Teen moms might face a number of mental health conditions related to childbirth and being a new mom. Examples of these conditions include:
- Baby blues: The “baby blues” are when a woman experiences symptoms for one to two weeks after giving birth. These symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, sadness, overwhelm, difficulty concentrating, trouble eating, and difficulty sleeping.
- Depression: Being a teen mom is a risk factor for depression. If a mom has a baby before 37 weeks or experiences complications, depression risks can increase.
- Postpartum depression: Postpartum depression involves more severe and significant symptoms than baby blues. Teen moms are more likely to experience postpartum depression as their adult counterparts. Women sometimes mistake postpartum depression for the baby blues. Baby blues symptoms will go away after a few weeks. Depression symptoms won’t.
Additional symptoms of postpartum depression include:
- difficulty bonding with your baby
- overwhelming fatigue
- feeling worthless
- anxiety
- panic attacks
- thinking of harming yourself or your baby
- difficulty enjoying activities you once did
If you experience these effects after giving birth, help is available. It’s important to know that you aren’t alone. Remember, many women experience postpartum depression.
Risk factors for mental health concerns
Teenage mothers are more likely to fall in demographic categories that make the risk of mental ill higher. These risk factors include:
- having parents with low education levels
- a history of child abuse
- limited social networks
- living in chaotic and unstable home environments
- living in low-income communities
In addition to these factors, teenage mothers are more likely to experience significant levels of stress that can increase risk for mental health disorders.
But some factors can reduce the likelihood that a teenage mom will have psychiatric issues. If a teen mom has a supportive relationship with her mother and/or the baby’s father, her risks are reduced.
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