Postpartum and Perinatal OCD?

Postpartum and Perinatal OCD?

OCD that occurs immediately after childbirth is called postpartum OCD.

OCD that occurs during pregnancy is called perinatal OCD.

Within this sub-type, obsessions and compulsions can focus on a persons newborn/unborn child or infant. Obsessions and fears may be present about the baby getting hurt or contaminated. Doubt and overthinking is present in this sub-type that would lead a person to engage in a compulsive behavior. Compulsions are rituals/behaviors that offer relief from the obsessions. Engaging in the compulsion can reduce the anxiety and provide short term relief. A person is more likely to seek that short term relief with the compulsion, and look to reinforce the OCD cycle that keeps them stuck. Compulsions in this sub type can include checking, mental rituals, avoidance and reassurance seeking behaviors. Compared to other sub types of OCD that might develop more gradually. This sub type might develop more rapidly as it coincides with pregnancy, birth and being a new parent.

Common OCD Signs:

• OCD symptoms that start or worsen around the time or pregnancy or delivery.

• Obsessions involving the fear of harm coming to the unborn or newborn infant.

• Fear that you might harm the baby even when you don’t really want to.

• Avoiding certain activities with the baby.

• Compulsions meant to control or stop the obsessional thoughts.

• Feeling overwhelmed by the obsessions and compulsions.

• Trouble sleeping because of obsessions and compulsive urges.

• Interference with taking care of the child.

Common Obsessions with Postpartum OCD:

• The thought of ones baby dying in their sleep- (S.I.D.S)

• Images of dead babies.

• Thoughts of the baby dying.

• Thoughts of harm happening to their baby-choking, drowning.

Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, urges, doubts and fears that cause distress. Obsessions and distress are more likely to cause a person to engage in a compulsive behavior in order to get relief from the distress of the obsession.

Common Compulsions with Postpartum OCD:

• Checking behaviors- checking the baby over and over again.

• Avoidance.

• Mental repetition- repeating prayers or mantras often.

• Researching- Google searches, online forums, online groups.

• Reassurance seeking behaviors- seeking reassurance from the child, their partner, their loved ones, or friends.

Treatment for Postpartum/Perinatal OCD:

Treatment for this sub-type of OCD, like all forms of OCD is the gold standard of treatment, exposure and response prevention (ERP). Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) looks at the idea that triggering situations and thoughts are at the core of OCD. Ongoing exposure to these triggers without engagement in rituals can reduce the severity felt. As a licensed mental health therapist trained in ERP, I will assist you through the exposures and how to implement effective response prevention measures. If you feel that OCD has had a negative impact on your life, you might consider counseling and ERP to learn how to handle it more effectively. Please feel free to reach out for a free consultation, where we can discuss impacts of OCD and benefits of counseling/ER

Further information and help?

• IOCDF’s Perinatal OCD Resource Center (iocdf.org/perinatal-ocd)

• 2020 Mom (2020mom.org/maternal-ocd)

• Postpartum Support International (postpartum.net)

• Maternal OCD (maternalocd.org)