“If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, go to the nearest emergency room.”

Sound familiar? That’s because this is what every new mother and partner hears when they’re being discharged from the hospital with their new baby. And though sometimes these thoughts can be an emergency, many times, they are not. This post will hopefully help readers try to understand the difference.

In more rare cases when these thoughts are related to psychosis, it is indeed a 911 emergency. However, most times it is a scary intrusive thought, and I’m here to argue that there may be alternatives to an ER visit. Intrusive thoughts during pregnancy and postpartum are very common and very treatable with the right support. You are not alone.