The coming of a new baby can usher highly charged emotions, ranging from extreme joy to extreme fears. While it can be a wonderful, new experience, it can also leave you vulnerable to postpartum depression (PPD). 

Whether it is your first or the fourth time giving birth, the coming days and weeks can be unusually strenuous, frightening and frustrating. The sleeplessness, the fatigue and the overthinking about the future and the responsibilities can leave you feeling depressed.

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

The more you learn about Postpartum Depression, the sooner you can intervene. Symptoms can include; 

• Depressed mood and mood swings
• Anxiety
• Sadness
• Irritability
• Excessive crying
• Insomnia
• Difficulty bonding with your baby
• Withdrawal from those close to you
• Fatigue
• Decreased interest
• Frequent fear that you aren’t a good mother
• Hopelessness
• Feelings of worthlessness, guilt or shame, even inadequacy
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing
•  Restlessness
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
• Recurring thoughts of suicide or death

If this sounds familiar, you aren’t alone. Research shows that 1 in 5 women experience PPD in some States and that nearly 50% of mothers experiencing PPD are not diagnosed! PPD is treatable, don’t go undiagnosed and untreated. Therapy and mediation management can help.  

Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression

Any new mom can experience PPD, however, you may be at increased risk if you; 

• Have a history of depression
• History of bipolar disorder
• Have had PPD in the past
• Family history of depression or other mood disorder
• Experienced a stressful event in the past year
• Your baby has a health issue or special needs
• Have twins/multiple births
• Have difficulty breastfeeding
• Have relationship conflict with spouse/partner
• Have a weakened support system
• Have financial concerns
• Pregnancy was unplanned or unwanted 

These risk factors do NOT mean will absolutely develop postpartum depression, however, they can make it more likely. 

Celebrating the Joys of Being a New Mother

Motherhood can be full of joy as well as anxiety. If you are struggling with symptoms of PPD you are not alone, help is available. PPD is treatable with the right interventions. Counseling and psychiatric medication management can help. 

Carolina Counseling Services contracts with skilled licensed therapists and psychiatric professionals who can help. If you are looking for exceptional mental health care in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina look no further than CCS. Online appointments are available as well making it easier than ever before to get quality psychiatric care anywhere in North Carolina. Reach out now to get started!

Providers are in network with most major insurances including Aetna, Aetna State Health Plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), Tricare, Medicaid and many more!

Jaime Johnson Fitzpatrick LCMHCS, LCAS is one of the Owners and Vice Presidents of Carolina Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the State of North Carolina as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in State of New York. Jaime is also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and utilizes various other approaches in her practice.