Postpartum Anxiety: How Long Does It Last?

It’s nearly impossible to prepare for everything that happens to a woman physically, emotionally, and mentally after having a baby. Even the most type A new mothers face plenty of unforeseen challenges and hiccups.

And we’re not just talking about attempting to breastfeed, learning how to swaddle, or being woken up 27 times per night. Many new moms face postpartum anxiety — an estimated ten to 20 percent, to be exact, though the number is likely higher due to unreported and undiagnosed cases.

Postpartum anxiety is different from more common new-mom worries. When anxious feelings are so significant that they begin interfering with your ability to function normally, it could be postpartum anxiety.

Let’s talk about what it means to have this common anxiety disorder following pregnancy, including signs of postpartum anxiety and how you can treat it.

Postpartum anxiety is an anxiety disorder that starts in the postpartum period, AKA after having a baby.

In other words, it’s a type of maternal anxiety that goes beyond the everyday worries that come with managing the life of a new human.

All moms experience anxiety at some point — it’s normal to feel anxious about things like what your baby’s poop looks like or how many naps a day they should be taking. But postpartum anxiety is when these concerns become disruptive to your quality of life.

There are plenty of instances when worry is a natural response to a given situation, but worry is different from anxiety.

The onset of postpartum anxiety can occur shortly after childbirth or develop within the first year. No matter when it starts, it can impact a mother’s ability to rest, relax, and feel confident in her new role.

You’ve probably heard of postpartum depression (PPD), which is a type of depression that occurs after a new mother gives birth. Postpartum anxiety is different, though the two conditions can occur simultaneously.

Postpartum Anxiety Symptoms

Signs of postpartum anxiety include many of the same symptoms of anxiety experienced by non-mothers, but the key is that they occur after childbirth and become severe.

Common mental and physical symptoms of postnatal anxiety can include:

• Trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep

• Increased heart rate or palpitations

• Nausea

• Loss of appetite

• Feeling short of breath

• Having trouble sitting still, relaxing, or staying calm

• Tense muscles

• Having racing thoughts, especially about worst-case scenarios

• Intense and irrational fears or intrusive thoughts related to motherhood and your child

• Unusual irritability

• Feeling like you’re “on edge” all the time

• Trouble remembering things or focusing

• Trouble making decisions

• Self-isolation and avoiding people, places, or activities you used to enjoy

• Checking on things over and over again in an almost obsessive-compulsive way

• Being overly cautious about situations that are not dangerous

Potential Causes and Risk Factors

Like any health condition, there’s not one specific thing that can predict whether a woman will experience postpartum anxiety after she has a child.

However, health experts believe that the following factors may increase one’s risk:

• Postpartum hormone changes. The rapid drop in estrogen and progesterone levels after childbirth can disrupt mood regulation, increasing the risk of postpartum anxiety.

• Lack of sleep. The inevitable sleep deprivation from caring for a newborn can heighten feelings of anxiety and make it difficult to manage the day-to-day challenges of new motherhood.

• Increased personal responsibility. Caring for a newborn — on top of caring for yourself after childbirth — is a 24-hour-a-day job. The overwhelming sense of responsibility for a newborn’s well-being can lead to constant worry, contributing to postpartum anxiety.

• Stressful events. Significant life changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period — such as financial strain, relationship issues, a difficult birth, issues related to feeding, health complications, or an extended hospital stay — can understandably increase stress levels, making a new mother more vulnerable to anxiety.

• Personal or family history of anxiety. Genetic or predisposed sensitivity to anxiety-related conditions may make a new mother more vulnerable to stress and hormonal changes after childbirth. This can trigger or worsen anxiety symptoms.

Additionally, some research has found a higher risk of postpartum anxiety among women who report not having a supportive partner, whose baby cries excessively, who have a higher education level, and who had a negative childbirth experience or a preterm birth.

In another study that examined the potential factors involved in developing postpartum anxiety, researchers found that among women who received this diagnosis, 75 percent reported feeling anger, fear, or emotional detachment during childbirth.

Postpartum anxiety is more common than many people may realize, with an estimated ten to 20 percent of new moms receiving this anxiety diagnosis — which translates to around one in five.

In reality, these numbers are probably even higher. Some studies suggest that postpartum anxiety may be underdiagnosed due to overlapping symptoms with other postpartum mental health conditions.

Furthermore, there’s currently no specific screening tool used for postpartum anxiety. This means many healthcare professionals have neither the resources nor guidance to look for and diagnose postpartum anxiety.

Still, if you suspect you’re experiencing postpartum anxiety, it’s essential to bring it to the attention of your healthcare provider. This will help ensure that you receive an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.

How long postpartum anxiety lasts is highly unique to the individual and depends mainly on whether you receive a proper diagnosis, support, and treatment.

Some new mothers may experience postpartum anxiety for a few weeks or a few months, then have gradual improvements as their hormone levels stabilize and they adjust to their “new normal” with an infant in tow.

But postpartum anxiety can affect other moms for a year or even longer, particularly if it’s not acknowledged or treated. This can potentially affect their ability to care for themselves and their baby.

Postpartum anxiety can morph into generalized anxiety disorder or another mental health condition after you leave the postpartum period, which is technically just six to eight weeks long.

Early recognition and treatment, such as therapy, medication, or support groups, can help shorten its duration and improve recovery outcomes.

For treatment purposes, any “new” anxiety that appears up to 12 months after giving birth will probably be considered postpartum anxiety — at least initially.

But whatever your provider calls it, it’s important to seek help if you’re struggling with anxiety that interferes with your daily life.

