How Pregnancy & Childbirth Can Lead To Depression & Anxiety In Both Women & Men

Lisa Foss, MA — Tue, 14 May 2019 20:12:22 +0000

Perinatal Mood Disorders are mood and anxiety symptoms that occur during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum. Thankfully, they are slowly gaining greater awareness. This awareness is helping women step out of the shadows of suffering long enough to ask for help, it's helping those closest to them recognize when help is needed, and it's shining a light on the fact that dads are also at risk.

When bringing home baby, new parents often hear that this is their “new normal", which can be an overwhelming thought when struggling with depression or anxiety. For moms with PMAD or dads with depression, our mental and physical health affects our ability to adapt to this more challenging phase of life.

It can be hard for moms and dads to admit that bringing home your bundle of joy is not as joyful as you imagined it would be.

In this post, we'll look at some common symptoms of perinatal mood disorders so that you'll know when you or a loved one might need help.

Depression During Pregnancy

Depression is one of the most common complications during and after pregnancy. While it's normal for women to experience changes in their mood during pregnancy, when symptoms persist for a few weeks or when they begin to interfere with daily activities, it's wise to get help. This is especially true considering that depression and anxiety during pregnancy can continue or worsen into the postpartum period.

Common Symptoms (from UNC Medical Center):

Feeling sad, depressed, and/or crying a lot
Diminished interest in becoming a mother
Feeling worthless or guilty, especially about not being a good mother
Strong anxiety, tension, and/or fear either about your future child or other things
Sleep problems (not being able to sleep despite feeling very tired or sleeping more than usual but not feeling rested)
Thoughts of wanting to be dead or wanting to kill yourself
Having low energy
Loss of or increase in appetite or weight
Trouble focusing, remembering things, or making decisions
Feeling restless or irritable
Having headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations, numbness, or hyperventilation

Postpartum Depression

Research has found that between 50% and 85% of new mother feel what is called the "baby blues", typically 1 to 3 weeks after giving birth. These feelings of sadness, irritability, anxiety, and loss of concentration are typically on the mild side and tend to dissipate after a couple of weeks.

However, around 10 of new mothers have a more serious condition, called Postpartum Depression, or PPD. Symptoms of PPD are typically more severe and last longer than a couple of weeks. The onset of PPD is typically in the first 2 to 3 months after giving birth, but can occur any time in the first year.

This is a potentially serious condition that can have major impacts on the health of the mother, baby, and extended family, so seeking help is imperative.

Common Symptoms (from UNC Medical Center):

Feeling sad, depressed, and/or crying a lot
Intense anxiety; rumination, obsessions (See Postpartum Anxiety Disorders below)
Loss of interest in usual activities
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or incompetence
Fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbance
Change in appetite
Poor concentration
Feeling inadequate to cope with new infant
Excessive worry about baby’s health
Suicidal thoughts

Postpartum Anxiety

Postpartum anxiety disorders, with symptoms like panic attacks, hyperventilation, excessive worry, trouble sleeping, and repeated thoughts of harmful things happening to the baby, can be just as common as PPD and are often seen in addition to PPD.

These symptoms, if not treated, can lead to a condition known as Postpartum Psychosis. These symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking. This can be a life threatening condition and requires immediate evaluation and treatment.

Postpartum Depression For Dads

Recent studies have shown dads are also at risk for postpartum depression. Dads can experience a loss of how life used to be, loss of partner (possibly even loss of bedroom because baby has taken over), lack of sleep, and an increase in stress. Or maybe being a parent brings such joy, but your relationship is suffering. Often, both moms and dads need support in making the transition from couple to family, while still maintaining “US.”

Conclusion: We Can Help