Donate
Find Help Now

Postnatal depression and perinatal mental health

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

What is perinatal OCD? 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder. Perinatal OCD is when you experience OCD during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. 

This page covers: 

  • Signs and symptoms of perinatal OCD 
  • Treatments for perinatal OCD 
  • Self-care for perinatal OCD 

Signs and symptoms of perinatal OCD 

OCD has two main parts: obsessions and compulsions. 

  • Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts, images, urges, worries or doubts that repeatedly appear in your mind. They can make you feel very anxious, although some people describe it as ‘mental discomfort’ rather than anxiety. 
  • Compulsions are repetitive activities that you do to reduce the distress and anxiety caused by obsessions. It could be something like repeatedly checking that you locked a door or repeating a specific phrase in your head. Repeating compulsions is often very time- consuming, and the relief they give doesn’t usually last very long. 

It’s normal to worry about your child’s wellbeing and want to protect your baby while you are pregnant and after giving birth. But if you start to experience obsessive and compulsive symptoms that affect your daily life and wellbeing, you may be experiencing perinatal OCD. 

The obsessions and compulsions you may experience are likely to relate to feelings about being a parent and your baby. 

Common obsessions 

Examples of common perinatal obsessions include: 

  • intrusive thoughts about hurting your baby, during or after pregnancy 
  • disturbing thoughts of sexually abusing your child 
  • fear of being responsible for giving a child a serious disease 
  • fear of making the wrong decision – for example, about vaccinations or medical treatment. 

These thoughts can be very upsetting and frightening. It’s important to remember that they are not your fault. Having an intrusive thought doesn’t mean that you want to act on it, or that you will act on it. 

Common compulsions 

Examples of common perinatal compulsions include: 

  • excessive washing of clothes, toys or bottles 
  • avoiding changing soiled nappies because you’re worried about accidentally touching your baby inappropriately 
  • keeping your baby away from other people in case they hurt them or contaminate them 
  • constant checking on the baby – for example, waking them up when they’re asleep to check on them 
  • repeatedly asking people around you for reassurance that your baby hasn’t been hurt or abused 
  • going over what happened each day to reassure yourself that you haven’t harmed your baby. 

It can be very hard to open up and talk to someone about your obsessions or compulsions. But there are treatments and support options which may help. 

“I spent the first few months of my daughter’s life consumed with anxiety that I would somehow contaminate her. My hands were raw from constant washing. I got the help I needed and am finally enjoying being a mummy.” 

Treatments for perinatal OCD 

There are various treatments that you may be offered for perinatal OCD. Your doctor should discuss these options with you, so you can make a decision together about the best treatment for you: 

Talking therapy 

The main types of talking therapy offered for OCD are: 

  • cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) 
  • exposure and response prevention (ERP), which is a specific form of CBT used to treat OCD. 

ERP is a talking therapy that helps you understand how your OCD works and what you need to do to overcome it. Your therapist will help you confront your obsessions and learn how to resist the urge to carry out compulsions. 

Medication 

You may also be offered medication to treat any symptoms of anxiety.If you have any concerns about taking medication, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes discussing any concerns about taking medication during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. 

See our page on talking to your GP if you’re worried about having this conversation. 

A combination of talking therapy and medication 

Some people find that taking medication alongside a talking therapy can help them get the most out of their therapy. 

If there are long waiting lists for talking therapies in your area, your doctor may recommend that you explore an alternative to therapy. These can help you manage your mental health while you are on the waiting list. 

See our page on treatments for OCD for more information. 

“During my second pregnancy, I had an experience seeing blood on a public toilet seat which led onto a severe obsession with the irrational thought that I had contracted HIV. This irrational thought took over my life. It turned into what felt like a huge monster.” 

Self-care for perinatal OCD 

Experiencing perinatal OCD can be very difficult, but there are steps you can take to help yourself cope. Here are some ideas to help manage your OCD: 

Contact specialist organisations 

Charities like OCD and Anxiety Support HK  provides relevant information and resources on OCD.  

Try self-help resources 

See our page on self-care for OCD for a list of self-help resources that you might find helpful. 

Talk to someone you trust 

Having the support of those around you can make a big difference to how much you feel able to cope with your obsessions and compulsions. 

If you feel comfortable, you could talk to them about your obsessions and compulsions. And you could talk about how you’d like them to respond and support you. 

For more ideas, see our page on ways to look after your mental health when becoming a parent. 

“I thought I was a horrible failure… I’d panic that they thought I would hurt him and then take him away. After this I became so obsessed that they would, I would watch him constantly and not sleep to make sure nothing happened to him.”

