SEATTLE — Mental health issues are one of the most common pregnancy-related complications. During Maternal Mental Health Month, Overlake is highlighting the importance of focusing on your mental health and getting treatment if needed.
“There’s kind of a growing movement to integrate mental healthcare within obstetric care to ease access and expand access,” said Marissa Abrahams, ARNP at The Overlake Childbirth Center.
Perinatal depression is most common in the first three months postpartum but can also begin during pregnancy or up to a year postpartum.
“I hope we’re making steps towards decreasing the stigma around perinatal mental health issues because they’re so common, and it’s not something anyone chooses,” Abrahams said.
Symptoms of depression include persistently low mood, inability to experience joy, feelings of shame or guilt, changes in sleep or appetite and loss of motivation. Symptoms of anxiety, which is also common, include an inability to control worries or relax, irritability, tension, panic attacks and upsetting intrusive thoughts.
It’s important to discuss your mental health with your OBGYN team if you’re experiencing symptoms during pregnancy or up to a year postpartum, or if you have a history of significant mental health issues prior to pregnancy. If you’re a patient at Overlake, you can ask your OBGYN or nurse for a referral to mental health services at the Parent and Baby Care Center.
A provider at Overlake, like a psychiatric nurse practitioner, will meet with you for an initial mental health evaluation to determine what treatments might be most helpful. That could include medication, and there are many options considered safe and compatible with pregnancy and lactation. For many, therapy and lifestyle and behavioral interventions are central to their care.
“We really want people to know that they are not alone in this and there are a range of options available to really change the trajectory for their health and for baby’s health,” Abrahams said.
To get more information about perinatal mental health services at Overlake, visit the Overlake website.
Sponsored by Overlake Medical Center
Segment Producer Joseph Suttner. Watch New Day Northwest 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.