Plan Ahead.
Know the signs, protect your mental health. 1 in 5 moms (and 1 in 10 dads) face mental health disorders, but most go undiagnosed and untreated. Talking about it breaks stigma and helps more families get care.
What are PMHDs?
It’s not just ‘baby blues’ or postpartum depression. 1 in 5 moms face more serious depression or anxiety—what’s known as perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs). The good news: They’re temporary and treatable with the right help.
Anxiety.
6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women develop anxiety.
Symptoms:
Constant worry
Feeling that something bad is going to happen
Racing thoughts
Disturbances of sleep and appetite
Inability to sit still
Physical symptoms like dizziness, hot flashes, and nausea
Depression.
Depression during and after pregnancy occur more often than people realize.
Symptoms:
Anger or irritability
Lack of interest in the baby
Appetite and sleep disturbance
Crying and sadness
Feelings of guilt, shame or hopelessness
Loss of interest, joy or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
Possible thoughts of harming the baby or yourself
Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Most often caused by a real or perceived trauma during delivery or postpartum (e.g., unplanned C-section, baby going to NICU, feelings of powerlessness during delivery, etc).
Symptoms:
Intrusive re-experiencing of a past traumatic event
Flashbacks or nightmares
Avoidance of triggers associated with the event, including thoughts, feelings, people, places and details of the event
Persistent increased irritability, difficulty sleeping, or hyper vigilance
Anxiety and panic attacks
Feeling a sense of unreality and detachment
Obsessive compulsive disorder.
As many as 3-5% of new mothers experience OCD. The intrusive images and thoughts can be sudden and frightening. What most don’t realize is that these are anxious in nature, not delusional, and have very low risk of being acted upon.
Symptoms:
Obsessions, or intrusive thoughts, which are persistent, repetitive thoughts or mental images related to the baby.
Compulsions, where the mom does things over and over again to reduce her fears and obsessions (e.g., cleaning constantly, checking things many times).
A sense of horror about the obsessions
Fear of being left alone with the infant
Hypervigilance in protecting the infant
Bipolar mood disorder.
Many people are diagnosed for the first time with bipolar depression or mania during pregnancy or afterward. A bipolar mood disorder can appear as severe depression.
Symptoms:
Periods of severe depression
Rapid speed
Mood much better than normal
Continuous high energy
Overconfidence
Racing thoughts, trouble concentrating
Delusions and hallucinations
Postpartum psychosis.
Affects 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 deliveries. Moms suffer a break from reality. This is a severe condition so it is important to seek help immediately.
Symptoms:
Delusions or strange beliefs
Hallucinations
Feeling very irritated
Hyperactivity
Severe depression or flat affect
Decreased need for or inability to sleep
Paranoia and suspiciousness
Rapid mood swings
Difficulty communicating at times
Source: Postpartum Support International
For more information, download Postpartum Support International’s Fact Sheet for parents and help seekers.
If you think you may be suffering from a PMHD, know that you are not alone, you are not to blame, and that with help you will be well. All symptoms are treatable.
If you are in danger of harming yourself or your child, seek help immediately. Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988.
If this is not an emergency, call or text Postpartum Support International’s helpline at 1-800-944-4773. They have a ton of free resources (support groups, specialized coordinators, local provider directory, and more) to connect you with the help you deserve.
Visit Postpartum Support International to learn more.