Instagram Facebook-f Linkedin
What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

What is perinatal OCD? 

What is perinatal OCD? 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder. Perinatal OCD is when you experience OCD during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. 

This page covers: 

  • Signs and symptoms of perinatal OCD 
  • Treatments for perinatal OCD 
  • Self-care for perinatal OCD 

Signs and symptoms of perinatal OCD 

OCD has two main parts: obsessions and compulsions. 

  • Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts, images, urges, worries or doubts that repeatedly appear in your mind. They can make you feel very anxious, although some people describe it as 'mental discomfort' rather than anxiety. 
  • Compulsions are repetitive activities that you do to reduce the distress and anxiety caused by obsessions. It could be something like repeatedly checking that you locked a door or repeating a specific phrase in your head. Repeating compulsions is often very time- consuming, and the relief they give doesn't usually last very long. 

It's normal to worry about your child's wellbeing and want to protect your baby while you are pregnant and after giving birth. But if you start to experience obsessive and compulsive symptoms that affect your daily life and wellbeing, you may be experiencing perinatal OCD. 

The obsessions and compulsions you may experience are likely to relate to feelings about being a parent and your baby. 

Common obsessions 

Examples of common perinatal obsessions include: 

  • intrusive thoughts about hurting your baby, during or after pregnancy 
  • disturbing thoughts of sexually abusing your child 
  • fear of being responsible for giving a child a serious disease 
  • fear of making the wrong decision – for example, about vaccinations or medical treatment. 

These thoughts can be very upsetting and frightening. It's important to remember that they are not your fault. Having an intrusive thought doesn't mean that you want to act on it, or that you will act on it. 

Common compulsions 

Examples of common perinatal compulsions include: 

  • excessive washing of clothes, toys or bottles 
  • avoiding changing soiled nappies because you're worried about accidentally touching your baby inappropriately 
  • keeping your baby away from other people in case they hurt them or contaminate them 
  • constant checking on the baby – for example, waking them up when they're asleep to check on them 
  • repeatedly asking people around you for reassurance that your baby hasn't been hurt or abused 
  • going over what happened each day to reassure yourself that you haven't harmed your baby. 

It can be very hard to open up and talk to someone about your obsessions or compulsions. But there are treatments and support options which may help. 

"I spent the first few months of my daughter's life consumed with anxiety that I would somehow contaminate her. My hands were raw from constant washing. I got the help I needed and am finally enjoying being a mummy." 

Treatments for perinatal OCD 

There are various treatments that you may be offered for perinatal OCD. Your doctor should discuss these options with you, so you can make a decision together about the best treatment for you: 

Talking therapy 

The main types of talking therapy offered for OCD are: 

  • cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) 
  • exposure and response prevention (ERP), which is a specific form of CBT used to treat OCD. 

ERP is a talking therapy that helps you understand how your OCD works and what you need to do to overcome it. Your therapist will help you confront your obsessions and learn how to resist the urge to carry out compulsions. 

Medication 

You may also be offered medication to treat any symptoms of anxiety.If you have any concerns about taking medication, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes discussing any concerns about taking medication during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. 

See our page on talking to your GP if you're worried about having this conversation. 

A combination of talking therapy and medication 

Some people find that taking medication alongside a talking therapy can help them get the most out of their therapy. 

If there are long waiting lists for talking therapies in your area, your doctor may recommend that you explore an alternative to therapy. These can help you manage your mental health while you are on the waiting list. 

See our page on treatments for OCD for more information. 

"During my second pregnancy, I had an experience seeing blood on a public toilet seat which led onto a severe obsession with the irrational thought that I had contracted HIV. This irrational thought took over my life. It turned into what felt like a huge monster." 

Self-care for perinatal OCD 

Experiencing perinatal OCD can be very difficult, but there are steps you can take to help yourself cope. Here are some ideas to help manage your OCD: 

Contact specialist organisations 

Charities like OCD and Anxiety Support HK  provides relevant information and resources on OCD.  

Try self-help resources 

See our page on self-care for OCD for a list of self-help resources that you might find helpful. 

Talk to someone you trust 

Having the support of those around you can make a big difference to how much you feel able to cope with your obsessions and compulsions. 

If you feel comfortable, you could talk to them about your obsessions and compulsions. And you could talk about how you'd like them to respond and support you. 

For more ideas, see our page on ways to look after your mental health when becoming a parent. 

"I thought I was a horrible failure... I'd panic that they thought I would hurt him and then take him away. After this I became so obsessed that they would, I would watch him constantly and not sleep to make sure nothing happened to him."