Perinatal Services

Bringing a child into the world can be one of the biggest and happiest events in your life, but it can also be extremely stressful. It’s natural to feel more tired, sad, irritable, or worried. While mild mood changes are common, they can sometimes develop into depression and anxiety.

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The period when a person is pregnant and after the baby is born is called the “perinatal period.” Perinatal mental health specialty focuses on helping pregnant people and new parents cope with the significant emotional challenges they face.

An estimated 15%–20% of women experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy or in the postpartum period, and 1 in 10 fathers experience perinatal depression. (Postpartum Support International)

Perinatal Depression and Anxiety

All pregnant and postpartum people should be screened for mood and anxiety disorders, especially if they have risk factors for the development of Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (PMADS.) Risk factors include:

• Perinatal complications
• Pregnancy loss
• Infertility

Your therapist specializing in perinatal mental health will provide valuable information on how to prevent mood and anxiety disorders during, and after pregnancy, and provide a range of effective treatment options to manage symptoms should they develop.

Please visit our Perinatal Mental Health Resource page for valuable information.

National Institutes of Mental Health, 2019