Holly Reid Counselling

Perinatal Counselling

During pregnancy and in the year after birth, women can be affected by a range of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, post- traumatic stress disorder and postpartum psychosis. These are known as perinatal mental health problems and happen to around one in five women. This may be a completely new condition or it may be something that has been experienced before.

Expecting or having a baby is a major event in life, which can lead to a range of emotions during and after pregnancy; but if they have a big impact on how you live your life, you may be experiencing a mental health problem.

Anxiety and depression during pregnancy is not often spoken about however if you have experienced this, you are more likely to experience depression after the birth.

The ‘baby blues’ is known as a short period of feeling emotional and tearful after giving birth which can start during the first week as a new mum and last a few hours or days with a low mood and weepiness being experienced. This is different from postnatal depression which normally occurs 2-8 weeks after giving birth however can happen up to a year after the baby is born.

Perinatal mental health problems can affect a new mum regardless of her personal circumstances and there is no single answer as to why some people are affected and not others but there are a few factors which make it more likely.

For some new mothers, just admitting how they feel and talking is enough to help, for others anti-depressants are more effective. Counselling and psychotherapy are another option and offer you the opportunity to talk about how you feel, look at the underlying factors that have contributed to how you are feeling, as well as helping you to change the way you feel and start to enjoy motherhood.

Contact me in confidence on tel: 07583 526 194 or e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more.

 

 

Counselling and Psychotherapy in Potters Bar and Radlett

tel: 07583 526 194

e: holly@hollyreidcounselling.co.uk

Websites for therapists by: YouCan Consulting