Having a baby can completely transform your life. Because of the exhaustion, sleep-deprivation, and hormone imbalance, many women tend to be victims of postpartum depression. Postpartum depression does not by any means devalue how happy you are about having a baby, it is a common body’s response to the stress and changes that occur after delivery.
In order to help you overcome postpartum depression, you need to understand what is postpartum depression, signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and how to overcome postpartum depression.
Types of postpartum depression
Via: infograph me – postpartum depression
Baby blues
Baby blues usually only lasts between a few days to two weeks after your baby is born. Baby blues come with the following symptoms:
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Sadness
- Irritability
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Extreme emotions and the need to cry
- Reduced concentration
- Lack of appetite
- Insomnia
Postpartum depression
Because postpartum depression symptoms are very similar to baby blues symptoms, they can often be mistaken for one another. However, postpartum depression symptoms tend to last long and are a lot more intense. In fact, sometimes they get so severe that they may affect your ability to take care of your baby or even maintain daily activities. Symptoms of postpartum depression usually start to show several weeks after given birth or can develop as late as one year later. Postpartum depression signs include the following:
- Severe mood swings
- Uncontrollable crying
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Withdrawal from loved ones
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Fatigue
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Intense irritability and frustration
- Anger
- Fear of not being a good mother
- Hopelessness
- Feelings of worthlessness and guilty
- Inability to concentrate or make decisions
- Feeling restless
- Severe anxiety and panic attacks
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
If left untreated, postpartum depression can last for several months.
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Postpartum psychosis
While postpartum psychosis is quite rare, it could develop within the first week after giving birth. The signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis are severe and may include:
- Confusion and disorientation
- Obsessive thoughts about your baby
- Hallucinations
- Sleep disturbances
- Excessive energy and irritability
- Paranoia
- Attempts to harm yourself or your baby
Because postpartum psychosis can be life-threatening to you or your baby, it needs immediate care and treatment.
Postpartum Depression Causes
Via: Helpguide – postpartum depression
It’s important to understand that postpartum depression doesn’t make you a bad mom and is quite common in new moms. However, there are certain triggers that can increase the risk of developing postpartum depression such as:
- Age at time of pregnancy (the younger you are, the higher the chances)
- Mixed feelings about your pregnancy
- Having multiple children
- Family history of mood disorders or depression
- Going through an extremely stressful event during pregnancy or after giving birth
- Having a child with special needs or health problems
- Having twins or triplets
- Having a history of depression or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Lack of emotional and social support
- Living alone or being a single mother
- Facing marital problems
Other causes of postpartum depression include:
- Hormonal imbalance as estrogen and progesterone levels drop after giving birth.
- Sleep deprivation
- Anxiety caused by inexperience dealing with a newborn baby
- Physical changes that lead to lack of self-confidence due to pregnancy.
Postpartum depression treatment
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Depending of the type postpartum depression you’re facing and the symptoms you’re struggling with, the treatment will differ. It’s important to visit a doctor if you feel your symptoms last for more than two weeks. Here are several postpartum depression treatment options:
- Anti-anxiety or anti-depression medication
- Psychotherapy
- Support group
- Medication for psychosis if needed.
Further reading:
- Beating Postpartum Depression Using My Camera
- The Truth Behind Pregnancy Depression
- Signs And Symptoms Of Depression
Sources used in this article:
- Postpartum depression-Mayo Clinic
- Postpartum depression – Web MD
- Depression among women – CDC
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