What is Perinatal Mental Health?
Perinatal Mental Health
By Kristelle Mallah, LMFT, Perinatal Mental Health + Trauma Expert
During pregnancy and after having a baby, there are many reasons that someone might not feel like themselves. It’s common to experience depression, anxiety, and a sense of “not being yourself” during the process of becoming a new parent. Sometimes, though, an experience that is uncomfortable but bearable can impact a new mother’s ability to function the way she would like to. Because of this, there are therapists who specialize in supporting people through this very specific life transition.
What is perinatal mental health?
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety disorder is also known as PMAD. Perinatal Mental Health is mental health care that specializes in supporting people who are experiencing a mood disorder that is related to or occurring from pregnancy through the first year postpartum. This could include experiencing postpartum depression, Bipolar disorder, or psychosis. It might also include anxiety disorders that range from generalized anxiety to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Lastly. many people struggle with trauma symptoms, either as the result of the pregnancy and childbirth or from past experiences during the perinatal period. Perinatal Mental Health Care providers are trained to support patients through these experiences.
Fast Facts:
Perinatal refers to the period that starts from the moment of conception up to a year postpartum.
Mood Disorders include Depression, Bipolar, Psychosis
Anxiety Disorders include GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
What are some signs that I might be struggling with my mental health because of pregnancy?
Research has shown that women during the perinatal period are more at risk of developing mental health disorders. Women experience a lot of physiological, emotional and psychological changes during the pregnancy and postpartum period. It is very common for women to experience what we call baby blues. However, it is important to learn how to differentiate between Postpartum Baby Blues and other PMADS, especially Postpartum Depression.
Baby blue symptoms may include:
Experiencing:
sadness
being tearful
irritability
change in mood
exhaustion
restlessness.
Symptoms may last between 2 days to 2 weeks after birth. If symptoms persist for more than two weeks it is not considered baby blues and hence more screening is needed to determine what is going on and what type of support is needed. If you notice yourself having symptoms like those mentioned above for more than two weeks, contact our office at info@abetterlifetherapy.com to set up a screening.
Perinatal mood disorder signs to look for:
Depressed mood most of the day nearly every day
Elevated mood symptoms
Loss of interest joy or pleasure
Sleep disturbance
Fatigue and loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness
Excessive guilt
Recurrent thoughts of harming oneself
Recurrent suicidal thoughts
Lack of connection with baby
Feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope
Experiencing anxiety
Excessive worry and rumination about baby’s health
Recurrent and persistent intrusive thoughts including “ I will harm my baby, I am not a good parent”
Flashbacks and nightmares
How can a postpartum therapist help?
Most of the time perinatal disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated leading to women suffering in silence and in severe cases ending their lives.
A postpartum therapist can help women feel heard in their pain and can validate their experiences so they do not have to suffer in silence and in shame.
A postpartum therapist uses evidence-based approaches:
to help mothers navigate their new identity as a parent
to help acquire new coping skills to facilitate the transition into this parenting role
to help support mothers’ through their journey of grief and loss of the old self and role.
A postpartum therapist helps mothers develop a social support network which can include family, friends and other mothers to reduce loneliness and allow space for self care.
A postpartum therapist helps mothers learn tools to manage their anxiety, intrusive thoughts and their feelings of worthlessness, guilt and shame.
A postpartum therapist helps mothers process their traumatic experiences to feel less triggered and overwhelmed emotionally.
A postpartum therapist helps mothers improve their communication with their significant other in order to get their needs met and to discuss expectations around various topics including infant care and intimacy.
Kristelle Mallah, LMFT
Kristelle Mallah, LMFT is a perinatal and trauma therapy specialist. Kristelle is also high trained in couples therapy and when working with new parents utilizes Gottman Method alongside her perinatal and trauma training to help them learn how to navigate challenges.
Kristelle provides perinnatal/postpartum therapy to the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania at our office in Easton, Pennsylvania. Kristelle also provides therapy via Telehealth for residents in the States of Pennsylvania and New York.
You can read more about Kristelle here.