MotherWoman Inc

A local leading force in the national revolutionary movement of mothering!

Postpartum Support by MotherWoman
Support Groups	Resources	Postpartum Center
Recognizing Postpartum Stress, Anxiety and Depression As a provider of services to postpartum mothers, you have a critical role in recognizing and referring women experiencing postpartum stress, anxiety and depression. Below is a check-list that you can use to help identify those who may be experiencing postpartum stress, anxiety and depression and those who are at risk. Risk factors: Physiological A genetic predisposition to depression or anxiety A history of premenstrual syndrome A difficult pregnancy and/or birth experience A baby that requires medical care Excessive lack of sleep or no sleep Colicky, hard-to-care for baby Difficulty nursing Stress Lack of family and community support. For example: no help at home, new to the area, living far from family, no transportation, loss of social connections (most social connections are work related) Recent significant life changes, such as death of loved one, moving, change in family finances Ambivalence during pregnancy and/or after about having a baby Predisposition to self criticism Domestic violence in the home Socio-economic stresses caused by mother’s age and marital status, poverty, racism, and gender discrimination Events from mother’s past: A history of depression or anxiety in self or family. Childhood trauma Physical or sexual abuse Postpartum Depression and Anxiety can strike without warning. They can occur in the absence of any risk factors. Symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety: Chronically sad mood Excessive crying Feelings of guilt Feelings of failure Hopelessness Cannot sleep or sleeps too much Fatigue Feeling overwhelmed, difficulty making decisions Excessive worry Excessive irritability or short temper with self, partner, baby Discomfort around the baby or a lack of feeling toward the baby Difficulty bonding with baby Loss of focus and concentration Changes in appetite; significant weight loss or gain Episodes of extreme anxiety. panic attacks. Fear that these feelings will never end. Fears or fantasies of hurting or killing self or baby If four or more of these symptoms last more than 2 weeks, a diagnosis of postpartum depression or anxiety should be considered. Checklist for postpartum psychosis: Visual or auditory hallucinations Delusional thinking about infant’s death, denial of birth, or fears of actually doing something to hurt self or baby. Feelings of being controlled by forces beyond oneself Women who are experiencing postpartum psychosis may experience one or all of these symptoms. She should be immediately referred to a psychiatrist who has experience with mothers with postpartum psychosis and/or to the emergency room at your local hospital. Developed by MotherWoman, Inc. www.motherwoman.org. Adapted from This Isn’t What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression(Bantam Books, 1994) ; Postpartum Support International (www.postpartum.net); Cooley Dickinson Hospital.