PERINATAL OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

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PERINATAL OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD) -

OCD is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive, UNWANTED THOUGHTS/IMAGES or “scary thoughts” (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety or distress.

Perinatal OCD specifically refers to the onset symptoms during pregnancy or the postpartum period.

Are you experiencing intrusive or “scary” thoughts of drowning your baby? So, then you opt to having someone bathe them?

Are you waking up repeatedly at night to check on baby, and make sure they are alive and breathing?

Are you excessively washing baby items repeatedly due to fear of contamination?

You may be suffering from Postpartum OCD.

EXAMPLES of Perinatal OCD

Violent or Harm

Intrusive UNWANTED thoughts or images of accidentally or deliberately harming the baby:
dropping the baby
drowning baby
hitting baby
having a miscarriage
baby being dead
Contamination

Intrusive UNWANTED thoughts and fears related to the cleanliness and safety of their environment for the baby.
worries about the cleanliness of baby items
fear of passing on germs or illnesses to the baby
concerns about the overall hygiene of the living space
Compulsions:
Excessively sanitizing and wash pump parts
Excessively wiping down baby items, toys, washing clothes
Checking

Compulsion to repeatedly checking on the baby to ensure their safety.
Seeking reassurance from others or from online resources about the baby's well-being.
Checking in with caregivers while they are caring for child - requesting videos, pictures, facetiming.
Checking baby’s weight excessively to ensure they are gaining weight.
Ordering and Arranging

Need for specific order or arrangement of baby-related items to alleviate anxiety.
Distress when things are not arranged in a particular way.
Doing something over and over until it feels right.
Sexual

Intrusive UNWANTED sexual thoughts related to the baby:
Did I wipe my baby too long? Did I enjoy it?
What If I’m enjoying seeing them naked?
What if someone else molests my baby?
Hoarding

Collecting excessive amounts of baby-related items due to fear of not having enough.
Difficulty discarding items, even if they are no longer needed.