If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby, call 911 or go to the hospital right away.
Perinatal mood disorders (PMD) refer to a wide range of mood changes, including anxiety and depression, that parents may experience during pregnancy or in the first year after the arrival of a new baby.
Ottawa Public Health shares information about postpartum mood from the view points of real parents, with additional information from health-care providers, in the video Postpartum Mental Health.
Symptoms of PMD are different for everyone. They may include:
- Crying or sadness.
- Lack of interest in things you normally enjoy.
- Feelings of guilt, shame, or hopelessness.
- Feelings of anger or irritability.
- Constant worry or racing thoughts.
- Changes to sleep or appetite.
- Physical symptoms like dizziness, hot flashes, or nausea.
If you are experiencing a perinatal mood disorder:
- Do not blame yourself. You are not alone in feeling the way you do. Do not feel ashamed or guilty for your thoughts and feelings. They do not make you a bad parent.
- Ask for help. Talk to your partner, family, friends, and health care provider. Do not be ashamed of your feelings. Delaying help may delay recovery.
- Take care of yourself. Try to rest, eat a healthy diet, and get some fresh air and physical activity.
- Take time for yourself. Accept offers for help with household chores and baby care so you can have a break.
- Get counselling. Attend one-to-one counselling sessions or join a support group with other parents. This can be a helpful way to talk through your feelings in a safe and supportive environment.
- Consider medication. Your health care provider may recommend medication that is safe to use while breastfeeding or chestfeeding and not addictive.
Baby blues
Four out of five new parents will go through emotional changes after the birth of their baby. These emotional changes are known as postpartum blues or baby blues.
New parents may experience a variety of conflicting emotions – like feeling happy one minute and overwhelmed the next. Some parents may feel teary or sad for no reason, or experience changes in their eating and sleeping patterns.
The baby blues typically occur a few days after birth and pass within two weeks. If these feeling don’t go away after a couple of weeks, speak to your health care provider.
It’s important to remember that during the baby blues, many of the feelings you experience are normal and may happen because of:
- Changing hormones
- Lack of sleep
- Feeling uncertain about how to care for baby
- Feelings of worry about being a new parent
- Changing relationships
The most common symptoms of the baby blues are:
- Mood swings
- Frequent crying
- Sadness, irritability, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed
- Loss of appetite
- Trouble sleeping
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
If you experience the baby blues, reaching out to your support systems, finding new supports, and getting rest can help to make you feel better.
If these symptoms do not go away after two weeks, speak to your health care provider as the baby blues can turn into a perinatal mood disorder.
All new parents can experience forms of postpartum mood disorders
Non-child bearing parents can also develop mood disorders. This is even more common if their partner is experiencing a mood disorder. Adoptive parents and parents who have welcomed children through surrogacy can also develop mood disorders and should watch for symptoms.
Having someone to talk to about how you are feeling is important:
- Talk to family, friends, or your partner.
- Speak with your healthcare provider.
- Connect with supports within your community.
The 24 Hour Cribside Assistance for new dads is available at Dad Central Ontario.