Postpartum Mental Health

It is normal to feel a wide range of emotions after your baby is born. Your body has just performed a miraculous feat: growing a new life and delivering it into the world. With this achievement comes a flood of hormonal changes and emotions. Caring for a newborn, not getting enough sleep, and healing from childbirth can make things feel overwhelming. Some new parents experience postpartum mood disorders like the "baby blues," depression, anxiety, OCD, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Here are three important points if you think you or a loved one might be experiencing a postpartum mood disorder.

Recognize It

Many new parents experience the “baby blues”. This is the time soon after a baby is born when the birthing parent may cry often, experience mood swings, and feel down or anxious. This is normal and usually happens in the first two weeks after birth and then it gets better. If these feelings last longer or become more intense, it could be postpartum anxiety or depression.

Warning Signs of Postpartum Anxiety

• Worrying too much
• Physical symptoms like feeling shaky, weak, or dizzy
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Feeling restless and unable to relax

Warning signs of Postpartum Depression

• Feeling sad or hopeless most of the time
• Not enjoying things you used to love
• Crying a lot beyond the first two weeks postpartum
• Having trouble bonding with your baby
• Thinking about hurting yourself or your baby

Understand the Impacts

Mental health is important for everyone, but postpartum mood disorders need special attention. Postpartum mood disorder can also negatively affect the baby. When a new parent has untreated depression or anxiety, it can make bonding with the newborn more difficult. This can lead to long term developmental or emotional problems for the baby. Also, when a parent isn’t feeling well, it can make caring for the baby more difficult, which could lead to health concerns. Getting help is important for you AND important for your baby.

Get Help

• Talk to your partner about how you’re feeling
• Accept help from family and friends
• Make a plan with your partner and support system to find ways to get more sleep
• Make sure you are eating a healthy diet and enough calories to support healing
• Physical activity has been proven to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Plan time to connect with friends. It is important to find time for joy.
• Consider mindfulness meditation, yoga, or other stress management strategies
• Consider seeing a therapist and/or joining a support group
• Speak to your doctor
• Talk to your baby’s pediatrician

You deserve to enjoy the special moments with your newborn. There are many people and resources ready to help, so please know you are not alone.

Resource List

Postpartum Resources