Defined as any mood or anxiety disorder with an onset during pregnancy or soon after birth.

Baby Blues

Starts 3-5 days after baby is born.

Lasts 2-14 days.

Occurs in 60-80% of individuals who give birth.

Symptoms

· Tearful

· Feeling overwhelmed

· Irritable

· Difficulty with decision making

· Fatigue

Perinatal Depression

Can occur anytime during pregnancy or after childbirth.

Symptoms last more than 2 weeks.

Occurs in 20% of pregnant people during pregnancy.

Occurs in 14% of pregnant people postpartum.

Symptoms

· Sadness

· Irritability

· Guilt/shame

· Difficulty sleeping

· Low self-esteem

· Loss of interest in things that were previously pleasurable

· Decrease in appetite

· Difficulty with decisions and concentrating

· Feeling hopeless

· Lack of feelings towards baby

· Difficulty with taking care of yourself or others

· Isolation

· Suicidal thoughts

Perinatal Bipolar

Bipolar can have a peripartum onset.

71% of child-bearing individuals with Bipolar had a reoccurrence during pregnancy.

Symptoms of depression as well as:

· Decreased need for sleep (feeling rested despite less sleep)

· Euphoria or agitation

· Racing thoughts

· Increased productivity

· Increased energy

· Erratic behaviors

· Pressured speech

· Can include paranoia, hallucinations, or disorganized thinking

Perinatal Anxiety

Occurs in 11% of pregnant people.

Symptoms

· Irritability

· Difficulty sitting still

· Worry

· Heart palpitations

· Racing thoughts

· Excessive concern about other/your baby/your health or their health

· On high alert

· Appetite changes

· Difficulty sleeping

· Fantasize about harming baby or self

Perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Occurs in 11% of pregnant people .

Symptoms

· Obsessive thoughts and behaviors (cleaning, checking, counting, organizing)

· Hypervigilance

· Reassurance seeking

· Won’t let anyone else help with baby

· Repetitive intrusive thoughts (you are aware these are unhealthy)

· Feeling bothered by unsettling thoughts

· Engaging in behaviors to minimize triggers or quiet obsessive thoughts

· Guilt/shame

Perinatal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Occurs in 9% of people who give birth/are pregnant.

Up to 34% of people who give birth report having a traumatic birth.

A birth trauma is anything during labor and delivery that involves actual or perceived serious injury to individual giving birth and/or baby that leads to intense fear.

Symptoms

· Flashbacks

· Intrusive memories

· Nightmares

· Isolation

· Blame of self or others

· Numbing

· Hypervigilance

· Dissociation

· Difficulty remembering some aspects of the event

Perinatal Psychosis

Occurs in 1-2 in 1,000 postpartum individuals.

5% of the above individuals result in suicide, and 4.5% result in infanticide.

Onset is usually within the first 2 weeks after delivery.

Symptoms

· Delusions (i.e. baby is possessed by demons)

· Hallucinations

· Inability to see thoughts or actions as unhealthy

· Confusions

· Impaired orientation (difficulty knowing where they are etc.)

· Mood swings

· Insomnia

· Rambling

· Flight of ideas

· Thought broadcasting

· Ideas of reference

· Paranoia (i.e. infant is being harmed)

Some important key information

Many pregnant individuals are concerned about continuing their psychiatric medication while pregnant. Current research shows that having an untreated mental health condition is more harmful than taking most psychotropic medications.

10% of non-birthing partners develop a Perinatal Mood Disorder.

Untreated mood disorders during pregnancy can lead to preterm birth, low birth weight, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes.

*Please seek help from a mental health professional if you experience any of the above symptoms.