Many women can relate to the emotional roller coaster that dominates the first few weeks after a baby is born. Who wouldn't be a mess? Sore, sleep deprived, in a totally new role (even if this is not your first child), hormones are unbalanced and there's little time to take care of yourself.
Experiencing the baby blues is common. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are common ... but require treatment. So how do you know if you or a loved one is experiencing something more serious than the baby blues?
BABY BLUES
Nearly 80% of women experience "baby blues"—those mild mood swings that usually begin a few days postpartum and last about three weeks. Symptoms include moodiness, tearfulness, anxiety, inability to concentrate and sadness. These feelings come and go but the predominant mood is actually happiness.
PERINATAL MOOD & ANXIETY DISORDERS (PMAD)
PMADs have an onset any time during pregnancy until one year after the baby is born and symptoms last longer than three weeks. The highest time of risk is six months after childbirth. Symptoms can include excessive worry about the baby's health, sadness, guilt, hopelessness, anger, difficulty bonding with baby, sleep problems (even when baby is sleeping), fatigue, loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities, change in appetite, irritability and difficulty making decisions.
Although depression is the most common perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD), other conditions can occur in addition to depression. Expectant parents and their support persons should become familiar with the range of symptoms and when symptoms may occur can help ensure more individuals receive treatment sooner rather than later ... or never.
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders include:
- Depression
- Anxiety Disorders: Generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Bipolar Mood Disorder
- Postpartum Psychosis
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE
Baby Blues:
- Begins soon after childbirth, sometimes even while still in the hospital.
- Lasts a few days up to three weeks.
- Main mood is happiness.
Other symptoms can include bouts of ...
- Moodiness
- Tearfulness
- Anxiety
- Sadness
- Inability to concentrate
Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders:
- Begins anytime during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum.
- Persists for longer than three weeks.
- Main mood is sadness, anxiety and/or guilt.
Other symptoms can include persistent ...
- Scary thoughts
- Irritability
- Hopelessness
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue
- Loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities
- Change in appetite
- Difficulty making decisions
Learn more about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders on Pine Rest's website.
Written by Sarah DeYoung, LMSW, PMH-C.
Courtesy of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.
Photo by Getty/Thomas Barwick, courtesy of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.
