Approximately 1 in 7 women experience perinatal depression during pregnancy and 1 in 8 experience postpartum depression after their baby is delivered. At Ascension Saint Alexius Women & Children’s Hospital, we provide physical, mental and emotional support throughout your postpartum journey. To help ensure that nothing gets in the way of you bonding with your baby, the Ascension Illinois Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorder Program care team helps treat a range of pregnancy and postpartum conditions, including:
- Anxiety during pregnancy
- Depression during pregnancy
- Mood swings during pregnancy
- Postpartum anxiety
- Postpartum depression
- Postpartum psychosis
Our team is certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C) and speaks multiple languages, including Spanish and Polish. We provide mental health assessments, at no cost to you, in a safe, confidential and caring space. You can schedule an assessment at one of the following locations:
Virtual assessments via Zoom are also available.
CALL - 224-299-3220
Is it “baby blues” or postpartum depression?
Baby blues and postpartum depression are similar but have different intensity. You may experience baby blues a couple days after your baby is born and symptoms can include anxiety, trouble sleeping and mood swings. Baby blues lasts no longer than two weeks and rarely limits your day-to-day activities. If your symptoms are getting in the way of caring for you and your baby or last longer than two weeks, you may be experiencing postpartum depression. Symptoms of postpartum depression include:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Changes in appetite (loss of appetite or eating more than usual)
- Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or sleeping too much)
- Difficulty thinking clearly, concentrating or making decisions
- Excessive crying
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Fear that you're not a good parent
- Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, shame, guilt, or inadequacy
- Intense irritability and anger
- Isolating behaviors (withdrawing from family and friends)
- Little to no emotional connection with your baby
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Mood swings
- Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
- Restlessness
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Postpartum depression and anxiety treatment options
At Ascension Saint Alexius Women & Children’s Hospital, we take the time to listen to you to better understand your symptoms, concerns and questions. Your care team can:
- Connect you with baby goods, food banks, support groups and other community resources near you
- Discuss your concerns and provide perspective from perinatal mental health specialists
- Help you design a birth plan that’s right for you
- Offer links to trusted books, websites and social media for information and support
- Provide evidence-based resources regarding treatment options
- Refer you to mental health therapists and counseling, including trauma-informed clinicians at Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital
- Referrals to other behavioral health programs, as needed
- Refer you to Perinatal Health Psychology Program, which is an integrated behavioral health program that provides support if you are hospitalized in the antepartum unit due to pregnancy complications, or your baby requires care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Ascension Saint Alexius Women & Children’s Hospital. The Perinatal Health Psychology Program collaborates with the medical team and meets with you in the hospital or via telehealth to provide confidential mental health and wellness support.
