Maternal & Paternal Mental Health: Prenatal and Postpartum Support

 

Postpartum depression and anxiety are the most common complications of pregnancy.  Many mothers feel that something is wrong, but don’t speak up or ask for help. Unfortunately, maternal depression is under-screened in doctor offices, leaving many mothers to suffer in silence without understanding what’s going on. There are many factors that contribute to depression and anxiety--hormones, sleep scarcity, lack of support, epigenetic predispositions--the symptoms are NEVER the mother’s fault.

The good news is that there is a lot you can do to help prevent postpartum depression and anxiety or reverse them in their tracks.  The pre and postpartum time is an optimal window to take care of new or pre-existing difficulties, while the family is still in the early stages of adjusting to the new baby. The best gift you can give to your family is your mental health.

Depression and anxiety can show up in many ways. Here are some red flags to watch out for.


 

  • Low mood, sadness, or tearfulness

  • Irritability, short-temper, getting easily triggered 

  • Low energy, feeling like you’re walking through molasses

  • Unable to sleep when the baby is sleeping even though you are tired

  • Low appetite, forgetting to eat, or overeating

  • Feeling guilt and shame, feeling like a bad mom

  • Feeling disconnected from yourself and/or others

  • Feeling no joy or connection with the baby

  • Avoiding the baby

  • Having scary thoughts or images that bother you

  • Neglecting basic self-care and hygiene

  • Cognition problems (decision-making, planning, organizing, remembering, problem-solving) 

  • Physical signals (such as shallow breathing, increased heart rate, feeling tense, restless, headaches)

  • Excessive worrying (including catastrophic thoughts)

  • Excessive checking on the baby

  • Constantly feeling keyed up or on edge

  • Having unusually excessive energy (can be hyperproductive or agitated/restless/anxious) 

  • Reduced need for sleep (less than 4 hours of sleep without feeling tired)

Here are some things I can help with.

  • Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety

  • Birth and postpartum planning for new parents/families

  • Postpartum adjustment for new moms/dads/families

  • Pregnancy after infertility

  • Birth trauma 

  • Building attachment with the baby

  • Integrating parenthood into identity

  • Navigating career and motherhood

  • Postpartum depression and anxiety in dads/partners

  • Joint counseling with partners & family members

  • Relapse prevention