Postpartum Anxiety and Postpartum OCD

[@rockwellantonette4238]

Anxiety happens when you think you have to figure out everything all at once . Breathe . You're strong . You got this . Take it day by day .

[@central_scrutinizr]

My firstborn is almost 2 now, and I still have horrifying intrusive thoughts - never of me harming him, but of horrible things happening to him. They’re so unspeakable I can’t share them, because I don’t want to put these thoughts in anyone else’s head. They’re like movies that play in my head, and they leave me in tears. I don’t want to see them anymore. I’m so tired

[@alliedragoo2546]

Praying for you. I am sorry. Remember, they're just thoughts. They're not real.

[@OrthoLady]

Do you still have this? I have the exact same thing and I refuse to put the thoughts into words, as well. It’s so awful to deal with.

[@alliescozyquest]

How are you now?

[@central_scrutinizr]

Hi everyone, I didn’t have my notifications on so didn’t see these replies until just now. My son is 3 now and I still deal with my mind running away from me and envisioning horrible possibilities, but I think the frequency has decreased a bit, and I’ve gotten better at catching myself and saying (sometimes out loud to myself) “Stop, that’s not happening, it’s not gonna happen, that’s not real.” So it hasn’t exactly gone away but I’m a little better at coping with it. I think I’ve reached a more comfortable point of acceptance & detachment from the thoughts. I’ve grown to accept that it’s probably just a permanent re-wiring of my brain since becoming a mother, that comes from the good and necessary skill of constantly scanning his environment for possible danger. The world can be a very scary place and I guess this anxiety is just part of what happens when you have a tiny human you created that you love more than anything! Accepting that helps lessen the power of the scary thoughts. I can say “oh, that’s just my brain doing its silly thing again. It will pass soon.”

[@alexandriaofatlantis]

Thank you so much for this. I’m an overly sensitive, sexually repressed, sleep deprived mother of a 2 month-old & 13 month-old with no friends or family in the town I’m raising my babies. I thought I was going crazy, but this gives me hope. You’re doing the Lord’s work. ❤

[@gracieannvela2539]

Tearing reading this. Going through it myself and also raising 2 babies in a city I don't have any family or friends

[@lovebug8482]

I have newborn twins. Does this get better??

[@missmoonbeam4023]

Oh my gosh , same boat!

[@everbejoyful]

This was me. Anxiety hit me out of nowhere after the birth of my 4th child. It was so scary. My last birth was traumatic and included nights in a row with little to no sleep. It was awful. And not a single doctor addressed how thid was effecting my mental health. Instead they tried to give me large doses of caffeine to treat the spinal headaches i experienced. Thank you for talking about this.

[@JoyBeforeHer]

THANK YOU! I’ve struggled with anxiety before being a mom, but after having my baby I felt like all my inner fears came up to the surface in an overwhelming way. I’m working through it but it helps that you’re spreading awareness so thank you 🫶🏼

[@gutmicrobiomequeen]

Congrats on your 4th, Emma! 🥰 Thank you for making these amazing videos!

[@TherapyinaNutshell]

Thank you so much!!

[@idamariapaavaliina]

Oh my.. My baby just turned one and I've been so stressed, haven't slept well at all, isolated and constantly afraid of something. Everything! All the time! It's been so exhausting and it's been already a year and still can't function properly. Just been beating myself up for being weak and never new this was a thing... Thank you so much for this, I think this opened a door for me.🍀🙆🏻‍♀️

[@alinap771]

