Pregnancy is a time full of change and expectations. It’s normal to feel excited about bringing new life into the world, but excitement is just one of many feelings that arise during pregnancy and postpartum. Hormones and body changes create challenges in the body and the coming shift in life can bring up lots of emotions and feelings.

It’s important to understand that no pregnancies are alike. Newly pregnant women may feel excited and blissful about the future. At the same time, you could be experiencing a loss of identity and feel like you’ve lost your freedom. Depression and anxiety can surface as you think about the future.

How is pregnancy counseling helpful during pregnancy and postpartum?

The perinatal time period is only nine months and a lot happens during those nine months. Your body is changing as you grow another human inside your belly. You go through a wide range of emotions and feelings. Pregnancy therapy in Bergen County helps normalize the large spectrum of emotions and thoughts that can happen during pregnancy and postpartum.

Pregnancy counseling in Bergen County can help with:

• Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
• Suicidal ideation & postpartum psychosis
• PTSD
• Feelings of isolation
• Feelings of failing to meet expectations

What are Perinatal Mood Disorders and how common are they?

One in eight women experience perinatal mood disorders during pregnancy and postpartum.

During the first two weeks of postpartum, moms that have just given birth can get the “baby blues”. And when you’ve got the baby blues, you’re depressed, tired and out of sorts. Sometimes the moody days last longer than just a couple of weeks. When the bad days continue to outnumber the good days, it might be time to reach out for support. It’s also good to seek help if you’re feeling incredibly anxious or having thoughts about wanting to harm yourself or the baby.

Symptoms and signs of perinatal mood disorders:

High levels of anxiety
Persistent sadness and crying episodes
Continuing feelings of guilt or self-criticism
Thoughts of harming self or the baby
Chronic fatigue

How do I know if I should seek perinatal therapy services?

If you’re having thoughts of self-harm or of harming your baby, seek out help right away. If depression or anxiety begin to dominate your daily thoughts or persist for longer than two weeks, a postnatal therapist in Bergen County could be helpful.

Many new moms go through a phase called the “baby blues”. It’s the first two weeks of postpartum, when you’re adjusting to a newborn and healing from giving birth. It’s common to feel depressed or anxious during the baby blues. When those feelings persist longer than two weeks, though, you should seek support.

How can self-care help with perinatal mental wellness?

The best antidote for a downward mental health spiral is good self-care. During pregnancy and postpartum it is especially important to take care of yourself. Good self-care techniques can lower your chances of having perinatal mood disorders like anxiety and depression. A good self-care routine can also help when you’re navigating pregnancy loss or infertility.

Through perinatal therapy in Bergen County you can learn important keys to maintaining good mental health like getting adequate sleep, attending to your own basic needs and incorporating movement and meditation into daily life.