What I Wish More People Knew About Perinatal Mental Health-Prenatal Therapist Vancouver
- Claire Zhang
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
When people think of pregnancy, they often imagine glowing skin, baby kicks, and nursery prep. But for many women, pregnancy is also a time of anxiety, grief, identity shifts, and emotional overwhelm. These emotional realities are overlooked or misunderstood.
Here’s what I wish more people knew about perinatal mental health—and why it matters.
💭 1. You Can Feel Both Joy and Sadness During Pregnancy
It’s entirely normal to feel a mix of excitement and grief. You might be mourning your old identity, facing fear about birth, or struggling to connect with the pregnancy. Emotional ambivalence is not a red flag—it’s a part of the process.
🤍 2. Anxiety and Depression Can Start Before Birth
Many people assume postpartum mental health is the main concern. But perinatal mental health includes both pregnancy and postpartum. Prenatal anxiety and depression are common, affecting up to 1 in 5 women. Early support matters.
💡 3. Therapy During Pregnancy Can Be Preventative
Seeing a perinatal therapist in Vancouver isn’t just for crisis moments. It’s a way to:
Process fears about birth or parenting
Set emotional boundaries with others
Prepare for identity shifts
Strengthen your support systems
Just as you prepare your body for birth, you can prepare your mind and heart too.
🧠 4. Trauma, Loss, and Fertility Struggles Often Resurface
Pregnancy can bring old wounds to the surface—miscarriage grief, medical trauma, past abuse, or estranged family dynamics. A safe therapeutic space allows you to gently explore these layers without shame.
🌸 5. Body Image Can Shift in Unexpected Ways
Pregnancy brings profound physical changes—some celebrated, others quietly grieved. Many women feel surprised by how hard it is to adjust to their changing body, especially when society glorifies the “pregnancy glow” but ignores discomfort, swelling, or unwanted weight gain.
You may not feel beautiful every day, and that’s okay. Struggling with your body image doesn’t make you ungrateful. Therapy can offer a compassionate space to process those feelings and rebuild a more kind, connected relationship with your body.
🎒 6. The Invisible Load of Becoming a Mother Is Real
Pregnancy isn’t just physical—it’s mental. Women often carry the invisible load of researching, planning, preparing, and emotionally laboring over every detail. The mental weight can feel crushing.
Acknowledging this invisible labor helps validate your experience—and opens the door to shared responsibility, boundary-setting, and better support.
🌫️ 7. Coping with Loneliness in Pregnancy and Motherhood
You can feel deeply alone during pregnancy, even when surrounded by people. Social media can amplify the sense that everyone else is glowing and thriving. In reality, many moms feel isolated, especially solo moms.
Connecting with others who understand, journaling, or seeing a therapist can help ease this emotional weight. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself.
🌟 Final Words
Pregnancy mental health deserves more attention, compassion, and care. You are allowed to feel all of it—without guilt. And you don’t have to go through it alone.
If you're looking for a warm, non-judgmental space to explore your inner world during pregnancy, I offer support as a perinatal therapist in Vancouver. Reach out anytime—you deserve support that sees the whole you.
📺 And if you’d like to practice these affirmations with me, check out my YouTube meditations and gentle Yin yoga sessions.
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