You’re looking for answers, probably in the middle of the night while feeding your baby or during a rare quiet moment. Maybe you’re pregnant and can’t shake the anxiety. Maybe you’re months postpartum and still waiting to feel like yourself again. We get it. Here are the questions we hear most often from parents navigating pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Is It Normal To Need Therapy During Pregnancy Or After Having A Baby?
Yes. Not just “yes, it’s okay” but yes, it’s common. One in five mothers experiences depression or anxiety during the perinatal period. That’s not rare. Your body is doing something impossibly hard – growing, birthing, and recovering from a whole human – while your brain chemistry shifts dramatically and you’re expected to function on broken sleep. You’re not failing. You’re surviving something that deserves support.
When Should I Consider Therapy?
Consider therapy if you’re experiencing:
- Anxiety that won’t quiet down, even when the baby is safe and sleeping
- That heavy fog that doesn’t lift during pregnancy or after birth
- Feeling numb or disconnected when you think you should feel joy
- Difficulty enjoying time with your baby, or feeling like you’re just going through the motions
- Intrusive thoughts about harm (these are more common than you think, and they don’t make you dangerous)
- Rage that feels out of control (not just frustration, but explosive anger)
- A traumatic birth experience that keeps replaying in your mind
- Grief from pregnancy loss, infertility, or the life you had before
- Relationship strain that’s making everything harder
- The sense that you’re drowning and can’t reach the surface
Is This What The “Baby Blues” Are? And What’s The Difference Between Baby Blues And Postpartum Depression?
Baby blues hit in the first week or two after birth. You cry at commercials, feel overwhelmed, maybe question everything. But it lifts. Usually by week two, you start to feel more like yourself.
Postpartum depression doesn’t lift. It’s the fog that makes getting out of bed feel impossible, the numbness when you think you should feel joy, the voice telling you you’re failing. It can start during pregnancy or anytime in the first year postpartum.
If it’s been more than two weeks and things are getting worse instead of better, or if your symptoms are severe from the start, that’s not baby blues.
How Do I Know If What I’m Feeling Is “Normal” Or Something More Serious?
New parenthood is hard for everyone. Sleep deprivation is real. Adjustment takes time. But here’s the difference: normal struggle has moments of relief. You have hard days, but also moments where you feel okay, even good.
Clinical depression or anxiety doesn’t give you those breaks. It’s persistent. It interferes with your ability to function, to care for yourself or your baby, to feel any glimmer of hope or joy.
Ask yourself:
- Am I still able to find moments of peace?
- Can I sleep when I have the chance, or am I awake with racing thoughts?
- Do I feel connected to my baby, or completely numb?
If you’re questioning whether you need help, that question itself often means you do, like many of us during this time.
My Doctor Says It’s “Just Hormones” And Will Go Away. Should I Still Consider Therapy?
While hormonal changes are real and significant during pregnancy and postpartum, dismissing your emotional struggles as “just hormones” minimizes your experience. Hormones can absolutely contribute to mood changes, but that doesn’t mean your feelings aren’t valid or don’t deserve support.
You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through this, hoping it eventually gets better. If your symptoms are interfering with your daily life, your relationships, or your ability to care for yourself or your baby, help is available now. Not later. Now.
Is It Too Late To Get Help If My Baby Is Older Than A Year?
No. The “postpartum period” is officially up to a year, but mental health struggles don’t check a calendar. If your baby is 18 months, 2 years, or older and you’re still struggling, that matters.
Many mothers don’t recognize what they’re experiencing until months or even years later. Some deal with unresolved birth trauma or ongoing anxiety long after the “postpartum period” ends. Whenever you recognize you need help is the right time to reach out.
What Is Postpartum Depression (PPD)?
Postpartum depression isn’t sadness. It’s numbness. It’s sobbing while holding your baby and feeling nothing. It’s the voice that tells you everyone would be better off without you, that you’re failing, that you’re not cut out for this. It can look like:
- Severe mood swings or persistent sadness
- Withdrawing from your partner, family, friends
- Difficulty bonding with your baby or feeling disconnected
- Changes in appetite – either no interest in food or using it to cope
- Sleeping too much (when you can) or unable to sleep even when exhausted
- Overwhelming fatigue that feels like you’re moving through mud
- Feelings of worthlessness, shame, or inadequacy as a mother
What Is Postpartum Anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety is the constant what-ifs that won’t stop. Checking if the baby is breathing. Again. And again. Intrusive images of worst-case scenarios. Your heart racing even when everything is fine. It can include:
- Excessive worry about your baby’s health, safety, or development
- Racing thoughts that won’t quiet down
- Physical symptoms like heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, dizziness
- Inability to sleep even when you’re exhausted because your mind won’t stop
- Needing to constantly check on the baby
- Panic attacks
- Feeling like you can’t leave your baby with anyone, even trusted caregivers
- Constant sense of dread or impending doom
What Is Postpartum Rage?
