Pregnancy, Postpartum and Infertility
Perinatal Mood Disorders
Pregnancy and the postpartum period bring major physical, emotional, and social changes. It’s common to feel overwhelmed, anxious, sad, or disconnected at times — but when those feelings become intense, persistent, or interfere with daily life, they may indicate a perinatal mood disorder. There’s no shame in asking for help. At Dr. Laura Fraint and Associates, we provide compassionate, evidence-informed care for adults in Northbrook, IL who are navigating pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, and related mood concerns.
Who we help
Pregnant people and new parents experiencing anxiety, depression, panic, intrusive thoughts, or overwhelming worry
Parents coping with obsessive or intrusive thoughts, severe mood swings, insomnia, or difficulty bonding with the baby
Couples struggling with relationship changes, sexual concerns, or communication difficulties after pregnancy
Individuals with a history of mood or anxiety disorders who are worried about relapse during pregnancy or postpartum
Common perinatal mood disorders
Perinatal depression: Persistent sadness, loss of interest, low energy, appetite or sleep changes, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
Postpartum anxiety and panic: Excessive worry about the baby’s safety, uncontrollable worrying, panic attacks, irritability, and physical symptoms like racing heart.
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms: Intrusive, unwanted thoughts (often about harm coming to the baby) with repetitive mental or behavioral rituals to reduce distress.
Postpartum PTSD: Distressing memories, hypervigilance, avoidance, or emotional numbness following a traumatic birth or medical event.
Postpartum psychosis (rare and urgent): Delusions, hallucinations, severe confusion, or disorganized thinking—requires immediate medical attention.
What therapy looks like here
Personalized assessment to identify symptoms, risk factors, and treatment priorities.
Evidence-based treatments including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure-based approaches for intrusive thoughts, and interpersonal therapy for mood and relationship concerns.
Coordination with OB/GYN, pediatricians, or psychiatrists when medication or medical monitoring is needed.
Practical skills for sleep, emotion regulation, stress management, and building social support.
Couple or family sessions when relationship dynamics affect recovery.
When to seek immediate help
If you experience thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, severe confusion, hallucinations, or marked inability to care for yourself or your infant, seek emergency care or contact crisis services immediately.
We’re here for you If pregnancy or the postpartum period has been harder than you expected, you don’t have to manage it alone. In-person therapy with a clinical psychologist at our Northbrook office offers thoughtful, individualized support to help you feel safer, more connected, and better able to enjoy this chapter of life. Contact Dr. Laura Fraint and Associates to schedule an assessment or to discuss how we can support you and your family.
Coping with Infertility
Infertility can be one of the most isolating, painful experiences a person or couple faces. Alongside medical evaluations and treatment decisions, emotional well-being matters. Below are practical strategies and supports to help you cope while navigating fertility challenges.
Understand common emotional reactions
Grief and loss: It’s normal to grieve the loss of expected plans, timelines, or imagined futures.
Anger and resentment: You may feel anger toward your body, medical providers, others with children, or each other.
Guilt and shame: People often internalize infertility as a personal failure. This is common but not accurate.
Anxiety and hypervigilance: Worry about appointments, test results, finances, or future possibilities is common.
Isolation and loneliness: Social activities and relationships can feel uncomfortable, leading people to withdraw.
Practical coping strategies
Allow grief and name emotions: Give yourself permission to feel sadness, anger, and disappointment. Labeling emotions reduces their intensity.
Set realistic expectations: Fertility often involves uncertainty and setbacks. Expecting ups and downs reduces the shock of disappointments.
Focus on what you can control: Track appointments, explore treatment options, manage finances, build a self-care routine — these actions restore a sense of agency.
Maintain routines and pleasurable activities: Keep work, hobbies, exercise, and social time in your life. These provide balance and resilience.
Limit exposure to triggers: If social media, pregnancy announcements, or certain gatherings are painful, set boundaries or temporarily take breaks.
Communicate intentionally with your partner: Share feelings without blame. Use “I” statements, schedule check-ins, and consider deciding in advance how to handle treatment stressors.
Manage treatment stressors: Track medications, use reminders, build a support plan for procedures, and plan for recovery time after appointments.
Emotional supports
Couples counseling: Fertility stress can strain relationships. A therapist can help with communication, sexual intimacy concerns, and joint decision-making.
Individual therapy: Work with a mental health professional to process grief, anxiety, or depression and develop coping skills.
Support groups: Peer groups (in-person or virtual) can reduce isolation and provide practical tips from others who understand the experience.
Mind-body approaches: Mindfulness, relaxation techniques, yoga, and gentle exercise can reduce anxiety and improve mood.
Fertility coaching or counseling services: Specialized counselors can assist with decision-making, navigating medical systems, and coping strategies.
Practical considerations and decision-making
Gather information: Ask your clinic clear questions about prognosis, timelines, costs, and alternatives (donor gametes, surrogacy, adoption).
Financial planning: Fertility care can be expensive. Explore insurance coverage, financing options, clinics with sliding scales, or nonprofit resources.
Create a decision-making framework: Establish values, priorities, and limits (emotional, financial, medical) to guide choices about how long and how far to pursue treatments.
Consider a trial period: Setting a reasonable time or number of attempts can reduce prolonged uncertainty.
Explore alternative family-building options: Adoption, donor gametes, and fostering are valid paths that may align with your values.
Self-care strategies
Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and movement: Physical care supports emotional resilience.
Use grounding and relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and short mindfulness practices can reduce acute stress.
Keep a journal: Writing helps process complex feelings and track changes over time.
Cultivate compassion toward yourself: Replace self-blame with compassionate self-talk. Recognize you are coping with a difficult, often uncontrollable situation.
Celebrate small milestones: Acknowledge each step, whether it’s attending an appointment, completing a cycle, or making a shared decision.
When to seek professional help
Persistent depression, hopelessness, or thoughts of harming yourself or others require immediate attention.
Inability to work, sleep, or maintain basic functioning.
Severe conflict with your partner that feels unresolvable without help.
Ongoing avoidance of social contact and loss of previously meaningful activities.
How we can help at Dr. Laura Fraint and Associates (Northbrook, IL)
Individual therapy for anxiety, depression, and grief related to infertility.
Couples therapy focused on communication, decision-making, and intimacy.
Practical, personalized strategies to manage treatment stress and build resilience.
In-person care tailored to adults in Northbrook and the surrounding area.
If infertility is affecting your daily life, relationships, or mental health, consider scheduling an initial consultation. You do not have to manage this alone — support can reduce suffering and help you make the choices that are right for you.