Becoming a parent brings countless changes, worries, and new responsibilities. While many new parents experience occasional fears about their baby's safety, Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Postpartum OCD) is much more than normal worry.

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Postpartum OCD is a perinatal mental health disorder (PMHD) characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive mental or physical behaviors (compulsions) intended to reduce anxiety. These symptoms can begin during pregnancy or after childbirth and often leave parents feeling frightened, ashamed, or afraid to tell anyone what they are experiencing.

 

The most important thing to know is this:

Parents with Postpartum OCD are distressed by their thoughts and do not want to act on them.

These thoughts are ego-dystonic, meaning they conflict with the parent's values, love for their child, and sense of self.

Postpartum OCD is more common than many people realize.

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Research suggests:

• Approximately 2–3% of women experience OCD during pregnancy or postpartum.

• New onset OCD occurs more frequently during the perinatal period than at other times in adulthood.

• Up to 90% of new parents report occasional intrusive thoughts, but only a small percentage develop OCD when those thoughts become persistent, distressing, and accompanied by compulsive behaviors.

 

Because of stigma and fear, Postpartum OCD is frequently misunderstood or misdiagnosed as postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, or even postpartum psychosis.

While Postpartum OCD is still Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, it often has a unique presentation centered around the baby's safety and the parent's role.

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OCD:

• Can begin at any stage of life

• Obsessions may focus on contamination, checking, religion, symmetry, relationships, health, or harm

• Compulsions vary widely

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Postpartum OCD: 

• Develops during pregnancy or after childbirth

• Obsessions commonly focus on accidental or intentional harm coming to the baby

• Compulsions often involve checking, avoidance, reassurance seeking, excessive researching, or mental reviewing related to the baby

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Common intrusive thoughts may include:

• "What if I accidentally drop my baby?"

• "What if I snap and hurt my baby?"

• "What if I contaminate my baby?"

• "What if I'm actually a terrible mother?"

• "What if I forgot to buckle the car seat correctly?"

 

Parents experiencing Postpartum OCD typically recognize these thoughts as irrational and are deeply distressed by them.