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Postpartum Mood Disorders

Mood and Anxiety Disorders During and After Pregnancy
HomeHealth TopicsMental HealthPostpartum Mood Disorders
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Welcome! You're not alone here. 

Mood and anxiety changes during and after pregnancy can affect mothers, fathers, birth parents and partners.  In fact, one in four mothers, one in ten fathers, and four in five birth parents are affected.

The good news is help is available, and when you reach out for support, it gets better.

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Baby Blues

The "baby blues" happen within a couple of days after birth, and usually go away on their own within two weeks. Symptoms may include weepy periods and mood swings.

If symptoms don’t go away after two weeks, talk to your health care provider.
Reach out anytime; it’s never too early or too late.  

Perinatal Mental Health Disorders

The perinatal period includes pregnancy, post-loss, and 12 months postpartum. (source: PSI, 2023) 

There are many different forms of mental health disorders you might experience during pregnancy and after the birth of a child. With the right help, you will get better. 

Perinatal Depression

Symptoms may include:
  • feelings of anger, sadness, irritability or guilt
  • lack of interest in your baby
  • changes in eating and sleeping habits
  • trouble concentrating
  • hopelessness
  • thoughts of harming your baby or yourself

Perinatal Anxiety

Symptoms may include:
  • extreme worries and fears, often over the health and safety of your baby
  • panic attacks (shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, numbness and tingling, and a feeling of losing control)

Perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Symptoms include:
  • repetitive, upsetting, and unwanted thoughts or mental images (obsessions)
  • the need to avoid triggers to certain things over and over (compulsions) 

Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Postpartum PTSD is often caused by a traumatic or frightening childbirth or past trauma. Symptoms may include flashbacks of the trauma with feelings of anxiety and the need to avoid things related to that event. 

Bi-Polar Mood Disorders

Many people are diagnosed for the first time with bipolar depression or mania during pregnancy and afterward. Bipolar mood disorder can appear as severe depression. 

Postpartum Psychosis

Symptoms include:
  • inability to sleep
  • seeing images or hearing voices that others can’t
  • believing things that aren’t true
  • not trusting those around you
  • periods of confusion, mania, depression or memory loss.
This condition is uncommon but dangerous, so it is important to seek professional help immediately. 
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Fathers' Mental Health

Fathers and non-birthing parents can also experience mood changes during pregnancy and/or after the baby is born. Most symptoms of depression are the same for men and women, but they may look different for men. Some common symptoms of depression in men are: 

  • mood swings
  • anger and irritability
  • physical symptoms like headaches or fatigue 
  • hyperactive behaviour
Learn more.

What can you do? 

  • Don’t blame yourself 

  • Take care of yourself 

  • Take time for yourself 

  • Get counselling 

  • Consider medication 

  • Be patient. It takes time for recovery.

Get started. 
Take the first step toward feeling better by 
connecting with the care you deserve.

If you're having thoughts of suicide, or harm to self or others, call 911.

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Read something real.
Discover personal stories and other resources from Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario.
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“Just know you worked hard, you did a good job, and there will be more beautiful moments ahead. There are also others that feel the way you do. I’ve been there too. You are not alone.”
- Lisa McCarty, Women’s Health AdvocateOvercoming Depression while Weaning from Breastfeeding

What can family and friends do?

  • Listen and support their feelings.
  • Encourage them to seek professional help. 
  • Develop your relationship with the baby. 
  • Ask them how you can help. 
  • Educate yourself about perinatal mood disorders. 
  • Take some time for yourself. 
  • Find someone to talk to.  
  • Don’t take Perinatal Mood Disorder personally. It's not anyone’s fault. 

References

  • Postpartum Support International. (2023). We Can Help with Perinatal Mental Health. https://www.postpartum.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023_04-PSI-FactSheet-Helpseeker-Margin.pdf 

  • Best Start by Health Nexus. (2019). Life with a new baby is not always what you expect. https://resources.beststart.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/M03-E.pdf 

  • Best Start by Health Nexus. (2019). Pregnancy and life with a new baby is not always what you expect. https://resources.beststart.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/M07-B.pdf 

  • Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario. (n.d.) Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs). https://www.perinatalwellbeing.ca/_files/ugd/a41248_dc665c5e2d6d4636a480149844c43dd6.pdf 

  • KFL&A Public Health. (n.d.) Partners can also experience perinatal mood disorder. https://www.kflaph.ca/en/health-topics/perinatal-mood-disorder.aspx 


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