Click a mood disorder below for a description of symptoms-
Baby Blues
This is the most common mood disorder in the
postpartum period.
It includes brief episodes of sadness, crying, irritability, anxiety, elation, headache, insomnia, confusion, forgetfulness and ambivalent thoughts. These symptoms are hormonal in cause and may be exaggerated due to mom’s lack of sleep and exhaustion.
• Occurs the 3rd or 4th day after birth
• May last a few hours to a few days
• 70%-80% of new mothers are affected
(9,100 - 10,400 of new mothers in East Tennessee)
It includes brief episodes of sadness, crying, irritability, anxiety, elation, headache, insomnia, confusion, forgetfulness and ambivalent thoughts. These symptoms are hormonal in cause and may be exaggerated due to mom’s lack of sleep and exhaustion.
• Occurs the 3rd or 4th day after birth
• May last a few hours to a few days
• 70%-80% of new mothers are affected
(9,100 - 10,400 of new mothers in East Tennessee)
Postpartum Depression
More serious than the Baby Blues. It includes:
• Uncontrollable crying
• Sleep difficulties (even when the baby is sleeping)
• Fatigue – lack of energy to perform even the easiest tasks
• Appetite changes – leading to weight loss or overeating
• Hopelessness – feels like they are in a black fog
• Guilt & worthlessness – can’t and don’t want to care for the baby
• Confusion – from forgetting things to feeling like they are going crazy
• Tend to isolate themselves – know something is wrong and worry that someone will take their baby
• Can occur within days of delivery or gradually after childbirth, possibly up to 1 year
• Can also be seen after a miscarriage
• Affects 15-20% (1,950 – 2,600 new mothers in East Tennessee each year)
These figures are based on national data and have been applied to local statistics.
• Uncontrollable crying
• Sleep difficulties (even when the baby is sleeping)
• Fatigue – lack of energy to perform even the easiest tasks
• Appetite changes – leading to weight loss or overeating
• Hopelessness – feels like they are in a black fog
• Guilt & worthlessness – can’t and don’t want to care for the baby
• Confusion – from forgetting things to feeling like they are going crazy
• Tend to isolate themselves – know something is wrong and worry that someone will take their baby
• Can occur within days of delivery or gradually after childbirth, possibly up to 1 year
• Can also be seen after a miscarriage
• Affects 15-20% (1,950 – 2,600 new mothers in East Tennessee each year)
These figures are based on national data and have been applied to local statistics.
Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
It is the most overlooked, misdiagnosed and under
diagnosed of all postpartum disorders.
It can begin a few days after birth to six weeks postpartum.
Symptoms include:
• Horrible imaginings or “pictures,” thoughts of harming baby
• High anxiety and unreasonable fears
• Vigilance & protectiveness of the baby
• Obsessive about germs & cleanliness
• Many pediatrician visits
• Doesn’t want to be alone with the baby
It can begin a few days after birth to six weeks postpartum.
Symptoms include:
• Horrible imaginings or “pictures,” thoughts of harming baby
• High anxiety and unreasonable fears
• Vigilance & protectiveness of the baby
• Obsessive about germs & cleanliness
• Many pediatrician visits
• Doesn’t want to be alone with the baby
Postpartum Panic Disorder
Mom has anxiety & agitation leading to panic
attacks, which last from 5 – 30 minutes.
She has a rapid heart rate, sweating, shortness of breath – sensation of choking or smothering, dizziness, trembling and nausea.
She has a rapid heart rate, sweating, shortness of breath – sensation of choking or smothering, dizziness, trembling and nausea.
Postpartum Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
We can see either:
• Negative flashbacks from the birth experience
• Amnesia related to the birth experience
• Negative flashbacks from the birth experience
• Amnesia related to the birth experience
Postpartum Psychosis
This is the most severe of the postpartum mood
disorders.
It is life threatening.
Symptoms include:
Hallucinations, extreme insomnia & agitation, bizarre feelings or behavior, fear of harming yourself or the baby.
Can occur within days of delivery up to one year after birth.
• Affects 1-2 in 1,000 (13 - 26 new mothers in E. Tn.)
• 40-50% chance of occurrence with the next baby.
• With another baby within 24 months, risk increases to 90%.
It is life threatening.
Symptoms include:
Hallucinations, extreme insomnia & agitation, bizarre feelings or behavior, fear of harming yourself or the baby.
Can occur within days of delivery up to one year after birth.
• Affects 1-2 in 1,000 (13 - 26 new mothers in E. Tn.)
• 40-50% chance of occurrence with the next baby.
• With another baby within 24 months, risk increases to 90%.
