Although there is more know today than in the past about postpartum-related mental illnesses, emotional and psychological impairments are not merely restricted to the post-delivery period of the pregnancy journey. Research has suggested that experiences of anxiety and mood impairments during pregnancy can increase a woman's risk for experiencing postpartum-related depression after delivery. In addition, there are several other emotional or psychological issues that women may experience during pregnancy, including:
You may have experienced one or more of these issues prior to becoming pregnant. On the other hand, you might have been met by such issues for the first time during your pregnancy. Regardless of the onset of these experiences, it is important that you seek help and treatment as soon as possible, if you are currently pregnant and are suffering in silence. It is important that you seek help now for the safety of both you and your baby.
At IFC Wellness, our goal is to create a treatment plan for you that will address the emotional and psychological issues you are experiencing during this time. You and your baby deserve to experience an optimal level of wellness. Your treatment plan, if necessary, will incorporate closely-related services by other local providers, if necessary (e.g., psychiatrist). With appropriate treatment, you can increase your chances of remaining well throughout your pregnancy, as well as your ability to cope with the significant life changes that will occur for you, baby, and other family members during your postpartum period.
Varying from woman to woman, emotional changes during the post-partum period can range from less severe "tearing up" for a couple of weeks after the baby's delivery to quite taxing, or even frightening, emotional outbursts and mood swings. There may even be experiences of psychosis (hallucinations or delusions) for some. Feelings of happiness and love for your newborn may be accompanied by feelings of helplessness, sadness, and anxiety.
Some of the most common emotional challenges and mental health issues that arise during the post-partum period are:
Up to 70% of newly-delivered mothers are affected by the baby blues within the first 10 days or so, postpartum. Although these "on and off" crying spells, emotional mood swings, sadness, anxiety, and restlessness, may present as uncomfortable for new mothers who experience them, the baby blues should be clearly distinguished from diagnosable postpartum mood disorders. The baby blues typically ends within the first few weeks of the postpartum period. If your depressive or anxiety-related symptoms continue beyond this point, are recognized as increasing in severity and are much more pronounced, you may be suffering from postpartum depression (PPD), which is a treatable disorder.
Postpartum depression includes the following symptoms:
Postpartum depression is but one of several emotional and psychological issues that a woman may experience during the postpartum period. In addition to postpartum depression, delivery-related anxiety and stress reactions may be experienced by some women, due to unexpected or traumatic situations during the delivery. Any given birth experience, itself, might also trigger the recollection and re-experiencing of past traumas (e.g., domestic abuse, rape) for a woman.
Given this, symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be experienced during the postpartum period for some women. These post-partum experiences become impairments when the degree of anxiety experienced is beyond what might be considered a typical response to the delivery of a new baby (e.g., excessive worry about baby's welfare, feeding, sleeping patterns; excessive concerns about the ability to care for baby properly). For instance, a new mother who is "on edge" all the time, catastrophizes about very common issues characteristic during this period (e.g., baby gets a diaper rash or refuses to feed for a short while) may be experiencing symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Specifically, a new mother who is experiencing unwelcome, persistent, and uncontrollable thoughts about herself or baby may be experiencing symptoms of OCD.
A new mother's symptoms of OCD may include:
Traumatic experiences sometimes occur for mom during the birth of a baby. For some women, a delivery may not have occurred as planned. Perhaps that 9-month dream of delivering naturally was abruptly interrupted by an emergency C-section. Perhaps an unexpected induction led to an early delivery due to birth complications. In addition to the potential element of surprise during any given delivery, there are also the planned events that take place, which might also very well result in experiences of trauma for a woman (e.g., a planned C-section).
Some women in the postpartum period may experience the following symptoms of PTSD:
In comparison to the incidence of depression and anxiety that is experienced by new mothers in the postpartum period, postpartum psychosis is rare. Nevertheless, when it is experienced by a new mother, she might be scared and confused, once out of the psychotic state. A woman experiencing postpartum psychosis requires immediate attention, especially if her symptoms include thoughts of suicide or other harm to herself or baby. A new mother with postpartum psychosis may be experiencing the following symptoms:
Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency. If you believe that you are experiencing the symptoms of postpartum psychosis, please, seek professional help immediately. Visit your nearest emergency room, or call 911 to receive help for you and your baby.
It is important to note that women in the postpartum period is at a higher risk for experiencing the symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders, such as depression and PTSD, if they have a past history of such experiences.
Help is available. You do not have to go through these experiences alone. We care, we understand, and we are here to help. Contact us today to discuss a treatment plan that will best fit your situation, to keep both you and your baby safe and well.
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