Perinatal Mood Disorders (PMDs)
The term "perinatal" refers to the period surrounding birth; the time from conception until 18 months post-birth.
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It's normal to experience a range of emotions during pregnancy and after birth. 1 in 4 women experience more severe symptoms. If these persist for more than 72 hours without relief and impact your ability to care for your baby or yourself, or mange your daily tasks, it's possible you may be experiencing a PMD.
It's important to seek help at this point as PMds are serious medical conditions with better outcomes the quicker they are treated.
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Seeking help and support is a courageous step towards healing. You don't have to face this alone, we are here to help.
Not the Baby Blues
It's common for women to feel restless, emotional, weepy, anxious, irritable, and have mood swings following birth.
This is referred to as the "baby blues". They are considered a normal adjustment to hormonal changes, particularly the drop in estrogen, that occurs in your body after giving birth. Typically, they resolve on their own within two weeks.
PMDs are different from the baby blues - although they can also appear within the first two weeks.
Because no-one knows you better than yourself, you are the best judge of what’s ‘normal’ for you.
If you think you’re not feeling normal, ask yourself these two questions:
Does the way you’re thinking or feeling seems unusual for you?
Has your functioning has been affected for two weeks or more?
If you can answer “yes” to both these questions you may be experiencing a Perinatal Mood Disorder
Symptoms of Perinatal Mood Disorders
Perinatal Depression
Often develops when other mood disorders are not treated. Crying and intense sadness, a loss of interest in activities that once brought joy.
Perinatal Anxiety
Persistent racing thoughts, worrying , lack of concentration, irritability, sleep disturbance, physical tension, and loss of appetite.
Flashbacks and nightmares, anxiety, and panic about a certain event, Persistent increased arousal and hypervigilance.
Birth Trauma or PTSD
This is a very serious disorder which affects 0.2% of new mothers. Extreme confusion, delusions or strange beliefs, refusal to eat. Seeing or hearing things that may not be a reality.
Postpartum Psychosis
Persistent intrusive thoughts, often about the baby, regularly repeated compulsions to reduce fear. Experiencing images and visions which are reccuring.
Perinatal OCD
Adjustment Disorder
Adjusting to the changes associated with having a baby can cause many serious symptoms. The Royal College of Psychiatrists cite research conducted by NICE that adjustment disorders and distress can affect between 15 and 30% of women.
What to do about PMDs