Is pregnancy making you miserable?
Are your “baby blues” lasting longer than a few days?
Are you frustrated and upset because you aren’t bonding with your new baby?
Most people assume pregnancy is a time of happy anticipation and nesting bliss. And it can be. But for some, it just isn’t. The intense hormonal shifts in pregnancy can really alter your mood. Maybe you’re worried that your negativity or lack of joy could hurt your baby. If you’re considering medication, which could help you, maybe you’re concerned that it could harm your growing child, now or in the future. And when you’re told how happy you should be, maybe you’re wondering how on earth you’re going to make it through your pregnancy.
While extremely painful, these feelings are more common among parents-to-be than you might imagine. The reality is that roughly 20% of women experience some form of depression or anxiety during their pregnancy. And those women are more at risk for postpartum depression after their baby is born.
Once your baby is here, you may find yourself similarly concerned about why your feelings about your baby don’t necessary match those you expected to have, or the feelings others expected you to have. Women with postpartum depression often feel ashamed to share their feelings, which can lead to a sense of isolation and hopelessness.
We are here to help you navigate these complicated feelings by offering a safe, welcoming space where you can, in a myriad of ways, express your highs and lows, fears and worries, hopes and dreams. If you need additional referrals, we are happy to provide you with the best of our resources. Either way, you can trust that you are not alone and we hear you.
