Maternal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ("OCD"

Studies estimate that as many as 3-5% of new moms and some new fathers experience perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ("OCD"). The condition manifests as follows:

• Obsessions often manifest as persistent, repetitive thoughts related to the baby. These thoughts can be upsetting and not something the mother has ever experienced before

• Compulsions are the felt need to do certain things over and over again to reduce her fears and obsessions. They may include things like needing to clean constantly, checking things many times, and recounting or reordering things

• A sense of horror about the obsessions

• Fear of being left alone with the infant

• Hypervigilance in protecting the infant