Postpartum Support

We Can Help With Perinatal Mental Health

Having a baby is often seen as one of the happiest times in life—a moment everyone expects you to cherish. People say, “This must be such a joyful time for you!” But what if it doesn’t feel that way? What if you’re struggling with feelings of sadness, anxiety, or being completely overwhelmed? Even when others think you should be happy, it’s okay to acknowledge that this time can be incredibly hard.

You’re not alone. We are here to help.

Mental health challenges are common during the perinatal period, which includes pregnancy, post-loss, and the first 12 months after giving birth. In fact, perinatal mental health (PMH) disorders are the most frequent complications of childbearing in the U.S. While postpartum depression is widely recognized, other PMH disorders include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. These conditions can affect parents of all cultures, ages, income levels, and races.

Without treatment, PMH disorders can lead to serious consequences such as premature or low-birthweight babies, difficulties in parent-child bonding, and long-term learning and behavior issues for children. They may also increase the risk of maternal mortality.

1 in 5

Women and 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety during the perinatal period.

Perinatal Depression

Symptoms may include feelings of anger, sadness, irritability, guilt, lack of interest in your baby, changes in eating and sleeping habits, trouble concentrating, hopelessness, and sometimes even thoughts of harming your baby or yourself.

Perinatal Anxiety

Symptoms may include extreme worries and fears, often over the health and safety of your baby. Some people have panic attacks, which can include shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, numbness and tingling, and a feeling of losing control.

Perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Symptoms may include repetitive, upsetting, and unwanted thoughts or mental images (obsessions), The perinatal period includes pregnancy, post-loss, and the 12 months postpartum. and/or the need to avoid triggers to certain things over and over (compulsions).

Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

This is often caused by a traumatic or frightening childbirth or past trauma. Symptoms may include flashbacks of the trauma with feelings of anxiety and the need to avoid things related to that event.

Bipolar Mood Disorders

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.

Perinatal Psychosis

Symptoms may include the inability to sleep, seeing images or hearing voices that others can’t. You may believe things that aren’t true and distrust those around you or have periods of confusion, mania, depression, or memory loss. This condition is uncommon but dangerous, so it is important to seek professional help immediately.

How we can help

Call us today!