Motherhood Matters

Hi, my name is Megan, and this is my Girl Scout Gold Award Project.

Postpartum depression is an important consideration with long-term impact. One in five women experience postpartum anxiety or depression, yet people don't commonly talk about it. While volunteering at my local food bank, I noticed that young moms would request diapers, but there was often none to give them. It seemed really stressful for them to have to worry about having enough diapers at home for their babies, and they would sometimes say that they were unable to remain employed because the cost of child care was too much for them to manage, and that child care centers would require them to provide a monthly supply of diapers for their baby's care. One of the factors that can heavily impact maternal mental health is difficulty in providing necessities, such as diapers, for your family. One in three families in America report experiencing diaper need (National Diaper Bank Network). Having an adequate supply of diapers is something that we often take for granted. We don’t always realize that our neighbors may be struggling with this. The expense of disposable diapers for infants amounts to up to $960 per year. Manna Food Bank serves 1,400 people per month, on average, including families with infants and toddlers. These food-insecure families often find that they have an ongoing need for diapers. Through my project, I educated my community about the link between postpartum depression and financial stress, as well as increased awareness of resources for maternal mental health.