Yes. I had it too. I thought it was the baby blues and not post partum depression, but I think I had what you’re talking about: the huge anxiety. I felt like crying in less than 24hrs after C-section, and the need to cry was still there after 3 weeks.I felt sad, not happy, worried about sids too, worried about breastfeeding(which was hard)worried about anything bad that could happen to my baby.I felt ugly when I came home and took my first shower, I felt lonely. I didn’t understand why everyone was calling me to congratulate me in the first 2 days, when in reality I was feeling so low and worried. The sleep deprivation only makes everything worse. I spent the first 4 nights after the C-section in the hospital and I am not sure if had any sleep at all. I automatically started feeling extremely bad about myself, like everyone around me knew everything about newborns, how to change their diaper, how to bathe them, how and when to feed them, except me.I constantly felt like I was the worst one in there. And it was very hard on me to feel all that sadness and to have so many insecurities, while I couldn’t get any visitors, because those were the rules…so yes, I definitely had postpartum anxiety. I also remember the first bath I had to do on my own at home. I was extremely anxious, especially because I knew he would cry. And, oh my Goodness, the crying was always there. I was almost petrified about giving my newborn his first bath. I felt it like a very hard thing to do, I didn’t feel prepared at all, but I did it.

[@lbali2896]

I had a c section too and was in hospital for days after, I do think this makes things much worse. I hope you're feeling better now? I'm just sad I missed out on all that time with my baby being anxious and sad and I'll never get that time back.

[@amoylovey2881]

How did you guys overcome it

[@amoylovey2881]

Especially the sleep

[@TrialTappersMentalHealthTips]

This message is so important for both mothers and fathers to understand.

[@laurenmacarthur3425]

After the birth of my first, I had severe post-partum anxiety for a year, but didn't realize it until my baby turned one and the symptoms started to improve. I wasn't able to sleep for 3 days after coming home from the hospital because I was afraid the baby would stop breathing. By then I was nearly hysterical and made my husband swear on his life to stay awake with the baby while I slept. After that, the only way I slept was by convincing myself that his bed was the safest place he could be. I had to get a thermostat to keep our room at exactly 70 degrees, and had frequent flashes and fears of something terrible happening to the baby. I don't think I had any of the risk factors mentioned in the video for post-partum anxiety, but I was anxious about doing something to hurt the baby during pregnancy and then had a traumatic birth where we were afraid we might lose the baby. When I finally got better, I couldn't believe that nobody had caught how much I had been struggling and been able to help me.

[@WhisperedDelightsASMR]

So much happens to our bodies, especially when pregnant, giving birth and afterward. We need to get to a point in our culture where we stop stigmatizing our bodies and what they go through.

[@allycat6141]

Congrats on baby #4! I developed health anxiety after my second was born early and spent 10 days in NICU. It didn’t get any better after my 3rd and 9 years later I still struggle. My middle one is down with a stomach bug today and my anxiety has been messing with me all day. I agree, more mothers need to be taught about this. Maybe if I had, I would have sought help sooner instead of just assuming that I was “just a worry wart.”

[@lbali2896]

I wish I'd seen this video after I'd had my baby. My post natal anxiety was horrendous. I was told I had post natal depression, but I knew that wasn't right. I couldn't sleep, had constant disturbing intrusive thoughts and ocd. I felt like the worst mother on the planet and couldn't understand why I was so different to every other family member who had multiple children and were fine. My own mother gossiped about me telling everyone I wasn't coping, but offered little help. No one understood. My lo is 8 years old now, I never had another child, I couldn't do it again. I still struggle with old and intrusive thoughts. It does get better though and you offer very good advice. Sleep if you can and meet other new mums, even if you're knackered.x

[@TheTayseen]

DMER, I HAD THAT....

[@TheTayseen]

Omg...i still struggle to especially when i am ok now 20 years later i keep revisiting the time and thoughts to reassure myself i am ok but sometimes i get stuck :(

[@sarahmc8309]

This is me ! To a T! My son is 7 and only figured all this out now . It ended my relationship with my sons dad as just kept telling me to “ get over it “ I was in car crash before I gave birth too 😩😌

[@qay7586]

Wow currently going thru this

[@onefortears19]

Hi Emma! Thank you for this video, I am pregnant right now and due to suffering of anexiety disorder and depression in the past I am very scared that this will happen to me again during pregnancy or post partum. Thank you for all the effort you put in your materials, you are changing my life in good.

[@kathrynjoseph3331]

Thank you for posting. I am 3 mo PP and have been feeling so anxious!

