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What are PMADs?

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), otherwise known as “postpartum depression,” are a group of symptoms that can affect women/birthing people during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, causing emotional and physical problems that make it hard to enjoy life and function well. Mood disorders, such as depression, can include symptoms of sadness, loss of pleasure, difficulty concentrating, and changes in energy. Anxiety disorders often include symptoms such as worrying too much, panic attacks, irritability, and obsessionality. See below for more specific descriptions of normal mood variations that occur with childbirth, as well as different types of mood and anxiety disorders that can affect pregnant and postpartum women/birthing people.

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Download our “Learn About PMADs” brochure

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What are PMADs?

Baby Blues

60% and 80% of women/birthing people experience the “baby blues,” or feelings of exhaustion, irritation, and sadness after having given birth.

These symptoms typically begin anywhere from one to three days post-delivery and may last between two and fourteen days.

If feelings persist past two weeks, your patient may be experiencing a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD).

Prenatal and Postpartum Depression

Any woman/birthing person who is pregnant or has given birth within the past 12 months can receive this diagnosis if she/they experience some of the following symptoms:

Symptoms include:

  • Low mood, sadness, tearfulness
  • Loss of interest, joy, or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
  • Agitation or anxiety
  • Lack of energy or feeling slowed down physically
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Appetite or sleep disturbance
  • Feelings of guilt, shame, or hopelessness
  • Possible thoughts of harming the baby or themselves

Prenatal and Postpartum Anxiety

Most new pregnant and/or new mothers/birthing people feel as though they have a thousand things to worry about after having a baby. However, if your patient’s feelings of anxiety are interfering with their overall functioning, they may be experiencing perinatal anxiety.

Symptoms Include:

  • Constant worrying
  • Feeling that something bad is going to happen
  • Feeling like they can’t turn their brain off
  • Disturbances of sleep and appetite
  • Physical symptoms like dizziness, heart palpitations, and nausea

Prenatal and Postpartum OCD

Many mothers experience perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, without ever having any previous diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. Your patient may be experiencing perinatal OCD if they encounter any of the following symptoms during the pregnancy or postpartum period:

Symptoms include:

  • Obsessions also called intrusive thoughts, which are persistent, repetitive thoughts or mental images regarding the baby. These thoughts are very upsetting.
  • Compulsions, where the mom may do certain things over and over again to try to reduce her fears and obsessions. This may include things like needing to clean constantly, checking things many times, and counting or reordering things.

It’s important to know that mothers/birthing people with postpartum OCD understand the strange nature of their thoughts and are disturbed by them. Therefore, the likelihood of ever acting upon these intrusions is very low. They may feel:

  • A sense of horror about these obsessions
  • Fear of being left alone with the infant
  • Hyper-vigilance in protecting the infant

Prenatal and Postpartum PTSD

Many pregnant/postpartum women and birthing people experience perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, as a result of previous trauma, including physical or sexual abuse or due to a traumatic birth. These symptoms can include:

 

Symptoms include:

  • Intrusive reexperiencing of a past traumatic event (which may have been childbirth itself)
  • Flashbacks or nightmares

 

  • Avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, including thoughts, feelings, people, places, and details
  • Persistent increased arousal (irritability, difficulty sleeping, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response)
  • Anxiety and panic attacks
  • Feeling a sense of unreality and detachment

Postpartum Psychosis

If your patient is seeing or hearing things other people are not, feeling as though others are out to get them, hearing or seeing things that others may not, or experiencing highly unusual thoughts regarding themselves or their child, they may be suffering from postpartum psychosis.

Postpartum psychosis is rather rare, affecting only 0.1-0.2% of all births. However, it is a serious disorder and requires immediate medical attention.

Symptoms include:

  • Delusions or strange beliefs that feel real
  • Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
  • Feeling confused
  • Feeling disconnected from reality
  • Decreased need for or inability to sleep
  • Paranoia and suspiciousness
  • Difficulty communicating at times

While acts of harm to oneself or the baby are uncommon, women suffering from postpartum psychosis may do things they might not otherwise do, given their altered state. Therefore, urgent intervention from professionals is paramount in ensuring that the mother and baby are safe.

Please call 911 if you believe your patient is experiencing postpartum psychosis.

What does treatment at
The Motherhood Center look like?

A modern and inviting therapy room at The Motherhood Center's Day Program group room. The space features comfortable gray recliners arranged in a circle, colorful knitted poufs, and wooden side tables. A brick accent wall includes shelves with toys and a screen displaying 'The Motherhood Center' logo. The room is brightly lit with natural light from large windows, creating a warm and welcoming environment for group therapy sessions and support meetings.
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The Day Program

The Day Program runs Monday – Friday from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Each day is a full day of evidence-based therapeutic group interventions. In addition, we have individual therapy and medication management, as well as psychoeducation, yoga, mindfulness and meditation, art therapy, and more.

We have a nursery staffed by seasoned infant care professionals. Infant and dyadic specialists are available to help strengthen the bond between the mom/birthing person and the baby.

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A serene therapy session focused on perinatal care. A pregnant individual sits comfortably in a modern chair, gently resting their hand on their belly, while engaging in a conversation with a therapist. The therapist, visible partially holding a clipboard, provides supportive care in a well-lit, calming environment. This image emphasizes compassionate therapy and thoughtful guidance during pregnancy.

Outpatient Services

Many women/birthing people who suffer from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders require therapy and/or medication to manage their symptoms. If therapy is recommended, your patient will be paired with one of our experienced perinatal therapists, and if medication is a part of the treatment plan, our reproductive psychiatrists will provide follow-up and management of prescriptions.

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Support Groups

The Motherhood Center offers a full array of virtual support groups for new and expecting mothers/birthing people. Whether your patient is experiencing prenatal or postpartum depression or anxiety – our groups can meet your patient where they’re at in their perinatal journey.

Please note that all of The Motherhood Center’s support groups are restricted to only new or expecting moms/birthing people. If you are a student or provider, please refrain from signing up for our groups.

Learn more about Support Groups

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