‘It’s more common than you realize’ – friends raise awareness of postpartum anxiety and depression

In the depths of her postpartum depression and anxiety, Jenna Hoelz met Lindsey Hanka, a mentor who had also suffered from postpartum anxiety. The fast friends made their connection through Pregnancy & Postpartum Support Minnesota, an organization that links families and professionals with support and resources. More recently, they became colleagues at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, where they fulfill their passion for helping others who are experiencing what they went through.  

"Mood disorders can happen shortly before, during, after childbirth," said Hanka. "You can’t necessarily prevent them, but you can care for them."

Hanka’s postpartum anxiety manifested as obsessive-compulsive disorder after her first delivery. Luckily, she felt comfortable sharing this experience with a certified nurse midwife during her second pregnancy.

“I still experienced postpartum anxiety after giving birth, but the second time around I knew my resources and felt empowered,” said Hanka, who also began taking a low-dose antidepressant toward the end of that pregnancy. “I treated my postpartum anxiety as I would treat a broken leg. It didn’t control my life.”

This experience drove Hanka to devote her career to caring for pregnant people. She attended nursing school and after graduating last December, now works as a labor and delivery nurse in the Birthplace at Masonic Children’s Hospital.

She frequently runs into Hoelz, a pediatric occupational therapist supporting babies’ development in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In their roles, they both look for opportunities to support the mental health of new parents. Hanka provides support to parents shortly before, during, and immediately after labor and Hoelz supports families if their baby needs to spend time in the NICU.  

“Postpartum anxiety and depression are so much more common than people realize,” said Hoelz. “The more we talk about it, the more power we take away from depression and anxiety. Hopefully, we can help people get the support they need.” 

Approximately 10 to 20 percent of people experience postpartum anxiety or depression after giving birth, according to Mental Health America. Signs and symptoms of postpartum depression can range from mild to severe and include excessive crying, difficulty bonding with your baby, depressed mood, irritability, reduced interest in activities you previously enjoyed, feelings of hopelessness, and loss of appetite or excessive eating. Postpartum anxiety presents as constant worrying, feelings of dread, sleep disruption, and racing thoughts. 

M Health Fairview equips pregnant patients with postpartum mental health information during prenatal appointments and hospital discharge and screens them for anxiety and depression before giving birth.

“If someone has a history of mental health concerns that put them at a higher risk of postpartum mental health, I like to plant the seed that there are resources available to help after delivery,” said Hanka. “I try to talk with patients about postpartum mental health whenever possible.” 

“The baby is my patient, but I do everything I can to also help parents,” added Hoelz, “including connecting them with mental health resources.”

M Health Fairview also empowers staff to provide patients additional support and resources, such as a consultation with a social worker, when they feel it’s necessary.  

“I’m proud of the work both Pregnancy & Postpartum Support of Minnesota and M Health Fairview do to support patients experiencing postpartum anxiety and depression,” said Hanka.