Having a baby can be such a rewarding yet challenging experience. Many of the new emotions you may feel are normal but sometimes you may need that extra help.

For many mothers, the experience of pregnancy and childbirth is often followed by sadness, fear, anxiety, and difficulty making decisions. With all the physical changes going on often there are psychological changes as well. Postpartum Depression can be mild, moderate or severe.

Symptoms may occur up to a year at the end of pregnancy. In addition to the pressures to be the perfect mother, common stressors that cause anxiety taking on too much work, worry about the baby, worrying about your parenting ability. After the baby is born each women is affected differently by the postpartum adjustment symptoms, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Many women have the baby blues in the days after childbirth.

New and expectant mothers and fathers feel an array of emotions. Sometimes, however, these feelings can seem overwhelming and individuals may experience the following reactions to their new role as parents.

• Is it hard to smile/laugh?
• Are you unable to enjoy things you normally do enjoy?
• Do you blame yourself for everything that goes wrong?
• Do you worry or feel anxious for no apparent reason?
• Do you feel scared and panicky for no apparent reason?
• Are you so unhappy that you have had difficulty sleeping?
• Do you start to cry for no apparent reason?
• Have you had thoughts of harming yourself or your baby?

If you have had some or all of the above symptoms, please contact:
Anne M. Dennis, MA, LMFT
Specializing in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Prenatal & Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Disorders.
ph: 626.204.4098 email: annedennis@mac.com
Office Address:
 1055 East Colorado Blvd. (
5th Floor)
 Pasadena, CA 91106
www.lapostpartumtherapy.com