If you’re a new mother, you’ve just undergone a physical and emotional transformation that will alter the course of your life forever. It makes sense if you feel sad, overwhelmed, and lost. Becoming responsible for more than just yourself, it can be difficult to navigate changes in identity and self-image. Furthermore, you may have given up aspects of your career or made other sacrifices to start a family.  

The postpartum period is such a tender time for new mothers, often bringing about new and often alarming levels of fear, anxiety, and imbalance. Yet, so many women experience the pressure to put on a happy face and naturally just know how to do what’s expected of them. The reality is that perinatal and postpartum mood disorders are incredibly common, though new mothers typically feel too overwhelmed and ashamed to get help.  

At Lumin, we have therapists on our team who specialize in perinatal and postpartum counseling. We understand that meaningful self-care and support can be the key to finding balance during this crucial time. In understanding and making space for your needs, you can care for your baby in an authentic, loving way that feels satisfying rather than draining. 

If You’re Struggling To Adjust To Motherhood, You’re Not Alone  

While many new mothers feel isolated and inadequate to manage the transition into parenthood, unexpected sadness and mood swings are characteristic of many women’s experiences, regardless of age, race, or background. It’s estimated that at least one in five women will develop a mood disorder before and/or after giving birth and that postpartum depression is experienced by over 12 percent of new moms. [1]  

What Is The Difference Between The “Baby Blues” And More Serious Postpartum Mood Disorders? 

It's important to distinguish between maternal mental health conditions and the “baby blues,” which is a non-disorder that typically lasts for two weeks following delivery. Signs of the baby blues might include crying, feeling overwhelmed, fatigue, and hormone fluctuation. 

On the other hand, perinatal and postpartum mood disorders are longer-lasting and usually more severe. New and expecting mothers may develop anxiety that manifests as physical symptoms like panic, dizziness, and trouble breathing. Postpartum depression—typically characterized by an inability to bond with a new baby effectively—can progress into psychosis if left untreated with counseling and/or medication.  

Unfortunately, many struggling mothers aren’t fully aware of what their symptoms signal and that therapy specific to perinatal and postpartum issues exists. Maternal healthcare is hugely overlooked in our country, especially when it comes to women of color, making mental health support often difficult to access. We live in a society that normalizes the overwhelming stress of motherhood, colored by the comparison culture of social media that leaves many of us with the nagging sensation that we’re doing this all wrong.  

Lumin’s counseling team is staffed by seasoned, hand-selected therapists who can provide you with skills and solutions for navigating the postpartum period. In learning how to identify your emotions, foster balance, and protect your relationships, you can make a healthy, aware adjustment into parenthood.  

Lumin Specializes In Perinatal And Postpartum Therapy   

Welcoming a baby is a chaotic and messy endeavor. You are learning an entirely new set of skills, most of which don’t come with a manual, while also balancing the everyday demands of human life. Therapy allows you to feel supported by an experienced, nonjudgmental clinician as you figure out how to make room for yourself and your baby.  

Our therapists can help you differentiate between normal, expected thoughts and behaviors and those that need adjusting. Along the way, you’ll learn essential coping skills that prevent you from engaging in unhealthy patterns and greatly increase attachment with your baby.  

What To Expect 

We use an integrated counseling approach designed to be both solution-focused and informative about what your mind and body are going through. By offering you psychoeducation about the effect of hormonal changes and other stressors on mood and outlook, therapy can help to normalize your perinatal/postpartum experience.  

From there, we will customize tools you can draw from in and out of the counseling space. Alongside coping strategies that will effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in real time, you will also learn skills for communicating your needs, mitigating conflict, regulating emotions, and solving problems.  

With the right therapy, you can feel supported and empowered on your postpartum journey. You are more than your thoughts and fears; you can flourish in motherhood. All it takes is the ability to ask for help and the knowledge that you are never alone in this process.  

Still Unsure If Postpartum Counseling Is Right For You?   

My partner thinks I need time to adjust to motherhood—there’s no need for therapy. 

If your symptoms have persisted beyond two weeks following delivery or you are concerned by the severity of your symptoms, it’s important to be seen by a mental health professional. Without treatment for postpartum depression, symptoms can spiral into serious concerns, and the occurrence of paternal depression is significantly increased. Signs of paternal depression among new dads often include irritability, aggression, “checking out,” and avoiding responsibilities.  

It’s important to keep both parents’ mental health in check to ensure effective communication, emotional safety, and healthy bonding between parent and child.  

I’m worried you will think I am unfit to parent if I share some of the thoughts I’ve been having.  

Postpartum symptoms can cause new mothers to experience severe mood swings and frightening thoughts about harming themselves or their babies. When symptoms progress into postpartum psychosis, women can develop delusions, hallucinations, extreme confusion, and psychotic behaviors. If psychosis occurs, it’s very likely related to bipolar disorder, making it all the more essential to seek treatment.  

Our therapists know how to screen for various postpartum conditions and understand that your thoughts are not actions. You are doing the right thing by seeking help, and the more honest you can be about what you think and feel, the more customized—and thus effective—the treatment process will be.  

I shouldn’t be taking the time for therapy right now—the postpartum period should be focused on my baby.  

When you are well, chances are your baby will be too. Alternatively, if you are suffering, your baby is very likely impacted. By this measure, focusing on yourself and your well-being automatically translates to caring for your baby.  

Giving yourself permission to participate in the self-care of therapy will not only equip you with coping and stress management skills you can use for life, but it can also greatly reduce the possibility of child harm and neglect down the line.   

Get What You Need To Mother With Awareness, Intention, And Care

Lumin specializes in counseling for women who have developed symptoms of perinatal and/or postpartum mood disorders. To find out more about our approach or to learn more about our perinatal/postpartum therapists, ​contact us. 

[1]https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/womeninfants/pmad/index.html#:~:text=In%20the%20US%2C%20one%20in,of%20depression%20after%20giving%20birth.