The several weeks before and after giving birth come with tremendous changes and adjustments. Changing bodies, emotional swings, upticks in fluctuating hormones, and the transition from pregnant baby-bump to recovering body & sleep deprivation. It is normal for new moms to experience swift changes in mood and frequent crying for several weeks postpartum; this is referred to as the “Baby Blues.” This will likely resolve without intervention.

However, the “Baby Blues” does not fully capture the wide range of challenges that impact many postpartum women: depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma, or psychosis.

The following difficulties can arise anytime during the first year after welcoming your baby into the world:

• Sadness, anger/rage, irritability, guilt, not sleeping (even when you have the opportunity), changes in eating patterns, loss of hope, feeling disconnected from your baby, and sometimes thoughts about harm to yourself or your baby

• Fear and worry that is difficult to control, restlessness, difficulty relaxing, physical discomfort (aches and pains, muscle tension, chest pain, shortness of breath), nausea/dizziness, feeling like an awful mother, or worrying something awful will happen. Some women may become preoccupied or obsessed about the wellbeing of your baby, or feeling the need to repeat certain things over-and-over so nothing bad happens.

• Replaying a scary delivery/having flashbacks, being easily startled or upset, ignoring things that remind you of labor/delivery or the early days of brining home baby, irritability, or concentration difficulties.

• Seeming to see or hear things others can’t, feeling paranoid or distrustful of those around them, seeming disorganized or confused, or having memory problems.

If you have any of the concerns described above, please don’t entertain the thought that it is just because you… are a bad mom, are lazy, aren’t trying hard enough, are too tired, have a “difficult” baby, aren’t cut out for motherhood, should be ashamed. Nope, instead let the clinicians at VMHC support you and help you find relief and healing from your symptoms.