| Written by Olivia Volpe, MA, LAC, NCC
Motherhood is a transformative, empowering, and beautiful journey. However, it can also be exhausting, overwhelming, and deeply demanding. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, 85% of new mothers will experience the “baby blues.” This typically lasts up to two weeks following childbirth and is characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, crying, irritability, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping. Mothers may find themselves feeling incredibly joyful one moment, only to be overcome with tears the next. The baby blues are a result of various factors, including hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, physical recovery from childbirth, and emotional adjustments to parenting and becoming a mother. While this experience is common, if symptoms persist beyond two weeks or become more extreme, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional, as this may indicate a postpartum mental health disorder. The challenges of motherhood are unlike anything we’ve experienced before, and like any new journey, it presents its own set of unique hurdles. We depend on our bodies to nourish and care for our babies, hoping they provide everything needed. We strive to understand their needs, decipher their cries, and find ways to comfort them. We spend sleepless nights nursing, pumping, and preparing formula, all while juggling countless other responsibilities. In times like these, it is crucial to prioritize and attend to our own mental health needs.
While the baby blues and postpartum depression are often talked about, many other maternal mental health struggles can go unnoticed. Postpartum anxiety can feel like your mind is constantly racing with worry, making it hard to sleep or even breathe at times. You might feel dizzy, on edge, or overwhelmed by a sense of impending doom.
For some moms, postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder brings distressing, intrusive thoughts about their baby—thoughts they don’t want but can’t seem to stop. The fear of making a mistake can be paralyzing, leading to compulsive behaviors like checking on the baby repeatedly, avoiding certain situations, or feeling an overwhelming need to control every detail to keep them safe.
Many mothers create a birth plan to prepare for childbirth, outlining their preferences for delivery methods, pain management, and who they want present during labor. However, birth doesn’t always go as planned. Unexpected complications may arise, requiring the medical team to act swiftly. Birth trauma, such as an unplanned C-section, forceps delivery, stillbirth, or a baby requiring NICU care, can lead to postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition may cause flashbacks, nightmares, heightened anxiety, persistent hypervigilance, and depression, significantly impacting a mother’s well-being.
While the baby blues and postpartum depression are often talked about, many other maternal mental health struggles can go unnoticed. Postpartum anxiety can feel like your mind is constantly racing with worry, making it hard to sleep or even breathe at times. You might feel dizzy, on edge, or overwhelmed by a sense of impending doom.
For some moms, postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder brings distressing, intrusive thoughts about their baby—thoughts they don’t want but can’t seem to stop. The fear of making a mistake can be paralyzing, leading to compulsive behaviors like checking on the baby repeatedly, avoiding certain situations, or feeling an overwhelming need to control every detail to keep them safe.
Many mothers create a birth plan to prepare for childbirth, outlining their preferences for delivery methods, pain management, and who they want present during labor. However, birth doesn’t always go as planned. Unexpected complications may arise, requiring the medical team to act swiftly. Birth trauma, such as an unplanned C-section, forceps delivery, stillbirth, or a baby requiring NICU care, can lead to postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition may cause flashbacks, nightmares, heightened anxiety, persistent hypervigilance, and depression, significantly impacting a mother’s well-being.
| Postpartum bipolar mood disorders can feel like an emotional rollercoaster, with deep lows of depression and intense highs of mania. During the highs, you might talk rapidly, feel like you don’t need sleep, and in extreme cases, even experience delusions or hallucinations. These shifting moods can be overwhelming, making it hard to feel in control during a time that’s already full of changes. |
Although extremely rare, postpartum psychosis is a serious and urgent condition that can make you feel disconnected from reality. It may bring terrifying delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, or a sense of emotional numbness. In this state, thoughts can become irrational or even dangerous, putting both you and your loved ones at risk. If you or someone you love is experiencing these symptoms, seeking immediate help is critical.
If you’re struggling with your mental health after having a baby, please know that you’re not alone and that there is help out there. Motherhood is overwhelming, exhausting, and sometimes even terrifying. Bringing a tiny human into the world changes everything, and it’s okay if you’re finding it harder than you expected. Reach out to someone you trust—a friend, a family member, or a professional.
Olivia is a dedicated therapist who embraces a holistic approach, seamlessly integrating traditional therapeutic techniques with mindful and somatic yoga practices. She creates a supportive, balanced space where clients can safely explore their emotions and deepen their mind-body connection.
EWC has locations in Manalapan and Shrewsbury, NJ, and accepts a variety of insurance plans. Ready to start your journey toward healing? Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
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