University of Utah Health
The Robert G. Fenley Writing Awards: Solicited Articles
Silver
Few human experiences bring a wilder wave of clarity and chaos, purpose and doubt, deep fulfillment and new fear than motherhood. As the joys of parenting evolve to meet each new phase, so do the struggles.
On top of stress, sleep deprivation, and rebalancing hormones, many mothers feel huge shifts in their sense of identity and a pressure to be perfect at the very moment their lives have been thrown into disarray. Despite these changes, they’re often expected to keep up with everything they already do as partners and workers. Generations of families don’t always live near one another, removing key pillars of the “village” that it takes to raise a child and making motherhood feel more isolating. Social media often erodes community even further, applying new expectations that make it harder to be vulnerable. And once COVID-19 hit, some of the learning, child care, and work moved into the home, adding to a growing list of responsibilities. In our family-friendly state, are we caring for the caregivers?
For those who haven’t experienced postpartum mood disorders, it’s hard to imagine what it feels like. To really understand it, we turned to those who know postpartum depression and anxiety most intimately.
What was the most impactful part of your entry?
Our favorite, most impactful part was the real stories of Utah mothers who have suffered and survived perinatal mood disorders. We partnered with a local organization named the Emily Effect, which was founded in memory of a Utah mother and offers support through what they call “Letters of Light”: submissions from mothers across the state. They bravely shared their struggles in the hopes that others feel less alone, and we were very grateful to elevate their experiences.
We’re also very proud of the multimedia elements we created alongside our writing, which we hope give readers a fuller glimpse into the postpartum period and the mental health challenges pregnant people face throughout pregnancy and post-delivery.
What challenge did you overcome?
One of our greatest lessons was in understanding just how long recovery from postpartum can take. Until March of 2023, Medicaid offered coverage up to 90 days post-delivery, but it can take up to a year for a pregnant person to recover physically, mentally, and emotionally from the experience of delivery. With the passing of new bill S.B. 133 in Utah, this coverage has been extended to a full year, which we hope will provide support to Utah mothers for as long as they need it.
Contact:
Nafisa Masud
nafisa.masud@hsc.utah.edu