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Expecting or New mother - Could I have
PPMD?
What is a Postpartum
Mood Disorder (PPMD)?
Could
I have PPMD?
 What
PPMD might look like?
Risk
factors
Symptoms
Common feelings
and fears of women with PPMD
PPMD
Stories - New!
What you can
do to feel better
Resources
Could I have PPMD?
What PPMD might look like?
Following are a few examples of how different
types of PPMD may be experienced by a mother:
1. You have everyone fooled into thinking
that you are fine: you clean the house, take care of the baby,
dinner is ready when your partner comes home from work; you
even find time and energy to exercise. Then, unexpectedly
one day you find yourself thoroughly exhausted and despondent;
you hit rock bottom and everyone is shocked at how well you
hid your symptoms.
2. You don't feel like yourself; you don't
want to take care of yourself, you stay in the same clothes
for days and can't bother to even take a shower. You can barely
move from the couch or bed.
3. You don't want to spend time with your
baby. You can only bring yourself to take care of the baby's
basic needs and then pass him or her to anyone you can. When
you do spend time with the baby you are not happy.
4. You want to take care of your baby yourself.
You don't trust anyone to do anything. You don't let visitors
hold the baby and even the father is not welcome to help.
You constantly check on your baby and are always worried about
germs and viruses.
5. You get angry at every little thing:
dad helps out around the house much more than his share but
nothing he does is right - dishes are not put away right,
the laundry is folded badly, and the baby's diaper is all
wrong. Everyone feels they have to tiptoe around you so they
don't upset you.
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Risk factors
Some women are more likely to develop postpartum
mood disorders. You are more at risk if you:
Have
been depressed or anxious during your pregnancy
Have a history
of depression and/or other mood disorders
Have family
members with mood disorders
Had a recent
stressful life event such as a move or a loss in the family
Have little
social support
Have relationship
difficulties with close family members
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Symptoms
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Have you been feeling like this for more than two weeks?
Sad and tearful
Worn
out, but unable to sleep
Changes
in appetite
Overwhelmed
and can't concentrate
No
interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
Restless,
irritable or angry
Extremely
high and full of energy
Anxious,
you may feel this as aches, chest pain, shortness of breath,
numbness, tingling or "lump" in the throat
Not
yourself
Ashamed,
hopeless or frustrated
A
bad mother
Not
bonding with the baby, afraid to be alone with the baby
Have
repeated scary thoughts about the baby
If you have checked off any of these symptoms,
you may have a postpartum mood disorder.
Don't wait. There is help for you and your
family.
Call your health care provider such as
Your
family doctor, midwife, nurse or obstetrician
Your
local public health agency
For
the number of your local health unit click
here or call the INFO line
at 1 866 532 3161
You can also call: Telehealth Ontario at 1 800 797 0000
Or TTY 1800 797 0007
Or Mental Health Services Information Ontario (MHSIO) 1
866 531 2600
http://www.mhsio.on.ca/PPMD
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