The perinatal period is the time of life during which you may be trying to conceive, pregnant, planning an adoption, and in the year after you welcome a new child into your family. This is a time of transition that can place an enormous amount of stress on the family system and on the new mother. The physical and emotional changes during this time can be surprising and difficult to navigate, especially when there are challenging experiences such as infertility, miscarriage, birth trauma, perinatal loss, and health complications in mother or baby after birth. The transition into parenthood for the first time, and with subsequent children, can take time to adapt to.  

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Perinatal mental health concerns can manifest in various ways and affect individuals differently, even in those who have not previously had mental health challenges, and also in adoptive parents. Some common types of perinatal mental health concerns include:

• anxiety (occurring in 20% of individuals in perinatal period)​​

• panic disorder (recurring panic attacks)

• postpartum depression, PPD (the most common childbearing complication, affecting 1 in 5 women) 

• obsessive-compulsive disorder (repetitive and intrusive thoughts and behaviors)

• post-traumatic stress symptoms (due to trauma during birth or postpartum)

• bipolar mood disorders (times of depressed mood, and times of elevated feelings of mania)

• the onset of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, PMDD.

 

Maternal stress during pregnancy has been shown to affect the fetus and can lead to lasting negative effects for mother, baby, and their bond. After birth, you may feel difficulty bonding with the baby, feelings of guilt or shame, irritability and tearfulness, a lack interest in activities that were once enjoyable, a desire to isolate from friends and family, or frequent intrusive thoughts of harming your baby and of something bad happening. These symptoms are not your fault, and are not a reflection of your capability as a parent; also, they are highly treatable. It can be difficult to share that you are struggling, but it is essential to seek support from loved ones and professionals to maintain your mental health so that you can feel your best, both for yourself and your child.

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Counseling can help you untangle what is typical of the perinatal period from what may be symptoms of a mood disorder or other mental health condition. Supportive therapy can help you learn to manage your symptoms, recover from depression, and connect with resources to help you through this phase of life.