All You Need To Know About Postpartum Depression

The term "baby blues" is probably familiar to you. That's because it's common for new mothers to feel sad, worried, or exhausted. For the first week or two after childbirth, up to 80% of mothers experience these feelings. It's completely normal and usually goes away after a few weeks. After giving birth, up to 15% of these women will experience more severe and long-lasting depression, known as postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can cause emotional highs and lows, frequent crying, fatigue, guilt, anxiety, and difficulties caring for the baby. Postpartum depression is not a flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's just a complication of childbirth. If you have postpartum depression, getting help right away can help you manage your symptoms and bond with your baby.

What are the types of postpartum depression?

• Postpartum blues: This condition, also known as the "baby blues," affects between 50 and 75 percent of women after giving birth. When you have the baby blues, you will have frequent, prolonged bouts of crying for no apparent reason, as well as sadness and anxiety. The condition usually manifests itself within the first week (one to four days) of childbirth. Despite the discomfort, the condition usually resolves itself within two weeks without treatment. All you'll need is reassurance and assistance with the baby and housework.
• Postpartum depression: This is a far more serious condition than postpartum blues, affecting approximately one out of every ten new mothers. If you've previously experienced postpartum depression, your risk rises to 30%. Alternating highs and lows, frequent crying, irritability, and fatigue, as well as feelings of guilt,  anxiety, and inability to care for your baby or yourself, are all possible. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can appear immediately after birth or gradually over time, even up to a year later. Although symptoms can last for several weeks to a year, psychotherapy or antidepressants are very effective treatments.
• Postpartum psychosis: This is a severe case of postpartum depression that necessitates immediate medical attention. This condition is relatively uncommon, affecting only one in every 1,000 women after childbirth. The symptoms usually appear shortly after delivery and are severe, lasting from a few weeks to several months. Severe agitation, confusion, feelings of hopelessness and shame, insomnia, paranoia, delusions or hallucinations, hyperactivity, rapid speech, or mania are all symptoms. Postpartum psychosis necessitates immediate medical attention due to the increased risk of suicide and harm to the baby. Typically, treatment will include hospitalisation for the mother as well as medication.

Related Blog: 'Depression & Anxiety in Children – Causes, Warning Signs and Treatment'.

What causes postpartum depression?

Although the exact cause is unknown, there are some factors that may contribute to postpartum depression. A combination of physical and emotional stressors can cause postpartum depression.

Physical factors

Hormones are one of the most significant physical changes that occur after giving birth. When you're pregnant, your oestrogen and progesterone levels are higher than usual. Hormone levels return to pre-pregnancy levels within hours of giving birth. This abrupt shift may result in depression.

Some other physical factors may include:

• low thyroid hormone levels
• sleep deprivation
• inadequate diet
• underlying medical conditions
• drug and alcohol misuse

Emotional factors

If you've had a mood disorder in the past or if mood disorders run in your family, you're more likely to develop postpartum depression.

Emotional stressors may include:

• recent divorce or death of a loved one
• you or your child having serious health problems
• social isolation
• financial burdens
• lack of support

Related Blog: 'Overcome Depression: 9 Warning Signals You Should Not Ignore'

Complications

Postpartum depression, if left untreated, can interfere with mother-child bonding and cause family problems.

• For mothers. Untreated postpartum depression can last for months or even years, progressing to a chronic depressive disorder. Even when treated, postpartum depression raises a woman's risk of future major depression episodes.
• For fathers. Postpartum depression can have a cascading effect, causing emotional strain for everyone in a new baby's life. When a new mother is depressed, the baby's father is more likely to be depressed as well. And whether or not their partner is depressed, new fathers are already at a higher risk of depression.
• For children. Children of mothers suffering from untreated postpartum depression are more likely to experience emotional and behavioural issues, such as difficulty sleeping and eating, excessive crying, and delays in language development.

Prevention

If you have a history of depression — especially postpartum depression — tell your doctor if you're planning on becoming pregnant or as soon as you find out you're pregnant.

• During your pregnancy, your doctor can closely monitor you for signs and symptoms of depression. During and after your pregnancy, he or she may ask you to complete a depression-screening questionnaire. Mild depression can sometimes be treated with support groups, counselling, or other therapies. Antidepressants may be prescribed in other cases, including during pregnancy.
• Your doctor may recommend an early postpartum checkup after your baby is born to screen for signs and symptoms of postpartum depression. The earlier it is discovered, the sooner treatment can begin. If you have a history of postpartum depression, your doctor may advise you to start antidepressant medication or psychotherapy right away.

When to see a doctor

If you're depressed after the birth of your child, you may be hesitant or embarrassed to admit it. However, if you have any symptoms of postpartum baby blues or postpartum depression, contact your doctor and make an appointment. Get help right away if you are experiencing symptoms of postpartum psychosis.

If you notice any of the following signs and symptoms of depression, please contact your doctor as soon as possible:

• Don't fade after two weeks
• Are getting worse
• Make it hard for you to care for your baby
• Make it hard to complete everyday tasks
• Include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

Related Blog: '10 Depression Signs And Symptoms'.

Treatment for postpartum depression

If you are experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression, you should see your doctor as soon as possible so that treatment can begin.

Medication and therapy are the two main treatments for postpartum depression. Both can be used independently, but they may be more effective when used together. It's also critical to incorporate some healthy habits into your daily routine.

It may take a few tries to find the treatment that works best for you. Maintain open lines of communication with your doctor.

Medication

Antidepressants have an immediate impact on the brain. They change the chemicals in the brain that regulate mood. They will not, however, work immediately. It may take several weeks of treatment before you notice a difference in your mood.

Some people experience side effects from antidepressants. Fatigue, decreased sex drive, and dizziness are some of the symptoms. Inform your doctor right away if side effects appear to be exacerbating your symptoms.

Some antidepressants are safe to take while breastfeeding, while others are not. If you breastfeed, inform your doctor.

If your oestrogen levels are low, your doctor may advise you to start taking hormones.

Therapy

Counseling can be provided by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health professional. Therapy can assist you in making sense of destructive thoughts and providing strategies for dealing with them.

Self-care

This aspect of treatment may be more difficult than it appears. Self-care entails allowing yourself some leeway.

You should not attempt to take on more responsibility than you are capable of handling. Others may not understand what you require, so it is critical that you communicate with them. Allow yourself some "me time," but don't isolate yourself. Consider joining a new mother's support group.