PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM THERAPY IN OTTAWA, ON

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“We have a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful. It’s that women are strong.”
–Laura Stavoe Harm

This isn’t what you had expected. Everyone talks about the joys of motherhood, but that has not been your experience. You’re feeling increasingly overwhelmed and anxious. You can’t seem to shake the feeling that something will go wrong. Maybe you’re having intrusive thoughts about something terrible happening to the baby. You’re having trouble sleeping. You may feel incredibly sensitive, anxious and hypervigilant about everything you do. You may be compulsively researching or asking others about every little thing. Or you may be feeling overwhelmed with all the recommendations and comments from others.

You may not recognize your body anymore and all the focus on it is making you feel uncomfortable. Maybe you feel extremely guilty for taking time for yourself or for not enjoying this pregnancy or postpartum period. You may experience more anger and even rage, which is very unlike you. You may even be experiencing trouble connecting with your baby. You may notice feeling very distressed by your partner and/or family members’ behaviours and experiencing more conflict. You seem to disagree so much. You may even experience low mood and suicidal thoughts.

Or maybe your birth experience was traumatic and you are having a hard time coping with it. You may be experiencing flashbacks or nightmares. You may find yourself hypervigilant and unable to process. You’re avoiding thinking about, feeling, seeing places that remind you of, or talking about your birth experience. You may have trouble sleeping, even when there’s ample opportunities to do so. People tell you “at least you have a healthy baby”, and you think you should be over it, but your experience still haunts you.

Or maybe your heart is broken because you didn’t get to bring your baby home. Having experienced a miscarriage or a stillbirth, you may feel more alone than ever. Maybe you feel extremely sad or angry at the world and nobody seems to understand. People are maybe even pressuring you to “return to normal”, maybe even to try for another baby, when it feels like your whole world has been turned upside down. Maybe you feel ashamed and have the recurrent thought that somehow this is your fault. You feel more isolated from your partner and loved ones. You may be wondering if you’ll ever be happy again.

If you are experiencing active suicidal thoughts, please text or call 9-8-8 for the National Suicide Crisis Line. If you are at risk of harming yourself, please go to the nearest emergency room.

YOU MIGHT BENEFIT FROM PREGNANCY OR POSTPARTUM THERAPY IF:

You’re always worried about the baby.

YOU MIGHT BENEFIT FROM PREGNANCY OR POSTPARTUM THERAPY IF:

It feels like something bad is going to happen.

YOU MIGHT BENEFIT FROM PREGNANCY OR POSTPARTUM THERAPY IF:

You’re not bonding with the baby or are afraid of being alone with the baby.

YOU MIGHT BENEFIT FROM PREGNANCY OR POSTPARTUM THERAPY IF:

You find yourself compulsively cleaning constantly or checking things many times.

YOU MIGHT BENEFIT FROM PREGNANCY OR POSTPARTUM THERAPY IF:

You’re crying a lot and sad.

YOU MIGHT BENEFIT FROM PREGNANCY OR POSTPARTUM THERAPY IF:

You’re feeling guilty, ashamed, or hopeless.

What are the signs and symptoms of perinatal mental health challenges?

Perinatal mental health challenges are often accompanied by these symptoms, but they can vary. Working with a pregnancy or postpartum therapist can help you cope with the symptoms better. Help can go a long way sometimes.

Common signs and symptoms of perinatal mental health challenges include:

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Excessive worry about the baby

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A racing mind and inability to sit still

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Having a hard time sleeping or sleeping too much.

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Noticing a change in appetite and or weight

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Worthlessness or excessive guilt

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Difficulties thinking, concentrating, or make decisions

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Problems getting along with others, including your spouse or partner and other family members.

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Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby

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Upsetting obsessions or intrusive thoughts about the baby.

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Hypervigilance in protecting the baby

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Nightmares or flashbacks

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An intrusive re-experience of a traumatic birth from the past

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Detachment from reality

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Symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and hot flashes

HOW CAN PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM THERAPY SERVICES IN OTTAWA HELP?

We want to help you work through and rise above this tough period in your life

At Uprise Psychology & Wellness, we understand perinatal mental health challenges impact your family’s well-being. Our goal is to help you get back to living a happy family life after perinatal mental health challenges. Our psychologists and therapists have worked with many people who have struggled with perinatal mental health difficulties like pregnancy and postpartum anxiety, pregnancy and postpartum depression, perinatal OCD, birth trauma, and pregnancy loss after a miscarriage or stillbirth. It’s common for people to feel helpless, anxious, and constantly distressed before therapy. Their symptoms improved after therapy, and they were able to get back to living their lives.