[@SM-ic9xy]

Thank you so much for talking about this!! I had mild PPA for my first two, and then it just went off the rails for my third, full on anxiety attacks. I wasn’t even sure what I was dealing with at the time. I did get help though and I hope that every new mom reaches out even if she think she’s crazy.

[@xxluaxx6]

Yup. I’m a licensed social worker. It was my second baby. I was WORKING in infant mental health. I was seeing a therapist, my OB, chiropractor, PT, pediatrician. I had to self diagnose my PPOCD from online education and seek out a specialist who then immediately confirmed it. WHY. Why why why.

[@queenofhearts7507]

Did you get better? Did you take medication

[@artistjazz]

What helped me...I kept telling myself "now is not forever!" I feel bad now, but its just, for now, I wont feel this way later,, its gonna get easier, I'm going to get better. And it worked! My anxiety dropped. I had insomnia, OCD, checking, fear of sids or if I fell asleep breast feeding and smothered him, or if I was in too deep sleep and he cried and i didn't hear him (my husband is a heavy sleeper) so I thought it was up to me to be my own hero and my sons hero. then with corona! Sheesh!!! I was at the precipice! I couldn't work, so my credit cards got used and we caught Covid! my son has Febrile seizures when he gets a fever! so that was terrifying! and NO ONE MENTIONED ANY OF THIS TO ME. they just kept saying..you sleep when the baby sleeps..worst advice ever given. when its not possible because your "watching" to make sure your baby wakes up. I was prescribed SSRI when he was 2 but never took them. I started looking at the root of my anxiety and found out so much came from my family and upbringing. Now that's fixed i feel great! Your doing great! what a great mom to try to find answers and figure things out! your not alone! LOTS of parents go through this. and NOW is for sure not forever! even though it may feel like it. be nice to yourself! treat yourself more kindly! your Your Babys MAMA! Baby wants mama to be happy and well too! And you are MORE than enough of a great mom and take things one day at a time.

[@kristinadalia]

Did you overcome this? How did you do it without medication? Asking as a struggling mama just prescribed a med that I really don't want to take.

[@artistjazz]

@@kristinadalia Literally with all honesty and transparency. I had to, just HAD to figure out WHERE THE HECK any of these thoughts where coming from. and it was from childhood stuff. I found a therapist and talk therapy helped! I didn't have to take any medication but I had to start exercising as a top TOP priority. which meant getting up early while I had the time. and drinking green tea which helped with inflammation and I tried CBD which worked great giving me a bit more space to breathe. and I told myself as if I was someone giving me advice i needed. Now..is not forever. literally its a drop in an ocean of experiences and being with your child. so Breath, deeply and if you feel like yelling, go inside the car and turn up the music and yelllllll! lol

[@GutierrezBrenda721]

My grandma and aunts and even my mom always suggested B complex injections for this. I never tried it until my last baby, and it worked! Obviously mom intuition and worries can happen specially when sleep deprived but I could tell it was a becoming a problem so I needed to fix it and I’m so glad I did it. I’ve heard many women’s vitamin B lower and in some extreme cases have lead to postpartum psychosis. If anything, keep taking your prenatal vitamins and talk to someone.

[@Sidra.Ehsan1217]

Hey! How many injections did you take for this ?

[@mtrahan0209]

This is so needed. I didn’t realize I’d developed postpartum anxiety until it got to the point that ANY body ache va me cancer, and I’d get so angry I would want to hit my baby. I knew something was wrong but I didn’t know what. And it got worse when I day-weaned after going back to work at a year. Turned into chronic depression and anxiety that I STILL struggle with 8 years later. Luckily I have a great support system now.

[@nauselbaum23]

Can you tell me how you got a support system? I feel like I’m on an island.

[@marjamerryflower]

Thank you so much, Emma. You look so radiant. We love you and your way of talking with us, like a sister and a friend.

[@mdlmomma9167]

This is a great video. I think a lot of women actually have undiagnosed post-partum PTSD. We don't really acknowledge the trauma that women experience in difficult births.

[@DanZigs79]

Great topic and an excellent summary. It might we worth adding that obsessions of harming the baby are common and normal. Let's not forget that dads can get postpartum mood and anxiety disorders too!

