Perinatal Psychiatry

What is perinatal psychiatry?

Perinatal psychiatry focuses on women’s mental health before and after childbirth. It includes conditions that occur during pregnancy (prenatal disorders) and those that develop after delivery (postpartum disorders).

Pregnancy and childbirth affect women in numerous ways. For example, hormonal changes can wreak havoc with brain function and mood. During pregnancy, women might have to deal with distressing problems like morning sickness, pain, and fatigue. Afterward, they feel under pressure to look after the child well and be a good mom.

Unsurprisingly, most women experience mood changes during this time, commonly known as the baby blues. However, some women suffer from severe mental health problems in the perinatal period that require specialized care.

What conditions might require perinatal psychiatry?

Perinatal conditions the Pro Health Psychiatry Nursing Corporation team treats include:

Prenatal depression and anxiety

Prenatal depression and anxiety occur before childbirth. You might feel overly anxious about the pregnancy or having a baby, to such an extent you can’t relax and enjoy the experience. If you have prenatal depression, you feel sad, weepy, and despairing most or all of the time and can’t improve your mood.

Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression occurs after childbirth. It’s far more intense and long-lasting than the baby blues, often persisting for months. You might feel unable to care for your child properly and have difficulty bonding with your newborn.

Postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is a harrowing disorder that can affect your ability to recognize reality. You may suffer from hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that aren’t there), delusions (mistaken but unshakeable beliefs), paranoia (irrational mistrust of others), and behavior changes.

Women severely affected by postpartum psychosis may harm themselves or their babies.

What does perinatal psychiatry involve?

The perinatal psychiatry experts at Pro Health Psychiatry Nursing Corporation use treatments such as psychotherapy and medication to help women overcome their conditions.

These are the same treatments used for other psychiatric disorders. However, perinatal psychiatry specialists undergo additional training in the safe use of medications in pregnant and breastfeeding women and how to approach talk therapy effectively in someone with perinatal mental health problems.

Call Pro Health Psychiatry Nursing Corporation today or schedule a consultation online for expert support with perinatal psychiatric disorders.