You Are Not Alone

More than just extreme sadness, though that may be factor.

You may experience:

• rage

• mania

• restlessness

• sleepiness

• Can exist on its own or with postpartum depression.

• Impacts your ability to function and/or bond with her baby.

• May show up as pregnancy or postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

• Causes scary, intrusive thoughts.

• Thoughts are unwanted and terrifying to the mom who is experiencing them.

• May result in avoidance behaviors or habits that disrupt typical functioning.

• Mom may feel as though she needs to cope by engaging in substance use.

• May include;

  • alcohol

  • prescribed medication

  • illicit drugs.

• Additional stressors can worsen depression and substance use disorder for pregnant and postpartum moms.

If you feel you experienced pregnancy or birth trauma, we believe you.

• Common causes could be;

  • lack of support

  • pregnancy complications

  • birth complications

  • unplanned c-section

  • alternative means of delivering the baby

  • feelings of powerlessness

  • baby who spends time in the NICU.

Involves very high moods, and very low moods. May start within days or weeks of giving birth.

• Highs (mania or hypomania) may involve;

  • High levels of energy

  • Feelings of not needing to sleep

  • Agitation

• Lows may look like postpartum depression

• Postpartum psychosis an an emergency requiring immediate medical attention. ​

• Thoughts of harm toward the baby that mom intends to act on.

• May include delusions or hallucinations, especially of a religious nature.