Pregnancy: Beyond the Bump

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Marylyn Ayoub, a 6^th year medical student at the University of Balamand, Lebanon. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

She is in the delivery room. A breath of life, a newborn cry, and the room fills with happy tears. Smiles, hugs, congratulations, and then the focus shifts quickly to the baby – but who stays with the mother?

She just went through a physically and emotionally traumatic experience. Her heart fills with joy, but her body is in shock, and her mind begins to spiral. Here is where it hits her: “Am I enough for my baby? Will I ever feel like myself again? Why do I feel guilty for not feeling overjoyed all the time?”
This quiet storm often goes unnoticed and does not end here. If she is lucky, it passes within weeks, and too often, she passes it alone. Who understands the power of judgment-free support for a mother in the most vulnerable chapter of her life?

Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and postpartum psychosis are among the most common mental health disorders experienced after childbirth, yet they are greatly normalized, with up to 50% remaining undiagnosed (Carlson et. al, 2025). Not only do the mothers feel neglected but also burdened by the societal expectations of “happy motherhood” that pressure them into silence (Regev, 2025) and shame, as they’re often left to struggle alone without the help they need.

As medical students, our role goes far beyond attending classes and diagnosing disease. We’re here to treat the patient, not just the symptoms, and serve our communities with empathy and purpose. We’re here to educate, open conversations, and encourage women to speak up and seek help. We’re here to remind the world that pregnancy is not just about the bump. It’s far more than the ultrasound updates, gender reveals, and baby showers. Pregnancy is life being crafted inside a female’s body which molds itself to fit and nurture a whole person. It’s what the mother endures, what she thinks, and most importantly what she feels.

In the war against silence and stigmata, education is our mightiest sword. As a female activist, as a medical student, and most importantly as a human, I urge you to be the voice of the silenced mothers. Not silenced by individuals, but by expectations, shame, and stigma. When we speak about pregnancy, let’s not limit the conversation to the bump but also what lies beyond it. Let’s shed light on the importance of postpartum health, the consequences of mental health disorders on the mother herself, her baby, and her family, and ways to shift from stigma to support. Let’s encourage mental health screening as a standard part of prenatal and postnatal care. Let’s lead awareness campaigns, advocate within our own homes, build a culture of compassion and support and we will leave an impact in the world.

Our role as medical students isn’t only to diagnose and treat, but to offer peace, safety, and an open ear. Our mission is like a scout’s, “to leave this world a little better than we found it.” – Robert Baden-Powell

About the author

Marylyn Ayoub is a 6^th year medical student at the University of Balamand, Lebanon, where she is serving as LeMSIC Lebanon’s National Officer on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Including HIV and AIDS for the term 2024-25. Marylyn has also founded the Lebanese Obstetrics and Gynecology Interest Group (LOGIG) for which she is the president as well. She has coordinated several campaigns in both institutions to capacitate medical students all over Lebanon and educate underserved communities on important maternal health topics, including but not limited to healthy pregnancies, postpartum mental health, and more.