Mental Health and Pregnancy: Infertility and Postpartum Depression
Pregnancy and parenthood is a beautiful thing, and it deserves to be celebrated! However, that doesn't mean that there aren't hardships that come with it. We often don't talk about the mental health challenges mothers face during and after pregnancy. That’s why we're discussing postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and infertility in this blog post. Your mental health as a parent matters, and you deserve support.
What is Postpartum Depression?
Most women are really excited about their pregnancy and the idea of becoming a mother. They might be nervous about the process or anxious about what to expect, but it's likely that they're hopeful about this new chapter of their life. That's one of the reasons that postpartum depression is so challenging. It causes the person experiencing it to be confused about their emotions, and often guilty that they don't feel as joyful as they expected. This is especially true for mothers who previously experienced infertility and don’t understand why they aren’t feeling the way that they imagined they would.
Symptoms of postpartum depression often include:
Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless
Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy and lack of energy or motivation
Trouble bonding with your baby
Difficulty sleeping (even when your baby is sleeping)
Withdrawing from your friends and family
Mood swings or irritability
Postpartum depression is really challenging, but it's important to know that you're not alone. Many women have experienced postpartum depression and have overcome it. It doesn't make you a bad mother, and it certainly doesn't mean that you're not a loving mother. It's a health issue that you did nothing to cause, similar to diabetes during pregnancy. There are many resources available to help you cope with and overcome postpartum depression, such as counseling and therapy, which we'll talk about a bit later.
What is Postpartum Anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety is another mental health challenge that can occur after having a baby, and it's actually more common than postpartum depression. However postpartum anxiety often co-occurs with postpartum depression, which can make it even more difficult to manage. Some of the most common symptoms of postpartum anxiety are:
Excessive worry and stress
Feeling like you're in constant "fight or flight" mode
Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
Irritability or shortness of temper
Restlessness or feeling on edge
Physical symptoms such as headaches, sweating, and trembling
The pandemic also brought about a new set of concerns for new mothers. Many parents are afraid of getting Covid-19 and how that might affect their baby. They also might experience limitations around the people that can come visit and help out after birth. It’s also not uncommon to be nervous about leaving your baby for the first time, especially if you got used to spending more time with them through working remotely at home.
If you're experiencing postpartum anxiety, you might have had people brush it off and say that every new mother worries. However, it's important to remember that postpartum anxiety is a real thing and it can be incredibly challenging to deal with. If you're concerned that you may be experiencing postpartum anxiety, know that you aren't overreacting. You are struggling with a mental health issue and you deserve support.
Grief in Infertility
Infertility unfortunately affects many couples who are trying to conceive, and it's another topic that isn't talked about nearly as much as it should be. While it's often spoken about as being just a woman's issue, it's important to remember that infertility affects both partners.
Couples who are dealing with infertility often experience grief, depression, and sometimes trauma as well. This is perfectly valid, as they are grieving the loss of a child that they never had the chance to meet. It's important to validate your grief and allow yourself to feel the full range of emotions. This is a loss, and it deserves to be mourned. If you’ve experienced infertility, please know that you are not alone in your pain. Many couples experience the hardships of infertility, and there is help available. There are support groups and counselors who understand the pain that you’re experiencing and can help you through this difficult time.
Supporting Your Partner Through Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety, or Infertility
If your partner is struggling with postpartum depression, anxiety, or infertility, it can sometimes be difficult to know how you can support them. You might be experiencing your own challenges and concerns, but know that you need to be there for your partner as well.
Specific Things You can do to Support Your Postpartum Spouse
Here are some things that you can do to support your partner through this time:
Be patient: Odds are, this wasn't how you expected this to go. Remember that it's okay if things don't always go according to plan. There will be good days and bad days, but the best thing you can do is be patient and understanding.
Validate their emotions: It's important to validate your partner's emotions. This isn't "just a phase" or "all in their head." These are real emotions that they are experiencing. Let them know that you see them and that you understand how they're feeling.
Help out around the house: If your partner is struggling, offer to help out around the house. This can take some of the pressure off of them and allow them to focus on healing and taking care of themselves.
Take care of yourself: It's important to remember that you can't pour from an empty cup. Make sure that you're taking care of yourself as well. This is a difficult time for you too, so don't neglect self care.
Begin Counseling for Infertility and Postpartum Therapy in San Antonio, TX
If you or your partner are struggling with postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety, postpartum therapy can really help. Counseling will help you understand your thoughts and feelings, work through the challenges you're facing, and develop coping skills. If you're struggling with infertility, counseling can help you process your grief and develop a plan for moving forward.
To start your therapy journey, please follow these simple steps:
Meet with a caring therapist on our team
Begin healing to overcome the challenges you’re facing. For more information, contact us or call 210.384.1254.