Baby Blues
After birth, about 80% of new birthing individuals experience "baby blues”, which is due to the hormonal fluctuation at the time of birth and acute sleep deprivation. Symptoms include: tearfulness, mood lability, reactivity, exhaustion, lasting no more than 2 weeks. If you are worried about the way that you feel, you have come to the right place. It is possible to feel better.
Whether you are experiencing the baby blues or something more, therapy can help. We will:
Explore your new role in your family and what that means given your own unique history and life experience.
Identify how to incorporate self-care in realistic and doable ways.
Learn how to manage anxious thoughts
Catch, challenge, and reframe negative self-talk.
Education and assessment for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Opportunities to debrief about your birthing experience
Learn how to cope with trauma if pregnancy and birth were difficult and impacted your mothering journey
Emotional and physical care for your body and mind
PMADs
Perinatal mood & anxiety disorders (PMADs) refer to a group of disorders that occur during pregnancy or the postpartum period.
Do any of the following symptoms sound familiar? These symptoms might indicate that you have a form of perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. Please know that with professional help you can prevent these symptoms from worsening and can fully recover. You are not alone.
Feeling sad or depressed
Feeling more irritable or angry with those around you
Having difficulty bonding with your baby
Feeling anxious or panicky
Having problems with eating or sleeping
Having upsetting thoughts that you can’t get out of your mind
Feeling as though you are “out of control” or “crazy”
Feeling like you never should have become a mother
Worried that you might hurt your baby or yourself
PPD
Some parents continue to move deeper into sadness with symptoms such as: severe mood swings, intense irritability and anger, loss of appetite, insomnia, loss of interest in life, withdrawal from family, having scary thoughts and difficulty bonding with their baby. These are symptoms of postpartum depression.
Assessment is important in determining the most effective treatment for postpartum depression. Typical treatment options include: individual therapy, group counseling/support, and possibly medication management.
PPA
Symptoms of postpartum anxiety include: racing thoughts (can't quiet your mind), excessive/irrational worry, inability to sit still and relax, lack of appetite, insomnia, feeling jittery, and upset stomach.
Evaluation during the postpartum period is important to ensure the proper treatment. Similar to postpartum depression, treatment options include individual therapy and/or medication management. Therapy can help to manage symptoms of anxiety and stress as well as challenge scary thoughts.