Postpartum Depression, or PPD, can be confusing and frightening. You are not alone, there is help. Here are a few things you should know: 

• PPD is the most common complication of childbirth 

• PPD can be more than just depression. It can include anxiety, obsessive-compulsiveness, or psychosis.

• You did nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with you as a person. You are not a bad parent. 

These feelings can be due to several factors including hormonal changes, biological reasons, stress, or a history of mental health illness.

Symptoms of PPD could include:

• Anger or irritability

• Lack of interest in baby

• Eating too much or too little

• Sleeping too much or too little

• Crying and sadness

• Feeling guilty, shame, or hopelessness

• Loss of interest or pleasure in things you once enjoyed

• Possible thoughts of harming yourself or the baby

With treatment, PPD can last a few months to a year. Without treatment, it can last up to 3-4 years. If you feel you are experiencing PPD or something just doesn’t feel right, it’s important to reach out and get help. Failure to treat PPD can have a significant impact on the development of children.

Postpartum Anxiety, or PPA, can be confusing and frightening. You are not alone, there is help. Here are a few things you should know:  

About 10% of birthing parents experience significant anxiety after childbirth. Sometimes they experience anxiety alone, and sometimes it’s accompanied by depression.

PPA may take on other forms as well, such as panic attacks and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Panic attacks may come in waves. They may be frightening, but they cannot hurt you.

Symptoms of PPA could include: 

• Constant worry

• A feeling that something bad is going to happen

• Racing thoughts

• Eating too much or too little

• Sleeping too much or too little

• Inability to sit still

• Dizziness, hot flashes, nausea

Panic attacks:

• Shortness of breath (feeling like you can’t breathe well)

• Chest pain

• Claustrophobia

• Dizziness

• Heart palpitations (feeling like your heart is skipping beats or beating too fast)

• Numbness and tingling

Symptoms of Postpartum OCD (a form of anxiety) may include:

• Obsessions - persistent, repetitive thoughts or mental images about the baby. (Also called Intrusive Thoughts). These thoughts are upsetting to the parent. They may include thoughts of harming the baby or the baby being hurt.

• A sense of horror about these intrusive thoughts.

• Fear of being left alone with the baby

• Hypervigilance about protecting the baby

Compulsions: Repeated behaviors, usually done to avoid “harm” or relieve anxiety caused by intrusive thoughts. This may include excessive cleaning, checking, locking doors, counting things, organizing things, etc.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur when an individual experiences or witnesses a life-threatening event. Perinatal PTSD may be triggered by a traumatic or frightening birth, or if the parents or baby has a medical crisis after the birth. Postpartum PTSD is treatable with trauma-informed professional help. Trauma during birth can include:

• Pain or injury during labor or delivery

• Emergency during labor or delivery, C-section

• Risk to baby and/or birthing person

• Feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, poor communication, and/or lack of support

• Lack of multicultural competence or cultural awareness

• Lack of consent or choices in the birthing process

Perinatal/Postpartum PTSD may also occur if an individual experienced any trauma before labor and delivery. Previous traumas can be triggered during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period. Trauma before pregnancy/birth can include:

• Child abuse, sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, race-based trauma, and discrimination

• Medical complications, natural disasters, injury/illness

• Previous birth trauma, pregnancy complications, infertility

Symptoms of Perinatal PTSD may vary among individuals. Both birthing and non-birthing parents can experience symptoms of perinatal PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD may include:

• Intrusive memories of the traumatic experience

• Flashbacks or nightmares

• Avoidance of reminders of the event, such as people, places, or feelings

• Persistent irritability, sleeplessness, hypervigilance, or increased startle reflex

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Feeling disconnected or a sense of unreality

• Feelings of shame or guilt

Postpartum Psychosis (PPP) is an extremely rare condition, affecting about 1-2 birth-giving parents out of every 1,000 births. Postpartum Psychosis is considered a medical emergency, and if you suspect you or your loved one has postpartum psychosis; you should seek help immediately (see emergency numbers below). Symptoms of PPP could include:

• Losing touch with reality

• Delusions or strange beliefs

• Hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that are not there)

• Feeling highly irritated

• Intense hyperactivity

• Inability to sleep or not needing to sleep

• Feeling paranoid or suspicious

• Rapid mood swings

• Difficulty communicating

Other things to note:

A small percentage (5%) of the birthing people with Postpartum Psychosis will harm themselves or their children, due to irrational or distorted thoughts. These irrational thoughts will be extremely important to the birthing parent. A person with psychosis is often completely unaware of their condition.

Immediate treatment is necessary.

Many birthing people with Postpartum Psychosis do not have delusions that tell them to do violent things such as harming themselves or their children, however, there is a risk of violence because the person is living in a different reality and may have irrational judgment. For this reason, people with PPP must be treated professionally and monitored well.

Postpartum Psychosis is temporary and treatable.

Postpartum Psychosis is an emergency, so if you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, call your doctor or a mental health hotline now to obtain help.