How to Know When New Parents' Worries Are Postpartum Anxiety (And When to Get Help)

Having a baby can be a joyful time, but many parents also feel overwhelmed by their new role and responsibilities. Feeling this way is a completely normal reaction to having a new mortal in your life to look up to—especially in the first few weeks.

But sometimes worry and anxiety can take center stage. When this happens, it is possible that you could have a complaint of postpartum anxiety. A postpartum anxiety disorder is any internal medical condition that causes anxiety in the period after birth.

Examples of common postpartum anxiety disorders include

• Generalized anxiety complaint

• Complaint of fear

• Complaint of social anxiety

Postpartum anxiety can also be caused by other associated conditions, such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Postpartum anxiety can occur at any time during the first 12 months after giving birth. It is said to affect about 1 in 5 new mothers. But postpartum anxiety is probably actually more common because parents don't always talk about it and quacks don't always ask about it.

Postpartum anxiety can cause physical and internal health problems. It can make you less confident in your parenting skills, disrupt your daily life and routine, and really affect your specific relationships. But luckily, there are many different treatments that can help.

We then look at what postpartum anxiety can feel like, how to get help and how it is treated.

What does it feel like to have postpartum anxiety?

When you have postpartum anxiety, you can feel very upset to the point where it interferes with your daily life. Concerns are generally about the baby, but can also be about many other aspects of a new parent's life. This can include feeling anxious about breastfeeding, feeding, social relationships, going back to work or college, and whether or not you are being a good enough parent.

In addition to constant distracting worries, you may have other passions such as

• Tension

• Frustration

• Guilt or tonal guilt

• Fear of being left alone with the child

Postpartum anxiety can also cause physical symptoms, including

• Troubled sleep

• Heart palpitations

• Body aches

• Fatigue

• Lethargy and nervousness

What are the different types of postpartum anxiety disorders?

There are many different types of anxiety disorders. Three of the most common in the postpartum months are generalized anxiety, fear complaints, and social anxiety. Let's discuss them briefly.

Postpartum Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD is excessive caregiving that lasts for at least 6 months. It might seem so

• Restlessness

• Constant care

• Fear of the future

• Fatigue

• Pressure

• Poor attention and/or poor sleep

It is common in the first 6 months after giving birth and can affect up to 1 in 10 new mothers.

Complaint of postpartum anxiety (PD)

Postpartum PD is a condition where you have repeated bouts of fear. The risk of postpartum PD is lower in women who have previously complained of fear before childbirth. It occurs in more than 1 in 30 women in the first few months after giving birth.

Symptoms of a fear complaint include:

• Shortness of breath

• Heart palpitations

• Pain in the coffin

• Dizziness

• Fear of dying

• Sweating

• Pulsating

Some mothers with postpartum PD may feel unable to leave their homes for fear of having a panic attack in public.

Postpartum complaint of social anxiety

The complaint of social anxiety is an extreme fear of being watched and judged by other people. People with complaints of social anxiety may avoid certain places and situations because of their anxiety about what might happen. A complaint of social anxiety affects about 1 in 15 women after giving birth.

Other internal health conditions that cause postpartum anxiety

Other internal health conditions can also cause postpartum anxiety. These include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and indeed postpartum depression. Let's take a closer look.

Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is an internal medical condition that occurs in some people who witness a frightening or life-threatening event. This can include a complicated or dangerous birth, extreme pain or feeling out of control.

PTSD can cause distressing memories or flashbacks, agony, and/or avoidance of certain situations. In postpartum PTSD, this can also manifest as guilt, anxiety, depression, and/or difficulty breastfeeding or relating to the new baby.

Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is a condition where you have compulsive studies, obsessive actions, or both. This could include studies on the safety and health of the child and rituals and actions to keep the child safe. People with OCD often know that these preconceptions are "delusional," but feel temporary relief by repeatedly performing certain actions or rituals.

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

PPD is a condition that causes feelings of sadness and emptiness lasting at least 2 weeks. Other symptoms include

• Lack of interest in your normal fitness

• Sleep problems

• Guilt

• Poor attention

• Changes in appetite

• Low energy

Death or suicide studies

Postpartum depression can also cause severe anxiety and even panic attacks.

You can also have postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety complaints at the same time. It is proven that 2 out of 3 women with PPD also have anxiety complaints.

Who is at risk of postpartum anxiety?

Anyone can have postpartum anxiety. But people who have anxiety complaints before or during pregnancy are at an advanced threat of having anxiety complaints after pregnancy. Up to 1 in 3 women with anxiety during pregnancy experience some type of postpartum anxiety.

There are other risk factors for PPA. These include

• Lack of social support

• Stressful events during pregnancy or childbirth

• Younger age of the mother

• Specific gestures of trauma in old age

• Previous unwanted pregnancy

When to Get Help for Postpartum Anxiety

Some postpartum anxiety is normal - especially during the first 1-2 weeks (when it's called the baby blues). After all, getting excited about your new baby and your role as a parent is part of what keeps your baby safe.

But if your worries seem out of proportion, affect your mood, or interfere with your daily life and relationships, it may also be time to seek professional help. However, it is always better to ask: When in doubt.

Natural treatments

There are some natural styles that can be helpful for alleviating postpartum anxiety, such as

Skin-to-skin contact and amount of cuddling

Musical medicine

Massage from a partner

Another way you can use that can improve overall postpartum internal health includes

• Be set. Parenting training during pregnancy and the support of a trained professional during and after pregnancy appear to reduce postpartum anxiety.

Create a support group. Spending time with other mothers allows you to engage with fear and validate your experiences. But keep trying if you don't have a network or haven't set up a network that's right for you. Just having one new girlfriend can help you feel less alone.

• Add physical movement. Light physical exertion can actually help improve your mood. Whether you join a mommy yoga group or go for a walk alone with your baby, try to get some form of physical activity every day. It will also help you sleep and can give you a chance to meet other mothers and bond with your baby.

Sleep. Of course, this is a challenge for all busy parents. But getting more sleep can help you feel less anxious. If possible, ask for help sneaking in during daytime naps or early night. Cutting back on caffeine can help you sleep for longer stretches.

Ask for help. It may not come naturally, but it's okay to accept — and ask for — help. Practice saying "yes" and try to be specific about what help you need. Whether it's taking the baby for a walk so you can have a nap, a hot porridge, doing the dinner dishes to get you through to an early night, or just sitting with the baby while you rain or exercise - ask for the help you need to look after about myself. Remember, you have to look after yourself first before you can look after your child.

Anti-anxiety specifics

SSRIs (like fluoxetine or sertraline) are prescriptions that are used for a number of different internal health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, and OCD. Since these specifics take up to a month to work, your provider may also prescribe a short course of benzodiazepines (such as lorazepam or Ativan). Benzodiazepines can help with anxiety and sleep. However, they should only be taken for a short time.

Postpartum depression is a condition that involves physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that occur in some women after giving birth.

Most new mothers experience “baby blues” after giving birth, especially when they already have depression symptoms. About 1 in 10 of these women develop more severe and long-lasting depression.

Our UrgentWay healthcare providers are here to provide postpartum depression prognosis and postpartum depression treatment.