Feuy Saephan - Week 7

Life is a precious gift, and to have the ability to give this gift is a gift in itself.  Mothers are provided children to fill the world with more love and light.  It is a process that allows mothers to create a life out of who they are and who they believe the world needs.  Even though it is a treasured process, there are many difficult moments and emotions combined with the development of becoming a mother.

Mothers go through a sea of emotions from before they try to conceive up to the point of raising the child after bearing.  Their soul can become exhausted from the constant stress, worries, or anxiousness they must carry when it comes to pregnancy and motherhood.  This can manifest from their own thoughts or from thoughts of other people who believe they know best.

Postpartum is an unknown and scary space to be, especially as a new mother.  As a mother, you want what is best for your child, but there are times you also want to take a break or reminisce on the days you were child-free.  Once the baby comes, there is no turning back.  A majority of  mothers may experience postpartum depression, in which they may not feel a connection with their baby due to this illness.  It is incredibly common in mothers because of social standards being enforced on them.  This is when they need family or communal support, self-care, and spiritual healing to be able to transform into the mother they longed to be (Elter p. 252).

We must not forget the difficulties that comes with the title of a mother.  It is a long and strenuous process emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  Instead of criticizing mothers, we need to understand the road(s) she had to go through and are possibly still going through. Their souls are tired, and they just need someone to reach out a helping hand or be given encouraging words to help them continue.

References

Elter, P. T., Kennedy, H. P., Chesla, C. A., & Yimyam, S. (2016). Spiritual Healing Practices Among Rural Postpartum Thai Women. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 27(3), 249–255. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659614553515

https://www.etsy.com/market/motherhood_artwork