Pregnancy & Postpartum Mental Health

Pregnancy & Postpartum Mental Health - Daphne Rahnama, LCSW, Studio City, West Hollywood, Brentwood, Westwood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles

  • Are you feeling sad or depressed?

  • Do you feel more irritable or angry with those around you?

  • Are you having difficulty bonding with your baby?

  • Do you feel anxious or panicky?

  • Are you having problems with eating or sleeping?

  • Are you having upsetting thoughts that you can’t get out of your mind?

  • Are you reliving some trauma that occurred during pregnancy or delivery?

  • Do you feel as if you are “out of control” or “going crazy”?

  • Do you feel like you never should have become a mother?

  • Are you worried that you might hurt your baby or yourself?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you might be suffering from Postpartum Depression (PPD) and/or Anxiety. Therapy can help decrease such symptoms and allow you to better enjoy this precious time with your baby. 

Pregnant women and new parents are often made to feel bad if they aren't “glowing” or basking in the “wonderfully transformative” transition that is parenthood. It can be difficult to discuss these experiences due to the stigma surrounding motherhood and the misconception that bearing a child is a blissful experience. The reality is that the transition to parenthood is challenging and women who are pregnant or who recently have given birth often struggle with symptoms of Depression and Anxiety. 

Approximately 60-80% of new moms suffer from The Baby Blues. That means that most women who just had babies are experiencing mild depressive symptoms such as crying, feeling overwhelmed by motherhood, feeling uncertain, etc. These symptoms are caused by the extreme fluctuations in hormones at the time of birth, as well as acute sleep deprivation and fatigue, and last usually no more than 2 weeks. 

In contrast, postpartum depression is when a woman experiences the physical and emotional symptoms of clinical depression following childbirth. Cornerstones of PPD include helplessness and hopelessness. Untreated, these symptoms may last years and have negative effects not only on the mother, but also on her baby, other children, and partner. It is estimated that 15-21% of pregnant and postpartum women will struggle with clinical levels of depression and anxiety. 

Additionally, 11% of postpartum women will experience Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and 9% of postpartum women will experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder following childbirth. Women with prior histories of sexual abuse often find childbirth triggering for a number of reasons and it is important that the birth experience be processed in a safe environment with a trauma-informed therapist.

Having emotional difficulties during pregnancy and after childbirth is very common, but unfortunately these disorders continue to be under-diagnosed, misunderstood, and stigmatized. It has been shown that with appropriate care and psychotherapeutic treatment, Postpartum Depression and Anxiety is highly treatable. It shouldn't be taboo to discuss the brutal realities that come with pregnancy and motherhood. PPD can make it difficult to leave your home after giving birth, which is why I offer my Concierge Services. My goal is to help women work through these issues and begin to feel healthy and happy again.

I offer a free introductory chat where we can find out the best way to get you feeling better. Send me your information below and I will be in touch.