First Year > Postpartum Health & Care

Postpartum Anxiety
by Sharon Mazel
Medically Reviewed by Shari Lusskin, M.D.
on May 1, 2020

Twenty20

Postpartum depression may get all the

press, but postpartum anxiety is just as
common. Learn more about
postpartum anxiety signs, symptoms
and treatment.

IN THIS ARTICLE

What is postpartum anxiety?

Postpartum anxiety symptoms

What's the di!erence between postpartum anxiety

and normal new parent worry?

What causes postpartum anxiety?

How long does postpartum anxiety last?

What is postpartum OCD?

Treatment for postpartum anxiety

Being a new mom is stressful in the best of times.

But for some new mothers, the worry associated
with becoming a parent gets to be overwhelming,
and they’re diagnosed with postpartum anxiety.

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Postpartum generalized anxiety a!ects just about

as many new moms as postpartum
depression does — and can be just as debilitating
— but the condition isn't talked about as much.
Here’s what you need to know about postpartum
anxiety.

What is postpartum anxiety?

Postpartum generalized anxiety is an irrational

fear or exaggerated worry that something is wrong
and usually involves worrying all day, everyday,
and about many di!erent things. It's similar to
regular anxiety but is more closely linked with
having a baby and becoming a parent.

Many new moms have been told that sadness and

depression after having a baby is a common
occurrence and can turn out to be either the baby
blues or postpartum depression. But not every
new mom knows that feeling extremely anxious or
fearful, or even having panic attacks, can be almost
as common. In fact, around 10 to 15 percent of
new moms su!er from postpartum anxiety, and
about half of those who have postpartum
depression will also experience postpartum
anxiety.

Postpartum anxiety symptoms

A mom su!ering from postpartum anxiety may

experience the following symptoms:

1. Dread or a sense of danger

2. Racing thoughts

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3. A persistent feeling of being on edge, like

something is about to go terribly wrong

4. Excessive worry about the baby’s health,

development or safety

5. An overwhelming sense of burden, stress and

concern about the ability to be a good parent

6. A persistent case of the jitters or a constant

agitated feeling

7. Insomnia or trouble falling or staying asleep,

even though she's exhausted

8. Changes in heart rate and breathing, including

elevated heartbeat, rapid breathing and/or chest
pain, especially if the anxiety takes the form of
panic attacks

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9. Nausea

10. Dizziness

11. Shaking

12. Chills and/or hot "ashes

What's the difference between

postpartum anxiety and normal
new parent worry?

Postpartum anxiety is more intense than typical

new parent worrying. It’s also more
persistent. What di!erentiates such anxiety from
regular new mom concerns is that the worries are
more extreme, and typically not based on any real
problem or threat.

For instance, a mom with postpartum anxiety

might think her baby isn't developing normally
even though he is completely on track. Or she
might fear her baby is in pain every time he cries,
even though crying is a baby's normal way of
communicating. She might worry that her baby will
stop breathing and constantly check him during
the day and stare at the baby monitor all night.
She might be overly worried that someone is going
to break into the house and kidnap her sleeping
baby, or convince herself that her baby is sick and
call the pediatrician repeatedly despite
reassurances that her child is perfectly healthy.

What causes postpartum anxiety?

While there’s no one cause of postpartum anxiety,

there are a number of factors that can increase the
chances of developing the condition:

1. Hormonal shifts after giving birth — for some

moms, those swings in hormone levels can have a
greater impact on overall mood and feelings of
anxiety than for other women

2. Sleep deprivation

3. The stress of caring for a tiny, new, helpless

baby

4. Relationship changes that can naturally occur

with the birth of a baby

5. Societal pressure on new moms and their own

expectations to be "perfect"

6. Personality type — moms who are “type A,” very

sensitive, or easily worried may be more likely to
su!er from postpartum anxiety

7. Having a history of anxiety and/or panic attacks

8. Having a personal or family history of mood

disorders

9. A previous miscarriage or stillbirth

10. Having a premature baby or a baby with health

issues

How long does postpartum

anxiety last?

There's no de#nitive timeframe for postpartum

anxiety, but the good news is that it isn’t
permanent. Depending on how soon a mom gets
treatment, recovery time can vary. Untreated
moderate to severe anxiety can last inde#nitely.

What is postpartum OCD?

Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

is a type of anxiety disorder that a!ects new
moms and involves having illogical, intrusive and
scary thoughts about their babies. Moms with
postpartum OCD repeatedly have unwanted
thoughts that they’ll accidentally or intentionally
hurt their babies. For example, she might worry
obsessively about unintentionally drowning her
baby in the bath. Or she might think, “There’s a
knife. What if I stab my baby?”

All parents worry to some extent about their

babies — it’s a normal part of having a big, new
responsibility. Most parents also have occasional
unwanted or senseless thoughts about their
newborns. But for moms with postpartum OCD,
these thoughts become so frequent and intense
that they cause them tremendous distress. They
may also have compulsive rituals, like checking on
a baby frequently throughout the night — and, as
a consequence, don’t get enough sleep
themselves.

Postpartum OCD is similar to postpartum

generalized anxiety, and it's sometimes hard to
distinguish the two conditions. It's di!erent from
postpartum psychosis, because moms with
postpartum OCD fear and would never act on their
intrusive thoughts.

Some moms who experience symptoms of

postpartum OCD hesitate to reach out for help
due to shame, stigma and worry that the baby will
be taken away from them. It’s important to know
that postpartum OCD is common and treatable.

Research suggests that up to 11 percent of women

experience OCD symptoms at two weeks
postpartum, with symptoms continuing six
months later in half of these women. Treatments
including medication and cognitive behavioral
therapy are very e!ective at addressing
symptoms.

When to call the doctor

You should call your doctor at the #rst signs of

excessive worry, fear or dread after having a baby.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, overly worried,
panicked or feel like you’re losing control — or if
you feel any of the symptoms of postpartum
depression, anxiety, OCD or PTSD — tell your
OB/GYN or your baby’s pediatrician as soon as
possible.

They can help screen you for a postpartum mood

disorder and refer you to a mental health care
professional who has experience treating new
moms. Just don’t su!er alone — asking for help is
the #rst step to recovery and the best thing you
can do for yourself and your baby.

Treatment for postpartum anxiety

Happily, there are many remedies for women

dealing with postpartum anxiety, and treatment
will depend on the severity of the condition.

Talking to a supportive friend or family member

can be enough to help a new mom with mild
anxiety. Mild to moderate postpartum anxiety can
be treated with talk or cognitive behavioral
therapy, along with techniques such as meditation,
relaxation exercises and mindfulness training.

Moderate to severe cases are usually treated with

therapy and medication, most often the class of
antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs known as
SSRIs. SSRIs are generally considered safe to use
during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

With the right kind of treatment and the support of

family members and friends, a new mom dealing
with postpartum anxiety will get better in time.
And when she does, she can #nally truly enjoy her
new baby and the experience of being a parent.
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From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murko!,

author of What to Expect the First Year. Health
information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical
journals and highly respected health organizations and
institutions including ACOG (American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American
Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect
books by Heidi Murko!.

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