We offer help to identify and treat common mood issues related to pregnancy and birth. This time period in a mother’s life is often called the perinatal period since “peri” means “around,” and “natal” refers to pregnancy. People also know of this as postpartum anxiety or depression, or the baby blues. We can help you understand some common issues that mothers experience during this time period and offer some online resources, including how to assess them and find additional support.
Possible Pregnancy-Related Issues
Most people are familiar with postpartum depression, which is a sadness that extends beyond the typical “baby blues” that occur during the two-week period following birth. Pregnancy or postpartum depression can also include symptoms of irritability, anger, lack of interest in the baby, changes in eating and sleeping, trouble concentrating, thoughts of hopelessness, and sometimes thoughts of harming the baby or yourself. Thoughts of harm to the baby are very scary and unusual to the struggling mom.
Pregnancy or Postpartum Anxiety can include extreme worries or fears, including the health and safety of the baby. Some women have panic attacks and might feel shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, feeling of losing control, numbness, and tingling.
Pregnancy or Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive might include repetitive, upsetting, and unwanted thoughts or mental images. They may feel the need to do certain things over and over to reduce the anxiety caused by those thoughts. Moms find these thoughts very scary and unusual and are unlikely to ever act on them.
Postpartum Stress is often caused by frightening or traumatic childbirth (from the mom’s perspective). Symptoms might include flashbacks of the trauma with feelings of anxiety and the need to avoid things related to that event.
Postpartum Psychosis might include seeing or hearing voices or images others can’t, feeling very energetic and unable to sleep, believing things that others say are not true, and distrusting others around you. This rare illness can be dangerous, so it is important to seek help immediately.
Online Screening
Following is a simple 10-question screening tool to see if further assessment by a professional would be helpful. It is not a diagnostic tool. A score of 10 or more indicates the need for further assessment by a professional.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
How Fathers Can Be Affected
Did you know that postpartum depression isn’t just about hormones and that new fathers can be affected as well? The above screening tool is validated for fathers as well. For fathers, the recommended cutoff is 5/6.
Timing of Issues
Did you know that the symptoms listed above can occur anytime during the year following birth? There can be a period of time after birth where everything seems fine, and then perhaps three or six months out, you are hit with symptoms. Connecting with a professional can help you sort out the cause and best treatment.
Resources
Postpartum Support International (www.postpartum.net) has many resources to fit your needs. Click on the “Get Help” tab.
- psiga.org Info, find a local support group or professional
- For research based answers to questions about medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding, see: http://www.postpartum.net/resources/medication-resources/
- facebook.com/PostpartumSupportInternational
- facebook.com/PSIGACHAPTER
- text4baby.org Receive free texts for support
- postpartumprogress.org Helpful information
Toll-free Warmline: 1-800-944-4773 ~ Leave a message, and an expert will call you back.