5 Common Myths About The Mental Health Of New Moms

As postpartum mood disorders are increasingly discussed rather than stigmatized, and high-profile celebrities are speaking out about their struggles, our society is beginning to understand how common mood symptoms appear during and after pregnancy. This has helped pave the way for more women to feel comfortable being honest about their less-than-rosy experiences with pregnancy and new motherhood.

In fact, 15 to 20 percent of women suffer from a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD). Consider the enormity of that number: One of every five to seven moms sitting at lunch or in a meeting or a dinner party has, or is still struggling with, a mood disorder during and/or after pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a truly awesome time, filled with expected and normal worries, big bodily changes, and emotional reflection. It's also a time of wonder and excitement, planning, and anticipation. All women deserve the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of pregnancy, but untreated moderate to severe anxiety and/or depression can rob her of this joy. Expert treatment allows a woman to have a full experience, with the natural emotional highs and lows without the excessive fear or sadness on her journey to motherhood.

Untreated illness can have serious negative consequences1 to mom and to her unborn baby, including but not limited to2 increased risks of hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm labor, smaller than expected babies, and complicated deliveries such as C-sections. Babies exposed in utero to untreated illness may have greater difficulty sleeping3 consistently and have an increased chance of behavioral issues in young childhood.

Risk of exposure to medication in pregnancy must be balanced against the risks of exposure to untreated maternal mental illness. The most common medications used in pregnancy for depression and anxiety are in the SSRI family. There is no known major malformation associated with exposure to an SSRI, and SSRIs are not associated with increased pregnancy loss rates compared to women with untreated illness. While SSRI exposure may be associated with slightly shorter gestation, by a matter of days, this must be weighed against the known risk of preterm delivery (before 37 weeks) from exposure to untreated illness.

One in four to one in 10 men experience postpartum depression symptoms and up to half of men whose partners are depressed will similarly experience symptoms after the birth of a child. Just like new moms, new dads suffering from depression and/or anxiety require treatment to improve their mood and to enjoy new parenthood.