There are also things you can do to help lower your risk of developing postpartum anxiety in the first place. Let’s look at these and how they might be employed before and after giving birth.

There’s no sure-fire way to prevent an anxiety disorder, whether it be postpartum panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or postpartum anxiety.

What you can do is be aware of and address your existing risk factors. By minimizing potential risks, you can reduce your chance of developing one of these mental health conditions.

There are many factors to consider in your risk assessment for developing anxiety.

This includes your family history of anxiety and other mental disorders, how you dealt with unfamiliar situations as a child, and the stress and adverse life events you’re currently experiencing or previously experienced.

Anxiety can also be caused by physical conditions and illnesses, as well as substances like caffeine, alcohol, or illicit drugs.

The same factors play a role in postpartum anxiety, especially if your pregnancy or childbirth qualified as a medical incident, injury, or illness.

If this sounds like it might describe you, talking to a healthcare professional is the best way to deal with the potential threat of postpartum anxiety and access the right treatments.

There are a few ways to approach treatment for postpartum anxiety. The most appropriate option(s) for you depends on your needs, which your healthcare provider will help you determine.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Postpartum Anxiety

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a highly effective treatment for postpartum anxiety.

CBT works by helping someone identify and challenge negative thought patterns, replacing them with more realistic and positive perspectives. A therapist will also help you create healthier coping strategies for managing stress and anxiety.

CBT is often a preferred treatment for postpartum anxiety because it’s non-invasive, doesn’t require medication, can be tailored to individual needs, and helps foster long-term recovery by building resilience and confidence.

Lifestyle Changes

Making certain lifestyle adjustments, such as improving sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and social support, can help new moms better manage their anxiety and stressors.

Sleep

If you want a new mother to roll her eyes at you, tell her to “sleep when the baby sleeps.” Still, it’s important to find ways to improve restfulness, as this can help you manage postpartum anxiety better.

It won’t happen in one day, but work on getting your baby and yourself on a predictable sleep schedule. If you have a partner, communicate your needs and come up with a plan to support everyone’s sleep goals.

Nutrition

Good nutrition supports healthy brain and hormone function and mental wellness. It can reduce inflammation, provide energy, and prevent dips in blood sugar. Plus, we just feel better when we’re fueling our bodies well.

While it can be tempting to grab whatever food you can find when caring for an infant, try to get a balance of foods in your daily diet. Healthy options like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and beans will provide an array of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants to support physical and mental health.

Physical Activity

Once you’re cleared for physical activity, try to prioritize daily movement. This releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which help reduce stress and lift mood. Plus, daily movement can help improve your sleep, enhance energy, and boost self-esteem.

Start with activities like walking or jogging with your baby in the stroller, doing postpartum yoga, and stretching. You can also work to incorporate strength-training activities into your routine.

Social Support

It’s common to want to be alone when you're feeling down. While some alone time is healthy, leaning into social support is crucial for mental health, especially when you’re dealing with anxiety that feels overwhelming.

If you don’t have other mom friends to hang out with, consider finding a local support group for moms with young children. Having peers who can relate to your daily challenges can help you feel less alone.

This may sound obvious, but it can also be helpful to cuddle with your baby regularly. This close contact helps strengthen your bond and releases a brain chemical called oxytocin, which can help lower anxiety.

Medications for Postpartum Anxiety

Many prescription drugs haven’t been thoroughly investigated for their long-term safety and effects on infants, so there’s a somewhat short list of postpartum anxiety medications.

All psychiatric medications can pass from mother to child through breastfeeding. Because of this, experts generally agree that antidepressant medication during breastfeeding should only be used in circumstances when the unmedicated mother’s potential risks outweigh the risks of the medication itself.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are usually the first-line medications for anxiety disorders like postpartum anxiety. Many women find these medications to be more effective when combined with therapy for anxiety.

Another medication to treat postpartum anxiety is lorazepam. This is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which are quick-acting anti-anxiety medications that may be used while you’re waiting for an SSRI to start working.

Maternal levels of lorazepam at typical dosages haven’t been shown to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants — including its typical sedative effects.

However, lorazepam is not a great long-term solution for anxiety because benzodiazepines can become addictive over time. So, if you’re trying to find an ongoing treatment, talk to your healthcare provider about other options.

Postpartum anxiety is an often overlooked mental health issue, leaving many new mothers without the tools and support they need. And when postpartum anxiety is left untreated, it can negatively impact your ability to bond with and experience your new baby.

Here’s the bottom line about this common postpartum experience:

• Postpartum anxiety is real. Like the so-called “baby blues,” perinatal anxiety isn’t something silly that you should just ignore. Yet, for many postpartum women, the issue is written off without much investigation. If you’re experiencing daily anxiety that’s interfering with your ability to function, you may have postpartum anxiety — along with ten to 20 percent of other new moms.

• It’s important to talk about what you’re feeling. Postpartum anxiety is an important women’s health issue. If you suspect you have postpartum anxiety, bring it to the attention of a trusted healthcare provider. While many new mothers have been conditioned to think that crippling anxiety is a normal part of trying to “do it all” after childbirth, it’s not. Talk about what you’re experiencing so you can get the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

• Treatment is multifaceted. Medication is often a last resort for postpartum anxiety, but be sure to discuss all potential treatments with your provider. Other options like cognitive behavioral therapy, new mom support groups, increasing daily movement, improving your nutrition, and working on improving your sleep routine can all play a role in anxiety management.

We’re here for you in what can be a very challenging season post-baby. The Hers online platform can connect you with mental health resources based on your needs.