Although we hear a lot about postpartum depression or PPD, many women experience anxiety after the birth of a child.  Some level of anxiety is absolutely normal when caring for a newborn; however, many women experience more severe anxiety symptoms that significantly impact their functioning and their ability to enjoy the experience of motherhood. Only recently have we begun to more thoroughly investigate the anxiety symptoms that women experience during the postpartum period, rather than considering postpartum anxiety as “normal” or a symptom of postpartum depression.

In fact, postpartum anxiety disorders are probably more common than postpartum depression. According to the most recent research:

• One out of every five moms and birthing people has at least one type of anxiety disorder during pregnancy or the postpartum period
• About two-thirds of women with postpartum depression also experience significant anxiety symptoms
• Diagnosis and treatment rates for postpartum anxiety are generally low, partly due to a lack of consistent screening and awareness

Anxiety in new mothers can manifest as persistent worry, guilt, emotional sensitivity, or irritability, symptoms that are often intensified by the physical and emotional exhaustion that comes with sleep deprivation. This lack of sleep can significantly exacerbate symptoms of anxiety, as it impairs cognitive functioning and emotional regulation, making it harder to manage stress and one’s emotions.  In addition, numerous studies have shown that poor sleep quality is strongly associated with increased symptoms of both depression and anxiety in the postpartum period. And the cycle of sleep deprivation and anxiety can be self-reinforcing: anxiety can disrupt sleep, and lack of sleep can worsen anxiety symptoms.

For many mothers (and their families), it is not so easy to figure out what is a reasonable worry and what might be considered a more significant problem with anxiety or an anxiety disorder.  One reason for this is that postpartum anxiety typically emerges in the context of the many of the normal challenges of being a new mom. 

Casting Call: Episodes on Postpartum Anxiety and Infant Feeding Choices and Challenges

We are busy working on Season One of our new podcast So Glad You Asked with Dr. Ruta Nonacs.   You can listen to the trailer HERE, and remember to SUBSCRIBE so that you will be notified when our first episodes are published later this month.

Because postpartum anxiety is so common – yet under-recognized – we are devoting an entire episode to this topic.  We are sending out a casting call so that we can connect with those who have experienced postpartum anxiety.  If you would like to join us on the podcast to share your experiences with postpartum anxiety, please let us know by completing the brief questionnaire below.

In addition, we are also looking to talk to moms who would be interested in discussing their experiences with infant feeling.  For new moms, infant feeding is a nearly universal source of worry, whether breastfeeding or whether bottle-feeding, using breast milk or formula.  Especially for first-time mothers, this experience of learning on the job (while at the same time their baby is frantically crying) can be enormously stressful.  We would like to hear your questions and learn about your experiences. We want to hear your questions and learn about how you have navigated these challenges.

Join Us on the Podcast

 Or you can contact us directly! Please feel free to email us at podcast@womensmentalhealth.org or leave a voicemail at (617) 643-9232 if you’d like to participate in the show.  We look forward to connecting with you!