Perinatal depression can be emotionally devastating. The symptoms can crop up towards the end of the third trimester. While this can be an exciting time, many women also experience dramatic emotional shifts, anxiety, sadness, and fear.
Furthermore, the third trimester can be physically exhausting. These feelings are only compounded when the baby arrives. New mothers are dealing with a lack of sleep from weeks to months on end, and the physical changes that occur during the postpartum period can be difficult to deal with.
Sometimes, women don’t necessarily experience persistent perinatal depression, but they deal with perinatal mood episodes during the end of the third trimester and the beginning of the postpartum period. Here are some common symptoms of perinatal mood episodes.
Rapidly Changing Emotions
One moment, you might be feeling happy and content. You may feel excited about your bond with your new baby, or looking forward to their due date.
But the next moment, you might suddenly feel down, irritated, or worried—and the dramatic change can leave you reeling. These troubling emotions can last for days on end. Mood swings can be characteristic of perinatal mood episodes.
Sadness and Depression
Perinatal mood episodes are often distinguished by feelings of sadness and depression. These emotions can seem unshakeable. You may even feel guilty for experiencing this sadness or numbness—when everyone around you is excited, and you wish that you were, it can be hard to grapple with these emotions.
At times, you might even feel like crying, and you wish that you could simply enjoy this time for what it is. These moods might lift as suddenly as they came on.
Intense Anxiety
It’s normal for mothers-to-be to feel nervous. And after your baby is born, it’s perfectly natural to worry about their wellbeing—all new parents do. But sometimes, intense periods of anxiety can actually constitute a perinatal mood episode.
You might be unable to talk yourself out of these anxious feelings, and no amount of comfort from your loved ones can soothe you. A day or two later, you may feel relaxed again. These feelings can come and go without warning, and they can catch you off guard when you think you’re calming down.
Loss of Appetite
Your appetite can change throughout pregnancy and during the postpartum period. During perinatal mood episodes, you might feel like your appetite changes daily. One day, you might be starving and craving all kinds of food. The next, you might not feel like eating anything.
With so many changes happening to your body throughout pregnancy and postpartum, you might be struggling to figure out how to eat in a way that makes you feel your best. It can be frustrating to experience these changes in appetite, especially when you lose your appetite during a perinatal mood episode.
Guilt and Shame
New mothers often deal with shame, even before their babies are born. For lots of mothers, it feels like they simply can’t win. No matter what decisions they make during their pregnancy, or once they start raising their baby, other people have something negative to say about it.
The implication that you’re not good enough can be hard to get out of your mind. Even when you know you’re making the best choices for yourself and your family, it’s not easy to deal with these comments. This is why many women struggle with guilt and shame during perinatal mood episodes—no one can fulfill all of these unrealistic expectations.
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Are you struggling with perinatal mood episodes? Working with a therapist can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.