Mental Health Assessments For New Moms: Importance, Expectations, Process, And More

The transition to motherhood is filled with many exciting moments. However, it can also be an emotionally and physically challenging time for many women. New moms often experience a range of emotions – from joy and love to anxiety, sadness, and stress. While many of these feelings are normal, some new moms can experience more severe mental health issues like postpartum depression or anxiety. That’s why mental health assessments during the pre and postnatal period are so important. Read this article to learn more about identifying signs of postpartum depression.

Importance Of Mental Health Assessments For New Moms

Getting your mental health evaluated during the perinatal period is crucial for several reasons:

• Detects perinatal mental illnesses early – Up to one in five new moms experience depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or other mood disorders related to pregnancy and postpartum. By proactively screening for these common conditions, assessments can identify issues in the early stages when they are most treatable. This prevents prolonged suffering and enables fast access to support. Click here to learn more about the screening process.
• Monitors changes over time – A new mom’s mental health is not static. Hormone changes, sleep deprivation, shifting roles, and more can cause ups and downs. Ongoing assessments at multiple points identify when a new mom’s mood or anxiety is worsening, and additional support is needed to prevent decline. Checking in regularly allows moms and doctors to collaboratively adjust treatment plans in response to mental health fluctuations.
• Provides reassurance – Simply knowing you are being regularly monitored for perinatal mental health issues can provide comfort and peace of mind for anxious new moms. Scheduling standard screenings demonstrates your providers are attentive to your emotional well-being, not just your physical health. Assessments also identify when symptoms are not progressing to clinical levels, preventing unnecessary worry.
• Improves access to treatment – Assessments not only detect perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, they are the first step in connecting new moms to appropriate and timely treatment resources. Whether it’s starting therapy, adjusting medications, joining a support group, or making lifestyle changes, assessments get the ball rolling to find the solutions that work best for each mom’s mental health needs.
• Enhances bonding with baby – When a mom is mentally healthy, she has more emotional availability and stability to nurture the critical parent-child bond during the baby’s first year of rapid development. Assessments help minimize conditions like depression, rage, anxiety, and OCD that could otherwise inhibit sensitive, responsive interactions.
• Reduces risks – Untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders pose risks for both mother and child, including potential self-harm or infanticide in rare severe cases. Getting assessments to quickly diagnose emerging issues mitigates these risks dramatically. Ongoing monitoring ensures moms get support before hitting crisis levels.
• Encourages self-care – Having repeated discussions about mental health needs with providers reinforces the importance of moms caring for their own well-being amidst the demands of new motherhood. Assessments motivate women to eat well, rest sufficiently, exercise, and make time for self-care to support optimal mental health.

Perinatal mental health assessments provide multifaceted benefits for the short and long-term well-being of mothers and babies. All new moms deserve access to routine screening and evaluation to make this transition as positive as possible.

When To Get A Mental Health Assessment

Ideally, mental health screening and evaluation should occur:

• During pregnancy – Prenatal checkups are opportunities for your OB/GYN or midwife to offer initial mood disorder screenings. Early assessment detects existing or emerging conditions and establishes baselines.
• Within one to two weeks postpartum – Rapid hormone fluctuations and stress adjusting after birth make the first couple weeks high risk for postpartum blues and anxiety. Early assessment identifies who may need closer monitoring or treatment.
• At two, four, and four months postpartum – Depression and anxiety can arise or return months after childbirth as well. Your doctor can check in at regular intervals, such as during well-child pediatric visits.
• With any suspected symptoms – Talk to a provider right away if you notice possible depression, anxiety, rage, intrusive thoughts, or any changes that concern you. Don’t delay getting assessed.
• Surrounding major milestones – Assessments during major adjustments like returning to work, weaning from breastfeeding, or having another baby reveal how these impact your mental health.
• After pregnancy or infant loss – Specialized bereavement resources should assess mothers coping with a devastating loss to provide tailored support.
• With complicating factors – High-risk moms with past mental illness, trauma, lack of support, or other vulnerabilities need extra assessment.
• When loved ones express concern – If your partner, friends, or family notice mood changes you may not see, their feedback warrants an evaluation.
• Whenever anything feels ‘off’ – Normal postpartum stress is expected, but too many bad days or unshakable sadness are signs something more serious may be emerging. Discuss any concerns.
• Ongoing – Continued assessments throughout the first postpartum year and beyond quickly identify backslides and ensure moms have consistent access to support.

Trust your instincts. Any time mental health screenings could reassure or help you as a new mother, speak up to request an assessment from your care team. Thorough evaluation at multiple time points leads to the best outcomes.

What To Expect From An Assessment

Comprehensive mental health assessments for new moms involve:

• Ongoing conversations about mood – You’ll have open discussions about depression, anxiety, irritability, enjoyment of life, and any other feelings you are experiencing in this season of motherhood.
• Reviewing a wide range of symptoms – In addition to asking about sadness and worry, providers will inquire about changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, self-esteem, sexuality, social withdrawal, compulsions, intrusive thoughts, anger, and more.
• Screening tools and questionnaires – Standardized scales like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale or structured interviews provide objective measures of various mental health symptoms.
• Exploring risk factors – Past mental health history, current stress and social support, postpartum complications, and other risk factors will be evaluated.
• Observing appearance and behavior – Trained clinicians notice subtleties like lack of eye contact, agitation, flat affect, slower responses, poor hygiene, etc.
• Assessing functioning – Questions will cover your ability to care for yourself and your baby, maintain relationships, work, and manage daily responsibilities.
• Discussing thoughts and emotions about your baby – Bonding, attachment, frustration, disappointment, and other complex feelings will be discussed sensitively.
• Checking in on self-care – Providers will review if you are getting enough sleep, nutrition, exercise, and social connection.
• Reviewing medications and treatment history – Current medications, response to past treatment, and family history of psychiatric disorders will be considered.
• Collaborating on next steps – Based on a holistic assessment, next steps like therapy, medication, support groups, or other resources will be recommended.

