Postpartum symptoms can occur anytime during the perinatal period (the period of time when you become pregnant and up to a year after giving birth) and affect not only the pregnant person, but also other family members, including fathers and partners.
For new mothers, it can be upsetting and frightening to have feelings about motherhood that don’t seem “right.” Perinatal symptoms can also be debilitating at times, and leave you feeling devastated during what should be one of the most happiest times in your life.
For some women, a morning run, a healthy diet, and receiving help and support from family and friends are sufficient enough to get through the initial adjustment period. For others, talking to a therapist who specializes in dealing with new motherhood issues can be comforting, relieving, and enlightening.
Therapists who have extensive education and training in postpartum disorders understand that hormone changes, personal and family history, and social support are all vital factors in understanding and alleviating postpartum symptoms. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below you are not alone. There is no reason you should suffer in silence; reach out for help.
Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) conditions are the number one complication of childbearing.
Perinatal Depression:
- Feelings of anger, irritability and/or rage
- Lack of interest in the baby
- Disturbances of sleep or appetite
- Crying or feelings of sadness
- Feelings of guilt, shame or hopelessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
- Possible thoughts of harming the baby or yourself
Perinatal Anxiety:
- Constant worry
- Feeling that something bad might happen
- Racing thoughts
- Disturbances of sleep or appetite
- Inability to sit still
- Physical symptoms; such as; dizziness, hot flashes diarrhea and nausea
- Feelings of anger, irritability and/or rage
- Feeling nervous, on edge, anxious or having trouble relaxing
Perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
- Obsessions; intrusive thoughts or mental images, which are persistent and repetitive and often related to the baby. These thoughts are very upsetting
- Compulsions; where you may do certain things over and over again to reduce your fears and obsessions. This may include; needing to clean constantly, checking things many times, counting or reordering things, and/or avoiding triggers
- A sense of horror about these thoughts
- Fear of being left alone with the infant
- Hypervigilance in protecting the infant
Perinatal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
- Flashbacks of a past traumatic event (which in this case may have been the childbirth itself)
- Nightmares
- Avoidance of reminders associated with the event, including thoughts, feelings, people, places and details of the event
- Persistent increased arousal (irritability, difficulty sleeping, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response)
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Feeling a sense of unreality and detachment
- Avoidance of aftercare following a birth trauma
Perinatal Bipolar Disorder:
Bipolar disorder can look like a severe depression or anxiety and can include symptoms such as:
- Periods of severely depressed mood and irritability
- Elevated mood, higher energy than normal.
- Rapid speech
- Little need for sleep
- Racing thoughts
- Trouble concentrating
- Overconfidence
- Impulsiveness
- Poor judgment
- Easily distracted
- Grandiose thoughts
- Inflated sense of self-importance
- In the most severe cases, delusions and/or hallucinations
- Childbirth may be a specific trigger for a manic episode, which could then be followed up by the onset of depression.
Perinatal/Postpartum Psychosis:
- Delusions or strange beliefs
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
- Feeling very agitated
- Hyperactivity or having more energy than usual
- Severe depression or lack of emotion
- Decreased need for or inability to sleep
- Paranoia and suspiciousness
- Rapid mood swings
- Difficulty communicating at times
Postpartum Support International (PSI) Help Line:
Text “Help” to 800-944-4773 (EN)
*The PSI Help Line does not handle emergencies. Help Line hours are 8am-11pm EST. Services are in English and Spanish. People in crisis should call the National Suicide and Crisis Line; 988 (call or text).