In crisis right now
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or feel like you can't keep yourself or your baby safe, get help immediately:
What's normal vs. what needs attention
Baby blues affect up to 80% of birthing people — tearfulness, mood swings, feeling overwhelmed. They start around day 2–5 and resolve within 2 weeks without treatment.
If symptoms last past 2 weeks, feel severe, or start any time in the first year postpartum, it's more likely a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder (PMAD) — and it's treatable.
Warning signs — get help if you notice these
- • Persistent sadness, emptiness, or crying that doesn't lift
- • Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- • Racing thoughts, constant worry, or panic attacks
- • Intrusive thoughts about harm coming to your baby
- • Trouble sleeping even when baby is sleeping (or wanting to sleep all the time)
- • Feeling disconnected from your baby, or feeling like a bad parent
- • Rage or irritability out of proportion to the trigger
- • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or feeling like they'd be better off without you
- • Anything that makes you think "this doesn't feel like me"
Intrusive thoughts (unwanted, disturbing images) are common in postpartum anxiety and OCD and are NOT the same as psychosis. If they horrify you, that's actually a sign they're not something you'd act on — but they deserve treatment because they're miserable.
Screening tools (self-administer)
These are validated screening tools your care team should be offering at every perinatal visit. You can take them yourself — bring the score to your provider.
- EPDS — Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale — 10 questions, takes 5 minutes. The most widely used perinatal screening tool. Score of 10+ warrants follow-up; 13+ suggests probable depression. Take the EPDS →
- PHQ-9 — 9-question depression screener commonly used in primary care. Take the PHQ-9 →
- GAD-7 — 7-question anxiety screener. Take the GAD-7 →
Where to get real help
- Postpartum Support International (PSI) — the gold-standard resource. Free helpline, provider directory, online support groups in many languages. postpartum.net · Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
- Maternal Mental Health Hotline (US) — 24/7, free, confidential, in English and Spanish: 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS
- Your OB, midwife, or primary care provider — can prescribe and refer. Many antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are compatible with pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Perinatal-specialized therapists — search the PSI directory or Psychology Today with "perinatal" filter.
- InfantRisk Center — evidence-based info on medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding: infantrisk.com
For partners and support people
Partners can also develop perinatal depression and anxiety — roughly 1 in 10. The same resources apply. And if you're supporting someone who has a PMAD: your job is to help them get to help, not to fix it. Take over some tasks. Make the appointment. Sit with them at the appointment. That's the assist that matters.
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Educational only. Not medical advice. Please discuss with your care team.