General Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Information

It can be exhausting to keep up appearances when you are feeling depleted and depressed. When you have a baby to take care of on top of that, life can feel unmanageable and out of control. Some women who experience depression or anxiety after childbirth may believe this is just what being a mother must feel like. They may think something is wrong, but not know exactly what. Or they may think that depression is something that happens to other women.

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Perinatal (during and after pregnancy) mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are more common than you might think and can occur during pregnancy and anytime during the first postpartum year. One out of every 7 women who gives birth experiences symptoms of a clinical depression that requires treatment. While there is no single cause for perinatal depression and anxiety, it likely results from a combination of biological (your brain and body), genetic (your family history), psychological (your personality and make-up) and environmental (external stressors) factors in your life.

In addition, while pregnancy has traditionally been thought of as a time of emotional wellbeing, recent studies indicate that 10% to 15% of women experience clinically significant depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

​Many women make the mistake of waiting too long in the hopes that things will get better on their own. Postponing treatment can lead to harder-to-treat symptoms and a lingering illness. Perinatal depression and anxiety is very treatable. If you are worried about the way you are feeling, tell someone. Talk to your partner. Talk to your healthcare provider. Do not let feelings of shame or embarrassment get in your way. Do what you need to do to help yourself heal so you can feel like yourself again.