Even after more than twenty years, Mavis “Mae” Stephens, a 3x preeclampsia survivor, vividly remembers the challenges she faced during her pregnancy with her second son. She did everything she could to shield herself from stressful or emotionally charged situations, understanding just how critical it was for her well-being and that of her baby.

“While I was on bedrest with my son…it was important for me to be sensitive about things and certain situations that I considered stressful triggers,” Stephens said in a recent Take 10 Focus Group chat. “I had to really just say, ‘I can’t get myself worked up.’ To do that, I started focusing on things that affected my blood pressure and found ways to avoid them.”

To her surprise, she discovered that bright lights, violence on TV, and even certain kinds of music were triggers. “It was key things I didn’t even think about that were affecting my blood pressure. So I started listening to soothing music, mostly worship music and gospel. Just having quiet time, staying in my room and keeping myself calm really helped,” Stephens added.

Her recollection echoes those of countless other women who’ve had to protect their peace at all costs during their pregnancies.

July is BIPOC Mental Health Month and this week—July 19-25—is Black Maternal Mental Health Week. Both are powerful reminders to support the mental health and emotional well-being of Black birthing people while also raising awareness around the need for more culturally responsive mental health care, increased support for mental health initiatives, and the importance of knowing when—and how—to seek help.

In recognition of this week, Stephens and several other Take 10 ambassadors and advocates shared personal practices they used to protect their mental health during pregnancy and beyond, offering real-life ways to remain calm and at peace.

Similar to Stephens, ambassador Ebony Ford stated that she also would remove herself from stressful situations while she was pregnant with her son. “I chose to pray, lay down if I could, or read a book,” she explained.

She also paid close attention to those within her communication circles.

“As someone whose prior pregnancy and birth were extremely traumatic, I was very intentional about only surrounding myself and giving audience to those who were as hopeful as I was to have a healthy pregnancy. There were dozens of people that I did not converse with until after I had my son just so that I could maintain a peaceful demeanor,” she added.

Jaheera “Jay” White, the focus group’s newest member, leaned on positivity and uplifting connections while pregnant—and she still practices this today. “I try my best to do things that bring me joy and purpose, while watching my bandwidth,” she stated. 

Ambassadors and advocates also highlighted other peace-protecting strategies like practicing mindfulness and meditation, prioritizing self-care, getting enough sleep and exercise, finding creative outlets, and setting firm boundaries. 

Ford said she currently protects her peace by first giving herself a lot of grace. “I tend to be extremely hard on myself and so I remind myself that I am only one person, and I can only do what I can do,” she said, adding that she is a huge proponent of talk therapy. “Therapy has helped me navigate the most difficult seasons of my life,” Ford said.

Stephens said she will occasionally watch television shows and movies with violent content—and rarely watches many news programs these days. “It is important to protect my peace even today,” she said, adding that she is still dealing with the long-term effects from having three preeclampsia diagnoses. “I’m trying to keep my heart as healthy as possible.” 

Protecting your peace of mind is an act of empowerment, Sis. What’s one ritual you use to stay grounded? Let us know on our Take 10 WhatsApp group chat at PF Take 10 Focus Group chat.

For more maternal mental health support and self-care tips for preeclampsia survivors, read the Preeclampsia Foundation’s community support article, Not Just Physical: The Psychological Burden of Preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome, at https://www.preeclampsia.org/the-news/community-support/not-just-physical-the-psychological-burden-of-preeclampsia.