This season doesn’t always feel the way people said it would.
Everyone prepares you for the baby. Fewer people prepare you for what’s happening in your own head. Maybe you’re lying awake checking the monitor long after the baby has fallen asleep. Maybe you’re googling symptoms at 2 a.m., or feeling flat and disconnected when you expected to feel overjoyed. Maybe scary “what if” thoughts pop into your mind out of nowhere.
Up to 1 in 5 women experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder during pregnancy or the first year after birth. It’s one of the most common complications of having a baby, and it’s very treatable.
What this can look like
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Constant worry about the baby’s health or safety
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Racing thoughts that make it hard to rest, even when you have the chance
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Intrusive thoughts or images that feel upsetting and out of character
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Feeling numb, tearful, or not like yourself for more than a couple of weeks
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Irritability or anger that seems way out of proportion
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Difficulty bonding, or guilt that you’re not enjoying this more
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Anxiety during pregnancy, or about birth itself
A quick note on intrusive thoughts: they’re extremely common in the postpartum period, and having them doesn’t mean you want to act on them. The fact that they upset you is usually a sign of how much you care. They’re also something therapy can really help with.
How therapy can help
As a certified perinatal mental health clinician (PMH-C), I specialize in this exact season. Together, we’ll figure out what’s driving the anxiety or low mood, build practical skills for calming your mind and body, and work through anything weighing on you, like a difficult birth, feeding struggles, or the exhaustion that makes everything harder. Sessions are virtual, so you can join from the couch with the baby nearby if that’s what works.
Related reading: When Postpartum Anxiety Feels Overwhelming: Signs and Support
If you’re struggling right now, you can call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), 24/7. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.