Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder
Adjusting to the birth of a baby can be challenging. Post Partum Depression and Anxiety (PPD/A) affects 1 in 7 women with symptoms that range from mild to severe. It is the most common complication of childbirth, but it is temporary and treatable.
If you are pregnant or recently had a baby and are experiencing any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, please call us at 732.923.5573.
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Anxiety all or most of the time or panic attacks
- Feeling guilty or worthless
- Sadness/crying frequently
- Loss of pleasure/interest in things you used to enjoy
- Excessive irritability and/or racing, scary thoughts
- Fear of being left alone with the baby, or that you are not a good enough mother
The sooner you contact us for help, the sooner you will start to feel better. Take the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Self-Rating Scale at https://psychology-tools.com/epds/
You are not alone; we can help. If you are in crisis, call the Psychiatric Emergency Screening Service (PESS) — the designated psychiatric screening center for Monmouth County that features Monmouth Medical Center mental health screeners who staff the 24-hour crisis hotline — at 732-923-6999.
The Program
At Monmouth Medical Center we care about your mental health as well as your physical health during your pregnancy and after the delivery of your baby.
The Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders Program addresses many different topics and helps women to understand that this is not your fault and you are not alone. We offer free group support as well as evidence-based psychotherapy. Patients are supported by a multidisciplinary team of experts from psychiatry, nursing and social work and all of our clinicians are certified by Postpartum Support International.
Treatment
We know that the best treatment is delivered through a combination of approaches. This may include individual therapy, medication, support group therapy or all three. We also offer a private Facebook community dedicated to our PPD/A population that provides a peer-to-peer support system. Most insurance plans cover these appointments, although a copayment may be required.
Our Services
- Free mother-to-mother weekly support group
- Individual counseling
- Couples counseling
- Group therapy
- Mother-infant bonding classes/sessions
- Pregnancy group sessions
- Therapy for Dads
- Medication management and evaluation
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Referrals to supportive services
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder Resource