03 Oct Perinatal OCD: When Fear Also Needs to Be Heard
Motherhood is often associated with moments of happiness and unconditional love. However, it can also come with intense emotions, doubts, and mental health challenges that often remain unspoken. One of these is perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition that can appear during pregnancy or after the baby is born and is still not widely understood.
Perinatal OCD is characterised by repetitive and unwanted thoughts that cause significant distress. To try to reduce this discomfort, some mothers develop repetitive behaviours or rituals, such as checking again and again if the baby is safe, constantly seeking reassurance from others, avoiding certain situations, or feeling the need to have absolute certainty. One of the most important aspects of understanding this disorder is knowing that having a thought does not mean wanting to make it a reality. In fact, these thoughts are often completely opposite to a mother’s values, love, and wishes for her child. It is precisely this contradiction that makes them so frightening and distressing.
Many women, in addition to dealing with these thoughts, begin to question themselves. Questions such as “What does this mean?”, “Why am I thinking this way?”, or “Am I a bad mother?” often appear and increase feelings of guilt, causing many to stay silent out of fear of being judged. Specialists explain that perinatal OCD does not define a woman’s ability to care for or love her baby. It is a disorder related to an alarm system in the brain that becomes overly active, but it can be treated. Specialised psychotherapy and, when necessary, medical support can help reduce symptoms and restore wellbeing.
Talking about maternal mental health also means creating safe spaces where mothers can express their fears without feeling judged. Listening without criticism, offering support, and encouraging professional help can make a significant difference. Because when a mother feels confident enough to say, “There is something I am thinking about and I am afraid to talk about it,” that conversation can become the first step towards recovery and the support she needs.
