While many people are familiar with postpartum depression, health professionals are raising awareness of other mental health disorders that can occur during the perinatal period (the period from pregnancy to one year after birth).
“Everything from baby blues to postpartum depression can actually be clinical depression. People can show signs of bipolar disorder,” says the founder of the nonprofit Women in Medicine. said Dr. Shikha Jain.
Jayne, a mother of three, says raising awareness is key. She recalls having other worries during her pregnancy, like many women.
“How am I going to feed my baby? How am I going to survive without sleeping? I was thinking about things like that. I wasn't thinking about my own emotional health and mental health. '' said Jayne.
Research shows that one in five women and one in 10 men experience depression or anxiety during the perinatal period, but around 25 of them seek professional help. It's only %.
“If you don't have that support system, especially at home, there are actually people out there who can help you,” Jain said.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) is one of the nonprofit organizations with a helpline in Spanish and English, aimed at anyone with concerns, not just new moms.
Andrea Clark Horton is director of PSI's People of Color Alliance and shares her story to help others.
Her son, Grant, is now 10 years old, and Horton will never forget the night after Grant's birth, the night before a routine checkup with the doctor, that Grant wouldn't stop crying.
“I just wanted her to stop crying so much, and I remember shaking the basket and yelling, 'Why won't you stop crying?' And we both cried, and I remember going to the doctor the next day,” Horton said. “I told her, 'No, I'm OK,' and that's great. I love being a mother,' because I was scared.”
Horton didn't talk about her postpartum depression because she feared her son would be taken away from her, but now she's talking about it in her role at PSI.
“We have over 30 support groups, so you're not alone,” Horton said.
She believes cases of perinatal mental health disorders among women of color are underreported.
“When we feel that the system won't support us or will punish us in a way that it wouldn't inflict on other mothers, when we say we can't take care of this child, we don't report. '' Horton said.
PSI offers training programs to help medical professionals be aware of red flags.
“Even if you're not an OB/GYN, babies go to the doctor more often than moms for the first year or so, right? So pediatricians should know,” Hortons said.
Dr. Jain and Dr. Horton say it's important for expectant parents to know their family history. A history of depression or anxiety, and having a partner with a mood disorder are risk factors for perinatal mood disorders.
