Perinatal & Postpartum Counseling
Support Before & After Birth
The journey to parenthood isn’t always easy. In this time of big life changes, trauma can rear its ugly head. You may experience anxiety, depression, fear, anger, loneliness, and more. Many of our counselors have had similar experiences and/or are certified to help you work through this season of life. Reaching out for professional support is brave and we’re here to be your safe place to work through these feelings to feel like yourself again.
Addressing Perinatal Concerns
The Bloom team can help address two of the most common perinatal mental health concerns: perinatal anxiety and perinatal depression.
Perinatal Anxiety
The perinatal period is generally accepted as the time during pregnancy and throughout the first year after birth. During this time, a lot of things in your life and body change, and you may be feeling anxious. This could range from mild to severe. You might be afraid to leave your home or thinking you won’t be a good parent. You could be experiencing tension in your body or even an increased heart rate.
Perinatal Depression
Emotions while pregnant can run high and even crying may be related to hormonal changes. However, if you’re experiencing this so often that it’s made your daily life difficult, it may be perinatal depression. Other symptoms during pregnancy could include, but are not limited to feelings of guilt, severe fear of being a good parent, disinterest in food, difficulty focusing, and sleeping without feeling fully rested.
Addressing Postpartum Concerns
It can feel like there’s no way out of postpartum anxiety, depression, and psychosis but that’s not the case. Support is available to help put you back on the path to mental wellness.
Postpartum Anxiety
If you’ve recently had a baby and feel like you can’t sit still, relax, sleep, or go about your day without having a nagging sense that something is wrong, you may be experiencing postpartum anxiety. Sleep deprivation due to having a new baby can lead to sleep deprivation, and so can intrusive thoughts that disrupt your life.
Postpartum Depression
Often, postpartum depression is experienced alongside postpartum anxiety. Symptoms can include irritability, fatigue, severe mood swings, frequent crying, feelings of guilt, loss of appetite, sleep deprivation, difficulty bonding with your child, and feeling as though you can’t take care of yourself or your child. These feelings can range from mild and sporadic to severe and constant.
Postpartum Psychosis
A form of postpartum depression that can be life-threatening is called postpartum psychosis. Symptoms are often disorganized thinking or delusions. These can include paranoia, severe mood swings, hallucinations, and difficulty communicating clearly. This is not something you or your loved one should attempt to tackle on your own. With support and treatment, a full recovery is possible.
Postpartum Resources
Planning Guide
Too often, the postpartum period is overlooked when planning to welcome a new baby. Our postpartum planning guide is here as a resource to encourage you to proactively think about how you and your support team will handle this time of transition.
PMADs Chart
Knowing what potential symptoms to look for when possibly dealing with Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) is so important. This chart is designed to help give you more clarity about what you may be experiencing.
*This is not meant to be a diagnostic tool and is not inclusive of all Perinatal or Postpartum Mood Disorders (PMADs).
Additional Support
Pregnancy Loss
Losing a pregnancy can be devastating and traumatic, and the emotional and physical pain may be overwhelming. You might be feeling sadness, helplessness, and grief, among other powerful emotions. Our team is here to support you and give you the tools to respectfully move through these feelings while honoring your profound loss to minimize any potential anxiety or depression, as well as potential fears about possible future pregnancies.
Birth & Pregnancy Trauma
Birth and pregnancy trauma can leave a lasting psychological impact that may result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Pregnancy trauma may be due to health problems, accidents, bereavement, or any other significant moments taking place in your life. Emergencies or injuries during birth can result in trauma, as well. Therapy can help you work through these traumatic experiences and move toward reducing your symptoms by establishing healthy coping skills.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Persistent thoughts that bring repetitive ideas to mind related to your baby could be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It can also lead to compulsions that lead you to perform an action repeatedly. You likely know that these thoughts are abnormal, but feel embarrassed or shameful about having them. It may be easier to talk about these experiences with a professional counselor and begin to work through them.
Mental Health Counselors
The Bloom team is here to offer a safe place to tell your story while working toward resilience and mental wellness. Many are trained in perinatal and postpartum concerns, and hold certifications through Postpartum Support International (PSI). Please feel free to get to know them a bit better by reading their bios.
Contact Bloom Women's Wellness
Payments Accepted
We accept Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem, Midland’s Choice, Cigna, Health Partners, Tricare, and private pay clients. We believe that mental health care should be accessible and we’re happy to work with you on a sliding fee scale.