[@vb3444]

Thank you so much, Emma, for addressing this problem. Living under a grey cloud of constant worry and racing thoughts is horrible. I hope more studies and research are done on PPA, and postpartum women have ready tools to deal with anxiety. God bless you for helping people to be informed about common mental illnesses and how to deal with them. Keep serving mankind!

[@lauramoore8823]

I said to my therapist, while pregnant, that I was partly grateful for the intense OCD I'd had and worked through over the previous 2 years. I cannot begin to explain how valuable it was to me to have already had the training and toolkit I do. I didn't even realize that no one checked for PPA at our appointments, PPD yes, but not PPA. To me, it was just a me-thing that I knew how to have. I didn't realize how prevalent it is.

[@mburton17]

I love this video!! I wish I had this years ago, thank you Emma!! I do want to add that these things also happen to mothers who miscarry…it’s so sudden and tragic and oh so may emotions flooded me!! I had all the hormones going crazy too. Sometimes when we don’t get to bring our baby home or when they are born too early(mine was 12 weeks) most physicians call it normal or common but no one could help me, only God got me through it. My anxiety was ridiculous!! I’m hoping to see therapy being more used for new moms and moms who miscarry.

[@Bri-wc4ib]

Thank you for acknowledging this. I was so anxious postpartum to the point of panic attacks every time I would wake up. My doctors only cared about asking about feelings of depression, which I didn't experience. I felt very alone in my terrible anxiety and WISH someone had prepared me for that or had ideas of how to help.

[@Lindzk146]

The anxiety! No one talks about it. Thank you for addressing this! It was really hard for my husband to grasp this too. It’s hard to explain sometimes.

[@lh8508]

Yes! Especially after our colicky baby didn’t allow me to sleep but 10 hours in 3 days after weeks of horrible sleep. Three months was my breaking point. I also got obsessive about losing weight and forcing my baby to learn to sleep. My milk supply diminished and he was almost failure to thrive. That was enough to snap me out of it enough to realize I needed help. We’re years beyond that now but, it’s like it was yesterday.

[@cecilia_zamudio1319]

Did you take any medication?

[@anaguevara1900]

Thank you for talking about this! My daughter is now 2 and I’m finally feeling a little more calm. I wish I would have known this too would pass. FYI I was on anti depressants while pregnant and after. I was scared of SIDS

[@akhilaadimulam1895]

I’m currently 7 months pregnant can u please guide me on the prenatal anxiety and intrusive thoughts and images I get in freak out with those images and start crying

[@cassieoz1702]

Congratulations on baby #4🎆 Interesting. I have similar intrusive, anxious thoughts as a Grandma. When the littlies come to stay with me at the farm, I spend the time being hypervigilant and anxious, and dealing with 'what if' anxious thoughts

[@amandalynch9567]

I had peripartum anxiety during my first pregnancy. And then I had postpartum anxiety and OCD after my third. I had never heard anyone talk about it before, and it was so hard! I eventually started taking medication, which helped remarkably.

[@seongfamily]

Are you good now

[@juliebarnes2591]

Yep totally get it. The realisation of what you are responsible for is mindblowing & as I chose to be a stay at home mum didnt help. I have not been able to drive on a motorway since my first son was born 28yrs ago! My mum says it was easier having kids in the the 50/60s than now!

[@azlizzie]

This gives me many things to think about. And makes me want to call my therapist. To help me unravel some of the tumultuous times post family members having children. 😳 I had to watch it a second time to write about all of the thoughts it brought up.

[@saraht8503]

Thank you so much for your video's. This one in particular resonates withme. I got ocd as soon as i knew i was expecting and still suffering now 21years later Congratulations on the birth of your baby

[@Amanda.Jayne.]

