The alliteration is actually happenstance, but the terms can be confusing. So here is how it all relates. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), technically, are an umbrella term to encompass maternal mental health conditions during pregnancy and up to the first 12 months postpartum (after delivery).  Parents of every culture, age, income level, and race can develop perinatal mental health disorders (definitions, on these symptoms and more fantastic resources, through PSI and San Diego’s local PHA). 

The most commonly referred to condition was postpartum depression, however we now know that the many conditions can include anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and psychosis.  PMADs were also thought to affect only birthing mothers. However, we know that not all gestational carriers identify as a mother, and that it can affect the non-birthing partner too.  PMADs can also affect surrogates, mothers who did not carry or birth the child, and adoptive parents. 

My lens is even a bit wider, where I view PMADS as mental health symptoms that a lovely human being can experience during the time period of trying to conceive, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, infant loss, and the first few years postpartum (i.e. parenting challenges).

Navigating mental health symptoms during any of the perinatal period can feel exhausting, challenging, guilt ridden and full of judgment (self-imposed and from others). But with the right support, you can unpack that and allow yourself the opportunity to reconnect with different parts of yourself and lean into new meaning making and figuring out your shifting roles/identities.