Motherhood, Politics, and the Social Determinants of Health: What Holistic Health Truly Means
As a holistic health coach, I believe in addressing the whole person—mind, body, and soul. But true holistic health is about more than just what you eat, how you move, or how much you sleep. To genuinely support women, particularly mothers, we need to zoom out and consider the bigger picture: the social determinants of health and how politics shapes our ability to thrive.
What Shapes Our Health Beyond Diet and Exercise?
Social determinants of health are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They encompass the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These determinants are deeply tied to health disparities, making it impossible to talk about wellness without considering them.
5 Key Factors That Influence Health
Economic Stability: Income, employment, and financial resources.
Education: Access to quality education and lifelong learning.
Social and Community Context: Social support, community engagement, and relationships.
Health and Healthcare: Access to healthcare services, insurance coverage, and quality of care.
Neighborhood and Environment: Housing, transportation, access to healthy foods, and safe spaces.
Let’s explore how these factors influence fitness, mental health, and maternal well-being.
How Social Determinants Impact Fitness
Imagine Two Mothers: Maria and Sarah
Maria’s Environment:
Maria lives in a safe neighborhood with parks, sidewalks, and gyms.
She has access to healthy grocery stores and a community center with fitness classes and childcare.
Sarah’s Environment:
Sarah lives in an area with high crime rates, no parks, and limited infrastructure.
Her nearest grocery store is a convenience shop with few healthy options, and gyms or childcare programs are nonexistent.
The Results:
Maria is more likely to engage in regular physical activity, reducing stress and improving her overall health.
Sarah, on the other hand, faces significant barriers that make staying active and healthy nearly impossible.
As a pre- and postnatal coach, I’ve seen firsthand how environment shapes health. That’s why I create programs that account for these challenges, meeting mothers where they are with solutions that fit their realities.
How Social Determinants Impact Maternal Health
Access to Healthcare
Let’s look at maternal mortality rates. In Norway, the maternal mortality rate is 3 per 100,000 live births, while in the U.S., it’s 17.2. Women of color face even greater risks due to systemic barriers in healthcare access. Comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care are essential, yet they’re often unavailable or unaffordable to many.
Mental Health and Economic Stability
Supporting mothers goes beyond physical health. Mental health is deeply tied to economic stability and access to support. Policies like paid family leave can significantly reduce stress and improve mental health outcomes for mothers.
Take The FAMILY Act, for instance, which advocates for 12 weeks of paid parental leave for all workers. While widely supported, it remains a polarizing issue. The lack of paid leave creates enormous stress for new mothers during an already challenging time, directly impacting their recovery and mental health.
Why Health Is Political
As a mother and coach, I see firsthand how political decisions impact health. The policies shaping our neighborhoods, healthcare, and work environments directly affect our ability to thrive.
The decision to fund community gyms or parks impacts fitness opportunities.
Paid family leave policies influence maternal recovery and mental health.
Healthcare access determines whether mothers receive life-saving prenatal care.
I cannot separate my work as a coach from politics because the two are inseparable. To provide effective support, I need to understand and address the systemic factors impacting my clients’ lives.
A Holistic Health Perspective
Holistic health is about more than nutrition and exercise. As a coach, this means not only helping mothers with fitness and nutrition but also advocating for environments and policies that make wellness achievable for everyone. It’s about tailoring solutions that address systemic challenges and empower each woman to thrive within her reality. Whether it’s ensuring safe spaces for mothers to exercise or fighting for better healthcare access, we must acknowledge the role of social determinants and politics in shaping wellness.
If you’re a mother navigating postpartum challenges, know that your struggles are not just personal—they’re part of a broader system that often makes things harder than they need to be. Together, we can advocate for better policies, educate ourselves, and work toward creating environments where all mothers can thrive.
Health is political, and I take my job too seriously to pretend otherwise. Let’s continue this conversation and work toward a future where holistic health truly means health for everyone.
Looking for Support During Your Pre- or Postnatal Journey?
Join my coaching program for personalized guidance that considers the whole picture—from fitness and nutrition to mental health and systemic barriers.
