Motherhood is often synonymous with resilience, selflessness and the ability to hold everything together: homes, careers, relationships, and expectations. In the process of caring for everyone else, however, many women gradually sideline their own health, dismissing early warning signs as a normal part of daily life. Fatigue, stress, hormonal fluctuations, and even persistent discomfort are frequently normalised rather than investigated.
In this article, Dr. Mayanka Lodha Seth, Chief Pathologist at Redcliffe Labs, sheds light on the hidden and often overlooked health risks that mothers face across different life stages. From chronic stress and hormonal imbalances to undiagnosed conditions that remain silent for years, these risks often go unnoticed until they begin to impact long-term well-being.
By bringing attention to these silent concerns, the article underscores the need to shift how maternal health is perceived from a secondary priority to an essential foundation for healthier families and communities.
Mothers are the people who hold families together. They take care of homes, jobs, emotions and expectations without complaining. When they are busy taking care of everyone else, they often forget to take care of their own health. They think they will deal with it later, but it becomes a habit. The problem is not just feeling tired sometimes or missing doctors’ appointments. It is the health risks that build up over time without being noticed until they become serious.
The main issue here is that mothers think it is normal to feel uncomfortable, tired and even in pain, thinking it’s a part of being a mother. Beneath this, there are bigger health risks like chronic stress, hormonal imbalances, undiagnosed conditions, and long-term vulnerabilities that span across different life stages.
The silent toll of stress on the body
Being a mother is emotionally fulfilling, but it can sometimes be mentally demanding. Stress does not just stay in the mind. It affects the body in ways that people do not always understand.
Long term stress messes up their hormones, especially the stress hormone called cortisol. Chronic psychological stress activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in sustained elevation of cortisol levels. While acute cortisol release is adaptive, prolonged exposure leads to allostatic load, a state associated with systemic dysregulation.
Research indicates that chronic stress contributes to conditions like Immunosuppression, increasing susceptibility to infections, Endothelial dysfunction, a precursor to cardiovascular disease and sometimes Insulin resistance, raising the risk of type 2 diabetes.
A review published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology highlights how persistent HPA axis activation alters metabolic and cardiovascular pathways, particularly in women with caregiving roles.
Additionally, maternal mental health remains underdiagnosed. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 10–20% of women experience mental health disorders during pregnancy or postpartum, with many cases going untreated. Untreated postpartum depression has been linked to long-term neurobiological changes and impaired mother–child bonding, reinforcing the need for early psychiatric evaluation.
Health risks across life stages
A mother’s health journey changes as she gets older. The health risks are often ignored at every stage.
Postpartum phase: After having a baby, everyone focuses on the baby and the mother’s recovery is not a priority. Many mothers have pain, weak pelvic muscles and problems controlling their urine but they do not talk about it. Research highlights that postpartum complications, ranging from musculoskeletal pain to psychological disorders, often persist well beyond six weeks, contradicting the conventional recovery window. Many mothers think these problems are just part of having a baby. They can be fixed with exercise and medical help.
Midlife and perimenopause: As mothers get older into their 30s and 40s, new health risks appear. When they are getting close to menopause, their hormones change, which can cause irregular periods, mood swings, sleep problems and tiredness. Many mothers think these symptoms are just part of getting older.
This stage of life also increases the risk of weak bones, which can lead to fractures. Every 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures. At the time, the risk of heart problems increases. Women who have never had heart problems before may suddenly be at risk without warning.
Persistent fatigue and emotional burnout:
Feeling tired all the time is a problem for mothers at all stages of life. This is not about being tired. It can be a sign of underlying health problems like thyroid issues, anemia or stress. If mothers ignore these signs, they may not get diagnosed until their health problems are more serious.
The Importance of Preventive Screenings
One thing that mothers often overlook is preventive care. They do not always get check-ups, especially if they do not have any symptoms. Finding health problems early is crucial for long-term health. Regular tests like Pap smears can find problems early, which reduces the risk of serious health issues. Mammograms are important for finding breast problems, especially for women over 40 or those with a family history. Basic health checks can find issues that contribute to tiredness, weight changes or mood problems. For mothers who often delay getting help until their symptoms are bad, getting check-ups can be life-changing.
Redefining priority
The narrative around motherhood often celebrates self-sacrifice. While dedication is admirable, neglecting health is not a sustainable form of care. In fact, it poses a risk not just to mothers, but to the families who depend on them. Mothers do not need to wait for a health crisis to justify self-care. The shift lies in viewing health not as a reactive measure, but as a continuous responsibility. Because in the long run, caring for oneself is not separate from caring for the family, it is what makes it possible.
