Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can affect a birthing person after childbirth. People with postpartum depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that may make it difficult for them to complete daily care activities for themselves or for others.
Only a health care provider can diagnose a person with postpartum depression. Because symptoms of this condition are broad and may vary between individuals, a health care provider can help a them figure out whether the symptoms they are feeling are due to postpartum depression or something else. A person who experiences any of these symptoms should see a health care provider right away.
Baby Blues
- Affects 80 percent of new mothers/birthing parents
- Occurs between the third day and second or third week postpartum
- Is considered NORMAL
- Mild symptoms. Lasts 1-2 weeks and goes away on its own
- Indicators: crying for no reason; feelings of dependency, impatience, irritability, anxiety; temporary mild depression
Postpartum Depression
- Affects 15- 20 percent of new mothers/ birthing parents
- Occurs anytime up to a year postpartum
- Lasts for at least two weeks
- It is critical that family members seek help for their loved one.
- Indicators: physical complaints without physical cause; changes in appetite or weight; sleeping too much or too little; l loss of interest in activities; irritability or short temper; feelings of anxiety, worthlessness, guilt, anger, sadness, hopelessness, overwhelmed; difficulty in concentrating; extreme worry about the baby’s and/or their own health; recurring thoughts of death or suicidal ideation.
Postpartum Onset Anxiety/Panic Disorder
- Affects 10 percent of new mothers/birthing parents
- Indicators: panic attacks (sudden episodes of extreme anxiety or fear, accompanied by accelerated breathing and heart rate, constriction in chest and throat, chest pain); nausea, hot or cold flashes, trembling; fear of losing control, of going crazy, of dying
Postpartum Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder
- Affects 3-5 percent of new mothers/birthing parents
- Often occurs with postpartum depression
- Mother is not at risk of actually harming baby, except by neglect or avoidance based on fear of causing harm
- Indicators: repetitive, intrusive thoughts and violent images of harming baby; awareness that thoughts are irrational, .with a sense of horror and shame about them; hyper-vigilance in protecting baby; repetitive behaviors such as counting, checking, frequent hand-washing, obsessive neatness
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Affects 1-3 percent of new mothers/birthing parents
- Occurs following childbirth, especially in women who experienced ad history of childhood abuse and/or had a traumatic childbirth experience
- Indicators: extreme anxiety; persistent re-experiencing of traumatic events; avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma; numbness; hyper-arousal, insomnia, jumpiness and heightened startle response; nightmares
Postpartum Psychosis
- Affects 0.1-0.2 percent of new mothers/birthing parents
- Occurs usually in the first week postpartum, with sudden onset
- Risk of suicide and/or infanticide
- Indicators: rapid speech; visual or auditory hallucinations, delusions, delirium, mania, extreme agitation, inability to sleep, irrational speech or paranoia.
PPP is a medical emergency for which aggressive treatment is critical.
Crisis Resources
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Allegheny County Crisis Line
Resolve Crisis Services (free to all residents of Allegheny County)
1-888-796-8226
upmc.com/services/behavioral-health/resolve-crisis-services
AHN Women's Behavioral Health
412-578-4030
Alexis Joy D’Achille Center for Perinatal Mental Health
West Penn Hospital
4800 Friendship Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
https://www.ahn.org/specialties/womens-health/womens-behavioral-health
UPMC Resources
Magee Women’s Behavioral Health
These services are only open to Magee patients, because of small staff. It’s best to be referred by a Magee staff member. Pregnancy and 1 year postpartum for individual therapy and psych medication.
upmc.com/locations/hospitals/magee
Bellefield Outpatient
Located at 100 N. Bellefield Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15215 (Oakland) Self referral acceptable when requesting general evaluation/individual therapy through WPIC (Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC). Explain your situation and ask for the first available appointment. Intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization and individual therapy/evaluation services are available.
412-624-1000
Physician Consultation
Psychiatrists with perinatal expertise are available to consult with PCP, OC, midwives, etc. regarding medications in the perinatal period. Prescribing professionals may contact these psychiatrists by email (through the UPMC Health System) to set up a time to discuss individual patient situations.
Please call us for a referral.
Support
Dark Side Of Motherhood
Post Traumatic Birth Group Therapy
forwardwellnesscounseling.com/birthtraumagroup.html
Alexis Joy Foundation
Pittsburgh based organization educating on when and how to get help
alexisjoyfoundation.org/
Post Partum Pittsburgh
Mental Health resources for pregnant and postpartum women
pppgh.pitt.edu/
New Moms Coffee
Hosted informational gathering for new moms.
kidspluspgh.com/classes/new-moms-coffee/
Out of the Blue
A free community support group for new and pregnant mothers struggling with a tough transition, depression and/or anxiety.
socemocha.wpengine.com/?page_id=89
Therapists
Jodie Hnatkovich, LPC, PMH-C, CPLC
412-660-6100
info@forwardwellnesscounseling.com
Emily Weisser, LPC, NCC
301 Ohio River Boulevard, Suite 304
Sewickley, PA 15143
412-387-2787
emily@pathfindercounselingpgh.com
Katherine Biggs, MSCP, PMH-C
12300 Perry Hwy, Suite 313
Wexford, PA, 15090
info@CongruenceCounseling.com
412-254-3056
Amy Lewis, LCSW
Landmarks Building, Suite 230
100 Station Square Drive
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
412-532-6622
amy@socialemotionalchange.com
Naomi Greenberg, LCSW
LGBTQ+ affirming
801 North Negley Avenue
Suite 7
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206
412-246-8878
Johanna Lux, MSW, LCSW
6315 Forbes Avenue
L-120 E
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15217
412-453-4246
Luisa Bonavita, LCSW
1370 Old Freeport Road
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1523
412-417-9163
bonavitalcsw@yahoo.com
pppgh.pitt.edu/luisa-bonavita-lcsw
Beth Worek, LMFT
Specializing in maternal mental health
603 McKnight Park Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
412-369-4285
www.isalyca.com
info@isalyca.com