Prenatal and Postpartum
There is nothing more important, challenging, and rewarding as this motherhood journey. It’s also a path filled with unexpected twists and turns, challenges, and stress. We usually hear about postpartum (after birth) depression, but depression can actually begin while you’re pregnant.
Pregnancy issues may be mild or serious, but they can affect the health of the mother or child, put a strain on a romantic partnership, and lead to life changes, both predicted and unpredictable. Societal expectations of pregnant women and new mothers may lead many women to experience anxiety or stress.
A difficult birth can leave both parents emotionally and physically fatigued, and it can be difficult and stressful for parents to adapt to new roles and responsibilities. Other significant life stressors include infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, premature birth, high-pressure careers, and illness. All of these experiences bring enormous stress and anxiety and often involve grief from the loss either of what was or of what could have been.
It can be difficult to distinguish between the typical baby blues and the signs of postpartum depression and anxiety. And, if you are the newborn’s father, you may wonder if postpartum depression in men is even a real thing. But, whether mother or father, if you are struggling to care for your child or yourself, it may be that something more serious than transitional growing pains is going on.
