Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders

IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS, PLEASE CALL 911 OR THE NATIONAL MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE 1-833-943-5746

*I am a trained postpartum doula and newborn care specialist; I am not medically trained and I can neither diagnose nor prescribe. If you are in crisis and in the US call 911. For Suicide Awareness call 988. 

Asking for help can be a difficult thing. Admitting that you can't do it all as a mother/parent is not where anyone wants to find themselves. Especially when it appears that all the parents on social media are doing it all with ease. Hint, they aren't. And parenthood doesn't come naturally for everyone. Newborns are a lot of work, and everyone handles it differently. Stress, anxiety, and "the baby blues" are a natural part of parenting a newborn, for women and men. 

Baby blues and its big sister depression are common consequences of giving birth. Hormones change rapidly in the first weeks postpartum and lack of sleep can exacerbate the changes your body is going through, causing anxiety and sadness. But, if after two weeks, when your hormones should be leveling out, you are still experiencing “baby blues” symptoms, you may want to pay closer attention as you or your partner may be developing a perinatal mood disorder. 

Perinatal mood disorders are the term that includes depression, generalized anxiety, panic disorders, perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder, perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder, perinatal bipolar disorder, and perinatal psychosis. You may have experienced one of these disorders in the past or it may be new, brought on by pregnancy and birth. 

*If you suspect you are suffering from any of these issues you can bring it up to any of your doctors, including your general practitioner, your obstetrician, and even your baby's pediatrician. They can all help you get the help you need.  

 If you’re still wondering if you need to seek help let’s list some of the symptoms of each of them. *However, if you are experiencing dark thoughts, particularly of harming yourself, your baby, or someone else, please seek help immediately. Talk to your partner, best friend, parent, doctor, or anyone who is in your support network. Call 911 or the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline 1- 833-943-5746 (1-833-9-HELP4MOMS) it’s a 24/7, free, confidential hotline for pregnant and new moms in English and En Espanol. 

Depression (Major Unipolar Depression) 

Symptoms (if you experience 5 or more, seek help): 

• Depressed most of the day, every day 

• Loss of interest in things that bring you joy 

• Appetite disturbance resulting in weight change 

• Sleep disturbance, too much, too little 

• Psychomotor (mental activity) agitation or retardation 

• Fatigue 

• Poor concentration  

• Feelings of worthlessness 

• Inappropriate guilt 

• Recurrent suicidal thoughts 

These symptoms may present in different ways from lack of connection with your child to irritability, to physical symptoms. Does something just not feel right? Talk to someone. 

General Anxiety 

Symptoms (If you experience 3 or more, seek help): 

• Excessive worry, it’s normal to worry about your baby, but are you worrying about “normal” things? 

• Uncontrollable worry 

• Irritability 

• Worrying thoughts that spiral 

• Restlessness, can’t relax 

• Poor concentration 

• Sleep disturbance 

• Physical symptoms related to worry such as an upset stomach, heart palpitations  

Panic Disorders 

Symptoms: 

• Intense fear that comes on suddenly 

• Physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, hot or cold flashes, rapid heart rate 

• Restlessness 

• Excessive worry or fear 

• Fear of "going crazy," dying, or losing control 

• Spiraling with no trigger 

Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 

Obsession is defined as recurrent thoughts or urges that are unwanted and cause stress. Compulsion is defined as repetitive behaviors an individual is forced to do in the belief it will calm the obsession. 

Symptoms: 

• Intrusive, repetitive thoughts, usually of harm coming to the baby 

• Trapped in “what if” thinking 

• Guilt and shame 

• Being horrified by these thoughts causing hypervigilance over the baby which results in the mother engaging in compulsions to avoid the perceived harm 

Perinatal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 

PTSD is usually caused by trauma, including a traumatic birth. A traumatic birth can have a different definition for everyone. It might include a painful birth, issues that cause a disregard of the birth plan, emergency c-section, loss of the baby, near-miss of the loss of baby, etc. Birth trauma can occur during labor or birth that threatened the life of the mother or baby or serious injury. Another form of trauma can involve the mother being stripped of her dignity possibly by following these themes: 

PTSD Themes: 

• Mother feels there is a lack of caring and support 

• Poor communication with the birthing team causing a birthing person to feel invisible 

• Feeling powerlessness 

Birth trauma can also make you question if a healthy baby justifies the trauma endured. Perinatal PTSD can impair parent-infant bonding. 

If you believe you or your partner may be suffering from any of these disorders or the even more serious Perinatal Bipolar Disorder (marked by episodes of mania, hypomania, or depression) or Perinatal Psychosis (which “affects a person’s sense of reality, causing hallucinations, delusions, paranoia or other behavior changes”1) please contact a doctor as soon as possible. 

There are also many support groups. You do not have to go through this alone. Find support groups at https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-online-support-meetings/ 

There you will find support for - 

Perinatal (Pregnancy and Postpartum) Mood and Anxiety Disorders such as: 

• Black Moms Connect 

• Birth Trauma Support 

• Dad Support Group 

• NICU Parents 

• Queer and Trans Parent Support Group 

• And more 

Pregnancy and Infant Loss and Fertility Challenges including: 

• Black Moms in Loss Support 

• Parenting After Loss 

• Termination for Medical Reasons 

• Post-Abortion Support

Support for Family Members 

Support En Espanol 

No one can do everything and don't make anyone believe that there is something wrong with you if you struggle to be a parent. There is nothing wrong or shameful with needing or asking for help. Use the contact form to reach out to me if you have more questions or just need someone to talk to.

Sources: 

1. Cleveland Clinic contributors. Postpartum Psychosis. Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclini

c.org/health/diseases/24152-postpartumpsychosis#:~:text=Postpartum%20psychosis%20(PPP)%20is%20a,harm%20themselves%20or%20their%2 0newborn . 2023. Accessed on March 11, 2023. 

2. PSI. PSI Online Support Meetings. https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-online-support-meetings/ 2023. Accessed on March 11, 2023.