Becoming a new parent is often accompanied by a learning curve, that at times, can feel quite steep!
Conception, pregnancy, labor and delivery, recovery, feeding, and sleeping all come to mind - not to mention the other unexpected curve balls that can accompany the perinatal period. The perinatal period starts at conception and continues until one year after giving birth – quite a lengthy period of time!
During that time birthing and new parents can experience Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD). In the past, the more common term used was Postpartum Depression but that term is only one many different perinatal mental health disorders that exist.
Approximately 1 in 5 to 7 women experience a PMAD, and 1 in 10 new fathers."
PMAD’s can impact anyone - they do not discriminate! Approximately 1 in 5 to 7 women experience a PMAD, and 1 in 10 new fathers (yes fathers can be impacted as well). The most common occurring PMAD’s are postpartum depression and/or postpartum anxiety and symptoms can begin anytime throughout the perinatal period.
Think of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders as an umbrella and the following terms hangout underneath that umbrella, with one key distinction – Baby Blues! Baby blues is a familiar term, and is a very common experience of birthing parents; however, it is not a PMAD. Baby blues refers to the sadness, mood swings and crying spells many women experience for a period of time after giving birth, and can impact up to 80% of new moms! These symptoms tend to peak 3 to 5 days after birth and can last approximately 2 weeks postpartum, then begin to subside. When symptoms worsen or persist past this time frame it may be a warning sign that a PMAD is present (Slavens & Bodie, 2023).
PMAD’s and some of the respective symptoms (Slavens & Bodie, 2023) falling under the umbrella include:
Postpartum Depression – difficulty sleeping or resting (when able to), changes in appetite, low self-confidence, lack of joy, loss of interest in life, hopeless, withdrawn, overwhelming fatigue, difficulty bonding, anger/rage, thoughts of suicide/death.
Postpartum Anxiety – intrusive thoughts, racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, racing heart, headaches, shaking, stomach aches, fears about babies' health, changes in appetite, feeling easily overwhelmed, panic attacks.
Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – recurrent and intrusive thoughts about harming the baby in some way. These intrusive thoughts (obsessions) are accompanied by ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) the person performs to get rid of the obsessions.
Postpartum Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – occurs in some woman who have had a real or perceived experience of a life-threatening event during the perinatal period. Symptoms include insomnia, nightmares, reliving the traumatic experiences, self-blame, anxiety, depression, avoiding triggers associated with the trauma.
Postpartum Psychosis – affects less than 1% of woman but is an extremely serious condition that requires immediate medical intervention. Symptoms include, delusions (strange beliefs that are not true), hallucinations (hearing and seeing things that are not there), agitation, paranoia, decreased need for sleep, rambling speech.
Postpartum Bipolar Disorder – affects less than 4% of woman, includes extreme fluctuations in mood and energy levels, often going from the highest highs (mania) the lowest lows (depression).
What complicates PMAD’s? Lack of universal screening throughout the perinatal period, underreporting, and really just not talking about how you are doing!
When you head to the health unit exhausted and the nurse hands you a questionnaire about your mood, but you don't complete it honesty. When the midwife asks, “how are you doing” and you ecstatically say, “great!”. When your pregnancy was planned (and only 50% of them are!) but you feel guilty for not loving being at home with a newborn, or when it feels like everyone around you has it happily together (they don't!). These are just a few of the many situations that keep birthing and new parents quiet.
When we start talking, we realize how common these experiences can be and then the guilt, the isolation, the fear, and the worry can start to lift.
Talk to someone supportive, talk to your medical provider, or talk to a professional.
To learn more about PMAD’s visit https://www.postpartum.net/learn-more/
If you find you are in crisis or need immediate support, contact the AHS Mental Health Helpline (24/7/365) at 1-877-303-2642.
Written by Jodi Schollaardt
MSW, RSW, PMH-C
Mental Health Therapist
Wandering North Therapy
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