Caroline Beidler, MSW is an author, speaker, and the Managing Editor of Recovery.com. She writes about topics related to addiction, mental health, and trauma recovery, informed by her personal experience and professional expertise.
Caroline Beidler, MSW is an author, speaker, and the Managing Editor of Recovery.com. She writes about topics related to addiction, mental health, and trauma recovery, informed by her personal experience and professional expertise.
Bringing a new life into the world, or even just anticipating its arrival, is often described as a joyous time. Yet, for many, this perinatal period is also marked by complex, sometimes overwhelming, emotions that can feel isolating and confusing.
If you are experiencing feelings that contradict the narrative of constant happiness, please know that you are not alone. Your experiences are valid, and countless others share similar struggles.
Perinatal mental health refers to your emotional and psychological well-being during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. It encompasses a wide range of experiences, from the common “baby blues” to more severe and persistent mental health disorders.
Essentially, it’s about how you feel, think, and cope as you navigate the profound changes of parenthood. It acknowledges that this period is not just physically transformative but also deeply impacts maternal mental health.
Health care providers now recognize that untreated perinatal mental health conditions, such as perinatal depression, postpartum depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even postpartum psychosis, can affect both parents’ and children’s health.
For too long, patients suffered in silence. Today, we understand that addressing perinatal mental health is crucial for several reasons:
By talking about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), clinicians, mental health professionals, and organizations like Postpartum Support International (PSI) are helping to reduce stigma and increase awareness.
The “perinatal period” begins with conception, continues throughout pregnancy, and lasts through the postpartum period—up to the first year after birth. This time involves rapid physical and psychological change. You are not expected to simply “bounce back.” Recovery and adjustment take time, and support is essential.
The “baby blues” are common in the early postnatal days but typically pass quickly. If sadness, anxiety, or guilt persist beyond two weeks or interfere with daily functioning, depression screening tools may reveal more serious conditions such as perinatal depression or postpartum depression.
During the perinatal period, patients may experience a range of mental health conditions that vary in severity. Some, like perinatal depression or anxiety, are relatively common, while others, such as postpartum psychosis, are rare but require urgent care.
Here is a list of common perinatal conditions that are medical—not personal failings—and they are treatable with the right support.
Perinatal depression2 includes both antenatal (during pregnancy) and postpartum depression (after birth). Symptoms include sadness, hopelessness, guilt, loss of interest, and fatigue. Depression screening during obstetrics and gynecology visits, or through pediatrics in the first year, is a critical initiative supported by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Excessive worry that disrupts daily life is common in pregnant or postpartum women.3 Psychotherapy, social support, and behavioral health interventions can help manage this increased risk.
Perinatal OCD4 involves distressing, intrusive thoughts about harm coming to the baby. Compulsions, such as checking or cleaning, may follow. Screening tools help clinicians distinguish between normal new-parent worries and OCD.
Difficult or frightening birth experiences can result in PTSD.5 Patients may experience flashbacks, nightmares, or avoidance of reminders of the birth experience. Peer support groups, psychotherapy, and trauma-focused treatment options are effective interventions.
Pregnant women or postpartum women with a history of bipolar disorder face an increased risk of relapse.6 Collaboration with psychiatry and health care providers is essential for safe, evidence-based treatment options.
This rare but urgent mental illness may begin in the first weeks of the postpartum period. Postpartum psychosis is considered a psychiatric emergency.7 If you experience hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia, seek out immediate psychiatric care; you may need hospitalization in an outpatient or inpatient setting.
Pregnancy and the postpartum period bring dramatic hormonal fluctuations.8 Estrogen and progesterone levels rise during pregnancy and fall rapidly after birth, contributing to mood instability and increased risk for perinatal depression and anxiety. Physical recovery from childbirth, chronic sleep deprivation, and pain can also worsen emotional well-being.
Becoming a parent involves profound identity changes.9 Patients often face internal and external pressure to be a “perfect” parent, which can heighten stress and increase vulnerability to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Unrealistic expectations, combined with previous experiences of low self-esteem or unresolved trauma, may amplify psychological distress.
Social support is one of the strongest protective factors10 for maternal mental health. When patients lack practical or emotional support from partners, family, or community, they are at greater risk of depression and anxiety. Stressors such as financial hardship, unstable housing, or a negative birth experience (including obstetric complications or perceived lack of respectful care) can further increase risk.
Patients with a personal or family history of mental health disorders11—such as depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD—face an increased risk of perinatal relapse or new episodes. Past trauma, including childhood adversity or birth trauma, can resurface during pregnancy and the postpartum period, making screening tools and early interventions essential.
