Pregnancy can certainly be a joyful time for mothers-to-be; however, for some, it can bring unexpected emotional challenges. Hormonal shifts, physical discomfort, and life transitions can all pose changes in mood. Today we’ll talk about what’s typical, and what could signal a deeper concern of pregnancy-related mood disorders. Thankfully, the support of therapy in Ann Arbor MI can often make a big difference in the lives of pregnant women facing challenging times.
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, or PMADs for short, are a group of emotional and psychological conditions that occur during pregnancy (prenatal) or after childbirth (postpartum). Anyone from first-time parents to experienced parents can experience them – even those with no history or mental health challenges.
PMADs include conditions such as:
- Perinatal depression and perinatal anxiety
- Panic disorder
- Perinatal OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to pregnancy or childbirth
- Bipolar disorder with perinatal onset
- Postpartum psychosis (less common but very serious)
Not only can these disorders impact how one feels and thinks, they can impact their daily life functions, such as inability to sleep, concentrate, bond with their baby, or take part in routine activities.
It’s important to make the distinction that PMADs are medical conditions and should be treated as such. They are not character flaws or failures.
How Common Are Mood Disorders During Pregnancy?
They’re more common than you may think. In fact, one in five women suffers from a mental health disorder in the months before or after giving birth, and most of them never get the care and support they need, according to the AAMC.
Postpartum depression is what the headlines usually focus on, but it’s common for women to first experience mood and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy.
Here are some quick facts from the Policy Center For Maternal Mental Health:
- Postpartum depression (PPD) diagnosis rates increased from nine percent in 2010 to 19 percent in 2021.
- Maternal depression occurs just as frequently during pregnancy as it does in the postpartum stage.
- Maternal depression can happen anytime during the perinatal period.
- 20 percent of women experience maternal anxiety disorders (the highest rates happen during early pregnancy, 25 percent).
- OCD rates are eight percent during the prenatal period and 17 percent in the postpartum period.
- In women with an existing bipolar diagnosis, 55 percent have at least one bipolar-spectrum mood episode occurrence in the perinatal period.
- Despite how common they are, many PMADs go undiagnosed because symptoms are mistakenly attributed to “normal pregnancy changes.”
Knowing these facts and understanding that support is out there can help to normalize these experiences.
“Baby Blues” and Clinical Perinatal Depression: What’s the Difference?
The time after a baby arrives can be fraught with many emotions, both up and down. However, there are some big differences between temporary “baby blues” and a clinical mood disorder.
Baby Blues
- Hormonal changes can cause anxiety, crying and restlessness that will typically go away within the first two weeks of giving birth.
- A mild and temporary form of depression that recedes once hormones level out.
- Up to 85 percent of new mothers will experience the postpartum blues, feeling happy one minute and overwhelmed and crying the next.
- Typically begin within the first few days postpartum.
- Symptoms include crying, irritability, mood swings, overwhelm, and sensitivity.
- Usually peak around day four or five.
- Caused largely by hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and the intensity of early postpartum changes.
While uncomfortable and unpleasant, the baby blues are short-lived, with new mothers still able to care for themselves and their baby.
Clinical Perinatal Depression
Perinatal depression goes beyond the “baby blues” and can be more intense and long-lasting. It can also interfere with daily functioning. Symptoms to be watching for include:
- Persistent sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Loss of interest in previously-enjoyed activities
- Difficulty bonding with the baby
- Excessive worry
- Feeling disconnected, numb, or overwhelmed
- Thoughts of self-harm (requires immediate help)
Perinatal depression won’t fade with time, as the baby blues do. Keep in mind, it can occur during pregnancy or anytime in the first year postpartum.
Knowing the difference between the two is important, as early identification can strengthen parent–child relationships and support healthier families. Above all, remember that these mood changes aren’t your fault, and they can be addressed with the proper support and therapy in Ann Arbor MI.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation With CNLD Neuropsychology
Our therapists are experienced in helping new and expectant parents navigate perinatal depression with compassion and expertise. Contact CNLD Neuropsychology for a confidential consultation on pregnancy-related mood disorders today.
