Mom Shaming Potentially Disrupts Mental Health, Experts Say

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JAKARTA - Unconsciously, we often ask questions or comments that can hurt a mother's feelings. If it continues, mom-shaming can have an impact on a person's mental health.

Psychologist Grace Eugenia Sameve, MA, M.Psi, said that mom-shaming is done intentionally or not. Both have the potential to interfere with a person's mental health, especially if done by the closest person.

"Mom shaming depends on what is said that makes a mother anxious and wonders about herself. From mom-shaming, it might turn into the baby blues, it could happen," Grace said as quoted by Antara, Monday.

Grace explained, mom-shaming can cause various impacts, such as anxiety, lack of confidence, reduced milk production because the mother is stressed, which affects the health condition of the child.

"Mothers who are anxious or stressed affect her ability to care for children. Children can feel when their mother is sad, their children become fussy too," said Grace.

According to Grace, it is normal for a mother to feel uncomfortable with other people's comments, especially if they seem judgmental. All you have to do is share this problem with others so it doesn't explode in the future.

"If we are not comfortable with it, we must have the courage to admit it. It doesn't matter if we feel uncomfortable, if we hide it, it will be a time bomb that can have an impact on children too," she said.

Meanwhile, Grace also advised the public to have great empathy for a mother related to the choice of giving birth, breastfeeding problems to the way of parenting.

"Even though the goal is good, it should be avoided if you can't provide a solution, because it will cause sadness for other mothers. Because every mother is different, we must be able to empathize," said Grace.