ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by questioning the myths of motherhood, entrenched in Western society, and how these perpetuate maternal mental illness. It explores the fundamental transformation a woman goes through from conception, triggered by hormones, that changes her brain physiology and her behaviour. The chapter looks at what can go wrong, leading to women feeling shame, stigma and then silencing themselves, not asking for help due to their guilt at not living up to the myth of being the ‘perfect’ mother. It gives a rationale for why relational psychotherapy is an effective method of treatment. Motherhood is a relational process, and a mother is in relationship with her fetus from conception. Maternity care is also relational. When things go wrong it is often this relational element which is seriously lacking or even traumatising. The chapter ends with a brief plan of the book.
