HOUSTON — Maternal mental health advocates and clinicians in Houston highlighted the emotional and medical challenges surrounding pregnancy loss and postpartum mental health ahead of Mother’s Day, emphasizing the prevalence of untreated conditions and gaps in care across Texas.
Rebecca Tapick, loss support program manager with Houston-based nonprofit Missing Pieces, said pregnancy loss affects a significant share of families but often remains unspoken.
“One in four pregnancies ends in a pregnancy loss,” Tapick said. “This is a really common experience that’s rarely talked about.”
Missing Pieces provides free support groups, care packages, and virtual workshops for families who have experienced pregnancy or child loss.
A 2024 report from UTHealth Houston’s School of Public Health examined maternal and mental health conditions in Texas and found that untreated maternal mental health disorders cost the state more than $2 billion over five years, based on 2019 data. The report linked these conditions to obstetric complications, preterm births, reduced breastfeeding rates, and cases of sudden infant death syndrome.
The report also found that untreated maternal mental health conditions contributed to longer hospital stays after delivery and increased risks of suicide among mothers. It said children faced higher rates of preterm birth and developmental disorders, while at least half of new fathers experienced depression.
Tapick said many mothers who experience loss do not receive long-term care.
“Women are really left to navigate their own health after a loss on their own,” she said.
She said more than 60% of mothers experience post-traumatic stress disorder years after a pregnancy loss.
The UTHealth report also identified workforce shortages in mental health care, noting that all but eight of Texas’ 254 counties are designated as mental health professional shortage areas.
Dr. Sunita Osborn, a clinical psychologist in Harris County, said anxiety during and after pregnancy is common but often underreported.
“There’s a whole spectrum of anxiety and stress that someone who is going through parenthood can experience,” Osborn said.
She said postpartum and perinatal anxiety can occur at rates higher than postpartum depression but receives less attention.
Osborn encouraged parents to seek support from others rather than managing concerns alone.
“Bring someone else the problem and maybe let them solve it with you, too,” she said.
