Cover slide of an eMAMA guide titled "Who Is There to Help You? — understanding the people who care for mothers during pregnancy and after birth." Shows a mother holding her baby.

Slide highlighting that around 1 in 5 mothers experiences a mental health challenge during or after pregnancy, reassuring readers this does not mean they are a bad or weak mother — it means they need and deserve support.

Slide titled "Who Is Part of Your Team?" showing six different helpers — midwife, social worker, doctor, psychologist, occupational therapist, and community health worker — and noting that each has a different role and all matter.

Slide on the role of the midwife as a mother's first point of contact, listing what they do and when to talk to them about mental health.

Slide on the role of the social worker, who helps with life situation rather than physical health — including connecting mothers to housing, food, childcare, and counselling support.

Slide on the role of the doctor — OB/GYN, general practitioner, or psychiatrist — including using short questionnaires, prescribing safe treatment during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and referring to specialists when needed.

Slide on the role of the psychologist, offering talking therapy without medication, helping mothers understand thought patterns and work through trauma, grief, or pregnancy loss.

Slide on the role of the occupational therapist, helping mothers get back to daily life — building routines, supporting return to work or school, and managing stress and tiredness.

Slide on the role of the community health worker — close to home, often the first and most important link, visiting mothers at home and connecting them to support in their community and language.

Slide titled "When Should You Ask for Help?" listing signs that have lasted more than two weeks (persistent sadness, anxiety, sleep problems, withdrawal from family) and urgent signs that need same-day help (thoughts of harm, hearing or seeing things others cannot, severe disconnection). Reassures that asking for help is not weakness.

There are many myths about mental health during pregnancy and after birth. Some come from kindness, some from fear, some have been passed down for generations. But myths can stop mothers from getting the help they need. Here are some common ones — and the truth behind them.

Cover slide of an eMAMA guide titled "Myths vs Facts About Maternal Mental Health." Shows an illustration of a mother sitting thoughtfully.

Myth and fact slide on the belief that a good mother is always happy about her baby. Explains that loving, devoted mothers can feel sad, anxious, or empty during or after pregnancy, and that these feelings are signs of a treatable health condition, not bad motherhood.

Myth and fact slide on the fear that telling a doctor about struggling will lead to losing the baby. Explains that seeking help is an act of good motherhood, that health workers want to support not punish, and that staying silent puts both mother and baby at greater risk.

Myth and fact slide on the belief that postnatal depression is just "baby blues" that goes away on its own. Explains that baby blues in the first two weeks usually pass, but persistent low mood, anxiety, or inability to cope is a different condition that responds well to treatment.

Myth and fact slide on the belief that mental illness during or after pregnancy means a mother is weak or crazy. Explains that perinatal mental health conditions are caused by hormones, brain chemistry, stress, and life circumstances — not weakness — and can affect any woman regardless of strength, education, faith, or character.

Myth and fact slide on the belief that traditional healers or prayer alone are enough and medical help is not needed. Explains that spiritual and community care can be an important part of healing, but perinatal mental health conditions also have biological causes that respond to specific treatments. Both approaches can work together.

Myth and fact slide on the fear that medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding will harm the baby. Explains that decisions about medication should be made in conversation with a health worker, that some treatments are safe, and that untreated severe depression also carries risks for the baby.

Myth and fact slide on the belief that mental health problems only happen to women with hard lives or no support. Explains that perinatal mental health conditions can affect any woman — including those with supportive families, financial stability, and good health — because the brain needs support during one of the most intense transitions a person can experience.

Myth and fact slide on the belief that mothers should handle struggles alone and asking for help is a burden. Explains that the people who love you want to help and often do not know how, that asking for specific help gives them a way to show care, and that accepting help is what allows recovery.