What You Need to Know About

OCD During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Perinatal OCD can feel terrifying. You may have thoughts or images flash into your mind that make you think, What kind of mom would even think this? These thoughts go against your values and cause intense guilt or fear. That’s why they’re called ego-dystonic—they’re unwanted and out of character.

What is Perinatal OCD?

Perinatal OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) is a type of OCD that shows up during pregnancy (the antenatal period) or in the first year after giving birth (the postpartum period). The symptoms of perinatal OCD can look different for everyone, but they usually fall into two categories:

Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, images, urges that are distressing and often center around your baby’s safety. They might include things like:

  • Intrusive thoughts about accidentally or deliberately harming your baby

  • Disturbing or taboo sexual thoughts involving your baby

  • Intense fears of your baby getting sick or contaminated

  • Constant doubts about making the “wrong” decision for your baby’s care

Compulsions often bring temporary relief but keep you stuck in the cycle of fear. Over time, it can feel exhausting and isolating, like you’re constantly battling your own brain. Compulsions are repetitive actions or mental rituals like:

  • Excessively washing or sterilizing bottles, toys, or baby clothes

  • Checking on the baby constantly—even waking them up to make sure they’re safe

  • Avoiding caregiving tasks like feeding or diaper changes out of fear of harming the baby

  • Repeatedly seeking reassurance from others about your baby’s health or safety

  • Mentally reviewing or replaying events to “make sure” nothing bad happened

If these sound familiar, remember: having scary thoughts is not the same as acting on them. Moms with perinatal OCD are not dangerous—they’re distressed by the very thoughts they’re having.

What causes it?

There’s no single cause, but several factors increase the risk:

  • Hormonal changes during pregnancy and after birth

  • Sleep deprivation (your brain is extra vulnerable when exhausted)

  • Stress and responsibility overload that comes with caring for a newborn

  • A personal or family history of OCD or anxiety

  • Past trauma or perfectionistic tendencies

Treatment works — and you can find treatment that fits your life.

Tell me how

Get support right this minute

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is a free resource for anyone who needs support with their mental health during and after pregnancy.

Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA anytime day or not and you’ll be connected with a trained counselor who is certified in perinatal mental health.