Lori's Blog
Prenatal and Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Issues
by Lori Capri on 07/12/18
Did you know…?
- “The Baby Blues” happens to more than half of moms within the first 2 weeks after delivery. They may feel overwhelmed with motherhood, uncertain, and have bouts of crying. Causes of this brief period of emotional ups and downs include the extreme hormonal fluctuation at time of birth, acute sleep deprivation and fatigue.
- Postpartum Depression is only one of the mental health issues that could happen to mothers surrounding the birth of her baby. The more comprehensive name is “Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders.” A mother (or her family or friends) may begin to notice that Mom is having difficulties with her mood and functioning during her pregnancy or for many months after delivering her baby(ies). Difficulties may include one or more of the following: excessive worry, anxiety or panic attacks, persistent or intrusive negative thoughts or images, repetitive behaviors meant to reduce fears or anxiety, ongoing feelings of anger, fear, guilt, lack of interest in the baby, appetite and sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, feeling overwhelmed by routine household tasks and/or caring for baby, irritability, hypervigilance, significant mood changes, and possible thoughts of harming the baby or oneself, having delusions (strange beliefs), or hallucinations (seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, or tasting things that are not really there).
- It is estimated that up to 1 in 5 pregnant women or new mothers experience one or more PMADs (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders)
- Fathers can also develop Postpartum Depression and other mood or anxiety issues.