Thorough, multidimensional assessments lead to accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans. Being honest about even subtle changes in your mental state helps clinicians provide the best support possible.

Types Of Mental Health Assessments For New Moms

Some common mental health assessments used with new moms include:

• Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. This 10-question screening tool identifies postpartum depression symptoms.
• Patient Health Questionnaire. This questionnaire screens for depression severity and shows treatment progress.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment. This identifies anxiety disorder symptoms and severity.
• Postpartum Stress Index. This in-depth questionnaire helps diagnose postpartum mental illnesses.
• Risk assessments. Screenings determine risk for self-harm, trauma, psychosis, substance abuse, etc.
• Custom provider assessments. Your doctor may conduct interviews and observations specific to your needs.

Reach out to your doctor about the best mental health assessments for your situation. Ongoing and varied evaluations give a multidimensional view.

Postpartum Mental Health Conditions Assessed

Common perinatal mood and anxiety disorders that assessments screen for include:

• Postpartum depression – Persistent depressed mood, tearfulness, irritability, etc., after childbirth.
• Postpartum anxiety – Excessive worrying and nervousness interfering with daily life as a new mom.
• Postpartum OCD – Intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
• Postpartum PTSD – Flashbacks and trauma associated with stressful labor or health complications.
• Postpartum rage – Difficulty regulating anger and frustration.
• Postpartum psychosis – Break from reality and disordered thinking. Requires emergency treatment.

While many women experience “baby blues” mood swings, assessments determine if symptoms have progressed to a clinically significant disorder requiring treatment.

Discussing feelings that seem irrational or embarrassing can be difficult. But remember, assessments are non-judgmental. Being open helps identify issues accurately.

Who Conducts The Assessments?

Mental health assessments for new moms are typically given by:

• OB-GYNs or midwives. They often provide initial and follow-up screenings.
• Primary care providers. Family doctors or pediatricians will monitor mental health.
• Mental health professionals. Psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors can provide in-depth evaluations if needed.
• Specialized maternal mental health clinicians. Some focus specifically on perinatal mood disorders.

Ideally, you should have access to a full multidisciplinary team, including your OB-GYN, pediatrician, and mental health specialists. Don’t hesitate to request an assessment from any care provider you see postpartum.

What Happens After An Assessment?

The goal of mental health assessments is to connect new moms with appropriate treatment and support. Following an assessment, your doctor may:

• Provide reassurance if results are normal. Even ruling out disorders can give comfort.
• Refer you to a mental health specialist like a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor for therapy and/or medication.
• Recommend joining a support group to connect with and learn from other new moms.
• Suggest lifestyle changes like getting more sleep, exercising, eating nutritious food, having relaxation practices, and making social connections. Self-care is powerful.
• Have you return for follow-up assessments to monitor progress.
• Provide education on navigating challenges, bonding with the baby, and accessing resources.
• Develop a safety plan if risks like trauma or self-harm exist. This helps keep you and your baby safe.
• Admit you for inpatient treatment in severe cases with psychosis, self-harm risk, etc.

You can work with your care team to find the solutions that are most helpful for your situation. Relief is possible with proper support.

Overcoming Barriers To Assessment

Some common obstacles may prevent new moms from getting mental health assessments. Try these tips to overcome them:

• Lack of time – Ask if screenings can be done over the phone or scheduled separately from physical exams.
• No childcare – See if your doctor can watch your baby during appointments or do video assessments when your partner is home.
• Fear of judgment – Remind yourself assessments are confidential and non-judgmental. The goal is to help you feel better.
• Minimizing symptoms – Don’t downplay feelings. Be honest, so you get accurate results and treatment.
• Privacy concerns – Request screenings be done in a private room, and records be kept confidential.
• Financial difficulties – Many free resources and low-cost treatment options exist, so cost shouldn’t be a barrier to assessment.
• Transportation issues – Ask about remote assessment options or providers who can come to your home.

Speak up about any concerns so solutions can be found. Your mental health deserves attention.

Why Ongoing Assessments Are Key

It’s ideal to be evaluated frequently throughout pregnancy, the postpartum period, and the baby’s first year. Why are ongoing assessments so valuable?

• Mental health changes rapidly as hormones fluctuate and life adjusts. Frequent checks identify emerging issues early.
• Screenings at multiple times give a bigger picture of your mental health. A one-time questionnaire only captures a moment.
• Having regular contact with providers builds a support system and reminds you to prioritize self-care.
• You may minimize or deny symptoms initially. Repeated assessments give more chances to be open about struggles.
• Discussing experiences with an empathetic professional provides reassurance.
• Appointments help track the progress and effectiveness of any treatments or therapies.

As an ever-changing rollercoaster of emotions, challenges, and joys, motherhood is a journey. But you don’t have to go on it alone. Lean on loved ones, connect with other moms, and don’t hesitate to reach out for professional support. Through mental health assessments and ongoing care, you can get the compassion, validation, and treatment you need to enjoy this special time while caring for yourself. Stay strong and remember—progress, not perfection, is the goal. 

Conclusion

Becoming a mother brings immense joy mixed with new stresses. It’s crucial not to neglect your mental health amidst the excitement and demands of a new baby. Mental health assessments provide objective, non-judgmental check-ins to detect problems early and get you the right help. Whether it’s therapy, medication, support groups, or lifestyle changes, the right treatment can restore your happiness and equip you to flourish in motherhood. Reach out to your healthcare providers about scheduling screenings or evaluations anytime mood or anxiety symptoms arise. You and your baby both deserve a mentally healthy mama.