Pregnancy and Postpartum Behavioral Health
Schedule an Appointment
Ask your provider to make a referral to our office, and then call to schedule your appointment at 270-417-7980. Virtual visits are available as needed.
During pregnancy, there’s a great deal of focus on physical health. We take all the right steps to come behind expecting mothers, ensuring their bodies get what they need to stay healthy and fuel their baby’s development. Caring for their mental and emotional well-being, however, is often missed even though it’s just as important. We also tend to think of pregnancy as a series of precious and exciting moments. So, when women wrestle with feelings they can’t explain, they tend to suffer in silence. That’s why we’ve designed pregnancy and postpartum behavioral health services to make sure our moms and babies get off to the best possible start.
Anxiety and Mood Disorders During Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, your body undergoes many changes. You also likely have a lot on your mind: After all, life as you know it is about to change. Some anxious feelings, and even some moderate mood swings, are quite normal and usually go away on their own. But if these symptoms continue for more than a few weeks at a time, or worsen over time, you may need help with a perinatal mood disorder (PPMD).
Depression After Delivery
Right after birth, your hormone levels drop, which naturally impacts your mood—as does the lack of sleep you’re probably getting with a new baby adjusting to life outside the womb. Up to 4 in 5 moms or 80%, in fact, experience what’s known as the baby blues, which refers to the feelings of sadness that can begin during the time right after birth to a few weeks following. In most cases, the baby blues go away on their own. If they don’t, though, and it’s been two weeks after birth or longer, it’s important to talk with your doctor.
Conditions We Treat
With a provider who’s dedicated exclusively to supporting mental wellness throughout our patients’ pregnancies and beyond, you can feel confident we have every aspect of your care covered. We’re here to help women with the full range of peri- and postpartum behavioral health conditions, including:
Perinatal ADHD
Women who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are faced with the decision of whether to continue their medications during pregnancy. According to recent studies, about 1 in 100 women take ADHD medications throughout their pregnancy—though doing so comes with an increased risk of preeclampsia (high blood pressure) and preterm birth. Pregnant women who stop taking ADHD medications during pregnancy, on the other hand, experience a significant increase in symptoms. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor about the severity of your ADHD symptoms and whether it makes sense for you to stop treatment.
Perinatal Anxiety
Perinatal anxiety refers to experiencing feelings of anxiety that interfere with your daily life in the months during pregnancy or following your baby’s birth. Symptoms may include nervousness, irritability, an inability to relax, an irregular heartbeat and panic attacks.
Perinatal Bipolar Disorder
Up to 20% of women who have perinatal depression may also have bipolar disorder. Also, 50% to 70% of women who have bipolar disorder before pregnancy will have a relapse in the postpartum period. Symptoms of perinatal bipolar disorder typically include hallucinations, delusions and paranoia.
Perinatal Depression
While many women experience mood changes during pregnancy or after the birth of a child, some women—around 20%—have symptoms that require treatment. These symptoms can include feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that can make it difficult to carry out normal tasks or care for themselves or others. Perinatal depression can be due to an undiagnosed mental health illness the woman had before pregnancy, a mental health illness that recurs during or after pregnancy, or simply as a result of the unique physical, psychological and social changes a woman undergoes during this time.
Perinatal Eating Disorders
While symptoms typically lessen during pregnancy for women already suffering from eating disorders, there is a risk of relapse. Also, symptoms of anxiety and distress are frequent among women with current or former eating disorders.
Perinatal Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)
This anxiety disorder is characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts and fears that lead to repetitive behaviors concerning your baby. For example, you may have frequent thoughts about hurting your baby or feel overwhelmingly fearful about making the wrong decision about vaccines or medical treatments. You also may excessively wash your baby’s clothes, toys or bottles, or check on them constantly while they’re sleeping.
Perinatal Psychosis
Psychosis during or after pregnancy is extremely serious but rare, affecting only one or two out of every 1,000 moms. The symptoms of perinatal psychosis may include delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, agitation and confusion.
Many women who experience perinatal psychosis have a personal or family history of bipolar disorder. This condition often requires immediate medical attention.
Perinatal Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Between 2% and 15% of women experience perinatal PTSD, which involves having distressing anxiety symptoms after a traumatic event. Sometimes, it’s related to a traumatic delivery. A traumatic delivery also may worsen a woman’s PTSD if she was diagnosed before becoming pregnant. Symptoms of perinatal PTSD include insomnia, changes in mood, and feeling hyperalert to danger or on edge.
Perinatal Schizophrenia
Women diagnosed with schizophrenia—a chronic brain disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and abnormal behavior—before pregnancy may find the time after their baby’s birth particularly distressing, potentially endangering their bond with their baby.
Compassionate, Specialized Care
When mental health conditions are left untreated during pregnancy, it can have negative health impacts on mom and baby, including increased risk for preterm birth, low birth weight and even poor nutrition after birth. Yet, according to recent studies, fewer than 1 in 10 pregnant women with a mental health illness receive adequate treatment, and fewer than 1 in 20 are actually cured.
Treatments for mental health illnesses either during or after pregnancy usually include a combination of medications and therapy. You can count on our highly skilled and caring team to work closely with you to plan a course of treatment that’s best for your condition, and that meets your unique needs and preferences.