Substance use disorders can overlap with perinatal mental health conditions, complicating diagnosis and treatment. Pregnant women with untreated substance use12 face barriers to seeking care due to stigma, legal concerns, and fear of losing custody. Integrated behavioral health programs that address both substance use and mental health conditions improve outcomes for maternal health and child health.
Your obstetrics, gynecology, or pediatrics team is often your first line of support. Clinicians may use depression screening or other tools to identify perinatal mental health conditions. From there, they can provide a referral to psychiatry, psychotherapy, or other mental health professionals. Medicaid and private insurance often cover these services.
Support groups, peer support programs, and online communities can offer connection and reduce feelings of isolation. Organizations like PSI offer toolkits, webinars, and initiatives that connect postpartum women and pregnant women to help.
Evidence-based interventions include psychotherapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy), medication management, and peer support. Outpatient care and integrated behavioral health programs ensure access to comprehensive treatment options.
Perinatal mental health conditions are common and treatable. With the right care—whether through psychiatry, psychotherapy, peer support, or community initiatives—you can recover.
If you are struggling, remember: seeking help is not weakness. It is a step toward healing for both you and your child. Support is waiting for you.
If you or someone you love is experiencing perinatal mental health challenges, you don’t have to face them alone. Recovery.com connects you with qualified mental health professionals, support groups, and treatment options designed for this critical stage.
Find compassionate, evidence-based perinatal mental health treatment near you.
A: The two most common conditions are perinatal depression (including postpartum depression) and perinatal anxiety. Together, these perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) affect up to 1 in 5 patients during pregnancy13 and the postpartum period.
A: Red flags include persistent sadness, overwhelming anxiety, loss of interest in daily life, intrusive or obsessive thoughts, difficulty bonding with your baby, or thoughts of harming yourself or your child. Immediate support from health care providers is essential if these symptoms appear.
A: Perinatal mental health focuses on emotional well-being during pregnancy through the first year after birth. Maternal mental health is a broader term that refers to mental health throughout motherhood, beyond the perinatal period.
A: Prenatal refers only to the time before birth (during pregnancy). Perinatal includes the entire pregnancy plus the postpartum period, extending through your baby’s first year.
A: Talk to your obstetrician, gynecologist, pediatrician, or another health care provider. They can use screening tools, provide referrals, and recommend evidence-based treatment options such as psychotherapy, medication, or peer support.
A: Yes. Research shows that brief psychotherapy interventions during pregnancy can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve maternal well-being, and positively influence infant outcomes, including bonding and development.
A: A parent’s mental health can influence child development, attachment, and emotional regulation. Early interventions and strong social support help protect babies and toddlers from negative impacts.
A: Signs include constant worry, sadness, irritability, fatigue, sleep changes, intrusive thoughts, or feeling disconnected from your baby. These symptoms may appear during pregnancy or in the postpartum period.
A: Perinatal anxiety may include restlessness, racing thoughts, panic attacks, physical tension, and excessive fears about your baby’s health or your parenting abilities. Unlike normal worry, these symptoms are persistent and interfere with daily life.
A: Partners can provide practical help (like household tasks or childcare), encourage open conversations, offer emotional reassurance, and attend health care or support group appointments together. Peer support and education through initiatives like Postpartum Support International can also empower families.
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Friedman, S.H., Reed, E. & Ross, N.E. Postpartum Psychosis. Curr Psychiatry Rep 25, 65–72 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-022-01406-4
Perinatal Depression - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/perinatal-depression.
Slomian J, Honvo G, Emonts P, Reginster J-Y, Bruyère O. Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes. Women’s Health. 2019;15. doi:10.1177/1745506519844044
Yim, Ilona S., et al. “Biological and Psychosocial Predictors of Postpartum Depression: Systematic Review and Call for Integration.” Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, vol. 11, no. 1, Mar. 2015, pp. 99–137. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-101414-020426.
Zacher Kjeldsen M, Bricca A, Liu X, Frokjaer VG, Madsen KB, Munk-Olsen T. Family History of Psychiatric Disorders as a Risk Factor for Maternal Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2022;79(10):1004–1013. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2400
Pentecost R, Latendresse G, Smid M. Scoping Review of the Associations Between Perinatal Substance Use and Perinatal Depression and Anxiety. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2021 Jul;50(4):382-391. doi: 10.1016/j.jogn.2021.02.008. Epub 2021 Mar 25. PMID: 33773955; PMCID: PMC8286297.
Carlson K, Mughal S, Azhar Y, et al. Perinatal Depression. [Updated 2025 Jan 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519070/
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