Following are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) we receive about postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, postpartum panic, postpartum PTSD, postpartum psychosis and anxiety and depression during pregnancy.
I know you are tired, and this is quite a long section, but moms (and dads) tend to have quite a wide variety of questions about these illnesses and we wanted to address as many of them as possible. If you keep scrolling, you are likely to find the info you’re looking for.
What are the symptoms of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and/or OCD? How do I know if I have it?
There are many different symptoms and you may have only some of them. These are not one-size-fits-all illnesses. Read The Symptoms of Postpartum Depression & Anxiety (In Plain Mama English). If you have some of the symptoms, and have had them for 2 weeks or more, call your doctor. What you are going through is temporary and treatable with professional help.
What is the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression?
Baby blues is a normal adjustment period that occurs during the first two weeks after the birth of your baby. It is not an illness, and lots of women experience it. It resolves on its own. If you are past the first two weeks postpartum and you have symptoms of postpartum depression (or anxiety or OCD or psychosis or PTSD) and they are impacting your ability to function as you would like on a daily basis, you need to reach out to your doctor. For more on this, read This Is What the Baby Blues Looks Like.
Can you get postpartum depression or anxiety much later after the birth of your child? What if you get it when you are 6 months postpartum, or 10?
These illnesses can arise any time during pregnancy or in the first 12 months after birth. If your doctor says you can only get postpartum depression in the first few months after birth, he or she is uninformed. For more on this, read Does Postpartum Depression Only Occur in the Weeks After Baby is Born? Also, you can get these illnesses with any child, regardless of whether it is your first or fifth or somewhere in between.
Where should I go to get help for postpartum depression or other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders?
A great place to start is by visiting the Postpartum Support International website or calling PSI at 1-800-944-4PPD. They have coordinators in most of the U.S. states as well as many countries around the world. Find out who your coordinator is and call or email them to get information on what support services may exist in your area, including support groups and treatment specialists. Most of the coordinators are either survivors or specialists, so they truly understand what you are going through. You can also access my list of support groups, support organizations and specialists.
If you’d like to sign up to receive our very popular daily support emails that encourage you through your illness, learn more about Postpartum Progress’ Daily Hope by clicking here.
How long will it take to get better?
There is no specific timetable for getting better, and you’ll only frustrate yourself if you create one. As long as you are working closely with your healthcare provider you will get better, and you need to be patient with yourself. There are a few things, though, that can impact the length of your recovery. Read Six Things That Can Affect How Quickly You’ll Recover from Postpartum Depression and Anxiety.
Do I have to take medication to be treated for postpartum depression or anxiety?
Not necessarily. There are a variety of treatments for PPD, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, etc, including therapy. You should work with your doctor to identify the best treatment options for you, and then just be open to trying other things if the methods you choose don’t work. For more on treatments outside of traditional medication and therapy, read The Best Alternative Treatment Options for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety.
What are some of the risk factors for postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety?
There are many risk factors, including some originating from inside the body (examples: brain chemistry, genetics) and some external factors (examples: poverty, childhood trauma). What leads one woman to end up with postpartum depression or another perinatal mood or anxiety disorder may not be what leads someone else to it at all. The risk factors include, but are not limited to:
* A history of depression or anxiety in you or your family members
* Previous bout of postpartum depression or anxiety
* Diabetes (type 1, 2 or gestational)
* History of physical or sexual abuse
What are the symptoms of postpartum psychosis?
Read The Symptoms of Postpartum Psychosis (In Plain Mama English). Please know that if you have these symptoms you should reach out to your doctor immediately, because this illness has the potential to cause women to do things that are out of character. Again, you may only have some of these symptoms and not all of them. Postpartum psychosis is temporary and fully treatable with professional help.
What are the risk factors for postpartum psychosis?
One of the key risk factors of this illness is bipolar disorder (diagnosed or undiagnosed) or a previous history of psychotic episodes. Read Can We Indentify Women at High Risk for Postpartum Psychosis?
I’m a dad. What do I do?!
First, don’t panic. What your wife or partner is going through is a common illness. It is temporary and treatable. She will get back to the person you know, with your support and patience. Visit our dad stories to read about the experiences of other dads just like you who have gone through PPD with their wives.
You should also visit the dads’ section at Postpatum Support International. They have a cool video of other dads who’ve been through this here. And a special, free weekly conference call for dads here.
