Written By: Alizah Qadri
She didn’t know having family also meant sacrificing her well-being. She got married, had children, and fulfilled the traditional duties of being a woman. The silent, unspoken words longing for support linger in her heart, oftentimes remaining this way.
Immigrant mothers keep themselves “held together”; This idea of keeping composure, oftentimes, hiding their feelings and emotions, regardless of what consequences this may have on the mother’s physical and mental wellbeing. This invisible bandage, and means for survival, covers the sadness and grief for the sake of her family, in addition to the unsaid expectations of how mothers should be after birthing and beyond.
Fellmeth et al. (2016) conducted a study observing the impact of pregnant immigrant women’s mental health from lower and middle-income countries. One in three women were found to have had perinatal depression, and immigrant women were found to have had higher rates of depression than those who have not migrated (Fellmeth et al., 2016, p. 747). Additionally, the process of immigration itself brings about a lack of established social support, as well as language and cultural barriers, exacerbating mental health symptoms for postpartum women learning motherhood and raising a child (Philip et al., 2024, p. 3806).
Immigrant mothers have committed themselves towards a labor of love. Traveling from their homeland to another country filled with so much unknown, a language not her own, and a longing for her family. All this in hopes for a path towards success and happiness.
As maternal mental health has slowly made its way into mainstream social media, many women are sharing the unnoticed aspects of the perinatal and postpartum phase. These stories unfold when we make space and provide intentional care for these women, catering to the supports that are not verbalized. Mothers deserve the joys and peace they so heavily prioritize for others.
The therapy space is one way we can help immigrant mothers feel empowered to raise their voice and unload the heavy and emotional toll of motherhood. Through our support to them, they may be able to find acceptance with the many life changes they are experiencing and deep healing. Both in the therapy room and outside, we can uplift our mothers by reading the stories in their eyes, empathizing with them, and showing compassion towards their acts of service and love.
References
Fellmeth, G., Fazel, M., & Plugge, E. (2017). Migration and perinatal mental health in women from low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG; 124: 742–752. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.14184.
Philip, B., Kemp, L., Taylor, C., & Schmied, V. (2024). Indian immigrants’ constructions of mental health and mental illness in the perinatal period: A qualitative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 80, 3797–3811. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16064.
