(U-WIRE) PROVO, Utah -- Religious and social pressures often push mothers to stay at home to raise their children, complicating an intensely personal decision.
Andrea Yates, a stay-at-home-mom, was convicted Tuesday of drowning three of her five children. She was pressured by her religious adviser to have more children even though her doctor warned in 1999 that doing so could aggravate her postpartum depression, according to the Associated Press.
This case has called attention to the possible negative implications of the pressure mothers are under to be a perfect parent.
In Latter-day Saint culture, it is simply assumed, if circumstances permit, a good mother will stay home, said Doug Brinley, Brigham Young University religion professor.
"The ideal, as the prophets have taught, is that Dad is to earn the bucks," Brinley said. "Mom is needed to be an effective mom and an excellent homemaker."
"A conscientious mother feels the need to be with the children to teach them and help them to be productive citizens," he said. "It is not a pressure-issue as much as it is the wise thing to do in today's environment."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has programs such as Relief Society and visiting teaching to provide support to mothers.
Jean Moss has been Relief Society President for the Rivergrove Third Ward for three years.
"It's nice to know that we're on the path together and we can share that sisterhood," she said. "We know that we're there for each other, to support and sustain each other, and help each other if the need arises."
Through fellowshiping, the programs provide a support system to help mothers deal with the pressure of being a stay-at-home mom.
"After I had my baby, the Relief Society brought over food," said Melinda Noakes, 21, a senior from Normal, Ill., majoring in finance. "I felt less overwhelmed knowing there was support from the church."
Yates did not appear to have a support system similar to the one the Church of Jesus Christ provides. According to PRNewswire, she did not subscribe to a specific religion within Christianity.
She did, however, follow evangelist Michael Woroniecki, a minister that preaches ultra-conservative doctrine about the relationship between husband and wife, according to PRNewswire.
In 1994, Woroniecki marched on BYU campus carrying a wooden cross and calling the students "Mormon scumbags" and addressing the women as "contemporary witches," according to an October 1994 article in the Daily Universe.
If an LDS woman suffers from postpartum depression, the church has set up a hotline for bishops to call, Moss said.
"In our church, it's a commodity to reach out to people," she said.