ABOUT PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health problems can affect anyone. You can talk to us without feeling embarrassed
perinatal mental health supportPerinatal mental health (PMH) problems are those which occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child. Perinatal mental illness affects up to 27% of new and expectant mums and covers a wide range of conditions. At Mothers for Mothers we offer support from pregnancy until the youngest child of the family attends school.
THE BLUES AND THE PINKS
Third or fourth day blues effect most women and birthing people after child birth. The Blues are characterised by weepiness, irritability and mild depression, some mothers feel very sad, anxious and tense. Alternatively, some women and birthing people may feel unusually cheerful, talkative, too excited to sleep, have racing thoughts and find it difficult to concentrate, and feel especially important or able. It has been suggested that this form of Postnatal illness is associated with rapid but normal hormonal changes in the body in the first few days after delivery. Though disturbing to a new mother, they are not serious and usually resolves after a few days. Women and birthing people should be allowed to cry and talk about their worries. A mother should not be told to “pull herself together” she needs rest and reassurance.
However if symptoms are severe or continue then please seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Depression and Anxiety
Women and birthing people may experience anxiety or depression during pregnancy and / or after they have given birth to their baby. Some may experience depression and anxiety together and for some symptoms may not develop until later during their babies first year. Symptoms may include despondency, sleeping and eating difficulties, feelings of guilt and inadequacy, particularly in relation to the new baby. Most depressed mothers will feel tired and lack energy. Often, they feel unable to concentrate and find even simple tasks difficult and confusing. Sometimes a mother will experience anxiety, panic attacks or loss of enjoyment in life, they need to be encouraged to believe they will get better with time and reassured that the illness is not their fault.
GPs may prescribed anti-depressants. Anti-depressants are not addictive, but taken properly for a period of months, help to lift mood. Eating regularly, resting and talking to others with similar experiences may help.
MATERNAL OBSESSIVE COMPLUSIVE DISORDER
Maternal OCD can start during pregnancy. It can feel compelling to carry out rituals, if not, they may believe something really awful will happen. Symptoms can vary widely but can include severe anxiety, obsessions and compulsive behaviours. These can focus around the baby and impact the mother’s ability to enjoy time with her child. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment.
PERINATAL ADJUSTMENT DISORDER
This is often mild and does not last as long but can be extremely distressing. It occurs as the mother adjusts to becoming a new parent.
POST NATAL POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
Postnatal PTSD can occur after birth or a traumatic event of actual or threatened death. Triggers can be Birth trauma, Emergency Caesarean Section, admittance to high dependency unit, baby admitted to NICU (special care), pre-term birth, severe illness of baby or mother or death of the baby. Symptoms can include intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, anger, self-blame, low mood, suicidal thoughts and isolation. The mother can also re-live the experience including physical symptoms of pain, nausea and sweating. They may wish to avoid people, places and reminders of the trauma and may wish to avoid talking about it. Depression is usually secondary and can include feeling tense, irritable, easily startled and finding it difficult to sleep. The treatment for Postnatal PTSD is usually Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
BIRTH TRAUMA/ PERCEIVED BRITH TRAUMA
The effects of birth trauma are real, and the symptoms can last for years. It can lead to any of the symptoms of maternal mental illness including panic attacks.
During labour some women and birthing people report than they think either them or their baby will die or be severely injured. This can lead to feelings of helplessness and horror, extreme fear, feeling invisible, out of control, trapped and on occasions feeling that they are being treated inhumanely. Following the birth women and birthing people can re-experience these feelings in the form of intrusive thoughts, nightmares and flashbacks.
Women and birthing people can become hypervigilant and they can experience avoidance – so attempting to avoid everything to do with the birth and the place of birth – this can also mean they want to avoid the baby.
Birth Trauma can impact on the relationship between the mother and baby and the family’s future choices. If they decide to have more children, they place themselves back into the trauma and may be highly anxious during the pregnancy and birth. Most women and birthing people who experience a birth trauma need help to perceive it as something they went through and survived. A debrief at their maternity unit can help.
TOKOPHOBIA
Primary Tokophobia is the extreme fear of child birth or pregnancy. Secondary tokophobia is the extreme fear of child birth or pregnancy after a previous traumatic birth or post-traumatic stress disorder.
It can be helpful to have the opportunity to talk about these fears with a health care professional, or with partners, family and friends or with us. Using an APP such as Baby Buddy https://www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/baby-buddy Regular information about how baby is growing and developing can help the mother bond with their baby.
POST PARTUM PSYCHOSIS
Postpartum Psychosis (PPP) is a severe, but treatable, form of mental illness that occurs after having a baby. It can happen ‘out of the blue’ to women and birthing people without previous experience of mental illness. There are some groups with a history of bipolar disorder for example, who are at much higher risk. PPP normally begins in the first few days to weeks after childbirth. It can get worse very quickly and should always be treated as a medical emergency. Most women and birthing people need to be treated with medication and admitted to hospital, to a specialist Mother and Baby Unit.
With the right treatment, women and birthing people with PPP do make a full recovery. Recovery takes time and the journey may be tough. The illness can be frightening and shocking for those experiencing it and their family. Women and birthing people do return to their normal selves and are able to regain the mothering role they expected. There is no evidence that the baby’s long-term development is affected by Postpartum Psychosis.