perinatal and postpartum therapy
Welcoming a child is like riding a wonderful and wild rollercoaster…buckle up!
For one in five new parents, that ride is met with both joy and depression, or joy and anxiety.
Baby Blues can last for the first two weeks after your baby arrives. It may be more than baby blues if you experience new feelings of depression, anxiety, or anger after that period.
Postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, and psychosis are all considered perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Symptoms can begin anytime during pregnancy, immediately after birth, or months later. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are common and treatable.
What are perinatal mood disorders?
Postpartum Depression
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression include:
Losing your own sense of selfFeeling overwhelmed or guilty, and irritable or angryHaving trouble eating or sleeping (falling or staying asleep) that isn't related to normal care of your babyHaving a low mood on most daysNot feeling connected to your baby or avoiding contact with your baby
Postpartum Anxiety
Symptoms of Postpartum Anxiety include:
Constant or near-constant worryRacing thoughtsHaving trouble eating or sleeping (falling or staying asleep) that isn't related to normal care of your babyIrritability or angerDifficulty concentratingPhysical symptoms like nausea, dizziness, feeling overheated, shortness of breath
Perinatal & Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Perinatal OCD is essentially OCD that occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth. It involves intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that can be really distressing. But here's the thing: these obsessions and compulsions often center around the baby. For example, you might have thoughts about accidentally harming your child, or you might become obsessed with keeping everything spotlessly clean to prevent germs from reaching your baby. These thoughts can be incredibly scary and might lead you to check on your baby constantly or seek reassurance from others over and over. These symptoms can lead to intense distress and interfere with daily functioning and the parent-child relationship. Learn more in my 3/27/2025 blog post.
Perinatal and postpartum therapy can also address:
Grieving pregnancy loss, birth trauma, infertility challengesBoundaries and communicationLoneliness or tension in your relationshipsThe transition into motherhoodShift in dynamics with your partnerAdjusting the family system to a new babyChanges in intimacy, sex, and connectionFeeling nervous all the time, like you have to get everything “just right”