164. Perinatal OCD Explained: When Protective Instincts Turn Into Intrusive Fear

🤰Are these protective instincts… or is it postpartum OCD?

In this episode of The OCD Whisperer Podcast, Kristina Orlova speaks with Betty Flores, LCSW, a perinatal mental health specialist from Perinatal Wellness. Together, they explore how postpartum and pregnancy OCD show up, why intrusive thoughts feel so convincing during this stage of life, and how parents can tell the difference between normal worry and an OCD-driven threat response.

Betty breaks down: • What intrusive thoughts in pregnancy and postpartum actually look like • How perinatal OCD disguises itself as “being a good parent” • The difference between normal protective instincts and OCD-driven urgency • Why reassurance-seeking, checking, and mental reviewing fuel the cycle

If you’re pregnant, postpartum, trying to conceive, or supporting someone who is — and struggling with frightening thoughts that don’t match who you are — this episode offers clarity, normalization, and hope. You are not broken, dangerous, or failing as a parent. And help is available.

📲 About Betty Flores (guest): • Certified in Perinatal Mental Health | EMDR | ERP • Perinatal OCD/Anxiety, Reproductive Trauma, Grief & Loss • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perinatal_wellness/

✂️ TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] – Normal Protective Instinct or OCD? Why This Question Confuses Almost Every Parent[02:32] – The “What If” Spiral: Intrusive Thoughts in Pregnancy & Postpartum Explained[05:02] – Why Mental Compulsions Are Harder to Spot Than Physical Ones[05:52] – “If I Say This, Will I Be Reported?” Why Parents Stay Silent About Intrusive Thoughts[07:42] – Do These Thoughts Mean I Want to Harm My Baby? How to Tell the Difference[09:45] – What OBs, Midwives, and Doctors Often Get Wrong About Perinatal OCD[11:00] – Why Perinatal OCD Is So Often Misdiagnosed as “Just Anxiety”[12:26] – Does Perinatal OCD Ever Go Away? What Actually Helps[14:02] – ERP in Pregnancy & Postpartum: Why It Works (And Why People Fear It)[14:34] – Final Takeaway: You’re Not Dangerous — You’re Stuck in an OCD Loop

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✅ About OCD Whisperer Welcome to OCD Whisperer! Each episode shares tools and insights for OCD recovery, managing intrusive thoughts, ERP therapy, CBT techniques, anxiety relief, and mindfulness practices. Join me for expert interviews and personal insights into overcoming OCD. Subscribe to find support, strategies, and hope for your OCD journey.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Please note while the host is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders in the state of California, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy.

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