We’d also recommend checking out Karen Kleiman’s book “The Postpartum Husband.”
Is there such a thing as depression or anxiety during pregnancy? Like postpartum depression, but while I’m pregnant?
Absolutely. It’s called antenatal depression and it is also quite common. Here are some stories from moms who’ve been through it:
On How It Feels to Be Depressed During Pregnancy
The Black Hole of Antenatal Depression
Robbed of the Joy of Pregnancy
Can you get postpartum depression after a miscarriage?
Yes. If you have had a miscarriage or stillbirth, first let us say we are truly sorry for your loss. For more on PPD after perinatal loss and for some specific resources for you, please read:
Postpartum Depression After Miscarriage or Stillbirth
What is the Difference Between Grief and Depression After Pregnancy Loss?
Can you get postpartum depression or anxiety after adopting a baby or child?
Yes. For more on post-adoption and some specific resources for your situation, read:
Post-Adoption Depression: Adoptive Mothers Need Not Suffer in Silence
Post-Adoption Depression: What Stopped This Mom From Leaving Her Baby At Target.
Do I keep breastfeeding? Do I quit?
Breastfeeding and depression. Such a loaded issue for moms with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Some want to quit because they have difficulties with it or because it causes them too much stress, but they don’t because they feel pressure to keep going. Others don’t reach out for professional help with their illness because they fear they will be made to stop when breastfeeding is the only thing that helps them feel bonded to their babies. You need to know that you can and should do what is right for YOU, and that you can still receive treatment if you want to continue breastfeeding, and you should also feel free to stop if you need to – you have options. Here are some stories you may find helpful:
From Boob to Bottle: Postpartum Depression & The Unnecessary Shame of Quitting Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding & Postpartum Depression: What Should Moms Do?
Letting Go of the Guilt About Not Breastfeeding
What if I only feel bad (depressed, sad, anxious) right before or during breastfeeding but I feel perfectly fine at all other times?
You may have something called dysphoric milk-ejection reflex. For more on this, read For Moms Who Feel Bad Before Breastfeeding, This May Be Why.
Is it normal to have setbacks? I was doing really well and then I slipped backwards. I’m worried I’m never going to get better.
It’s VERY common to have setbacks. I probably hear about this more than any other issue related to recovery. Many women experience periods of feeling better only to slide backwards a bit. That’s all part of the recovery process. For more on this, read:
How Recovery from Postpartum Depression is like Playing Chutes & Ladders
Postpartum Depression & Anxiety: The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
What if I don’t have health insurance or mental health coverage, or I don’t have enough money to pay my deductible?
You have several options. Read How to Get Help for Postpartum Depression if You Have No Insurance (or Not Enough Money). Also, you can check out more stories on PPD and health insurance here, including info on FMLA.
What if I reach out to a local psychiatrist or therapist and they can’t get me into their schedule for several weeks or even months?
We just can’t think of anything worse than finally getting up the courage to ask for help and then being told you’ll have to wait. Forever. While you are waiting for that darn appointment, there are other things you can do to try and get help sooner. Read Told It’s a 5-Month Wait to See A Psychiatrist?: What to Do Next To Get Help.
What if I my illness becomes severe and I need emergency child care?
Visit our resource guide: Child care services for moms with few resources
Can I get extra time off from work if I’m still trying to recover from postpartum depression when my maternity leave ends?
It’s possible, depending upon where you work and how much time you’ve already taken off. Read Can You or Your Husband Access FMLA If Needed For Postpartum Depression?
What if I can’t find a support group in my area?
You can always try the Online PPD support group. Plus, there are now two Twitter chats on Mondays for women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders — click the link to find out how to join in.
How will this affect my children?
The important thing to know is that the sooner you get professional help, the less potential your illness has to affect your children (or you) negatively over the long term.
Many of us who go through this live with the guilt that we were sick when our children were infants and that we may not have been able to bond properly. We worry that we have negatively affected them in some way. Know that, as Dr. Jessica Zucker wrote on my blog, “attachment is a process, not a finite event”. You can always create more attachment at any time, and strengthen bonds at any time.
We think these stories might help:
Have I Wrecked My Child’s Life? Parenting After Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
What Have I Wrought?: Postpartum Depression’s Impact On Our Children
My Postpartum OCD Baby Grows Up, While I Have An Anxiety Attack.
