Postpartum OCD
Do you find yourself constantly worrying about your baby’s safety or well-being, even when there’s no immediate danger? Maybe you feel compelled to recheck things—like making sure your baby is breathing—or you spend hours Googling symptoms or scenarios, trying to reassure yourself.
You might feel an overwhelming need to measure and remeasure milk or formula, meticulously track your baby’s feedings, sleep patterns, or diapers, or ensure everything is “just right” to avoid potential harm. These behaviors can feel exhausting and unrelenting, leaving you unable to relax or trust yourself as a mom.
Are You Feeling Trapped by Intrusive Thoughts and Repetitive Behaviors as a New Mom?
Postpartum OCD is more common than many realize, but it’s often misunderstood or dismissed. If you feel stuck in a cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsions, therapy can help you break free, regain your confidence, and feel more present and connected with your baby.
For moms with postpartum OCD, these compulsions often focus on caring for or protecting the baby and can include:
- Googling symptoms or “what if” scenarios to ensure your baby is safe or healthy.
- Rechecking behaviors, such as repeatedly checking to make sure your baby is breathing.
- Measuring and remeasuring milk or formula to ensure the “right” amount.
- Tracking feedings, sleep, or diapers excessively, beyond what feels necessary.
- Cleaning or sanitizing bottles, toys, or surfaces more frequently than feels reasonable.
- Avoiding certain activities or situations, such as leaving the house or letting others care for the baby, out of fear something could go wrong.
Postpartum OCD Is More Common—And Manageable—Than You Think
These behaviors are not a reflection of your abilities as a mom—they’re your brain’s way of trying to protect your baby from imagined dangers. While these compulsions might bring temporary relief, they often keep you stuck in a cycle of anxiety and doubt.
How Therapy Can Help You Manage Postpartum OCD
What Does Therapy Look Like?
Understand Your OCD: Together, we’ll explore how postpartum OCD is affecting your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Understanding the connection between intrusive thoughts and compulsions is the first step toward breaking the cycle.
Learn to Tolerate Uncertainty: ERP helps you gradually face your fears without engaging in compulsive behaviors. Over time, you’ll learn to sit with uncertainty and reduce the power of intrusive thoughts.
Reconnect with Your Values: ACT helps you focus on what truly matters—building a meaningful, connected relationship with your baby—instead of getting caught up in the “what ifs.”
Postpartum OCD doesn’t have to control your life. Therapy can help you regain your sense of calm and confidence, allowing you to be fully present for yourself and your baby.
Reduce Compulsions: Therapy will provide tools to manage urges like Googling, rechecking, or excessive tracking, so you can reclaim your time and energy.
Build Confidence: Through therapy, you’ll develop trust in your abilities as a mom and learn to navigate postpartum life with greater ease and resilience.
What Can You Expect from Postpartum OCD Therapy?
Reduce the frequency and intensity of intrusive thoughts.
Break free from compulsive behaviors like Googling or rechecking.
Feel more confident in your Inate ability to care for your baby.
Spend less time managing anxiety and more time connecting with your child.
Learn to tolerate uncertainty and focus on what truly matters in your motherhood journey.
Healing from postpartum OCD takes time, but with the right tools and support, it’s entirely possible to regain balance and joy in your life.
Browse the FAQs
What if my thoughts mean I’m a bad mom?
What if I can’t stop myself from Googling or checking?
What if my OCD is too overwhelming to address?
Intrusive thoughts are a hallmark of OCD and don’t reflect your true intentions or abilities as a mother. Therapy can help you understand these thoughts for what they are—just thoughts—and develop strategies to manage them effectively.
What if I don’t have time for therapy as a new mom?
Browse the FAQs
What if my thoughts mean I’m a bad mom?
What if I can’t stop myself from Googling or checking?
What if my OCD is too overwhelming to address?
Compulsions like Googling or rechecking are common with OCD, but they can be reduced with the right approach. ERP provides practical, step-by-step tools to help you gradually let go of these behaviors and reclaim your time and mental energy.
What if I don’t have time for therapy as a new mom?
Browse the FAQs
What if my thoughts mean I’m a bad mom?
What if I can’t stop myself from Googling or checking?
What if my OCD is too overwhelming to address?
Postpartum OCD can feel all-consuming, but you don’t have to face it alone. Therapy meets you where you are and works at your pace. With professional guidance, even severe symptoms can be managed and improved.
What if I don’t have time for therapy as a new mom?
Browse the FAQs
What if my thoughts mean I’m a bad mom?
What if I can’t stop myself from Googling or checking?
What if my OCD is too overwhelming to address?
What if I don’t have time for therapy as a new mom?
We offer fully virtual sessions, so you can access therapy from the comfort of your home. Whether during nap time or after bedtime, we’ll work with your schedule to make therapy as convenient as possible.
Browse the FAQs
What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help?
What if I’ve always had anxiety and managed it on my own?
What if my anxiety isn’t “bad enough” to need therapy?
I’m not sure I have the time for therapy. How can I fit this into my schedule?
What if my anxiety feels too overwhelming for therapy to help?
There’s no such thing as “too much” for therapy. We specialize in helping women who feel consumed by anxiety, and we’ll meet you exactly where you are to help you take meaningful steps forward. No matter how overwhelming your anxiety feels, therapy can provide a path to relief and a more fulfilling life.
At Harlowe Counseling, we specialize in perinatal mental health, with training in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) and expertise in treating postpartum OCD. Our therapists use evidence-based approaches like ERP and ACT to provide compassionate, effective care tailored to your needs.
What sets us apart is our deep understanding of the postpartum experience. We know how overwhelming OCD can feel, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Together, we’ll work toward breaking free from the cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsions, so you can focus on what matters most—your connection with your baby.
Why Choose Harlowe Counseling?
Ready to Find Relief from Postpartum OCD?
Postpartum OCD doesn’t have to define your motherhood experience. With the right support, you can quiet the intrusive thoughts, let go of compulsive behaviors, and embrace this chapter with greater confidence and peace.
Schedule your free consultation today to see how Harlowe Counseling can support you. There’s no obligation—just an opportunity to explore if we’re the right fit for your needs.
