Baby Blues

Up to 80% of all new mothers experience the baby blues. This is normal. The onset is usually within the first week after giving birth and may persist for up to 2 to 3 weeks.

There are many contributing factors to the baby blues including:

• Hormonal changes
• Stress related to the birthing experience
• Sleep deprivation
• Unmet expectations related to birth, partner or the baby
• Stress and anxiety due to increased responsibility

Symptoms of Baby Blues:

• Weepiness
• Mood changes
• Sadness
• Anxiety
• Feelings of dependency
• Difficulty concentrating

If these feelings persist beyond 2 to 3 weeks, you may be experiencing postpartum depression or anxiety and you should consult a healthcare professional.

Depression & Anxiety

If, after 2 to 3 weeks after giving birth, you continue to feel sadness, anxiety, fear or confusion, you may have postpartum depression and/or anxiety. Postpartum depression and anxiety occurs in about 15% to 20% of mothers. Postpartum depression and anxiety can occur within days of delivery or appear gradually, sometimes up to one year after birth.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety include:

• Sadness
• Guilt
• Excessive worry
• Irritability, anxiety or feeling on edge
• Lack of energy or constant fatigue
• Disinterest in your baby
• Feeling worthless or hopeless
• Feeling overwhelmed, as if you are drowning
• Feeling rejected by your baby
• Loss of interest or pleasure in life
• Inability to sleep, even at night when your baby is sleeping
• Having thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby

Postpartum depression and anxiety is experienced differently in every woman. It is a serious condition which must be addressed with a healthcare provider immediately.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive compulsive disorder occurs in 3% to 5% of new mothers. OCD involves intrusive, repetitive and persistent thoughts and mental pictures. The thoughts are often about hurting or killing the baby. Women feel horror, shame and are frightened and guilt-ridden over these thoughts. They will go to great lengths to keep their baby safe. To counteract these thoughts, women may obsessively clean, hide dangerous objects, lock doors, refuse to be separated from their baby or count obsessively.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder occurs in about 10% of postpartum women. During a panic attack, women often feel like they are dying or might die.

Symptoms of a Panic Disorder include:

• Extreme anxiety
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Hot or cold flashes
• Trembling
• Numbness or tingling
• Irritability
• Feeling as if one is “going crazy” or losing control.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD occurs in response to an extremely traumatic event. 1% to 6% of postpartum women experience PTSD. If the birthing experience is traumatic or if a woman has a personal history of child abuse or sexual assault, the birth may trigger a posttraumatic episode.

Symptoms of PTSD include:

• Recurring nightmares
• Extreme anxiety
• Recurring and distressing recollections of the event
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Irritability or outbursts of anger
• Difficulty concentrating
• Avoidance of feelings, places or people that remind one of the traumatic event
• Feeling detached or estranged from others

Psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is the most severe of the postpartum mood disorders. It occurs in .1% to .2% of mothers. Postpartum psychosis can occur within 48 to 72 hours after delivery. There is a 5% suicide rate and 4% infanticide rate associated with psychosis.

Symptoms of Postpartum Psychosis include:

• Visual or auditory hallucinations
• Delusional thinking
• Confusion, paranoia or extreme mood swings
• No indication of shame or guilt regarding thoughts related to harming one’s infant

Postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency. Because of the risk of harm to both the baby and one’s self, postpartum psychosis MUST be treated immediately.

Risk Factors Related To Postpartum Mood Disorders

Postpartum related mood disorders affect women of all ages and ethnicities. Although hormones and thyroid levels play a significant role in causing postpartum mood disorders, there are other risk factors that also contribute to these disorders.

Risk factors include:

• Personal and/or family history of depression or anxiety
• First time motherhood
• Past traumatic events
• History of postpartum depression, anxiety or psychosis
• Severe PMS
• Lack of family or social support
• Adverse emotional reactions to fertility medication
• Thyroid dysfunction Abrupt weaning
• Traumatic birth experience
• Mothers of infants in the NICU
• Life stressors during pregnancy or after childbirth, such as financial difficulties, marital problems or single parenting