Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Abbreviation: PMADs
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) cover a range of emotional health conditions that can appear during pregnancy or within the first year after giving birth. They include depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and the rare but serious postpartum psychosis. Symptoms may include persistent sadness, excessive worry, difficulty bonding with your baby, or intrusive thoughts. PMADs affect roughly 1 in 5 mothers and can also affect fathers and partners. Early support, including counselling, peer groups, and sometimes medication, leads to full recovery for most people.
What This Means for You
Understanding Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders is an important part of your pregnancy/postpartum journey. Keeping this in mind as you read, attend appointments, and connect with other parents will help you feel more prepared and less overwhelmed.
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KKH and NUH both offer perinatal mental health services, and your polyclinic can provide a referral. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not failure.
Related Terms
Source: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/dictionary
Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised advice.
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