One of the most vulnerable populations are those of new parents. It is also no secret among women that issues that crop up during pregnancy or postpartum are often overlooked by medical professionals.
After multiple appointments throughout pregnancy to check the health of the mother and baby, only one appointment six weeks after delivery is offered to women postpartum. That is not nearly enough time to adequately assess how the mother (or parents in general) are doing with this major life transition.
Postpartum anxiety or depression is common among new mothers (and fathers) in the first year of their baby’s life. In this blog, we will define each, and talk about steps you can take to get the help you need, and return to your recognizable self.
Postpartum Depression
Different from the “baby blues”, which is an acute reaction to the overwhelming adjustment of parenthood after birth, PPD is longer-lasting and has symptoms that are more moderate to severe. Symptoms of PPD include:
Postpartum Anxiety
Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) is also different from the baby blues, and presents for a longer period of time, with more intense and severe symptoms. Those include:
You may be at higher risk for developing PPD or PPA if you have struggled with mental health before or during pregnancy, you have complications during pregnancy or childbirth, are facing adverse situations like low income, unemployment, separation from a partner, death of a loved one, or little support. We also can’t forget how lack of sleep plays a large role in our ability to function and cope adequately.
For new parents, these conditions can be agonizing. In a time that is often expressed by society to be full of joy and love, many parents wonder why they are unable to achieve that same feeling. If you think you may be struggling with PPA or PPD, here are some considerations:
At Boshardy Counseling & Consulting, we want to help support you in every life transition. We have multiple therapists on staff who are parents themselves, and have extensive experience in supportin