It’s real, and it’s more common than people talk about. Postpartum rage isn’t just irritability or the frustration every parent feels. It’s explosive anger that feels out of your control. Screaming at your partner over something small. Wanting to throw things. Feeling consumed by anger and then feeling horrible about it afterward. Sometimes it comes with PPD or anxiety. Sometimes it’s on its own. Either way, it’s a sign your nervous system is overwhelmed and you need support.
What Are Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms?
These involve unwanted, intrusive thoughts (often about harm coming to the baby) paired with compulsive behaviors aimed at preventing harm. These thoughts are terrifying, but they don’t make you dangerous. They’re a symptom, not a prediction. And you’re not alone in having them.
Postpartum OCD involves these unwanted, intrusive thoughts paired with compulsive behaviors to try to prevent harm – checking repeatedly, avoiding certain situations, needing things done in a very specific way. The thoughts cause extreme anxiety, which is actually what distinguishes them from psychosis – you’re horrified by these thoughts, not driven to act on them.
What Is Birth Trauma Or Ptsd?
Birth trauma can happen even when everyone tells you “the baby is healthy, that’s all that matters.” If your birth felt frightening, out of control, or life-threatening – whether objectively or in how you experienced it – that’s valid. Birth trauma can lead to PTSD symptoms, including flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of reminders, and hypervigilance.
Can Partners/Fathers Experience Postpartum Depression Too?
Yes. Paternal postpartum depression affects about 10% of new fathers. Partners can experience depression, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, or disconnected during the perinatal period. They’re also adjusting to massive life changes, often while trying to support their partner, and their mental health matters too. We work with new fathers and partners navigating this transition.
What Is Perinatal Therapy?
Perinatal therapy is specialized mental health support for the pregnancy and postpartum period. It’s not just general therapy applied to new parents – it’s provided by therapists who understand the unique challenges of this time: the identity shift, the hormonal changes, the relationship adjustments, the trauma that can happen, the loss of your former life while also loving your new one. We get that you can feel both grateful and miserable at the same time.
What Types Of Therapy Do You Offer?
We provide evidence-based treatments including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Trauma-focused therapies, including EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy
- Couples therapy for relationship adjustment, including the Gottman Method
- Mindfulness-based therapy
- Somatic therapy
What Happens In The First Session?
We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing right now and what brought you to therapy. I’ll ask about your pregnancy and birth experience, your symptoms, your support system, and what you’re hoping to get from therapy. There’s no pressure to have it all figured out or to share everything immediately. We’ll move at your pace. The first session is about understanding what you’re going through so we can create a plan that actually helps.
Will You Judge Me If I Admit I’m Struggling To Bond With My Baby? I Feel Like A Terrible Mother.
No. Not bonding immediately – or even months in – is more common than you think. It doesn’t make you a bad mother. It makes you human, and it often means you’re struggling with depression, anxiety, or trauma. Talking about it openly is brave and it’s the first step toward feeling more connected. I’ve heard it all, and nothing you share will shock me or make me think less of you.
How Long Does Perinatal Therapy Typically Last?
Treatment duration varies based on individual needs and symptoms. Some mothers benefit from short-term support (6-12 sessions), while others may need longer-term therapy. We’ll talk about what makes sense for you, and we can adjust as we go.
Do You Work With Partners/Families?
Yes. Partners are often struggling too, and even when they’re not, including them can strengthen your support system and improve your relationship. We offer couples therapy and can involve family members when it’s helpful. New parenthood affects the whole family.
Can I Bring My Baby To Therapy Sessions?
Yes, our therapists accommodate babies in sessions. We understand that childcare can be challenging for new mothers and are here to support you.
Do You Offer Virtual/Telehealth Sessions?
Yes. Virtual sessions can be easier for new parents – no need to pack up the baby, find childcare, or leave the house on days when that feels impossible. Sessions are secure and confidential.
How much does therapy cost? Do you take insurance?
Mindful Connections Counseling is in-network with Aetna. We are out-of-network with other insurance companies. Reduced fee options may be available. Our fees for 45-50 minute sessions are as follows:
- Master’s Level Therapist – $175
- Associate Licensed Therapist – $155
- Therapy Intern – $25
How Expensive Is Therapy? And What If I Can’t Afford Therapy Right Now?
Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to getting help. We offer reduced fee rates to work with our fantastic interns, and we can discuss payment plans. If our practice isn’t financially feasible right now, we can provide referrals to community resources or therapists who offer lower rates.
Please talk to us about your situation – we want to help you find support.
Crisis Support
What if I’m having thoughts of harming myself or my baby?
First: you’re not a monster for having these thoughts. They’re more common than people admit, and having them doesn’t mean you’ll act on them.
But if you’re having these thoughts, you need to tell someone now:
- Call your doctor or psychiatrist immediately
- Go to the nearest emergency room
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
- Text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line
If you’re in session with us and feeling this way, we’ll work together to create a safety plan and connect you with immediate resources.