Pregnancy and postpartum are incredibly vulnerable times for mothers, fathers, and children. Emotional concerns and the need for support are higher during this period than at any other time in a woman’s life. Perinatal depression is the most under-diagnosed obstetric complication in the U.S. (AAP, 2019).

The clinical Perinatal Mental Health Counselor at ONE Health Ohio and RISE Recovery can help you cope with the emotional difficulties and challenges that can occur during and after pregnancy.

Services Include:

• Depression, anxiety, and mood disorders during and after pregnancy
• Adjustment difficulties
• Postpartum stress and birth trauma
• Treatment for substance abuse and addiction during and after pregnancy through RISE Recovery
• Coping with miscarriage and loss

No matter what the need is, we are here to help! Our counseling professional is trained to support not only the mom and baby but also the entire family. To learn more about the services offered or to schedule an appointment, contact 1-877-722-3303.

What Causes PPD?

There is no exact known cause for Prenatal and Postpartum Depression (PPD). According to the March of Dimes, possible causes include:

• Genes: Genes are parts of your body’s cells that store instructions for the way your body grows and works. Genes are passed from parents to children. Depression is more common in people whose family members have depression.
• Changing Hormone Levels After Pregnancy: Hormones are chemicals in your body that help control your emotions and mood. During pregnancy, your body has higher levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. In the first 24 hours after giving birth, these hormones quickly return to their normal levels. This rapid drop in hormone levels may lead to PPD.
• Low Levels of Thyroid Hormones: The thyroid is a gland in your neck that helps your body use and store energy from food.

Other possible causes include:

• Unplanned pregnancy
• Traumatic delivery
• Preterm birth
• Lack of support
• Complications during pregnancy
• Unmet expectations of motherhood
• History of previous mental health concerns

Postpartum Depression is often used as an umbrella term. However, other types of psychological and emotional problems can occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Symptoms of adjustment difficulties, anxiety, irritability, obsessive thoughts, and compulsive behaviors can first occur without depressive symptoms.

Perinatal and Postpartum Anxiety and Mood Complications occur in every culture, age, income level, and ethnicity.

• 15-21% of pregnant women may experience moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, which usually do not resolve without treatment.
• 21% of women experience major or minor depression following childbirth. Women of lower income and teens have rates up to 61%. Symptoms differ for everyone and may include feelings of sadness, fear, anger, guilt, lack of interest in the baby, difficulty concentrating, and disturbances in sleep and appetite.
• 9% of women experience Posttraumatic Stress after childbirth. Symptoms typically include a traumatic childbirth experience with re-experiencing of the trauma, avoidance of things that remind one of the event, irritability, being easily startled, and flashbacks of the events.

Women who struggle with an opiate use disorder and become pregnant face significant challenges when attempting to engage in treatment, prenatal care, and preparing to care for a baby. These women represent a particularly vulnerable population with high rates of traumatic experiences and even greater rates of concurrent mental health conditions, psychosocial needs, and the need for basic resources.

The systems of care for substance use treatment, mental health care, and obstetric care are often not equipped to manage the complicated and unique needs of this population, leaving most with insufficient or absent care.

Here at RISE, we provide more responsive and patient-centered care, understanding and meeting the needs of this specialized population on all levels. The following guidelines demonstrate our commitment to consistently assessing the mother’s needs and facilitating the coordination of care across all entities. Through these defined values and the efficacy of our practices, we can embrace and support both mother and infant, helping them achieve quality of life, well-being, and spirit.

Benefits of Outpatient Addiction Treatment During Pregnancy:

• Reduces stress on the fetus caused by withdrawal from short-acting opiates, like heroin and pain pills.
• Decreases the risk of overdose to the mother and potential harm to the fetus.
• Decreases the risk of infections and/or exposure to diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV.
• Reduces the mother’s engagement in unsafe practices to obtain drugs.
• Increases the likelihood that the mother will receive prenatal care.
• Increases the chance of the baby developing to full term and being born at a healthy weight.

If appropriate intervention is not provided, poor maternal mental health can have a long-term negative impact on the mother, child, and family.

For more postpartum statistics, visit postpartum.net

For information on Prenatal Outpatient Addiction Treatment including several potential maternal, obstetrical and neonatal benefits, visit SAMHSA.gov, ACOG.org and OhioMHAS.