If you Googled something terrifying about your baby and ended up here, you're in the right place. This week Jess and Laura are talking about one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed presentations of OCD — perinatal OCD. Whether you're pregnant, postpartum, or supporting someone who is, this one's for you.
We get into why OCD loves to latch onto the thing you love most, what's actually happening in your brain and body during the perinatal period, and why so many people suffer in silence.
We talk about that fear directly, and what advocating for you actually looks like.
From the most common perinatal presentations to what therapy actually looks like in this season of life — including why regulation comes before challenging OCD — this episode covers the full picture. We also talk maternity leave grief, secure attachment, parenting values, and we close with a note from someone who has been where you might be right now, and come out the other side.
You are not a bad parent. Your thoughts are not your character. And you are not alone in this.
Podcast by
Laura Mole, Adv. Dip, MBACP OCD specialist therapist
and
Jessica Hayes, Msc PGDip, BABCP Accred OCD and perinatal specialist therapist
Edited by Christian Nickson
Time stamps
00:36 Shout out to followers
01:10 Things you might have Googled with perinatal OCD
02:26 Introductions and shout out to Josh Fletcher
09:48 Introduction to perinatal OCD
10:44 Brain Spam
13:30 Prioproceptive input
15:50 Matrescence and mental health
20:00 Increased responsibility and vulnerability to OCD
22:05 Hormone shifts and OCD
23:52 Why OCD latches to the baby
24:30 Traumatic births and what you expect to feel
26:50 Birth planning and expectations
29:40 Preparing for pregnancy with OCD
31:30 Perinatal mental health team involvement
23:45 Building a village
36:07 Main OCD presentations in OCD
38:30 How common these intrusive thoughts are
39:20 What makes it OCD
42:30 Why we need more awareness of this
44:00 What if they report things to social services?
46:00 How we can advocate for you
48:00 What risk do we check more?
49:33 Options for support
50:55 Therapy for perinatal OCD; how it looks
52:00 Regulation before challenging OCD
54:00 Grieving maternity leave ideas and living like you value
58:21 Secure attachments and OCD
1:01:50 Prioritising parenting values
1:04:03 Responsive self-care lists
1:04:40 A note from someone who is recovered from perinatal OCD
1:05:23 Questions from the listeners
1:08:25 Key takeaways for perinatal OCD
1:09:00 Helpful resources and support websites
1:10:24 Exposure Lab
1:12:48 Weekly Wins
Get in Touch:
Got intrusive thoughts to share or questions for us:
Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok: @justcheckingpod
For our individual OCD pages, you can find Laura on Tiktok and Instagram as @ocdtherapylaura and Jess as @jess_helps_your_ocd and her perinatal page @jess_the_therapy_mum
Please check out our privacy policy https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YJZ4Sdh4OpxjRR9twGY6dOMH9n55Mq6qTqLBxOtN3Fw/edit?usp=sharing
Content Warnings:
We do reference some thoughts that people may find distressing so please listen with caution if this is you, and take a break if you need to.
Disclaimer
This podcast provides educational content only and is not a substitute for professional mental health support, please contact a mental health professional for advice and support.
Resources mentioned:
Jess’ perinatal mental health Instagram: @jess_the_therapy_mum
Birth Rights: Birthrights - your human rights during pregnancy and maternity care
OCDUK: OCD-UK | A national OCD charity, run by, and for people with lived experience of OCD
IOCDF Perinatal OCD Resource Centre: Perinatal OCD Resource Center To Help People Find Relief
Maternal OCD UK: Welcome to Maternal OCD
Postpartum Support International: Postpartum Support International - PSI
The Breastfeeding Network (medication guidance): Drugs in Breastmilk factsheets - The Breastfeeding Network
