What is the Perinatal Mental Health Unit?
The Perinatal Mental Health Unit (PMHU) at Woman's Hospital provide comprehensive treatment for women facing various psychiatric disorders requiring inpatient treatment during pregnancy, through one year postpartum, and those who have experienced a loss within the last year. The PMHU is Louisiana's first inpatient mental health unit solely dedicated to perinatal patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Women at any stage of their pregnancy or up to one-year after pregnancy or infant loss can be referred to the PMHU after evaluation from a doctor. This could include their OB-GYN, psychiatrist, primary care physician, and ER doctor or a mental health provider.
All patients admitted to the unit must be 18 years of age or older, have a primary psychiatric diagnosis such as perinatal depression, perinatal anxiety, perinatal obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder, perinatal panic disorder, postpartum psychosis, bipolar disorder in the perinatal period and meet at least one of the following criteria:
- currently pregnant
- have had a baby within the past 365 days
- have experienced a documented pregnancy loss within the past 365 days
Our care for you or your loved one starts with an initial assessment, where we discuss your unique needs and goals for care. You’ll receive a personalized treatment plan from your care team based on this assessment.
We use a highly structured daily schedule for our patients. This helps us create stability and helps you feel in control as the patient. An average day with us includes:
- Individual and group psychotherapy sessions
- Recreational therapy (using exercise, games and other fun activities to reduce anxiety, depression and stress, as well as to regain confidence)
- Time outside on our private and secure patio
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily along with snacks. You will have time for leisure breaks throughout the day and your medical needs will be monitored 24/7.
You will have access to integrated on-site support from OB-GYN doctors and both therapeutic and recreational group activities to foster a sense of community. Our highly skilled staff are trained in both obstetric and psychiatric care.
During your stay you may have approved personal items, including clothing, toiletries, and physician-authorized/prescribed medical equipment. All personal items will be reviewed and approved by PMHU staff.
- Perinatal Depression - Depression during pregnancy or after birth often characterized by feeling very sad, hopeless or empty. May include losing interest in things you used to enjoy, crying a lot, feeling like a bad mom, trouble sleeping (even when the baby sleeps), and feeling very tired.
- Perinatal Anxiety - Anxiety during pregnancy or afterbirth that may include constant worry, racing thoughts, feeling on the edge or restless, trouble relaxing, feeling like something bad will happen as well as physical symptoms like dizziness or nausea.
- Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Obsessive-compulsive disorder that occurs after birth and may result in upsetting or scary thoughts that won't go away (often about the baby), needing to do things over and over to feel "safe" (like checking if a baby is breathing), and feeling guilty or ashamed about these thoughts.
- Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Post-traumatic stress after birth represented by sudden feelings of intense fear, trouble breathing, racing heart, sweating, shaking, feeling like you're losing control or that something terrible is happening.
- Perinatal Panic Disorder - Panic attacks during pregnancy or after birth that may be characterized by sudden feelings of intense fear, trouble breathing, racing heart, sweating, shaking, feeling like you're losing control or that something terrible is happening.
- Postpartum Psychosis - A rare, but serious emergency occurring after birth that includes seeing or hearing things that aren't there, feeling confused or out of touch with reality, extreme mood swings, believing things that aren't true, and thought of harming yourself or the baby.
- Bipolar Disorder in the Perinatal Period - Bipolar disorder in pregnancy or after birth that may result in extreme mood swings, feeling very "up" or full of energy (mania), or feeling very down and hopeless (depression), doing risky things without thinking, and trouble sleeping even when tired.
Family and infant visitation is encouraged as it is an important part of the healing process. All visitations will be scheduled during designated times. An adult other than the patient must accompany any visitors who are under the age of 18.
The amount of time you or your loved one will stay with us depends on the condition(s) we’re treating and the treatment plan. However, most patients return home within two weeks.
When it’s time to return home, we’ll ensure you have follow-up appointments with our outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic or your referring provider as appropriate. Our Social Services team will also refer you to additional community resources as needed.