What if the “happiest time of your life” doesn’t feel so happy?
Graphics: Photos of mother kissing infant; ultrasound image of fetus; parents with crawling boy; girl hugging pregnant mother’s stomach; woman holding up baby clothes in store while watched by two smiling women.
It seems like everywhere you look, you see happy moms. But the truth is, pregnancy and childbirth can bring a mix of emotions, including feeling sad and feeling overwhelmed. Many women may experience these emotions, which may be signs of depression and anxiety, before and after birth.
Contact a health provide if you experience:
- Intense anger, worry, or unhappiness.
- Extreme mood swings.
- Difficulty caring for yourself or your baby.
- Less interest in things you used to enjoy.
- Changes in your eating or sleeping habits.
Reach out if you don’t feel right.
To learn more, visit nichd.nih.gov/MaternalMentalHealth. To find a mental health provider in your area, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Graphics: logos of HHS, NIH, NICHD, NCMHEP.”
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