What are Perinatal
Mood & Anxiety Disorders?
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)
Experts estimate about 80% of new mothers experience mood swings and weepiness during the first 2-3 weeks after giving birth. Sometimes called “the baby blues,” this is a normal adjustment period and resolves without any medical assistance.
More than just the “Baby Blues”
If you are are more than two weeks postpartum and you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, you may be suffering from a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder (PMAD). Please speak with your healthcare professional.
- Are you feeling sad, depressed, or overwhelmed?
- Do you feel more irritable or angry with those around you?
- Are you having difficulty bonding with your baby?
- Do you feel anxious or panicky?
- Are you having problems with eating or sleeping?
- Are you having upsetting thoughts that you can’t get out of your mind?
- Do you feel as if you are “out of control” or “going crazy”?
- Do you feel like you never should have become a mother?
- Do you feel guilty, or think you are a “bad mom”?
- Are you having thoughts about harming yourself or your baby, or are you worried you might act on those thoughts?
While many birthing people experience some mild mood changes during pregnancy or after the birth of a child, 15 to 20% will experience more significant symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Symptoms left untreated can cause suffering for many months or years; PMADs-informed care can prevent a worsening of these symptoms and you can fully recover.
There is no reason to continue to suffer.
PMADs Explained
Birthing people of every culture, age, income level and race can develop perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). Symptoms can appear any time during pregnancy and the first 12 months after childbirth (or longer if left untreated). There are effective and well-researched treatment options to help you recover. Although the term “postpartum depression” is most often used, there are several forms of illness including:
Pregnancy (also called antepartum) or Postpartum Depression (PPD)
People with PPD might experience feelings of anger, sadness, irritability, guilt, lack of interest in the baby, changes in eating and sleeping habits, trouble concentrating, thoughts of hopelessness and sometimes even thoughts of harming the baby or self.
Pregnancy (also called antepartum) or Postpartum Anxiety (PPA)
People with PPA may experience extreme worries and fears, often over the health and safety of the baby. Some people have panic attacks and might feel shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, a feeling of losing control, and numbness and tingling.
Pregnancy or Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (PPOCD)
People with PPOCD can have repetitive, upsetting and unwanted thoughts or mental images (obsessions), and sometimes they need to do certain things over and over (compulsions) to reduce the anxiety caused by those thoughts. These thoughts are very scary and unusual and it is very unlikely that the person struggling will act on them.
Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PPTSD)
PPTSD is often caused by a traumatic or frightening childbirth, and symptoms may include flashbacks of the trauma with feelings of anxiety and the need to avoid things related to that event.
Postpartum Psychosis (PPP)
PPP sufferers sometimes see and hear voices or images that others can’t, called hallucinations. They may believe things that aren’t true and distrust those around them. They may also have periods of confusion and memory loss, and seem manic. This severe condition is dangerous so it is important to seek help immediately.
For more information: Postpartum Support International (PSI)