Mood Disorders During Pregnancy After The Baby Arrives Postpartum Mood Disorders

Information For New Mothers

Having a baby is a very exciting time; however it is a time of a lot of change. Television, radio and magazines describe having a baby as one of the happiest times in a woman’s life. Unfortunately for many women, this is not the case. Some women experience a postpartum mood disorder during their pregnancy and/or after the birth of the baby. Because the media is telling women that everything should be perfect at this time, many women do not get help from their doctor or tell anyone how they are feeling. They feel very guilty for wanting time away or for not bonding with their child.

Mood Disorders During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of major change, both physically and emotionally. A woman has to deal with her changing roles in the family, prepare to leave work, and adjust to hormonal & body image changes. For some women, the hormonal changes that occur in pregnancy act as a trigger to cause depression and/or anxiety.  

 Depression during pregnancy is often not recognized because many symptoms like fatigue and moodiness are blamed on the pregnancy itself. However, some pregnant women experience a prenatal depression, and suffer similar symptoms that occur in postpartum mood disorders.

 A mood disorder during pregnancy is often a risk factor for a postpartum mood disorder. Therefore, it is best to receive treatment during the pregnancy, before experiencing more stress during labour and after the baby arrives.  

After The Baby Arrives

Over the course of a pregnancy there is plenty of anticipation and excitement. Everyone seems so happy to see the new baby. So why is it, at a time when everyone else is so happy, some new moms feel unhappy and overwhelmed? The new mom is most likely experiencing a postpartum mood disorder.

Postpartum Mood Disorders

It is common for new moms to experience the baby blues (50-80%) in the first two weeks after giving birth.  

New moms may:

• Cry frequently
• Feel sad, tired, irritable and frustrated
• Have difficulty sleeping or concentrating

If the baby blues last longer than 2 weeks please call your family physician.

If symptoms last longer than 2 weeks mom may be experiencing a postpartum depression. Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 10-15% of new moms. Symptoms may start slowly or suddenly. PPD is more intense and longer lasting than baby blues.  

Symptoms include:

• Feeling anxious or overwhelmed
• Changes in eating
• Having no feelings for the baby
• A fear of hurting one’s self or the baby
• Having less energy
• An inability to feel better even when all is going well
• Feeling “out of control”

Postpartum anxiety disorder can occur within 3 weeks of delivery and up until 1 year after the birth of the baby. It may start in pregnancy.  

Symptoms include:

• Panic attacks
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability
• General to extreme anxiety
• Racing thoughts
• Feeling distracted
• “Supermom” syndrome

Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder can occur within 3 weeks of delivery and up until 1 year after the birth of the baby. 

Symptoms include:

• Repeated scary thoughts about baby (e.g. “seeing” baby drown, “seeing” baby fall down stairs)

• Obsessive thoughts (e.g. contracting AIDS)
• Avoidance behaviour (e.g. stays away from baby to make bad thoughts go away)

• Anxiety and/or depression

The new mom is very aware of these thoughts and that these thoughts are wrong. She does not harm the baby.

Postpartum psychosis occurs in 1 to 2 cases in 1000 births. This is the least common disorder but is the most serious. The onset is usually within hours of giving birth but can be delayed (typically within 72 hours). 

Symptoms include:

• Hallucinations (hearing things or seeing things)
• Delusions
• Paranoia
• Depression
• Decreased energy
• Problems with reality
• Difficulty sleeping
• Strange behaviour

References:

• Chokka, P. Postpartum depression: Part I. The Canadian Journal of Continuing Medical Education. 2002, 14(4).
• Canadian Mental Health Association http://www.cmha.ca/english/info_centre/mh_pamphlets/mh_pamphlet_pp.htm