One of the most common symptoms of pregnancy is mood changes. However, they don’t immediately go away following the delivery. After you give birth, your hormonal changes can continue to cause elevated emotions and mood swings. While this is expected for women in the postpartum period, it’s also possible that they are occurring due to a mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder causes periods of unusual changes in energy and mood, leading to manic and depressive episodes. Manic episodes are characterized by heightened moods and energy. Depressive episodes cause overwhelming feelings of sadness and hopelessness. If you’re experiencing these symptoms after giving birth, you may have postpartum bipolar disorder. 

Postpartum bipolar disorder isn’t recognized in the DSM-5-TR. It’s referred to as bipolar disorder with peripartum onset. While postpartum periods can trigger or worsen bipolar symptoms, it’s still considered part of the broader bipolar disorder spectrum.

We’ll talk about what postpartum bipolar disorder is as well as how it’s different from postpartum depression.

What you need to know about postpartum bipolar disorder symptoms

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that impacts more than 5 million adults in the U.S. Symptoms often start in adolescence, and the disorder has an average onset age of 25. However, many women experience their first bipolar episode after giving birth.

Postpartum bipolar disorder refers to having a relapse of symptoms after giving birth, or experiencing your first episode. While it’s not its own DSM-5-TR diagnosis, it is a type of bipolar disorder that requires support and treatment. 

It’s possible for people who are at risk for developing bipolar disorder, due to family history, to have their first episode triggered by childbirth. This is likely due to the drop in estrogen and progesterone levels. Sleep deprivation, stress or traumatic birth experiences may also play a role.

Postpartum bipolar disorder has almost the exact same symptoms as a typical bipolar disorder diagnosis. It involves having manic episodes that can last up to one week, followed by depressive episodes that can last more than two weeks.

Symptoms of postpartum manic episodes include:

• Restlessness
• Racing thoughts
• Increased agitation
• Inflated sense of confidence or self-importance
• Impulsive or risky behavior

Symptoms of postpartum depressive episodes include:

• Overwhelming feelings of sadness 
• Concentration issues
• Lack of energy
• Changes in appetite
• Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed

If you were diagnosed before becoming pregnant, your existing symptoms may worsen during pregnancy and postpartum. Women who have bipolar disorder are most likely to have a relapse within their first month postpartum. Be sure that you collaborate with your health care providers to determine the safest treatment options during this time, such as medication adjustments. 

Postpartum bipolar disorder vs. postpartum depression

Postpartum depression is a mental health condition that causes pervasive negative thoughts and feelings following childbirth. Approximately 15% of women experience postpartum depression symptoms. If left untreated, it can become increasingly difficult to care for yourself and your newborn.

While both are mood disorders, the main aspect that sets postpartum bipolar disorder apart from depression is that depression symptoms don’t follow a manic episode. While bipolar disorder causes manic highs and depressive lows, postpartum depression only causes lows. 

Another one of the biggest differences between postpartum depression and bipolar disorder is the onset speed. Depression symptoms can take up to one year to develop after childbirth. A bipolar episode can occur almost immediately afterward.

It’s worth noting that postpartum bipolar disorder can cause psychosis, while postpartum depression doesn’t. This refers to delusions and hallucinations during manic episodes, which can be dangerous for both parent and baby.

It’s important that you’re open and honest with your doctors during your postpartum period. You want to ensure that you’re properly diagnosed and treated. 

Lightfully can help treat postpartum bipolar disorder

In general, it can take a bit of time for a woman’s emotions and behaviors to become balanced after giving birth. It’s expected to occasionally feel a lack of energy sometimes or increased agitation. But if you’re experiencing postpartum bipolar disorder symptoms, the right treatment can improve your overall quality of life as a new parent. If left untreated, the episodes can worsen. This may increase the risk of a mental health crisis or even suicide.

At Lightfully, we can help people with bipolar disorder in every stage of life, including postpartum. It often requires medication and therapy, and providers will take breastfeeding into account. We can provide more intensive levels of care through our Residential Treatment (RTC), Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). 

Our goal is to help you gain a better understanding of postpartum bipolar disorder and how it impacts your mind and develop coping mechanisms that can help you manage your episodes.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step toward treating postpartum bipolar disorder, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.