Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby. In spite of all the excitement with the birth of a newborn, the new mother might have serious depression and should seek help as soon as possible to prevent symptoms from getting worse and impacting negatively themselves, their baby and the entire family. With the right support, which can include self-help strategies and therapy, most women make a full recovery.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression is a serious illness that can occur in the first few months after childbirth. It also can happen after miscarriage and stillbirth.
Postpartum depression can make you feel very sad, hopeless, and worthless. You may have trouble caring for, and bonding with, your baby.
How do you know that you have postpartum depression?
A large number of women often feel anxious, tearful and letdown in the first week after giving birth. This is referred to as the “baby blues” and usually does not last longer than two weeks after childbirth. This is totally different from postpartum depression.
If your symptoms last longer, or start later, you could have postnatal depression. Postnatal depression can start any time in the first year after giving birth. Many women do not realize they have postnatal depression because it can develop gradually. Symptoms might include the following:
• Feeling sad or hopeless nearly everyday.
• Losing interest in, or not getting pleasure from, most daily activities, and feeling this way nearly everyday.
• Thinking about death and suicide.
• Fleeting, frightening thoughts of harming their babies.
• Lose or gain weight. You may also feel like eating more or less than usual.
• Sleep too much or not enough. You may also have trouble sleeping, even when your baby is sleeping.
• Feel restless and not being able to sit still, or you may sit quietly and feel that moving takes great effort. Others can easily see this behavior.
• Feel unusually tired, or as if you have no energy.
• Feel unworthy or guilty. You may have low self-esteem and worry that people do not like you.
• Find it hard to focus, remember things, or make decisions. You may feel anxious or worried about things.
If you have at least five of the above symptoms for 2 weeks or longer, and one of the symptoms is either sadness or loss of interest, you may have depression and may need treatment.
Why do you get postpartum depression?
Many women get postpartum depression. It is estimated that 1 in 10 mothers might have symptoms of postpartum depression in the year following childbirth. Not all of them might have severe symptoms requiring therapy. At this time, we are not sure what exactly causes postpartum depression, but many experts believe that there is no one single cause. A number of physical and emotional issues may play a role.
Physical changes. After childbirth, a dramatic drop in hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in the new mother’s body may contribute to postpartum depression. Other hormones produced by thyroid gland may also drop sharply — which can leave the mother feeling tired, sluggish and depressed.
Emotional issues. Many mothers are sleep-deprived and overwhelmed shortly after delivery. Women might be anxious about their ability to care for a newborn. They may feel less attractive, and feel that they have lost control over their life. Any of these issues can contribute to postpartum depression.
Treatment
If you think that you might have postpartum depression seek help immediately. You can talk to your nurse, obstetrician or family member. For family members, if they suspect that a new mother might have postpartum depression talk to her and try to persuade her to seek help.
With appropriate treatment, and support, most women make a full recovery, although it can take time.
The three main types of treatment are self-help strategies, therapy and medication. Your doctor will discuss various strategies and then you can decide together what is best for you.
If you have mild postpartum depression, there are some things that you can do for yourself. They include the following:
• talk to your husband/child’s father, friends and family – try to help them understand how you are feeling and what they can do to support you.
• seek help – accept help from others when it is offered, and ask your loved ones if they can help look after the baby and do tasks such as housework, cooking and shopping.
• make time for yourself – try to do activities that you find relaxing and enjoyable, such as going for a walk, listening to music, or reading a book.
• rest when you can – although it can be difficult when you are looking after a baby, try to sleep whenever you get the chance. Follow good sleeping habits and ask your partner to help with the night-time work.
• exercise regularly – this has been shown to help boost mood in people with mild depression.
• eat regular, healthy meals and do not go for long periods without eating.
• do not drink alcohol or take drugs as this can make you feel worse.
Psychological therapies are usually the first treatment recommended for women with postnatal depression.
Some women might benefit from various medications.
Antidepressants may be recommended if you have moderate or severe depression and you do not want to try psychological treatment, or if psychological treatment does not help.
Antidepressants may also be used if you have mild postnatal depression and a previous history of depression.
Treatment and recovery time vary, depending on the severity of depression and the woman’s individual needs.
Complications
Left untreated, postpartum depression can interfere with mother-child bonding and cause family problems.
For children. Children of mothers who have untreated postpartum depression are more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems such as sleeping and eating difficulties, excessive crying, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Delays in language development are more common as well.
Myths about postnatal depression
Postnatal depression is often misunderstood and there are many myths surrounding it. These include:
• Postnatal depression is less severe than other types of depression. In fact, it’s as serious as other types of depression.
• Postnatal depression will soon pass. Unlike the “baby blues”, postnatal depression can persist for months if left untreated. In a minority of cases, it can become a long-term problem.
• Postnatal depression only affects women. Research has actually found that up to 1 in 25 new fathers become depressed after having a baby.
Conclusion
Postpartum depression is a serious mental health disorder related to pregnancy. Once diagnosed and professionally treated the vast majority of those affected are successfully treated, although it might take time to see success. If you have symptoms suggestive of postpartum depression seek help as soon as possible.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge MB BS DGO MRCOG, is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over thirty-two years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 4975828).
