When this season doesn't feel the way you expected

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Pregnancy and the first year with a baby are often described as joyful. For many parents, they also bring fear, exhaustion, tears and thoughts that are hard to say out loud. If you feel more anxious or low than you expected, you are not alone, and it is not your fault.

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Understanding perinatal mood and anxiety

 

"Perinatal" covers pregnancy through the first year after birth. Mood and anxiety concerns during this time are common and treatable, and they are different from the short-lived "baby blues." Signs may include:

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• Constant worry, racing thoughts or a sense of dread

• Sadness, hopelessness or feeling disconnected from your baby

• Irritability, anger or feeling overwhelmed by small tasks

• Trouble sleeping even when the baby sleeps

• Scary, unwanted thoughts about the baby being harmed

• Guilt or the belief that you are failing as a parent

 

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Unwanted, intrusive thoughts are especially common and frightening. Having them does not mean you would act on them. They are often a sign of anxiety or perinatal OCD, which our clinicians are trained to treat.

Hormonal shifts, sleep loss, birth experiences, identity changes and limited support all play a role. Partners and adoptive parents can experience this too.