Email: burgospsychotherapy@gmail.com Tel: 917-828-1569
Therapy that supports Perinatal and Postpartum Mental Health
Laudy's areas of expertise includes Perinatal Depression, Perinatal Anxiety, Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), perinatal loss and Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She provides a safe space within therapy to explore these areas of maternal health and well-being. Learn more about these areas more in-depth below.
The word "perinatal" refers to the time before and after birth of a child. Approximately 15%-20% of women experience significant depression following childbirth. The percentages are even higher for BIPOC women, women who are also dealing with poverty, and can be twice as high for teen parents. Ten percent of women experience depression in pregnancy. In fact, perinatal depression is the most common complication of childbearing. Symptoms can start anytime during pregnancy or the first year postpartum. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you deserve to feel better. Consider scheduling an appointment today.
​Symptoms
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Feelings of anger or irritability
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Lack of interest in the baby
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Appetite and sleep disturbance
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Fatigue
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Physical Pain
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Trouble bonding with baby
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Crying and sadness
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Feelings of guild, worthlessness, shame or hopelessness
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Loss of interest, joy or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
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Possible thoughts of harming the baby or yourself
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Perinatal Depression
Perinatal Anxiety
Approximately 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women develop anxiety. Sometimes they experience anxiety alone, and sometimes they experience it in additional to depression. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you deserve to feel better. Consider scheduling an appointment today.
​Symptoms
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Constant worry
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Panic attacks
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Hyperventilation
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Feeling that something bad is going to happen (particularly to the baby)
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Racing thoughts
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Disturbances of sleep and appetite
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Inability to sit still
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Physical symptoms like dizziness, hot flashes, and nausea
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Another form of anxiety is Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. You do not have to be diagnosed with OCD to experience these common symptoms of perinatal anxiety. It is estimated that as many as 3-5% of new mothers and some new fathers will experience these symptoms. The repetitive, intrusive images and thoughts are very frightening and can feel like they come "out of the blue". Research has shown that these images are anxious in nature, not delusional, and have very low risk of being acted upon. It is far more likely that the parent with this symptom takes steps to avoid triggers and avoid what they fear is potential harm to the baby. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you deserve to feel better. Consider scheduling an appointment today.
​Symptoms
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Obsessions, also called intrusive thoughts, which are persistent, repetitive thoughts or mental images related to the baby. These thoughts are very upsetting and not something the woman has ever experienced before.
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Compulsions, where the mom may do certain things over and over again to reduce fears and obsessions. This may include things like needing to clean constantly, check things many times, count or reorder things.
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A sense of horror about the obsessions
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Fear of being left alone with the baby
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Intrusive and unwanted thoughts of dropping the baby or hurting the baby
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Hypervigilance in protecting the baby
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Moms with postpartum OCD know that their thoughts are bizarre and are very unlikely to ever act on them.
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Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Approximately 9% of women experience postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth. Most of this illness is caused by a real or perceived trauma during delivery or postpartum. These traumas could include:
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Prolapsed cord; unplanned C-section; use of vacuum extractor or forceps to deliver the baby
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Baby going to the NICU
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Feelings of powerlessness, poor communication and/or lack of support and reassurance during the delivery
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Women who have experienced a previous trauma, such as rape or sexual abuse, are also at a higher risk for experiencing postpartum PTSD
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Women who have experienced severe physical complication or injury related to pregnancy or childbirth, such as severe postpartum hemorrhage, unexpected hysterectomy, severe preeclampsia/eclampsia, perineal trauma (3rd or 4th degree tear), or cardiac arrest.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you deserve to feel better. Consider scheduling an appointment today.
​Symptoms
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Intrusive re-experiencing of past traumatic event (which in this case may have been the childbirth itself)
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Flashbacks or nightmares
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Avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, including thoughts, feelings, people, places, and details of event
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Persistent increased arousal (irritability, difficulty sleeping, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response)
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Anxiety and panic attacks
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Feeling a sense of unreality and detachment
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Wanting to withdraw from relationships
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Blaming yourself for the traumatic event
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Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Postpartum Psychosis is a rare illness. It occurs in approximately 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 deliveries, or approximately.1-.2% of births. The onset is usually sudden, most often within the first 2 weeks postpartum. Postpartum psychosis is temporary and treatable with professional help, but it is an emergency, and it is essential that you receive immediate help. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you deserve to feel better. Consider scheduling an appointment today.
​Symptoms
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Delusions or strange beliefs
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Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there
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Feeling very irritated
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Hyperactivity
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Decreased need for or inability to sleep
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Paranoia and suspiciousness
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Rapid mood swings
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Difficulty communicating at times.
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Postpartum Psychosis
