The birth of a child is exciting, but the early weeks and months of parenting can be exhausting. Some new mothers also struggle with postpartum anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD.
Postpartum anxiety affects 1 in 5 of new mothers. Postpartum OCD is less common, but can have an even more severe impact on a new mother’s daily life.
WellTuned spoke with Dr. Edwin Thorpe, a medical director at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, to learn more about these conditions and how they can affect new mothers.
What is postpartum anxiety?
Dr. Thorpe: If you feel like you can’t relax and stop worrying, you could be developing postpartum anxiety. The sleep deprivation that often comes along with a new baby can make the situation even worse.
People who have a history of anxiety or depression, including prenatal anxiety or depression, are at greater risk for developing anxiety. A family history of anxiety or thyroid problems are also associated with a greater risk, as is a history of miscarriage or pregnancy loss.
Symptoms of postpartum anxiety include:
- A constant feeling that something bad is going to happen
- Ongoing worries
- Trouble sleeping
- Disrupted appetite
- Racing thoughts
- Inability to sit still
You may also experience symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, or hot flashes. Many symptoms of postpartum anxiety overlap with the symptoms of postpartum depression. However, not everyone with anxiety is depressed. Postpartum anxiety is not the same as the “baby blues,” which can occur as hormone levels decrease after delivery and tend to go away after a few weeks.
What is postpartum OCD?
Dr. Thorpe: People with a personal or family history of anxiety or OCD are at greater risk for developing postpartum OCD. According to Postpartum Support International, postpartum OCD is the most misunderstood perinatal disorder—and it’s often misdiagnosed.
Symptoms can include:
- Intrusive thoughts, or repetitive thoughts related to the baby that are upsetting to you
- Compulsions, or the need to do something over and over again, like counting certain items or cleaning a particular surface
- A feeling of horror about your obsessions
- Fear of being left alone with your baby
- Hypervigilance about protecting your baby
What treatments are available?
Dr. Thorpe: Both conditions are treatable, but it’s important to make sure you get the right diagnosis. If you experience symptoms of either postpartum anxiety or postpartum OCD, let your health care provider know right away.
You can try talk therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy. Relaxation and meditation exercises can help. Getting more sleep can also help, and you may be able to talk to your family about helping you with that.
Medication can help some people, but psychiatric medication may find its way into breastmilk. Your doctor can talk to you about the risks and benefits and help you decide what’s best for you.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help
Dr. Thorpe: If you’re experiencing symptoms, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Don’t try to “hold it all in” or try to “stay strong” for your family. The symptoms can progress if they’re not addressed, which could have serious consequences for you and your baby.
Let your partner, friend, a family member, or your medical provider know that you’re struggling. Your doctor may suggest contacting a support organization or finding a therapist to assist you.
More from Dr. Thorpe on WellTuned
Get more information about specific health terms, topics and conditions to better manage your health on bcbst.com. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members can access wellness-related discounts on fitness products, gym memberships, healthy eating and more through Blue365®. BCBST members can also find tools and resources to help improve health and well-being by logging into BlueAccess and going to the Managing Your Health tab.