Worry, Stress, and Pregnancy: Dealing with Perinatal Anxiety
We know the well-worn pregnancy cliches, from eating for two to sleeping before the baby comes. We can all recall familiar scenes of pregnancy on the screen — battling morning sickness, painting the baby’s room, odd food cravings, quick and trouble-free labor, and a super clean baby appearing in a matter of minutes.
Even in so-called “normal” times, there is so much missing from the sanitized and idealized pregnancy & delivery portrayed in popular media. During the pandemic, the bar for “normal anxiety” was been raised across the board. It brought increased levels of stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, insomnia, denial, anger and fear for mothers.
In some ways it feels like we still haven’t come down from this higher level of constant stress. The mental health impact of prolonged anxiety and stress on pregnant and postpartum women should not be dismissed.
Anxiety During Pregnancy
Worry is a natural part of pregnancy and the postpartum period, especially the first time around. Anxiety serves as a warning to our system that not all is as it should be. This red flag of anxiety shows up in thoughts, emotions, and even in the body.
Intrusive thoughts, anxiety, worry, and fear are common occurrences for mothers. The problem arises when they become so intrusive and dominant that you are unable to think of much else. With overall anxiety levels rising in the general population, the psychological wellbeing of mothers deserves increased attention.
A woman’s obstetrician, her baby’s pediatrician, and other helping professions are on the front lines to recognize and offer support when the level of worry is impacting a mother’s ability to care for herself, her child, or impacting her quality of life. Mental health practitioners can provide evidence-based support and a path to healing for mothers struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders.
Scientific literature has connected the stress of mothers during pregnancy to a number of long term outcomes for the child. This does not mean that all stress is bad — in moderation stress is normal. Chronic and severe stress is the area of concern.
Postpartum Anxiety
Postpartum anxiety is when a new mother feels really worried, nervous, or fearful after having a baby. It's pretty common and can happen to anyone, even if they didn't have anxiety before. Some common symptoms of postpartum anxiety include feeling like you can't relax or sit still, having trouble sleeping even when you're really tired, and feeling like you can't stop worrying.
It can be tough to deal with, but it's important to know that it's normal and there are ways to get help. New moms should talk to their doctor or a mental health professional if they're feeling overwhelmed or anxious after having a baby.
It Can and Will Get Better with Help
A first step, which sometimes is not so easy, is helping mothers know that perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are common and very treatable. There is great pressure in our society on adhering to idealized standards of motherhood. We need to flip the script so that a strong mother prioritizes her own mental health alongside the health and wellness of the baby.
Great strides have been made in getting women the help they need by shining light on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. They are very common and treatable. A screening tool, the Edinburgh Depression Scale, for identifying Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders is also available online at National Perinatal Association.
If you are pregnant or a new mother struggling with feelings of fear, overwhelm, sadness, and/or anxiety, we offer these suggestions:
Contact me for maternal mental healthcare consultation (if located in the state of Georgia)
Find a local support group
Contact the Postpartum Support International Helpline:
Call 1-800-944-4773 #1 En Espanol or #2 English
TEXT: English: 503-894-9453 / Español: 971-420-0294
How to Help the Pregnant and Postpartum Mothers in Your Life
Reach out to her frequently; schedule video chats or socially distanced meet-ups as appropriate.
Don’t be offended if she doesn’t respond. Keep reaching out.
If that is not possible, let her know you are thinking of her through a note, a gift card, a pre-made meal, or an offer to pick up groceries.
If you are a mother, share what worked and didn’t work for you. Normalizing the very real struggle can help to lessen the weight and guilt with impossibly high expectations of motherhood.
Listen.