Wow this is spot on. My son is 7 now and looking back on the past few years, this is exactly how I felt. After his first year I started to get OCD when he started crawling because I worry about germs (contamination). I’m trying to break it now because it’s been with me since and just got progressively worse and I’ve started getting panic attacks this last year. I’m just tired of having to deal with it, it’s really exhausting. Your channel is so helpful to me trying to get through this. Thank you 😊

[@monicahicks4337]

I remember a nurse telling me I was at high risk for post partum depression after my son was born 25 years ago. Interrupted bonding after rough delivery. I thought I don't have time for that. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is real. I discovered it a few years ago. PMS Harmony can/may help, natural supplement. PP anxiety new to me. I'm a nurse. I do agree sleep is critical for nerve repair. It also takes a team for sure. Supermom doesn't exist.

[@andreacatura3382]

My first and only child is about to turn 16 and it wasn’t until the last few months that I had even heard about postpartum anxiety. I am certain I had extreme postpartum anxiety on top of newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis and because no one understood what was happening, I had absolutely no support. As a result of experiencing such trauma, I now have PTSD around anybody needing anything of me which I also have no idea how to treat. I have seen many therapists and yet the PTSD continues. I just saw your PTSD treatment video and am looking forward to exploring some avenues.

[@mellowyellowcello]

Thank you so much for this! I’m pregnant for the first time, and know I have to watch out for issues since I’m predisposed to mood disorders. I love all of your content, and would love any more pregnancy/ new mom videos!

[@SoloMotivation]

*Must Read For Everyone* The way you think and feel about yourself, your goals and expectations for the future, and how you interact with the world around you can all have a massive effect on your success (or failure). *So think positive to all your endeavors because success is through a positive mindset* Thanks for reading. I LOVE YOU 💝❤️

[@Ranevashi]

I'm a Brazilian and Brazil got the fucking record on the most anxious and depressed people, caraio ganhamo 🤣, if you are there bro or sis, just listen to that woman on all of her videos, she is a blessing .

[@mastiffmom2592]

I know my body. Most of us do. I know if something’s wrong with me or if I’m just having a hard time. I’ve fought a&d for 30+ years, off and on. I know how it feels together and separately. There was a point in time when 2 different doctors told me that where there’s smoke, there’s fire. I was NOT depressed, I was overly anxious, yes there is a difference. I was like that for quite some time. Both doctors said that anxiety and depression run hand in hand. I was only fighting anxiety, not depression but neither of them would listen to me and both of them gave me more antidepressants, “With anti anxiety components”. I did finally get a script for benzos and when I did, I weaned myself off of them immediately without telling the doctor... I don’t recommend that! I was good, I felt good, thought better and lost the brain fog. Thank you for confirming that I know how I feel.

[@fayerichards6088]

Thank you!! For this video!! I got told by my doctor just part being new mom. But i felt the insomnia and anxiety was not normal.

[@amyl7674]

I didn't have a chance to watch as not topical atm for me, but I had this and I'm so happy to hear you talking about this. Thank you!

[@rachelvillalobos7343]

My son is 23 years old and this is the first time I’ve heard someone make that connection of postpartum OCD. Every therapist I’ve ever been to looked at me like I had two heads when I tried to make that connection

[@thelowrys2007]

Thank you so much for this. I have been following you for just over a year now and have lost track of how many times I’ve shared your content! I’m so excited to share this with the moms I work with! ❤

[@jasenkettle4215]

I'm a new father and my son just turned one a couple weeks ago. Even though I wasn't the one who gave birth, I have experienced every single one of these symptoms. I am obsessed with cleaning and disinfecting so as not to contaminate anyone, I feel on edge all the time, I'm seriously lacking sleep, I get sick constantly, what if I'm not a good dad or what if he resents me when he gets older because I'm so obsessive, I have major intrusive thoughts and worry about things constantly. So much so, I am very suicidal over it. I have felt this way since about a week after his arrival - I've been like this for over a year. I thought it would be gone by now.

[@Find-Your-Wellness-With-Me]

You are not alone, my hubby has the symptoms but not me. He is moderate but it still creates the issues and there is a constant tention.

