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Mothers after the child are born to experience postpartum or &ldquo;Baby Blues&rdquo; which consists of low mood, crying spells, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping. The duration is usually two to three days after delivery and may last up to several weeks. A fairly common condition is Postpartum depression with OCD, prevalence. In some cases, mothers have severe issues after the child is born and may face a prolonged period of depression which is known as postpartum depression. It hampers the mother&rsquo;s ability to take care of the baby and other day-to-day tasks. The onset of postpartum can be as early as the last month of pregnancy and can last a longer period of time than baby blues which just last for two weeks.

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The birth of a child can trigger symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder alone or it can be comorbid with postpartum depression.&nbsp; In the majority of cases, OCD can occur after 12 to 26 weeks postpartum, but it can also have a rapid onset within a few days of delivery. Obsessions often include concerns about intentionally or accidentally causing harm to the baby, worrying about the baby dying while asleep, worrying about being criticized and/or judged as a mother, cleanliness, symmetry/exactness, or aggression. On the other hand compulsions in postpartum OCD include repetitive and ritualistic washing, checking, avoidance, concealment, and seeking reassurance.
Postpartum OCD affects the quality of life as mothers try to cope with significant levels of anxiety and feelings of guilt for having to spend large amounts of time dealing with obsessions and compulsions. Consequently, they may be less available to their children physically and emotionally. Risk factors for postpartum OCD include primiparity, early postpartum period (first 4 weeks), personal history of depression, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, and the presence of OCD-related dysfunctional beliefs.

Birth and OCD 

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Psychopharmacology (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and psychotherapy (Cognitive Behavior Therapy along with Exposure &amp; Response Prevention) can both be useful in the treatment of postpartum OCD together or separately. Comorbidities should be considered when treating with medication, particularly mood disorders. Psychoeducation can benefit both the mother and family to impart information about the disorder and psychiatric comorbidities, reduce feelings of blame and guilt, provide a rationale for treatment and promote treatment adherence. Feelings of blame and guilt, provide a rationale for treatment and promote treatment adherence.
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When the diagnosis is done along with a proper assessment of OCD with help of Y-BOCS and that of depression. The actual disorder and its comorbidity can be treated timely. When treatment is done with SSRIs along with therapies like ERP and CBT the prognosis becomes good and the OCD becomes highly treatable depending on the severity of the illness. Therefore the prognosis is good when treated timely in case of both postpartum depression and postpartum OCD.

Birth of a child can trigger joy and happiness along with fear and anxiety.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Understanding OCD Post-Delivery

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