Carina's Story of Hope
- Celeste Chapko
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
As we celebrate Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, we will be sharing some very special stories from our volunteers. Today, we have the honor of sharing Carina's Story of Hope.
"Both of my pregnancies were planned and marked exciting times in our lives. However, my experiences during pregnancy and postpartum were vastly different.
My postpartum experience with my daughter came with significant challenges, including instances of medical racism. The care teams didn’t believe I was in active labor and failed to check me. They were unsupportive of my desire to breastfeed, even attempting to give my daughter formula without my permission and not providing the support I needed to learn how to breastfeed as a first-time mom.
When we began trying for our second child, we encountered delays and additional challenges. During this time, I was repeatedly dismissed by medical providers and had to strongly advocate for the care and support I needed. Even when I expressed my postpartum mental health struggles after my second child, I was once again dismissed.
These experiences ultimately inspired me to pursue a career in perinatal mental health. I recently obtained a Master’s in Social Work and chose to specialize in this area so I could become the kind of support I once needed—especially for women who look like me or speak Spanish, as I do. Too often, we are overlooked, dismissed, or not given the same care and attention as non-BIPOC individuals and I made it my mission to change that."
We are so grateful to Carina for sharing her story with our community. If you or someone you know is in need of support, please reach out today. At the NWI Center for Maternal Wellness, we offer education, peer support and resources to mothers and families struggling with Perinatal Mental Health Disorders. We would love to walk alongside you on your journey to wellness.