[@courtneycaswell1628]

Hi Jasen, I went through a lot of the same feelings postpartum. Medication made a huge difference for me. I also learned that the meds won't work their best unless you stay hydrated, eat protein at every meal, and get a good night's sleep, so I'm working on those aspects now. I am so sorry to hear you feel suicidal, I have been there. But I couldn't imagine anyone having to explain to my kid why his parent isn't there. Please get help, I really recommend seeing a psychiatrist, they have so much more knowledge and experience with this than a family doctor. You are a great dad and your baby loves you. They just want our time and attention, we don't have to be the best, we just need to be there for them.

[@Spiralnebel_GB]

Thanks for your time you take to educate us 🫶

[@Life_42]

I love this channel so much!

[@Gregandhisboys]

I’ve never clicked on a video so quickly based on the title alone. I never knew PP OCD was a thing until my 2nd son. -mama here on husbands account-

[@bonitagleisle2470]

My daughter is 12 and this anxiety hasn’t gone away…. Just started Zoloft hoping it helps… if you have this don’t let this go on to long it doesn’t go away on its own….

[@BobbieLou]

Going through anxiety as well since my baby was born 1.5 years ago. Hoping it would go away on its own but it’s not at all. Is the Zoloft helping?

[@bonitagleisle2470]

Yes it did help a lot ! I will be honest with you I stopped taking it because I felt no anxiety but I also felt nothing at all. Not happy not sad just nothing. It felt strange to me. I took it for about three months and stopped. I do wonder if I kept taking it if that would have gone away but a big side effect is the numb feeling I’ve heard. I was on the lowest dose too. I may start again at some point because the anxiety is back. You need to try it for yourself and see if it’s worth it for you. I will tell you the anxiety won’t go away on it’s own, mine only got worse. Now it’s different worried every time my daughter leaves the house. It’s really hard.

[@BobbieLou]

@@bonitagleisle2470 thank you for getting back to me. It’s so frustrating & I don’t know what to do to stop it. I had postpartum preeclampsia after the baby was born & it seemed to have clicked something on in my brain with the intense fear. Coupled with severe sleep deprivation over the last 1.5 years & im a total mess. I can’t sleep even when the baby sleeps, I feel very lightheaded often, jittery, foggy brained, & my eyes just seem off sometimes. II’ve never felt so bad in my life. It’s insane how many women go through this & we’re thrown to the wolves to figure it out alone.

[@carolinechapman8984]

I wish I'd heard this 25 years ago when I had twins! I hardly slept for many many months in fear the babies would wake up for a feed! When they woke up from their daytime sleep it was hellish too as they cried for 30 minutes! It was sooooo isolating too being a parent and hardvto get out anywhere. I decided later on that it was an adjustment disorder 😆 . I coped by booking them into a daycare centre and returning to work 2 dpw. For some reason I dreaded picking up my children from daycare because I had to face the relentlessness of being a parent......anyway I survived and so have they. I love them dearly and always have.

[@suzannortega6671]

Gave birth 5 times , did not experience ANY pp depression or anxiety until they grew up & started moving out!! It’s very difficult- What I wouldn’t give to have them little again! Those are actually the good days…

[@beachblues2155]

Bravo! Thanks for addressing so many need to talk about subjects. God bless!

[@nmash6835]

Thank for this video I'm going through this right now

[@KikiQ84]

I thought I had post-partum anxiety. I tried to practice calming techniques, yoga, meditate... it began to control me but I never said anything. 5 yes later I found out it was intermittent Afib. I felt so stupid for not knowing it was something more then anxiety. But because of it, I did and am still dealing with anxiety even though the Afib has been fixed. It's better then it was, but still trying to shake the anxiety completely.

[@anaguevara1900]

Congrats on your 4th!! ❤️

[@LA-so4qz]

I would also add to this postpartum anger or rage. That's even less spoke about ..

[@letsgofishingene]

Dad's have too.

[@priscillianzerem5827]

And it's sad that people don't give dad's attention. Hang in there😢

[@jaclyncritesJesuslovesyou]

Congratulations on your 4th baby!! 🥳

[@brodelicious]

There’s so much silence on this I didn’t even know these were a thing?

