Distinguishing Between Normal Postpartum Adjustment & Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

Posted bySKaiserPosted inUncategorized

There is a normal period of postpartum adjustment and these symptoms mimic those of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs):

  • Feeling sad
  • Anxiety
  • Irrirability
  • Mood swings
  • Panic
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Appetite changes
  • Intrusive thoughts
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Trouble maintaining daily routines (e.g., eating, sleeping, showering, cleaning, grocery shopping, and making and maintaining appointments or social relationships)
  • Not engaging in things that previously brought you joy

Giving birth, healing, drop in hormones, lack of sleep, managing feeding, getting to know your baby, transitioning into parenthood or back into baby mode…is going to bring some distressing feelings. This is normal and to be expected. Although, you’re not abnormal if you don’t experience this period of adjustment. We all have different tolerance levels when it comes to stress.

What differentiates normal adjustment from PMADs is frequency, intensity, duration, and disruption.

  • Frequency: how often are the symptoms occurring each day?
  • Intensity: how intense are these symptoms?
  • Duration: how long have these symptoms been going on?
  • Disruption: how do these symptoms impact daily functioning?

Symptoms that are frequent, intense, persist longer than 2-3 weeks, and that impact your daily functioning (e.g., ability to take care of yourself and your baby and maintain daily routines), are indications that something else is going on that may require more attention or support.

In addition, it’s important to be aware of, and seek support if you experience any of the above or following signs and symptoms:

  • Feeling hopeless
  • Thinking your family or baby would be better off without you
  • Suicidal thoughts, actions, or plans
  • Feeling the urge to leave and never come back

Again, it can be hard for parents AND providers to distinguish between what’s normal and what’s not. Therefore, if you’re able it can be helpful to keep track of your daily distress level on a scale of 1-5 (5 being severely distressed), and then show this log to your provider. Showing a history of your symptoms is particularly helpful if you feel like your concerns are dismissed.