Symptoms may vary from person to person but may include the following:

• Excessive Worry: Constantly feeling anxious or fearful about the baby's health, safety, or future.

• Restlessness: Feeling on edge, unable to relax, or constantly in a state of nervous energy.

• Irritability: Increased frustration or easily being upset, often triggered by minor issues.

• Racing Thoughts: Constantly overthinking or obsessing over potential dangers or problems.

• Physical Symptoms: Heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, muscle tension, or headaches linked to anxiety.

• Sleep Disturbances: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing poor-quality sleep due to worry or fear.

• Overchecking: Repeatedly checking on the baby’s well-being or other areas of concern, like baby gear or routines, out of fear something will go wrong.

• Difficulty Relaxing: Struggling to calm down or "switch off" from constant worry, even when trying to rest.

• Feelings of Being Overwhelmed: A sense of being unable to cope with the responsibilities of pregnancy or early parenthood.

• Perfectionism: An overwhelming need for things to be done perfectly, such as routines, baby care, or household tasks, to prevent something bad from happening.

• Physical Tension: Clenched jaw, tight muscles, or stomach discomfort due to constant anxiety.

• Avoidance: Avoiding certain situations, people, or places that trigger feelings of anxiety or fear.

• Panic Attacks: Sudden episodes of intense fear, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or dizziness.

• Constant Reassurance-Seeking: Frequently asking others for reassurance about the baby's health or parenting abilities.

Symptoms may vary from person to person but may include the following:

• Persistent Sadness or Emotional Heaviness: Feeling tearful, emotionally weighed down, numb, or unable to experience joy in the way you expected.

• Loss of Interest or Connection: Difficulty enjoying activities, relationships, or parts of motherhood that once felt meaningful or important.

• Feelings of Guilt, Shame, or Inadequacy: Experiencing thoughts of not being a “good enough” parent or feeling disconnected from expectations of motherhood.

• Fatigue or Exhaustion: Feeling physically and emotionally depleted beyond what would typically be expected from pregnancy or caring for a baby.

• Difficulty Bonding or Emotional Disconnection: Feeling detached from your baby, yourself, or the transition into parenthood.

• Irritability or Emotional Reactivity: Feeling more easily overwhelmed, frustrated, emotionally sensitive, or short-tempered.

• Changes in Sleep or Appetite: Sleeping significantly more or less than usual, difficulty resting even when exhausted, or changes in eating habits.

• Difficulty Concentrating or Brain Fog: Struggling with focus, decision-making, memory, or feeling mentally “foggy.”

• Withdrawal or Isolation: Pulling away from relationships, support systems, or activities due to overwhelm or emotional exhaustion.

• Hopelessness or Feeling “Stuck”: Feeling trapped, disconnected from yourself, or uncertain if things will improve.

• Anxiety or Intrusive Thoughts: Experiencing excessive worry, racing thoughts, or distressing thoughts that often coexist alongside depression during the perinatal period.

• Loss of Sense of Self: Feeling disconnected from your identity outside of pregnancy, postpartum, or caregiving responsibilities.

Symptoms may vary from person to person but may include the following:

Intrusive Thoughts: Experiencing unwanted, distressing thoughts, images, or fears related to harm, safety, contamination, or something bad happening to yourself or your baby.

Compulsive Checking: Repeatedly checking on the baby’s breathing, safety, feeding, sleep environment, or other routines in an attempt to reduce anxiety.

Excessive Reassurance-Seeking: Frequently asking loved ones, medical providers, or others for reassurance about your baby’s safety or your parenting abilities.

Fear of Causing Harm: Intense fear of accidentally or intentionally harming the baby, even when you have no desire or intent to do so.

Mental Rituals or Rumination: Replaying thoughts, reviewing situations repeatedly, or mentally trying to “neutralize” distressing fears.

Avoidance: Avoiding certain objects, situations, caregiving tasks, or being alone with the baby due to fear or intrusive thoughts.

Hypervigilance: Feeling constantly on edge, fearful, or mentally preoccupied with preventing something bad from happening.

Difficulty Sleeping or Relaxing: Struggling to rest because of racing thoughts, checking behaviors, or persistent anxiety.

Perfectionism: Feeling an intense need to do things “perfectly” in order to prevent danger, mistakes, or harm.

Feelings of Shame or Fear: Feeling afraid to talk about intrusive thoughts due to fear of judgment or misunderstanding.

Emotional Exhaustion: Feeling mentally drained from the constant cycle of anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and compulsive behaviors.

Symptoms may vary from person to person but may include the following:

• Intrusive Thoughts: Experiencing unwanted, distressing thoughts or mental images related to harm, contamination, accidents, or fears surrounding the baby’s safety.

• Fear of Causing Harm: Intense fear of accidentally or intentionally harming the baby, despite having no desire or intent to do so.

• Compulsive Checking: Repeatedly checking on the baby’s breathing, sleep, feeding, or safety in an attempt to reduce anxiety or prevent harm.

• Avoidance: Avoiding certain caregiving tasks, objects, places, or situations that trigger anxiety or intrusive thoughts.

• Mental Rituals or Reassurance-Seeking: Replaying events in your mind, mentally reviewing situations, praying excessively, or frequently seeking reassurance from others.

• Hypervigilance: Feeling constantly on alert, fearful, or mentally consumed with preventing something bad from happening.

• Difficulty Sleeping or Resting: Struggling to relax or sleep due to racing thoughts, fear, or compulsive urges to check on the baby.

• Perfectionism & Overcontrol: Feeling an overwhelming need to follow routines perfectly or maintain control to prevent danger or mistakes.

• Feelings of Shame or Isolation: Feeling afraid to share intrusive thoughts due to fear of judgment, misunderstanding, or concern that others may think you are unsafe.

• Emotional Exhaustion: Feeling mentally and emotionally drained from the cycle of intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors.

• Increased Anxiety or Panic: Experiencing heightened fear, physical anxiety symptoms, or panic attacks related to intrusive thoughts or uncertainty.

Symptoms may vary from person to person but may include the following:

• Intrusive Memories or Flashbacks: Unwanted memories, images, or sensations related to the birth experience that feel distressing or difficult to control.

• Emotional Distress When Reminded of the Experience: Feeling intense sadness, fear, anger, panic, or grief when thinking about or discussing the birth.

• Feelings of Guilt, Shame, or Failure: Struggling with self-blame or feeling like your body, choices, or experience did not align with what you hoped for.

• Hypervigilance About Your Body or Baby: Feeling constantly on alert, fearful, or preoccupied with the health and safety of yourself or your baby.

• Avoidance: Avoiding conversations about birth, hospitals, medical appointments, photos, or reminders connected to the experience.

• Difficulty Bonding or Emotional Disconnection: Feeling emotionally distant from your baby, yourself, or the transition into motherhood.

• Sleep Disturbances: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, nightmares, or replaying parts of the experience at night.

• Physical Reactivity: Experiencing body-based responses such as tension, nausea, shaking, racing heartbeat, or panic when reminded of the birth.

• Fear Around Future Pregnancy or Birth: Feeling heightened anxiety, dread, or avoidance when considering future pregnancies or medical care.

• Feeling Unheard or Powerless: Carrying unresolved feelings of not being listened to, respected, informed, or supported during the birth experience.

• Emotional Numbness or Shutdown: Feeling detached, disconnected, or emotionally “flat” following the experience.

• Feeling “Stuck” in the Experience: A sense that the birth still feels emotionally unresolved, present, or difficult to move forward from.