Office of Primary Care and Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program

Pediatric psychiatrist Sarah Guth, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry

(JANUARY 27, 2023) Pediatric psychiatrist Sarah Guth, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry, commented to NBC5 for a story on postpartum mental health resources for new and expecting parents.

One in four women experience symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, or PMADs—ranging from conflicting emotions of hopelessness, guilt, despair, anxiety, and irritability, to more significant feelings of obsessing or worrying about their baby’s safety and feeling emotionally disconnected from the new baby—within the first year of giving birth, experts say.

The State of Vermont has launched a “Support Delivered” initiative to provide information and resources for those struggling with these common postpartum feelings. Additional resources available to families across the state include family centers like Good Beginnings of Central Vermont, which offers postpartum family support, drop-in hours, and workshops for young families; Help Me Grow VT, which connects people with information, supports, services, and clinicians who specialize in treating PMADs; and even prenatal and postnatal yoga, which offer a wide variety of benefits.

“[Yoga classes] hit two birds with one stone because you get the social connection, which has an evidence base for improving mood and decreasing anxiety as well as exercise,” Guth said. New parents who are concerned about PMADs should not hesitate to reach out to any medical provider they feel comfortable with, she advised.