[@katelynb5985]

Thank you. I got post partem ocd after my 3rd baby and have been working through it for 3 years now.

[@PeaceboneGotFound]

If you're ever taking suggestions for video topics, I would love to hear your thoughts about managing PMS and PMDD!

[@nilufertalibova]

Love your sincere and emotional talking Emma! Though I'm single, I enjoyed watching your explanation😍

[@MrTheRachy]

I was awake the first 4 days after my daughter (not by choice) and continue to have insomnia 19 months later. When the sleep deprivation is worse the intrusive thoughts are worse. It’s interesting how much sleep affects it.

[@akhilaadimulam1895]

I’m still pregnant at 7th month and have been facing these intrusive thoughts and images since 3 months it’s very difficult to get over please tell me if there is a good way to over this

[@CF.]

Me too, I was hyper vigilant for 14 months after I had my first child. I was afraid something was going to happen to him while I was asleep. It was awful.

[@heidilarson6925]

Our daughter had her first in April. She's off the charts worrying over the growth charts and "failure to thrive" as her breast fed baby is fussy and is on the low end of the growth charts. She bought a scale and weighs her at least daily if not more. I don't know how to help her. Her cortisol levels are likely affecting the baby, making her more fussy, more sleep deprived and the cycle continues and gets worse.

[@j0yfulblessings]

Also Prenatal depression and/or anxiety is a thing. I hear it talked about even less than postpartum, especially Prenatal Anxiety I thought i was crazy when I was pregnant with my 2nd. My health care providers were very dismissive and I had no support. It was a scary time and it made labor and the early weeks with my newborn absolutely horrible. Not to mention all the dread and fear leading up to it.

[@jamiehackney5619]

This video covers all the reasons why I’m scared to even try for a second baby because my first pregnancy/postpartum experience nearly killed me. He’s 2.5 years old now and I’m STILL struggling even after trying meds that didn’t help and therapy

[@nikitaa7]

Thanks for your videos .. i hope you are healthy and happy !

[@dee5356]

Thank you for such an important, informative and extremely well done video.Your personal insights are much appreciated as always.

[@renatabaidoc8381]

Congrats on the baby wish you all the best. I just want to say I love you and all your videos I had the blessing of finding your channel when i was most in need of suport and explanation because i didn't know whats happening i tought that i was having health problems but turned out to be Anxiety.I just want to say thank you for explaining it so well. P.S. still struggling with anxiety but not quit sever as before.Thank you🙏

[@abrilfranco6768]

I had it, thank you for talking about it

[@Find-Your-Wellness-With-Me]

Emma, seriously, you need to record same video for dads. My hubby drives me crazy. I don't know what to do and how to help him.

[@nmash6835]

I feel like im losing my mind and I can't sit still.

[@raimeyewens7518]

I never knew this was a thing. I absolutely had this. I still feel like I do a little bit. When my son was born 28 years ago I thought everything was dirty. I couldn’t sleep well for a year after each child was born because of the fear of sids. I had 5 children. I had a bad germphobia I never had before children. I always worried about something awful happening if I was away from them. I really wish I’d known about this before. This whole time I thought I went off the deep end 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@Rochellesvlog12]

Currently experiencing that right now.

[@jimiandersen6962]

Uhm... I'm actually a man so sorry for interrupting. When we had our daughter 18 years ago I was confronted with -obviously- fatherhood. I never had a dad or any male role model when growing up so really I had no idea what was expected of me. On the night I realized what was about to happen - my entire life would change. Oh the feeling of dread and panic! In the months after the birth my wife was in a mother-group. No father-groups. A nurse would visit and she was very focused on mother and baby, which is perfectly understandable, but man I felt invisible. I'm sorry if I sound egocentric but I would wish if just once someone would have asked me 'How are you doing?'.

[@juliajacklin5584]

How are you doing now? Eighteen years later? I find your comment heartwarming.

[@pandorasmagicbox]

Hi! I think you've answered a question I had for the longest time. My boyfriend and his exwife divorced 9 months after having a baby. She has a history of depression and she became obsessed with the child and would blame my boyfriend for not taking care of the baby under irrational claims. I guess she was feeling anxious as he is a good father. She is raising the child in a very overprotected way. She doesn't let him go on the slide alone (he is 7 yo), he can't go to birthday parties or school trips...

