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Maternal Mental Health

Feeling lost or sad? NEED HELP NOW? Someone is available to talk 24/7: 

CALL/CHAT/TEXT 988 the Suicide and Crisis Hotline. Immediate help is available.

OR

Text or Call 1-833-TLC-MAMA – The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is available 24/7 and provides free, confidential support for pregnant and new moms in English and Spanish.  This hotline is staffed by trained mental health professionals there to offer you in-the-moment support and referrals for additional care when needed.

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) is the umbrella term for mood and anxiety disorders that occur during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum.

These terms encompass women (and men) who experience postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, postpartum blues, postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder and postpartum psychosis.

When possible, encourage moms to have a Postpartum Plan to help identify her support system and what they can do to help create a supportive environment for after the birth. A postpartum plan is a plan that includes a set of steps that a mother identifies before the baby is born to set her up for success after the birth.

This can include:

  • Scheduled sleep or "naps." If the mother has prior children or is postpartum this would be when an alternate caregiver is available.
  • Appropriate nutrition/meal plans that can be made simply and without additional stress.
  • Drinking plenty of water for hydration.
  • Scheduled calls/video chats from support systems (family, friends, church, etc.)
  • Short walks around the neighborhood for increased physical activity and Vitamin D exposure.
  • Doing things that help her feel more "normal" such as taking a bath, and watching her favorite TV show.

Many new mothers experience what is known as “the baby blues." With “the baby blues," new mothers may have mood swings; feel sad, anxious or overwhelmed; have crying spells; lose their appetite; or have trouble sleeping. These symptoms do not tend to be severe, do not need treatment and generally do not last more than two weeks.

The symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD), however, last longer and are more severe. PPD can be disabling for a new mother. PPD is a type of major depression that affects about 1 in 8 new mothers within the first year after childbirth. PPD can have a negative impact on a new mother’s health and her ability to care for her infant.

Perinatal Anxiety is a range of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety; slightly less common than "baby blues" or PPD; impacts a reported 10% of new parents; characterized by increasing and disruptive fears and worries (that make daily life much more difficult). Symptoms include difficulty concentrating and focusing, restless sleep, panic attacks, irritability, muscle tension, upset stomach, increased heart rate, tightness in the chest.

Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is intrusive repetitive thoughts that are scary and do not make sense to the mother. 3-5% of new moms (and fathers) reported postpartum OCD symptoms at two weeks postpartum. Symptoms include guilt and shame over parenting decisions; frightening obsessions related to harm befalling the infant; hyper-vigilance in protecting the infant; fear of being left alone with the infant; may or may not include compulsions (i.e., needing to clean constantly, count objects, check on things repeatedly, or reorder things).

Postpartum Psychosis is sudden onset of psychotic symptoms following childbirth; much more rare (0.1% of mothers) and often more acute in symptomology; requires immediate psychiatric evaluation and medical attention. Symptoms include hallucinations (see someone else's face instead of your baby's), delusions (feeling as though your baby is possessed or "evil"); confusion/disorientation about your reality, waxing and waning (there are periods of "normalcy" in between psychotic symptoms).

For more information and/or assistance, contact your local mental health association or the following agencies:

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services 
Reachout Hotline
1-800-522-9054

National Alliance of Mental Illness Oklahoma

Postpartum Support International (PSI) National Hotline 
1-800-944-4PPD (4773)

National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, HHS
(301) 496-9576

American Psychological Association
1-800-374-2721

Postpartum Education for Parents
(805) 564-3888

PSI offers many different online support groups led by PSI-trained facilitators, who most often have personal experience with these topics.  These groups include support for Perinatal (Prenatal and Postpartum Mood) Support, Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Military Moms, NICU Parents, and many more.

PSI Phone Chat Sessions

  • Every Wednesday for moms
  • First Monday for dads
  • Chat number: 1-800-944-8766
  • Participant Code: 73162#

  • You can call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) 24/7 for free, confidential support for pregnant and new moms in English and Spanish when feeling overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted or sad.  This hotline is staffed by trained mental health professionals there to offer you in-the-moment support and referrals for additional care when needed.
  • For emergencies when you or a loved one is in immediate danger, please call 911.
  • CALL/CHAT/TEXT 988 the Suicide and Crisis Hotline. Immediate help is available.

Contact Information

Maternal Child Health Service
Phone: (405) 426-8113
Email: MCH@health.ok.gov

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Maternal and Child Health Service
123 Robert S. Kerr. Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406

Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK