Today we are talking all about mental health related to pregnancy and birth with our friend and yours, Ann Jamison, LMFT. Ann is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and specializes in working with individuals who are experiencing mental health issues around pregnancy, birth, termination, new parenthood, and adoption. While many people have heard of postpartum depression, there is less awareness about other mood disorders related to pregnancy and birth. We are here to smash the stigma associated with mental health issues that occur for so many during this time in their lives.
Common mood disorders associated with pregnancy and birth include anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Ann describes the trauma of her birth experience in the episode, and explains how her body’s response to this trauma sent her into a state of severe anxiety and suicidal thought patterns. It’s important to reach out for help before, during, and after pregnancy, especially if you know that you are prone to issues with your mental health or if you notice that you are experiencing a higher level of distress than you normally would.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and intrusive thoughts are a lesser-known reality of mental health related to pregnancy and birth. Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, repetitive thoughts that a person cannot seem to get out of their mind. Intrusive thoughts “seem to come from out of nowhere, arrive with a whoosh, and cause a great deal of anxiety. The content of unwanted intrusive thoughts often focuses on violent or socially unacceptable images. People who experience unwanted intrusive thoughts are afraid that they might commit the acts they picture in their mind (Seif, M., & Winston, S., 2019)”. Intrusive thoughts are actually extremely common, but don’t always become distressing enough to cause a significant impairment in functioning. According to Collardeau, Corbyn, Abramowitz, Janssen, Woody, & Fairbrother (2019) between seventy and one-hundred percent of new parents studied reported “unwanted intrusive thoughts of harming their infant on purpose” (Collardeau et al., 2019). So, the feeling that these thoughts are something one should not talk about, while understandable, is largely based on stigma. These thoughts are actually extremely common, or nearly universally experienced according to some figures, so a therapist with experience in this area should be well-prepared to assist anyone experiencing these types of thought patterns.
Aside from mood disorders, there is also “postpartum psychosis”, which is very rare and only occurs less than one-percent of postpartum individuals (Statistics on Postpartum Depression, 2019). Ann notes that postpartum psychosis will occur within the first seventy-two hours after birth in the majority of cases, if it occurs at all. However, it is important to note here that although it’s very unlikely that postpartum psychosis will develop after 72 hours, it’s not impossible. Many new parents who experience intrusive thoughts associated with OCD and anxiety have a fear of experiencing psychosis and acting on their intrusive thoughts. Ann notes that she has a much higher level of concern that a new parent will develop psychosis if they have the intrusive thoughts and are not concerned by them. Therefore, if you have these thoughts and they scare you, this is likely your biological instinct to protect your child making you aware of potential risks and dangers, not a sign that you will actually act based on the intrusive thoughts. It’s still important to reach out to a licensed professional if your intrusive thoughts begin to cause you distress, so that you can get help in coping with these thoughts and reducing the anxiety associated with them.
Another issue around mental health and pregnancy/birth is that of medication management. Ann notes that taking medication allowed her to recover from her suicidal thought patterns after having her child. Many people are afraid to take medication during pregnancy, as there is a fear that medication will cause harm to the fetus. While these fears are not totally unfounded, the risks are not always as significant as you might think. It’s important to reach out to a prescriber who has experience working with people who are pregnant on managing their mental health, and discuss your options. There are medications that are relatively safe to take during pregnancy, and, as Ann reminded us, stress experienced by a pregnant person can affect the fetus in a negative way, so taking medication to reduce your stress might actually protect your future child from harm. Each person’s decision about this is valid and unique, but it is important to discuss your options so that you can be sure that you are taking care of yourself during and after pregnancy, when your risk for mental health disorders is increased.
Our society has a lot of grand ideas about the joys of pregnancy and birth. While this can be a joyful and exciting time for many, it is also a time of great uncertainty and an increased risk for mental health concerns. If you experience any type of mental health disorder related to pregnancy and/or birth, know that you are not alone…
TOOLS
If you’re in the hospital and you want to say no to something, make sure to say the words “I don’t consent”.
Reach out for support from a licensed therapist.
Contact a provider to talk about medication.
Look for support among other new parents who may also be experiencing similar issues.
Ann’s Therapy Website: https://www.annjamisontherapy.net/
Ann’s Tarot Card Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/twodogstarot
Dog Rescue: https://www.facebook.com/OBRAPR/
Podcasts can’t provide professional advice. For help: http://bit.ly/TOSKresources
CITATIONS
Collardeau, F., Corbyn, B., Abramowitz, J., Janssen, P. A., Woody, S., & Fairbrother, N. (2019). Maternal unwanted and intrusive thoughts of infant-related harm, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression in the perinatal period: study protocol. BMC Psychiatry, 19(94). Retrieved from https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-019-2067-x
Seif, M., & Winston, S. (n.d.). Anxiety and Depression Association of America: Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts. Retrieved from https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/unwanted-intrusive-thoughts.
Statistics on Postpartum Depression. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.postpartumdepression.org/resources/statistics/.