POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION & ANXIETY
Postpartum mood and anxiety disorders are common, treatable, and frequently hidden — because the expectation that this should be a happy time makes them difficult to admit to.
How is this different from baby blues?
Baby blues affect a majority of new parents, begin within a few days of delivery, and resolve on their own within about two weeks. Tearfulness, mood swings and feeling overwhelmed are typical. Postpartum depression lasts longer, is more severe, and does not lift on its own. It can begin any time in the first year, not only immediately after delivery. If symptoms persist beyond two to three weeks or are interfering with daily function, it is worth an assessment.
What does postpartum anxiety look like?
It is more common than postpartum depression and considerably less recognized. Constant worry about the baby’s breathing or safety, inability to sleep even when the baby sleeps, physical symptoms like a racing heart and nausea, and a compulsion to check repeatedly. Because vigilance about a newborn is normal, the line gets crossed without anyone noticing. The question is whether the worry is proportionate and whether it is interfering with rest and function.
I am having intrusive thoughts about harm coming to my baby. Is that normal?
It is far more common than most people realize, and it does not mean you want to harm your baby or that you are a danger to them. Unwanted, distressing, intrusive thoughts about harm coming to an infant are a recognized feature of postpartum anxiety and postpartum OCD. The defining characteristic is that they are horrifying to the person having them — which is precisely the opposite of intent.
This is one of the most under-reported symptoms in perinatal psychiatry, because people are frightened of what will happen if they say it aloud. It is treatable, and it is safe to tell us.
Thoughts of harming yourself, or thoughts about the baby that feel compelling rather than distressing, are different and need urgent attention. If you are experiencing these, please call or text 988, or go to an emergency department.
Can I be treated while breastfeeding?
Usually yes. Many psychiatric medications are compatible with breastfeeding, and transfer into milk varies substantially between medications. Being asked to choose between breastfeeding and treatment is generally a false choice. See perinatal and postpartum psychiatry.
Who is at higher risk?
- Previous depression, anxiety or postpartum mood disorder
- Bipolar disorder — the postpartum period carries substantially elevated risk
- Difficult pregnancy, traumatic birth, or NICU stay
- Limited support, financial strain, or relationship difficulty
- Pregnancy loss or fertility treatment history
- Sleep deprivation beyond the usual newborn baseline
Fathers and non-birthing partners also experience postpartum depression, at rates high enough that it is worth naming.
How soon should I get help?
Sooner than most people do. These conditions respond well to treatment and treating them earlier is easier than treating them later. We see perinatal patients both in person and via telehealth anywhere in Arizona, which removes the difficulty of getting to an appointment with a newborn.
Help is also available via the Postpartum Support International helpline: 1-800-944-4773.
If you are in crisis, please immediately call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. Safety is our top priority, and our outpatient office is not equipped to handle emergencies.
Treatment in person and throughout Arizona
We see patients in person at our office in Glendale (in the Arrowhead area) and via telehealth anywhere in Arizona — from Tucson, to Flagstaff, to the east valley, and everywhere between. Virtual visits are the same appointment with the same provider at the same rate.
Getting Started
Our comprehensive, new patient evaluations are $375 and require 60 to 90 minutes.
Our psychiatric follow-up visits are $125 and require 30 minutes.
(Thank you for arriving early, as we are unable to see late patients and must reschedule if life gets in the way of you arriving on time.)
We are out-of-network with all insurance carriers but will gladly provide a superbill you can submit to insurance to seek reimbursement.
For more info, please see our fees page.
Pinnacle Psychiatry
17505 N 79th Ave, Suite 309, Glendale, AZ 85308
Phone 623.321.2221 · Text 877.749.7502
Monday–Wednesday 8:00am–5:00pm · Thursday 7:00am–5:00pm