Welcoming a newborn baby into your life is both an exciting and challenging time. It brings about a significant change in you and your partner’s life, and if you experience added feelings of anxiety and depression this can make it difficult to cope. Both the mother and father may experience perinatal mental health concerns (during pregnancy and the year following birth); the symptoms can vary in intensity and duration. When experiencing perinatal mental health issues (during pregnancy and the year after birth), feelings of guilt and shame are common which may prevent you from reaching out for the support that you need. Experiencing perinatal anxiety or depression does not make you any less of a parent; seeking help early leads to a faster recovery with reduced impact on you, your relationship with your baby, partner, family and friends.
What factors may contribute to perinatal anxiety and depression?
There are many factors which may contribute to parents developing perinatal anxiety or depression, these include:
- Personal or family history or anxiety or depression
- Previous reproductive loss, grief and loss
- Difficult or complex pregnancy
- Birth trauma
- Premature or sick baby
- Sleep deprivation
- Financial stress
- Relationship stress
- Absence of a mothering figure
- Violence
- Lack of social support or social isolation
- Childhood trauma
Antenatal Anxiety and Depression
“Antenatal” refers to the period of time during the pregnancy, therefore, antenatal anxiety and depression is experienced during pregnancy. Up to 1 in 10 women and 1 in 20 men experience antenatal depression; anxiety is believed to be as common as many parents will experience both at the same time.
A certain level of anxiety or “ups and downs” are expected when having a baby. However, some may experience more severe “ups and downs” or lower mood (depression) which can effect daily living. The signs and symptoms of antenatal anxiety and depression can vary, but commonly experienced symptoms include:
- Panic attacks
- Generalised worry
- Obsessive and compulsive behaviours
- Mood swings
- Constantly feeling sad
- Crying for no particular reason
- Nervous and on edge
- Limited interest in things that would normally bring joy
- Disrupted sleep
- Loss of interest in sex or intimacy
- Easily irritated or annoyed
- Diminished concentration
- Forgetful
- Thoughts of death and suicide
If any of these symptoms are experienced for two weeks or more, then seeking support from a medical or mental health professional is advised.
Postnatal Depression
“Postnatal” refers to the period of time one year following the birth; anxiety and depression in this year is postnatal anxiety or postnatal depression. More than 1 in 7 new mums and 1 in 10 new dads experience postnatal depression in Australia each year. The rates of postnatal anxiety is thought to be as common as depression and anxiety are often experienced at the same time.
The signs and symptoms of postnatal anxiety and depression can vary, but commonly experienced symptoms include:
- Panic attacks
- Generalised worries
- Obsessive and compulsive behaviours
- Increased sensitivity to touch and sounds
- Changes in appetite (over or under eating)
- Disrupted sleep which is unrelated to the baby
- Feeling physically and emotionally overwhelmed and unable to cope with the demands of caring for your baby
- Diminished concentration
- Forgetful
- Lowered self-confidence and self esteem
- Constantly sad or crying for no apparent reason
- Intrusive thoughts of harm to self or your baby
- Irritability or anger
- Loss of interest in sex or intimacy
- Thoughts or death or suicide
If any of these symptoms are experienced for two weeks or more, then seeking support from a medical or mental health professional is advised.
Postpartum Psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is a type of acute mental illness that often occurs within the first four to twelve weeks of giving birth. Postpartum psychosis is a relatively rare condition with 1 or 2 in every 1,000 women. It is a serious (and potentially) life threatening condition for both the mother and the baby, as such recognising it as early as possible is very important.
Women with postpartum psychosis will most likely require admission to a hospital for specialised treatment. Beyond the initial treatment period ongoing support and care is needed through recovery. Generally women will experience a full recovery in time and with appropriate treatment.
The signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis can vary, but commonly experienced symptoms include:
- Disordered or nonsensical thoughts and conversation
- Sudden and extreme mood swings, ranging from very high to extremely low
- Aggressive or violent behaviour
- Irrational and delusional thoughts or beliefs, this may be about the baby
- Hallucinations and changes in the senses
- Paranoid or strange beliefs about the baby
- Inappropriate response to the baby’s needs
Getting Help
If you are concerned about yourself or someone close to you, be assured that others have also been through this and have gone on to find great joy and fulfilment as a parent. Support is available, so it may be helpful to speak with loved ones, your GP or Obstetrician, or mental health professional.
You are not alone, so you don’t have to get through this alone either.
Authored By: Vision Psychology
To make an appointment try Online Booking. Alternatively, you can call Vision Psychology Brisbane on (07) 3088 5422.
Resources:
- PANDA: Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia http://www.panda.org.au/
- Beyond Blue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
- American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5 Task Force, & American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
- Milgrom, J., & Gemmill, A. W. (2015). Identifying perinatal depression and anxiety: Evidence-based practice in screening, psychosocial assessment and management. Malden, MA; Chichester, UK;: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- Deloitte Access Economics. The cost of perinatal depression in Australia Report. Post and Antenatal Depression Association 2012.
- Paulson, J. F. & Bazemore, S. D. (2010). Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: A meta-analysis. JAMA, 303(19), 1961-1969