Breaking the silence: Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital leads fight against maternal mental health battles

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- One in five mothers experience mental health conditions, with maternal mental health being the most common complication of pregnancy and postpartum. Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital is committed to supporting maternal health by ensuring no mother faces these challenges alone. The hospital offers comprehensive maternal behavioral health resources, including counseling and specialized support for women experiencing anxiety, depression and other emotional concerns during pregnancy and postpartum.

“Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and depression do not discriminate,” said Dr. Jasminet Pathak, maternal behavioral health lead at Houston Methodist The Woodlands. “It takes a village, right? But sometimes, the only village a mother has is between herself and her nurse or doctor.”

Pathak’s passion for helping mothers stems from her own experience as a single mom at age 19. With no village of her own, she didn’t know what to expect. Pathak recalled asking a nurse during labor if she could hold her hand. The nurse replied, “No one is going to hold your hand -- this is what it takes to bring a child into the world.” From that moment on, Pathak was determined to change that.

Maternal behavioral health services at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital are led by Pathak and alongside Elizabeth Barnett, director of the childbirth center. The program provides guidance and counseling services for perinatal and postpartum mothers by referral from an obstetrician gynecologist (OBGYN) at the hospital.

One patient, Bianca Aguilar, said Pathak’s maternal behavioral health counseling transformed her pregnancy.

“I was scared to tell anyone how I was feeling,” Aguilar said. “I thought I might never connect with my baby, and I was afraid to tell my doctor. My emotions were so high, I couldn’t go a day without crying.”

After working up the courage to confide in her doctor, Aguilar was encouraged to meet with Pathak to begin counseling. Aguilar said that counseling helped her manage anxiety and taught her practical tools such as self-affirmations and ways to bond with her baby.

“Don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help,” Aguilar said. “Mental health is so important for both you and your baby. I would encourage everyone to seek counseling during pregnancy.”

Cady Bailey’s journey to motherhood was anything but typical. After experiencing a miscarriage, she was looking for help navigating her loss. Her OBGYN recommended the maternal behavioral health program — a decision that would change everything.

Through counseling sessions with Pathak, Bailey began to heal. Then came surprising news: she was pregnant again. But with joy came anxiety, she said.

"Every time I had an ultrasound, I was terrified of hearing bad news like before," Bailey said. "But Jasminet coached me through every step."

Throughout her pregnancy, Bailey leaned on coping techniques tailored to her experience and beliefs. The maternal behavioral health program provided something more than traditional counseling; it created a circle of support.

"The difference between the maternal behavioral health program and just seeing a counselor is communication," Bailey said. "Jasminet worked closely with my entire care team. When it was time to deliver my baby, she visited me and was just as invested in our journey as I was."

Maternal mental health continues to be a silent crisis across the world, and Houston Methodist is here to support new parents at every step of their journey. Learn more about pregnancy support on Houston Methodist’s website.