Symptoms of Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders
New mothers, and their loved ones, should be aware of the symptoms of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. Below are the symptoms of these disorders broken down into categories. The symptoms of postpartum depression, anxiety and elevated mood can overlap. So, it's possible you will have symptoms that fall into more than one category. Regardless of your symptoms, it's best to get treatment quickly rather than wait and see if the symptoms pass on their own.
Many mothers will feel more sad or nervous than usual after childbirth. We call this the "baby blues." This is not a psychological disorder. It does not need treatment. It only lasts a few weeks and resolves on its own. If your symptoms are severe or persist past a couple of weeks, you may need help getting better.
Depression symptoms can include sadness, trouble sleeping, sleeping too much, low energy, trouble concentrating, changes in appetite, feeling overwhelmed, withdrawing socially, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, intense guilt, shame, feeling like a failure as a mother, and irritability. When depression gets severe, there may be thoughts like "the baby would be better off with another mother" followed by thoughts about, and preparation for, suicide.
Anxiety symptoms include panic attacks, worries, restlessness, racing thoughts, racing heart rate, tingling feelings in your extremities, pressure in your chest, digestive distress, irritability, muscle tension and headaches. One of the most disturbing symptoms for new mothers is the presence of intrusive thoughts, which are involuntary thoughts that include images of harming the baby or the baby dying. Interestingly, most new parents have some intrusive thoughts about the baby. It's our brains' way of reminding us to take very good care of our infant. Most parents are able to move past these thoughts. However, for anxious moms, these thoughts provoke other anxiety symptoms and the fear that the mother may be a danger to her own baby. These mothers may be afraid to stay home alone with their babies.
Postpartum can also bring symptoms of elevated mood, which can include feeling more energized than normal, feeling very confident, and needing less sleep. It may also include restlessness, agitation, and irritability. These symptoms are particularly serious as they often mark the onset of postpartum psychosis, a rare (1-2/1000) and dangerous condition. Mothers with postpartum psychosis may have some symptoms that feel good to them, like feeling special and more able to understand the world better than ever before. However, other symptoms can develop that will be frightening and confusing, such as the presence of hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren't there), disturbing urges to harm the baby or self. The development of postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency. If you think that a new mother is experiencing these symptoms, you should take her to the ER and contact her OB/GYN office.
All of these symptoms are exacerbated by the expectation that this "should be the happiest time in our lives." Holding on to that belief often creates a vicious cycle in which PMAD symptoms serve as proof of your failure as a mother which, in turn, worsens your symptoms. Mental health complications after childbirth are common. There is no reason to be ashamed of feeling this way.
Mothers who are feeling this way often put on a facade to pretend that they are feeling better than they are. Check out this great page from Postpartum Progress on what women look like while suffering from PMAD. Postpartum Progress also has great resources for explaining the symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety in "plain mama English." They also have a page that does this for postpartum psychosis.
Many mothers will feel more sad or nervous than usual after childbirth. We call this the "baby blues." This is not a psychological disorder. It does not need treatment. It only lasts a few weeks and resolves on its own. If your symptoms are severe or persist past a couple of weeks, you may need help getting better.
Depression symptoms can include sadness, trouble sleeping, sleeping too much, low energy, trouble concentrating, changes in appetite, feeling overwhelmed, withdrawing socially, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, intense guilt, shame, feeling like a failure as a mother, and irritability. When depression gets severe, there may be thoughts like "the baby would be better off with another mother" followed by thoughts about, and preparation for, suicide.
Anxiety symptoms include panic attacks, worries, restlessness, racing thoughts, racing heart rate, tingling feelings in your extremities, pressure in your chest, digestive distress, irritability, muscle tension and headaches. One of the most disturbing symptoms for new mothers is the presence of intrusive thoughts, which are involuntary thoughts that include images of harming the baby or the baby dying. Interestingly, most new parents have some intrusive thoughts about the baby. It's our brains' way of reminding us to take very good care of our infant. Most parents are able to move past these thoughts. However, for anxious moms, these thoughts provoke other anxiety symptoms and the fear that the mother may be a danger to her own baby. These mothers may be afraid to stay home alone with their babies.
Postpartum can also bring symptoms of elevated mood, which can include feeling more energized than normal, feeling very confident, and needing less sleep. It may also include restlessness, agitation, and irritability. These symptoms are particularly serious as they often mark the onset of postpartum psychosis, a rare (1-2/1000) and dangerous condition. Mothers with postpartum psychosis may have some symptoms that feel good to them, like feeling special and more able to understand the world better than ever before. However, other symptoms can develop that will be frightening and confusing, such as the presence of hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren't there), disturbing urges to harm the baby or self. The development of postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency. If you think that a new mother is experiencing these symptoms, you should take her to the ER and contact her OB/GYN office.
All of these symptoms are exacerbated by the expectation that this "should be the happiest time in our lives." Holding on to that belief often creates a vicious cycle in which PMAD symptoms serve as proof of your failure as a mother which, in turn, worsens your symptoms. Mental health complications after childbirth are common. There is no reason to be ashamed of feeling this way.
Mothers who are feeling this way often put on a facade to pretend that they are feeling better than they are. Check out this great page from Postpartum Progress on what women look like while suffering from PMAD. Postpartum Progress also has great resources for explaining the symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety in "plain mama English." They also have a page that does this for postpartum psychosis.