Postpartum depression is getting a lot of press these days. Sparked in part by Chrissy Tiegans’s touching article in Glamour Magazine about her own struggles with postpartum depression, there have been a lot of celebrities opening up about their experiences with PPD, and a lot more mainstream articles written about the subject. Additionally two documentaries (When the Bough Breaks and Dark Side of the Full Moon) were recently released which focus on the topic.

Last week, I wrote about the signs and symptoms associated with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Now that you have greater familiarity with what to look out for, I’d like to offer some suggestions on what to do if you feel you may be experiencing symptoms. 

I am thrilled to round out my series on loss today with an incredibly thoughtful guest post by my dear friend and colleague Dr. Julie Bindeman. Dr. Bindeman writes eloquently about navigating the “cliques” in the baby loss community. Take it away Julie! 

Today is Mother’s day. Many of you may be celebrating with breakfast in bed, brunch with family, or some well deserved R&R. It’s an important day of recognition for all the incredible mamas out there who do so much for their families and it is worth celebrating. And yet, Mother’s day is an extremely difficult day for so many women and their families and we do not do enough to acknowledge that. 

Postpartum Depression has been getting a lot of media attention this days. Thanks in large part to an incredibly brave article in Glamour Magazine written by model, television host, and author Chrissy Tiegan about her struggles with postpartum depression, there has been a slew of coverage about the disorder. Ranging from personal narratives, to descriptions of signs and symptoms, these articles are incredibly important in reducing stigma and bringing attention to a problem that affects an estimated 10-20% of woman.

But here’s the thing. It’s so much more than depression. When we speak to pregnant and postpartum women about their emotional health, we need to focus on the whole spectrum of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, commonly known as PMADs.

A few weeks back, I wrote about stillbirth This week I wanted to delve a little bit deeper into what emotions and coping looks like following this devastating loss.While there is certainly some overlap with the feelings and strategies that I wrote about in my pieces on miscarriage , there are aspects specific to losses that occur later in pregnancy that I wanted to highlight.

The reality is that pregnancy is a time of incredible psychological vulnerability. In fact, the majority of women who experience mental health symptoms postpartum note that their symptoms began during pregnancy, with 14-25% of pregnant women experiencing depression, anxiety, or another perinatal mood or anxiety disorder (PMAD). This is especially true if you have a history of depression, anxiety, or another mental health concern.

This week marks Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.

I’d like to take another brief break from my series on loss to bring your attention to National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW). 

I’ve spent the last few weeks on the blog focusing on miscarriage. My hope was to shed some light on the statistical and emotional landscape of what is an incredibly painful and yet remarkably common occurrence.