80% of new mothers experience the “baby blues”
1 in 5 women will have symptoms of a perinatal mood/anxiety disorder
1 in 10 dads will experience anxiety/depression while their partner is in the postpartum period
70% of couples see their marital satisfaction plummet after having a baby
Do you identify with one of the postpartum statistics above? We can help!
Giving birth to a new identity – ‘mom’ – can be just as demanding as giving birth to a baby. This time consists of one of the most significant physical and psychological changes a woman will ever experience. We want to support you with this new identity and all the challenges and joys that come with it.
How a Maternal Mental Health Therapist Can Help
Infertility:
Maybe you’ve taken birth control for a decade with the intention of preventing pregnancy, and now you’ve been trying to conceive for months (or years) and are struggling, physically, emotionally, and relationally.
Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss:
Perhaps the test read positive, and now you are dealing with a loss, either your first or subsequent. OR it reads positive and the pregnancy was unplanned and perhaps unwanted, who do you turn to and how do you proceed while considering your options?
Birth Trauma:
Every birthing experience is unique and different, sometimes you get all your preferences met and other times your birth plan is thrown right out the window. A traumatic birth is defined by those involved, and they are important to process.
Family Planning:
Most have a picture of what they want their ‘family’ to look like, and now you’re not sure if you want numbers 1, 2, 3, etc.
Relationship Transition to Parenthood:
Before, the focus was on the couple, now it isn’t up to either one of you! We know marital satisfaction ‘plummets’ after the birth of a baby, and still, most want to model positive relationship dynamics for their new bundle of joy. There are several topics that are very common for new parents to struggle with as they adjust to this new life phase, including different parenting styles, changes in intimacy, distribution of chores, and financial disagreements.
Baby Blues vs. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADS):
- Baby Blues: mild and short term, first 2-3 weeks postpartum, overwhelmed, crying, fatigue, difficulty coping (due partly to big hormonal changes).
- PMAD: sad, irritable, guilt and shame, appetite changes, poor concentration, unexplained physical symptoms, disconnected and isolated, inability to rest/care for self/family, may have scary and/or suicidal thoughts.
Will I ever get my “pink” back?
Flamingos lose their pink color while raising their young. Raising their chicks is so intense and draining, that it literally drains the color from them. As their chicks grow and become more independent, their color returns.
You will get your pink back, and if you are feeling lost in your journey to/of ‘motherhood’ we are here to help.
You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help, you will get better. A postpartum mental health therapist can help you get there, faster.
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
Women often believe that they “should” feel happy and know exactly what to do after bringing a baby into this world. But it’s impossible to predict how life changes your relationships and how you feel about yourself. Some women already struggle with depression or anxiety prior to pregnancy, and postpartum mood disorder can feel familiar yet different than what they are used to. Some women are experiencing this for the first time and aren’t sure what it is.
Postpartum mood disorders can look like:
- Feeling down, struggling to find motivation each day
- Constantly exhausted, yet you can’t sleep
- Feeling “crazy”
- Becoming more irritable than usual
- Problems thinking clearly
- Feeling worried or anxious and not knowing exactly why
- Unable to find joy in things that usually bring happiness
- Feeling panicked
- Crying all the time
- Wanting to hurt yourself or others
It’s important to know that you are not alone in what you’re going through – 1 in 7 women experience postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. Psychotherapy is highly effective in postpartum depression treatment. The sooner you seek help, the better. Mamas need to be taken care of too.
Attachment and Bonding During Postpartum
Often mamas believe that you are just supposed to feel connected to your little one, and sometimes that feeling isn’t there right from the moment of a positive pregnancy test, or even when the midwife or doctor lays that baby in your arms. Trauma from infertility, miscarriage, infant loss, traumatic birth, or other unprocessed traumas, as well as perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, can disrupt the ability of mama and baby to feel attached. That does not mean you will never bond. It just means that you will have to work on it. And I promise it’s worth it.
Meet our Maternal Mental Health Specialist Megan Manning, MA LMFT
“You have a baby, and the focus is on – the baby – I mean, it is so cute and squishy, yes, BUT where the focus and support ALSO need to be is on the birthing person and their support system. The saying may be old, but it is still true – it takes a village – we know social support is the biggest predator of postpartum success. I would love to be one component of this support for you.
We welcome those who are single, coupled, married, members of the LGTBQ community, those with diverse relationship structures, and those who may have fostered/adopted. Families are how you define them and we would love to work with yours!” ~ Postpartum and Maternal Mental Health Specialist, Megan Manning, MA LMFT
Read More From the Radiant Living Therapy Blog:
- Overcoming the Pressure of ‘Should’: Navigating Perinatal Life with Self-Compassion
- Unload The Mental Load: Tips from a Twin Cities Therapist
- Calling All the Stressed Out Mamas – 3 Ways to Cope With the Uncertainty of the Times
- Infertility: How to Keep Your Sh!T Together and Find Your Pineapple Squad
Begin Therapy for Postpartum Problems or Get Help for Maternal Mental Health in Plymouth, MN
It’s simple to start therapy in our Plymouth, MN counseling office, or anywhere in the state with online therapy in Minnesota. You do not have to suffer through this alone. You can get help with a postpartum expert in maternal mental health issues. To get started, follow these simple steps:
- Schedule a free consultation
- Meet with a caring maternal mental health therapist
- Start enjoying life with your family, no matter what it looks like in this season
Other Counseling Services at Radiant Living Therapy
Often, relationships and fertility problems have many layers. We know these issues are complex. You are a whole person and therefore, you may need help in more than one area of your life. At our Plymouth, MN counseling office, our professional therapists also offer individual therapy, counseling for teens, EMDR for trauma therapy, DBT therapy, infertility counseling, counseling for men, counseling for therapists & other helping professionals, therapy for couples & marriage counseling, and more. Let us enhance your life in a meaningful and comprehensive way. We also offer supervision for therapists. No matter the need, we look forward to connecting with you!