A new study published in followed nearly 200,000 mothers in the U.S. from 2016 to 2023.

The study found a steep decline in maternal mental health.

Only 25% of moms report “excellent” mental health, down from 38% in 2016.

There was a 64% increase in mothers reporting fair or poor health.

“We know that there was inflation, a lot of financial difficulties at that time, but the other factor is that it’s a matter of when in motherhood that this occurs,” Christi Taylor-Jones, a marriage and family psychotherapist, told ����Xվ Newsradio. “And we know that actually about a year before pregnancy and a year after pregnancy are kind of you know, times of upheaval.”

She said new moms, regardless of whether or not they have a partner, have to adjust to a new reality very quickly. Mothers learn that mom life is unpaid, full-time, and back-breaking work.

“I think for women today, their mothers may have worked, but a lot of them didn’t, and women are having to carry a huge burden now, because the jobs that they’re in are generally higher level than their mothers, meaning they’re working long hours, they’re under much more stress, they have less time for their children, and in those early years, especially, trying to juggle it all is very difficult,” Taylor-Jones said.

She said if you have a husband or partner, they can help.

“I wrote about how to educate your husband about motherhood and the demands of motherhood and what is needed, and also not to push them out of the nursery, let them take over some of the responsibility, and that sometimes is hard for women, too, by the way,” Taylor-Jones said.

The benefits of having a supportive partner

As I spoke with Taylor-Jones, it reminded me what a privilege it is to have a supportive partner. Let me share a quick story. I breastfed my firstborn for 13 months, but I remember just a few days after my husband and I got home from the hospital with him.

He very plainly and directly said to me, “If you don’t pump, I can’t help you.”

In those first days, I wanted to be there for every single feeding, but in my journey, I realized it wasn’t necessary, and it was not the best for my mental health. Pumping gave me flexibility; it was my free pass to sleep at night while my husband was up feeding our baby with a bottle.

I also had the freedom to do ordinary things that many moms learn very quickly are hard to come by, like brushing your teeth, taking a shower, or washing your hair.

So it begs the question, how do women without help do it? How can mothers avoid slipping into a poor mental state or depression?

“Probably the first person you’re going to talk to is your doctor, and hopefully the doctor is educated on these issues, so finding out what resources are available,” Taylor-Jones said.

She said if you are religious or spiritual, talk to your minister.

Family members and friends are also a good source too if you feel like you can talk to them freely without judgment.

This happened after a cat in Oregon died from eating the food that tested positive for bird flu.

issued a voluntary recall for a batch of its raw and frozen two-pound feline turkey recipe.

The product was sold through distributors in several states including Washington.

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In a release from the company:

Northwest Naturals is voluntarily recalling one batch of Northwest Naturals brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it was tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus.

Consumption of raw or uncooked pet food contaminated with HPAI can cause illness in animals. To date, one case of illness in a domestic cat has been reported in connection with this issue. The recalled product is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1.

The product was sold through distributors in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI and WA in the United States, and British Columbia in Canada.

This recall is being conducted in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, Oregon.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled product should immediately discard the product and contact the place of purchase for a full refund. For additional information or questions, customers may contact Northwest Naturals of Portland at info@nw-naturals.net or 866-637-1872 from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM PST, Monday through Friday.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture said on Facebook:

To avoid the spread of HPAI, state and federal experts strongly encourage people and their pets to:

• Avoid consuming raw or undercooked meat products

• Avoid consuming raw dairy

• Limit contact with sick or dead animals

• Wash your hands after handling raw animal products or contact with sick/dead animals

• Keep pets or poultry away from wild waterfowl

Contributing: Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Katrina Guischard is an anchor and editor for ����Xվ Newsradio.