What could happen if I choose not to get professional help and just wait it out until this goes away?
If you ignore postpartum depression it could end up turning into chronic major depression for the rest of your life. There is no reason to ignore a medical condition of any kind, whether it’s postpartum depression or something else. There are a variety of effective treatments from which you can choose that will help you recover. You might also be interested in What Makes Moms With Postpartum Depression Finally Reach Out for Help?
Am I ever going to feel like I can handle motherhood?
Yes … at least as much as every other mother does, anyway. Read:
The Unrelenting Self-Doubt and Second-Guessing of Postpartum Depression & Anxiety
Have I Wrecked My Child’s Life?: Parenting After Postpartum Depression.
Can (or should) I have another child after experiencing a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder?
Yes you definitely can, but only you can decide whether you should. I did. Others don’t. Either decision is perfectly okay. Read:
To Have or Have Not: Should You Stop Having Children If You’ve Had Postpartum Depression.
Postpartum Depression & Anxiety Survivors: This Valentine’s For You.
Plus, here’s a 5-part series we did with seven moms who went through postpartum depression and anxiety on how they made the decision to have another child and what happened to them:
Will I get postpartum depression or anxiety or psychosis again?
You could. You are at a higher risk than the average mom of experiencing one of these illnesses if you’ve had it before. But it is not a certainty that you will get it, and if you do it won’t be the shock that it was before because you will understand what is happening to you and you will know that there are ways to get through it. If you’ve had a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder in the past, be sure to tell your OB/GYN and make sure that you have a team in place (your OB, your family, your psychiatrist or therapist) ready to support you and provide whatever help is needed, should you need it. Plus, the Warrior Moms of Postpartum Progress are here for you!
I am a clinician. Does this site offer information on screening, care pathways and the latest scientific data?
Check out our Scientific Research page and our Screening Tools page.
Do you have video resources?
We have a few, and are working to create more. Here is the Postpartum Progress channel on YouTube.
Are you on Twitter and Facebook?
You can follow Katherine on Twitter at @postpartumprogr. And you can find the Postpartum Progress Facebook Fan Page here.
Where can I find Spanish-language resources for postpartum depression?
Go to Postpartum Support International’s Spanish section.
Is Postpartum Progress a non-profit organization?
Yes, as of July 2010. Please visit our nonprofit website here: http://postpartumprogress.org to learn more about us and what we are doing. We hope you will be willing to support our work. If so, please make a secure online donation to Postpartum Progress here!!
How can I help other women who are suffering?
If you have found Postpartum Progress helpful in your journey to recovery, or would like to further the services that Postpartum Progress Inc. provides to mothers, please make a donation here. We cannot do all of this without you.
Do you accept advertising?
Why, yes! We accept advertising in support of our nonprofit and growing the mission of supporting as many women as possible. There are a wide variety of advertising and sponsorship opportunities. To learn what those are an see our media kit, please email us at postpartumprogress@gmail.com. Let us know what company you represent and what product you would be interested in advertising.
How do I start a support group for women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders?
First, it’s best to wait until you’ve fully recovered and given yourself plenty of time to heal before you consider taking on the responsibility of creating a support group to help others. Once you are ready, please check out the following:
How to Create & Sustain A Postpartum Support Group, Part 3
How To Create & Sustain A Postpartum Support Group, Part 2
How to Create & Sustain A Postpartum Support Group, Part 1
Why did Katherine start Postpartum Progress?
She had postpartum OCD with the birth of her son, her first child, in 2001. She felt alone when she went through it, and didn’t know where to go to get help. She didn’t want others to have the same experience. To read more about her story, you might check out Tragedy & Misery Intertwined: 9/11 and the Birth of My Postpartum OCD and My Story In Newsweek.
Is Katherine a doctor?
Nope. Katherine is not a physician, nurse, clinician, therapist, counselor, social worker, psychiatrist, psychologist or a doctor. She doesn’t even play one on TV. She is just a survivor and advocate who has worked hard over many years to educate herself on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. This blog offers peer-to-peer information. As always, be sure to consult with your own doctor regarding your specific situation.
More is on the way. We add to this all the time. If you have a question you’d like to see answered here, please email us at postpartumprogress@gmail.com.
Note: No page or post at Postpartum Progress may be reproduced or disseminated without advanced permission.
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