Perinatal Counseling

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What is Perinatal Counseling?

Expecting a child is usually a time filled with joy and excitement, but so many new changes can also lead to feelings of isolation and stress. In fact, one in seven women is diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder during pregnancy or birth, and one in 10 men experiences symptoms of depression.

Many are aware of the emotional effects that can occur after giving birth. Often termed the “baby blues,” it effects up to 80% of new moms. Symptoms include crying and feeling overwhelmed with motherhood, as well as being uncertain. However, baby blues lasts no more than two weeks after birth. If these symptoms are persistent during pregnancy, or more than two weeks after giving birth, it may be perinatal depression or anxiety. Perinatal refers to the time during pregnancy and the one year that follows birth.

Some signs to look for include:

  • Irritability

  • Poor appetite

  • Extreme lethargy that doesn’t improve after rest

  • Memory or concentration problems

  • Frequent crying

  • Trouble sleeping

  • Loss of enjoyment in once-pleasurable activities

  • Trouble feeling connected to your developing baby

  • Birth trauma

  • Body image issues

  • Difficulty adjusting to parenthood

  • Difficulty implementing healthy coping skills

  • Difficulty maintaining self-care

  • Fertility issues

  • Grief and loss

  • Lack of a sufficient support system

  • Low self-esteem or self-efficacy

  • Panic attacks

  • Post-traumatic stress

  • Pregnancy complications

  • Pregnancy loss

  • Relationship issues

  • Stress reduction

  • Suicidal ideation

Perinatal Therapy helps you develop a new perspective and the skills to manage anxiety and depression in several ways including:

  • Educating about mood disorders and understanding stressors

  • Adjusting expectations and minimizing judgement

  • Expressing feelings and improving communication strategies

  • Learning coping skills to manage the demands of motherhood

  • Creating empowerment and social support systems

Perinatal Therapy is ideal for a mother or family that is struggling with: 

  • Infertility: difficulty conceiving, exploring medical intervention and evaluating family building options

  • Pregnancy loss: miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death and medical termination

  • Perinatal mood disorders: depression or anxiety during pregnancy or within the first year postpartum

  • Birth trauma: grieving the birth experience and healing trauma

  • A high score on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

  • Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)

  • Prenatal/postpartum anxiety

  • Prenatal/postpartum depression

  • Prenatal/postpartum obsessions and compulsions

770-508-6274