Perinatal mood disorders are related to mood and anxietysymptoms which can occur during and after pregnancy. These symptoms can last upto but not limited to one-year post-partum.

It’s common for Assigned Female At Birth (AFAB) folks toexperience changes with their emotions and overall mood during and afterpregnancy. Mild mood changes during pregnancy are normal and can be commonthroughout each. Trimester.

Perinatal Mood Disorders include: Postpartum DepressionPostpartum Anxiety Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and PostpartumPsychosis

(AFAB) folks who havea history of depression, anxiety or serious mood disorder are 30%-35% morelikely to develop a Perinatal Mood Disorder. Also, approximately 15% of AFABexperience significant depression during and after childbirth.

3 Signs you may be experiencing a Perinatal Mood Disorder:

Feelings of Anxiety or Depression whichlast longer or increase over the course of 1 to 2 weeks

Feeling consistently overwhelmed withactivities of daily living

Excessive crying or lack of interest foractivities you enjoyed prior to baby

Ask yourself the following questions, you may find themhelpful in respect to reaching out to or speaking with a mental healthprofessional

You miss your old life. Parenting wasn’t what youexpected, and you are sad that this is your new normal.

You get angry or frustrated a lot with your baby/kids,partner or lack of support. Everything seems to annoy you and you have troublecalming down.

You count down the times when someone can take the baby.You don’t want to be alone with them, and when you are, time seems to pass veryslowly.

You don’t feel much at all. You are totally spaced out,feel empty and having trouble connecting or paying attention.

A 2019 Perinatal Mental Health survey identified that herein Nova Scotia the percentage of mothers reporting Perinatal Mood Disorder symptomsare higher in average than other provinces across Canada.

95.8% of health carepractitioners believe that perinatal mental health services are lackingthroughout all of Canada.

If you feel this blog spoke to you or to someone you know,please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Wholetherapy. The team atWholetherapy are here to help guide you through your therapeutic journeytowards whole healing.

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