What does PMAD stand for?
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders—these can include depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder
What is the perinatal time period?
The time frame from pregnancy through the first year after giving birth or adopting
What does it feel like?
It is estimated that at least 1 in 7 women will experience postpartum depression, and up to 20% of pregnant women will experience moderate to severe anxiety and/or depression during their pregnancy.
Anxiety symptoms: agitated, inability to sit still, excessive concern about baby’s or your own health, high alert, appetite changes (often rapid weight loss), sleep disturbance (difficulty falling/staying asleep), constant worry, racing thoughts, shortness of breath, heart palpitations
Depression symptoms: sadness, crying, unexplained physical complaints, suicidal thoughts, appetite changes, sleep disturbance, poor concentration/focus, irritability or anger, hopeless and helpless, guilt, and shame
Am I alone in feeling this way?
No! It is estimated that at least 1 in 7 women will experience postpartum depression, and up to 20% of pregnant women will experience moderate to severe anxiety and/or depression during their pregnancy.
What are increased risk factors for PMADs?
Identifying the risk factors for PMADs promotes early detection and can help facilitate treatment planning. The sooner treatment, including preventative treatment, is in place for a PMAD, the better the outcome.
Common risk factors: experience of PMAD with previous pregnancy, symptoms during pregnancy, personal and family history of anxiety and depression, inadequate social support, history of thyroid imbalance, fertility challenges, financial stress/poverty, recent loss, high stress parenting (military families, teen parents, multiples, and single mothers)
Why is it important to treat PMADs?
First and foremost, no one should suffer in silence. It’s important to be honest about how you are feeling with your health-care provider, otherwise they will not be aware of your condition and thus unable to provide proper treatment. The earlier you get treatment, the more quickly you will recover. Additionally, if you have suffered from PMAD during one pregnancy, it is imperative to have a treatment plan in place to address subsequent pregnancies.
You did not cause postpartum depression, you did nothing wrong. PMADs are a medical condition and you should not feel guilty for feeling the way you do. With proper treatment, PMAD is a temporary condition. Recovery is not a linear process; you will have good and bad days. As you continue to recover, the bad days will become less frequent and intense, and the good days will become longer and more enjoyable.
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders—these can include depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder
What is the perinatal time period?
The time frame from pregnancy through the first year after giving birth or adopting
What does it feel like?
It is estimated that at least 1 in 7 women will experience postpartum depression, and up to 20% of pregnant women will experience moderate to severe anxiety and/or depression during their pregnancy.
Anxiety symptoms: agitated, inability to sit still, excessive concern about baby’s or your own health, high alert, appetite changes (often rapid weight loss), sleep disturbance (difficulty falling/staying asleep), constant worry, racing thoughts, shortness of breath, heart palpitations
Depression symptoms: sadness, crying, unexplained physical complaints, suicidal thoughts, appetite changes, sleep disturbance, poor concentration/focus, irritability or anger, hopeless and helpless, guilt, and shame
Am I alone in feeling this way?
No! It is estimated that at least 1 in 7 women will experience postpartum depression, and up to 20% of pregnant women will experience moderate to severe anxiety and/or depression during their pregnancy.
What are increased risk factors for PMADs?
Identifying the risk factors for PMADs promotes early detection and can help facilitate treatment planning. The sooner treatment, including preventative treatment, is in place for a PMAD, the better the outcome.
Common risk factors: experience of PMAD with previous pregnancy, symptoms during pregnancy, personal and family history of anxiety and depression, inadequate social support, history of thyroid imbalance, fertility challenges, financial stress/poverty, recent loss, high stress parenting (military families, teen parents, multiples, and single mothers)
Why is it important to treat PMADs?
First and foremost, no one should suffer in silence. It’s important to be honest about how you are feeling with your health-care provider, otherwise they will not be aware of your condition and thus unable to provide proper treatment. The earlier you get treatment, the more quickly you will recover. Additionally, if you have suffered from PMAD during one pregnancy, it is imperative to have a treatment plan in place to address subsequent pregnancies.
You did not cause postpartum depression, you did nothing wrong. PMADs are a medical condition and you should not feel guilty for feeling the way you do. With proper treatment, PMAD is a temporary condition. Recovery is not a linear process; you will have good and bad days. As you continue to recover, the bad days will become less frequent and intense, and the good days will become longer and more enjoyable.
