< Expectant Parent

Mental Health

Maintaining Your Mental Health During and After Pregnancy

About 15 to 20% of pregnant women experience some moderate to severe symptoms of depression or anxiety during pregnancy. Postpartum, meaning after childbirth, about 20% of women experience major or minor depression. Perinatal conditions occur during pregnancy and in the first year after birth.   

About 10% of new dads or partners also experience depression, mood or anxiety problems. The highest risk factor for a partner experiencing a mental health crisis is if the pregnant or postpartum mom is also experiencing it.   

Prioritizing mental health is vital to seeking proper treatment and resources, including support groups, therapy and medications.   

If you or a pregnant/new parent you know is experiencing a mental health disorder, consult a health care provider. Medication and mental health counseling are very effective in treating these disorders.   

“Baby blues” impacts about 60 to 80% of new moms. It is not a disorder and lasts two days to two weeks after birth. Hormone fluctuations and sleep deprivation cause it at the time of delivery, but moms are still happy overall. Some symptoms can be similar to postpartum depression but less intense, like being tearful rather than extreme sadness. Inform an obstetrician-gynecologist to ensure it does not transition to postpartum depression.  

Postpartum depression is depression after giving birth with symptoms that persist for two weeks or longer. About one in seven moms experience postpartum depression.    

Symptoms include:  

  • Feelings of anger or rage, also known as postpartum rage 
  • Fear; fearful of what could happen to the baby, worst-case scenario thoughts  
  • Lack of interest in the baby 
  • Extreme difference in appetite 
  • Sleep disturbances, sleeping all day and night and never feeling well-rested 
  • Difficulty making decisions 
  • Thoughts of harming the baby or themselves 

Perinatal panic disorder is a type of anxiety for new moms.   

Symptoms include: 

  • Excessively nervous, worried and fearful 
  • Recurring panic attacks with shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations that mimic a heart attack 

Perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder means obsessions or persistent thoughts related to the baby.   

Symptoms include: 

  • Intrusive thoughts or images in their mind about harm coming to their child  
  • Becoming overly stressed by intrusive thoughts 
  • Obsessive-compulsive ritual behavior to ward off danger to a child 

Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder can happen after a traumatic childbirth experience.    

Symptoms include: 

  • Dreams, thoughts or flashbacks to a traumatic childbirth experience 
  • Avoiding things associated with the event or memories, including avoiding doctors, driving or visiting the hospital 
  • Persistent or increased arousal, feeling extreme irritability or sleeplessness 
  • Hyper-vigilant or hyper-aware of things around you 

Perinatal bipolar disorder primarily impacts women who have been previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder or who have had bipolar and have lived undiagnosed.  

Symptoms include: 

  • Manic episodes can include extreme energy, needing less sleep, racing thoughts, impulsiveness, agitation, etc.   
  • Depressive symptoms can include anxiety or worry, excessive crying, guilt, sleeplessness or oversleeping, panic attacks, etc.   

Postpartum psychosis is rare, impacting one mother out of every 1,000 deliveries. New mothers who experience these symptoms need to seek medical/mental health treatment immediately. Symptoms happen within the first four weeks of delivery.  

Symptoms include: 

  • Hyperactive with extreme energy, coupled with a major decreased need for sleep (this is a key warning sign) 
  • Delusions and/or hallucinations, like voices telling them to kill or harm the baby 
  • Strange beliefs, like their baby is evil 
  • Extreme irritability or agitation 
  • Significant mood changes 
  • Poor decision-making 
  • Suicidal or homicidal thoughts 

In Crisis? Seek Help Now 

If you or someone you know is in crisis reach out for help.  

  • UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation High-Risk Pregnancy Program provides direct access to the Women’s Mental Health Program via consultative services and evaluations. The program includes a multidisciplinary staff including psychiatrists, social workers and nurses. The Women’s Mental Health Program partners with perinatal care providers throughout the state of Arkansas to provide high-quality care for women with neuropsychiatric disorders. Consultations may be scheduled by contacting the Women’s Mental Health Program directly at 501-526-8201.
  • Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, chat with them online via their website, or text HOME to 741741 (multiple languages available). If this is an emergency, call 911. 
  • The Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7 free, confidential support, resources and referrals to any pregnant and postpartum moms facing mental health challenges. Call or text 1-833-943-5746 (1-833-9-HELP4MOMS). 

Brooke Yancey-Ward, Psy.D., a pediatric psychologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock and assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Arkansas of Medical Sciences, is certified in perinatal mental health and meets with new mothers in Arkansas Children’s inpatient units. She explained the above mental health concerns that impact moms during pregnancy and postpartum.