08/26/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/26/2024 15:18
Key takeaways:
Postpartum anxiety is more common than you might realize. Reports say 1 in 5 new birthing parents is affected - but the true numbers are likely higher.
Postpartum anxiety causes worry, tenseness, and guilt in the new parent, and can even lead to panic attacks. It can also affect sleep, relationships, and parent-child bonding.
Postpartum anxiety often occurs alongside postpartum depression. Symptoms can come on at any time in the first year after giving birth.
Having a newborn can be a joyful experience, but many parents also feel overwhelmed by their new role and responsibilities. Feeling this way is a totally normal reaction to caring for a new baby - especially in the first couple of weeks.
But sometimes, worry and anxiety can start to take center stage. When this happens, it's possible that you may have a postpartum anxiety disorder.
Here, we'll look at what postpartum anxiety can feel like, how it's treated, and how to get help.
Know someone with postpartum depression? Here's how you can help and lend your support.
Men and postpartum depression: Learn more about the signs of postpartum depression in men.
What does postpartum depression feel like?Three women share their experiences with postpartum depression and how they found relief.
A postpartum anxiety disorder is any mental health condition that causes anxiety in the period after birth. Postpartum anxiety can lead to physical and mental health issues. It may also make you feel less confident about your parenting abilities, disrupt your daily life and routine, and impact personal relationships.
Postpartum anxiety is very common. It can happen at any time within the first 12 months following childbirth and is reported to affect about 1 in 5 new parents. But postpartum anxiety may be even more common than this. It's not always easy for parents to talk about these feelings, and your healthcare team won't always ask about it.
Researchers aren't sure exactly what causes postpartum anxiety. Some factors that experts think might be tied to postpartum anxiety include:
Low levels of social support
Use of labor-inducing medications
C-section or assisted vaginal delivery (like forceps or vacuum)
Poor relationship adjustment between the new parents and with the baby
Anxiety before pregnancy
Hormone changes
Stressful life circumstances
Health of the birthing parent or baby
When you have postpartum anxiety, you might feel worried a lot - to the point where it gets in the way of your everyday life. These worries are usually related to your baby, but they can extend to many other aspects of your life as a new parent. This might include feeling anxious about:
Nursing
Feeding
Social interactions
Returning to work or school
Parenting abilities and whether or not you're a good parent.
In addition to nonstop, disruptive worries, you might have other feelings like:
Tension
Frustration
Guilt or self-blame
Fear of being left alone with baby
Postpartum anxiety can also cause physical symptoms, including:
Trouble sleeping
Heart palpitations
Body aches
Numbness and tingling
A person with postpartum anxiety may show certain behaviors like:
Being controlling of situations
Being cautious about situations that aren't dangerous because they cause concern
Avoiding people, activities, or places that cause anxiety
Repeatedly checking and rechecking things
There are many different types of anxiety disorders. Let's discuss the three most common postpartum anxiety disorders.
Postpartum generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive worrying that lasts at least 6 months. It might feel like:
Restlessness
Constant worry
Fear about the future
Fatigue
Tension
Poor concentration and/or poor sleep
GAD is common in the first 6 months after delivery and might affect as many as 1 in 10 after childbirth.
Postpartum panic disorder (PD) is a condition involving recurring panic attacks. The risk of postpartum PD is higher in people who've had a history of panic disorders before having a baby. It occurs in about 1 in 30 people in the first couple of months after childbirth.
Symptoms of PD include:
Shortness of breath
Heart palpitations
Chest pain
Dizziness
Fear of dying
Sweating
Trembling
Some new parents with postpartum PD might feel like they can't leave their homes because they're anxious about having a panic attack in public.
Social anxiety disorder is an extreme fear of being watched and judged by others. People with social anxiety disorder may avoid certain places and situations due to their anxiety about what might happen. Social anxiety disorder affects about 1 in 15 new parents after childbirth.
Other mental health conditions can be linked to postpartum anxiety. It can happen alongside related conditions, including:
PPD is a condition that causes feelings of sadness and emptiness, lasting for at least 2 weeks.
Other symptoms include:
Lack of interest in your normal activities
Sleep problems
Guilt
Poor concentration
Appetite changes
Low energy
Thoughts about death or suicide
PPD can also cause severe anxiety and even panic attacks. It's possible to have both PPD and postpartum anxiety disorder at the same time. There's evidence that 2 out of every 3 people with PPD also have an anxiety disorder.
OCD is a condition where you have obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, or both. In the postpartum period, this could include what are known as intrusive thoughts - excessive thoughts about the safety and health of your baby and engaging in rituals and behaviors to keep your baby safe. People with OCD often know these obsessions are "illogical," but feel temporary relief from performing certain behaviors or rituals again and again.
PTSD is a mental health condition that can occur following a scary or life-threatening event. This could include a complicated or dangerous birthing experience, extreme pain, or a feeling that you lost control.
