Before our children are born, most of us spend lots of time daydreaming about what it will be like to be a mom. We imagine cuddling with cute little bundles curled into our arms. We imagine rocking the little one to sleep peacefully and calmly. We might even imagine our child’s laughter or the smell of his or her sweet baby head.

Motherhood can be a joyous, joyous time. In the midst of the hard work that comes with being a mother, there are truly wonderful rewards. But, for an estimated 10-20% of women, motherhood can be a very difficult life change.

These women struggle with a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD). You may be more familiar with the term postpartum depression, but this category of disorders holds more than just depression: anxiety/panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis and bipolar disorder. These disorders can also take place during pregnancy.

Some symptoms of PMAD’s include:
-Frequent crying
-Sleep and appetite changes
-Feelings of loneliness, sadness, helplessness
-Frequent mood swings
-Repetitive, sometimes scary thoughts that won’t go away
-Anger, frustration, irritability
-Feelings of being trapped
-Anxiety, panic, excessive worry
-Difficulty bonding with the baby
-Fear of being left alone with the baby
-Sense of doom
-Lack of interest in life, feeling sluggish, fatigued, exhausted
-Feeling overwhelmed
-Feeling sped up or wired
-Thoughts of hurting yourself or those around you

Many women get emotional after birth. I remember crying on the way home from the hospital thinking, “I can’t believe that I just get to leave with these two babies. What will I do without my nurses?” But my mood was predominantly happy. If you are mostly happy, but tear up at a Hallmark commercial, what you are going through is probably the Baby Blues. Baby Blues last no more than two weeks after the birth of your child. Moms with Baby Blues feel overwhelmed with being a mom, uncertain, tired and they cry from time to time. This affects 60-80% of new moms and subsides as your body gets back into rhythm from the hormone changes of birth.

Postpartum depression is called the Smiling Depression because often women continue to go about the tasks of being a mom and will deny any negative thoughts that they are having about themselves or their baby.

The risks of untreated PMADs can affect mothers, newborns, older children in the family and partners. This is a family illness. The brain activity in infants who have depressed mothers mirrors the brain activity of a clinically depressed adult. A mother with a PMAD is helping her family as she seeks treatment. A healthier mom means a healthier family.

If you or someone you care about shows symptoms of a PMAD, let them know that with treatment they will get better. Most women recover within a year, but PMADs can become chronic if left untreated.

To learn more about PMADs visit:  www.postpartum.net

For dads: www.postpartumdads.org
(Dads can get postpartum depression too)

BloomingFamilies is starting a support group for those who have been diagnosed with a PMAD or feel that they fit the criteria. The new group will be starting on Thursday, July 1st from 8:30 AM- 10:00 AM and will run for eight weeks. Contact BloomingFamilies for registration information at 812-671-0330. This group will take place at BABS.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this blog is to raise awareness of issues that face parents in pregnancy and parenthood. This blog is not meant to replace treatment by a licensed mental health professional. The content of this blog does not constitute mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment, support or advice. Please consult a licensed mental health practitioner if you have concern about your mental health or in the case of an emergency, contact 911. Reading this blog does not constitute a therapeutic relationship with Bronwyn Shroyer, Bronwyn Shroyer LLC or BloomingFamilies.

We look forward to serving families of Bloomington, IN, and the surrounding community for years to come.