Pregnancy and Mental Health Counseling in Pasadena, Maryland
Supportive & Compassionate Care Before, During, and After Pregnancy
Pregnancy and Mental health
When you think of pregnancy- joy, happiness, cuteness, and cuddles are probaly on the forefront. Maybe the thought of pregnancy is exciting and brings on a sense of eager anticipation. Or perhaps pregnancy and parenthood fill the missing part of your family.
In a perfect world, thinking and preparing for pregnancy, being pregnant, and post-pregnancy would be filled with all positive experiences and emotions. There wouldn’t be worry or fear surrounding the pregnancy experience. Deliveries wouldn’t be traumatic or life threatening. And birthing parent’s and their partners wouldn’t struggle or experience shame and/or guilt related to their feelings surrounding parenthood or their relationship.
Pregnancy and Mental Health are almost never part of the planning process when considering parenthood. It is hard to anticipate something that feels so uncertain. Yet it is one of the most important things you can do for yourself when contemplating pregnancy/parenthood.
Pregnancy is a significant life event that can impact a birthing parent’s mental health in various ways. Hormonal changes, physical changes, and the stress of pregnancy and childbirth can all contribute to mental health issues. Potentially affecting the well-being of both the birthing parent and the child.
For the birthing parent, untreated mental health conditions during pregnancy can lead to complications such as preterm labor, preeclampsia, and postpartum depression/anxiety. These conditions can negatively affect the birthing parent’s health and increase the risk of complications during delivery.
For the child, maternal mental health can have an impact on the child’s development and behavior. Children of birthing parent’s with untreated mental health conditions are at a higher risk of experiencing developmental delays, behavioral problems, and other adverse outcomes.
Pregnancy can be a joyful and exciting time, but it can also be a challenging period that can impact a woman’s mental health. Some of the symptoms of mental health issues during pregnancy include:
- Anxiety symptoms like excessive worrying, intrusive thoughts, irrational thinking, panic attacks, irritability, restlessness.
- Depression symptoms like feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness. It can also lead to physical symptoms such as fatigue, changes in appetite, and sleep disturbances.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms that can develop or worsen during pregnancy, and it can cause repetitive thoughts or behaviors that interfere with daily life.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to traumatic birth experience, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety.
- Bipolar Disorder symptoms that can cause extreme mood swings, ranging from periods of high energy and euphoria to periods of depression and hopelessness.