PTSD can cause upsetting memories or flashbacks, nightmares, and/or avoidance of certain situations. In postpartum PTSD, this can also show up as:
Guilt
Anxiety
Depression
Trouble with nursing
Difficulties bonding with your new baby
Anyone can have postpartum anxiety. But people who had an anxiety disorder before or during their pregnancy are at higher risk. As many as 1 in 3 women with anxiety during pregnancy experience some type of postpartum anxiety.
Other risk factors for postpartum anxiety include:
Stressful events during pregnancy or childbirth
Younger age of the parent
Personal experiences of trauma in childhood
Previous unwanted pregnancies
It's hard to say how long postpartum anxiety lasts. Postpartum anxiety disorders can begin at any time within the first year of your baby's birth. But the duration of symptoms can vary. Recovery depends on many different things, including:
The severity of your symptoms
How long it took for you to get help
Whether your treatment has been helpful
Your history of anxiety or depression
Your home life, relationships, and support network
Your overall physical and mental health
Your baby's health
But take heart: Postpartum anxiety is common and treatable. Getting help is the first step.
Some anxiety in the postpartum phase is normal - especially within the first 1 to 2 weeks (when it's called the baby blues). After all, worrying about your new baby and your role as parent is part of what helps keep your baby safe.
But if your worries seem excessive, are affecting your mood, or are getting in the way of your everyday life and relationships, it may be time to get professional help. If you're unsure, it's always better to ask.
Natural methods, therapy, and medications can all help with postpartum anxiety. Some anxiety disorders have their own unique treatments, too.
There are some natural methods that may help ease postpartum anxiety, such as:
Skin-to-skin contact and plenty of cuddles
Massage from a partner
Other steps that may improve overall postpartum mental health include:
Be prepared: Parenting training during pregnancy and the support of a trained professional during pregnancy and beyond seems to lessen postpartum anxiety.
Build a support group: Spending time with other new parents allows you to share fears and validate your experiences. If you don't have a network or haven't found one that's right for you, keep trying. Just having one new parent friend can help you feel less alone.
Add in physical movement: Even light physical activity can help improve your mood. Whether you join a new parent yoga group or go for a walk alone with your baby, try to get some form of physical movement every day. This will also help you sleep and may provide opportunities to meet other new parents and bond with your baby.
Sleep: Although this is challenging with a newborn, getting longer stretches of sleep can help you feel less anxious. Ask for help to sneak in a daytime nap or get an early night when possible. Lowering caffeine intake might also help you sleep for longer stretches.
Ask for help: It may not come naturally, but it's OK to accept and ask for help. Practice saying "yes" and be specific about what help you need. Maybe have someone take your baby for a walk so you can nap, or get a hot meal delivered. Or, ask a trusted friend to sit with your baby while you shower. Whatever it is that you need, asking for help is important for your mental health. Remember, you need to care for yourself first before you can care for your baby.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can directly help with anxiety and mood. It's often short-term, with improvement typically seen in 12 to 16 sessions. CBT can help you learn to identify and confront negative thoughts, avoid triggers, and learn new ways of coping. It teaches you to think and react differently to situations that might cause more anxiety. CBT may also involve individual counseling and/or couples therapy with a partner. To lower your anxiety, your therapist might encourage you to:
Schedule activities
Exercise
Socialize
Get out of the house
CBT might also include joining a support group.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like fluoxetine or sertraline, are commonly used to treat various mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, and OCD. These medications take up to a month to start working, so your prescriber might also suggest a short course of benzodiazepines (like lorazepam or ativan). Benzodiazepines can help with anxiety and sleep. But they should only be taken short term.
Yes - if you need it. Although anti-anxiety medications can make their way into your milk, it's usually in very small amounts. Experts agree that the benefits of nursing seem to outweigh the small risk of taking these medications. Plus, there's evidence that untreated anxiety can also have an impact on your child. This is why SSRIs and benzodiazepines are generally considered safe for most parents to take, even while nursing.
If you're nursing and considering medication, talk to a healthcare professional. They can help you fully understand the risks and benefits, so that you can make a decision that's right for you and your family.
Non-birthing parents can get postpartum anxiety, too. The symptoms are similar for all new parents. These include:
Excessive worry
Panic or anxiety attacks
Trouble sleeping
Racing thoughts
Trouble concentrating
If any of these symptoms become overwhelming, and/or last longer than 2 weeks, you should see a healthcare professional.
There's no evidence that birth control can help with postpartum anxiety. In fact, recent studies have linked certain types of birth control with a greater risk of postpartum depression.
Postpartum anxiety can come back after you start feeling better. While each pregnancy is different, some people find that they have postpartum anxiety during subsequent pregnancies.
It's totally normal to have some anxiety after welcoming a new baby into your life, especially in the first couple of weeks. But if you find that your anxiety or related symptoms are starting to affect your daily life, it could be a postpartum anxiety disorder.
Remember: It's always OK to ask for help. Postpartum anxiety disorders are common and treatable. A healthcare professional can help you understand whether you might have an anxiety disorder. And they can help you get started with the right treatment. In the meantime, prioritize your self-care and to lean on your support network. For additional resources, you can text or call 1-800-944-4773 to reach Postpartum Support International.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you're not alone and help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text "HOME" to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
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