[@veronicaguzman4668]

Agreed. Also during pregnancy so much emotional and physical changes and nobody explained how dangerous can be. I had a hard way through it and I end it up with a premature baby with lots of women in the same situation.

[@TheTayseen]

DMER...i had that, only knew 20 years later:(((( Terrifying intrusive thoughts from nowhere. I didn't know what and how and wrote down my thoughts to differentiate reality from the thoughts...it was hell...my intrusive thoughts were about reality...😭

[@brendaababey]

My anxiety is over babies sleep. When she doesn’t sleep as “expected” I get so stressed , why isn’t she napping well ? Is she hungry ? I did everything right . I get obsessed with coming home on time to avoid overtiredness and avoid long trips because I don’t want to deal with upset baby in the car ☹️

[@zen_mindset1]

My anxiety became worse after baby 2.

[@womanclothedinthesunq7574]

Congratulations 🎉👏🎉👏🎉👏🎉👏 shared love from Albuquerque.

[@akhilaadimulam1895]

I’m suffering with severe prenatal anxiety due to Intrusive thoughts and images flashing in front of me and looking out for someone to help me Because prenatal intrusive thoughts are not so common Please guide me on this

[@CheIverson]

How are you now what has helped?

[@TheTayseen]

Please talk about DMER...that milk letdown causes the severe anxiety and thoughts each time🤯

[@annkay4700]

Thank you 💕

[@KenDavis761]

A good mate's partner developed severe post-partum obsessive jealousy, bordering on psychosis. Destroyed his marriage and he hasn't seen his kid in 4 years. $40k on absolutely useless family court.

[@indrakamalyadav2921]

Let's go Emma you are amazing

[@juliecostello42]

Why does no one speak out? "Because change is scary, and people are cowards"

[@Rima_41___345]

استفدت جدا من فيديوهاتك شكرا لك..

[@soggymoggytravels]

Congratulations!!!

[@vp2618]

Thank you. I’m struggling again with my second baby at 9weeks. Doctor has prescribed Prozac but I’m too scared to take it x

[@CF.]

Prozac works great for a lot of people. I tried it but it gave me the runs. It’s going to get better soon, hang in there mama.❤

[@amberwittenauer4337]

What about post partum anxiety in fathers?

[@Jillshinn]

Oh my gosh, I had brutal PP anxiety and OCD after my twins were born. I was afraid of everything, but focused on SIDS and fear of taking them out of the house. It was so horrible. I should have gotten on meds. I am a therapist myself, but I was so impaired that I didn’t think to reach out for help. Thank you for this video. It would have helped me so much when I had babies. (My twins are now 22, and nothing truly bad has ever happened to them. I wish I could have known then that everything was going to be okay).

[@ntombiyakhemasoeu6146]

i used to be scared of the knife thinking ill harm my child. now i am dealing with GUILT of why would i think of such, is it demons or what, i am emotionally suffering.

[@Sidra.Ehsan1217]

For how long did you feel this? Are you fine now

[@peterrudy9207]

Have blood tests for vitamin , mineral and ? levels . Maybe even urine and stool analysis . I think a great many issues for women that have given birth is their lack of / depletion of necessary nutrients . To get the levels back to normal by food supplements . I think eating organic yogurt and drinking organic kefir would be benefit also .

[@jackshoekeeper293]

Congratulations

[@amandakavanagh2873]

What about prenatal ocd and anxiety

[@PhilSmith-of9mh]

Is it normal to suffer bad anxiety for nearly a year get jelly legs 24/7 iwas addicted to benzo for 3 years been off them since October last year ??

[@celinescrappassion2184]

this is interesting! How about post menopausal anxiety? Since i have had a total hysterectomy(including ovaries removal), i have felt more anxious to the point of feeling like i am going mad! No one talks about this, ever! Is it a thing? Because i have never felt so anxious in my life