About Perinatal Mental Health
Mums of every culture, age, and income level, can develop perinatal mental health disorders, which are mental health conditions that occur during pregnancy or after giving birth.
What is Perinatal Depression?
Let's break down the words first, "peri" means around, so can include pre (or "ante") or after ("post") birth ("natal" or "partum").
So perinatal (aka peripartum) depression relates to depression which can occur before or after childbirth.
Perinatal Mental Health Disorders
Mums of every culture, age, and income level, can develop perinatal mental health disorders, which are mental health conditions that occur during pregnancy or after giving birth.
Perinatal Mental Health disorders include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”), and psychosis, amongst others. These disorders can be caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social stressors. Maternal anxiety and depression are the most common complications of childbirth, affecting about 1 in 5 women.
Unfortunately, many hospitals, clinics, and doctors don’t screen for the mental health of their patients.
Symptoms of PMH disorders can appear any time during pregnancy and up to the first 12 months after childbirth. They can take any of the below forms
If you feel you may be suffering from one of these illnesses, know that it is not your fault, and you are not to blame. Inform your partner, try to find support groups of mothers who go through the same, and seek professional help before it affects your and your child’s health. With help, you can prevent a worsening of these symptoms and can recover.
