What Is Postpartum Depression, And What Are Its Signs?
A variety of strong emotions, ranging from delight and excitement to anxiety and tension, can be brought on by the delivery of a baby. Though it can also lead to something unexpected ‘‘depression’’.
Most new mothers put up with the postpartum baby blues, which typically include mood swings, crying outbursts, tension, and problems falling asleep. The first two to three days after delivery are usually when the baby blues start and go away soon, almost after one week or two weeks.
On the other hand, some mothers experience an extreme, long-lasting form of depression, i.e., postpartum depression. Read this article to learn more about this debilitating condition, like its symptoms, causes, remedies, etc.
What is Postpartum Depression?
It’s the kind of depression you might get after delivery. It can begin any time during your child’s first year, but it most commonly starts during the initial 3 weeks after birth.
When you encounter it, you may feel unhappy and guilty since you might not feel like you want to connect with or care for your newborn. Postpartum depression doesn’t only impact first-time mommies. You could obtain it even if you didn’t have it earlier when your other kids were born.
Causes of Postpartum Depression
Hormones
Your hormone levels often fluctuate when you’re pregnant. After delivery, your hormone levels drop suddenly, and this rapid change can activate depression in you.
Genetics
You are more likely to experience postnatal depression if someone in your family has experienced it before. Additionally, a family record of depression or anxiety raises the threat.
Stress and Personal Issues
When you are going through any stress & personal issue, such as if you dont want to be pregnant, your spouse and family don’t aid you to care for a baby, etc.; you’re more likely to become depressed as a new mother. Depression is also more typical among women with financial issues, addiction to drugs or alcohol, or other significant origins of stress.
Previous Pregnancy Loss
If you have already lost the intended pregnancy, you could feel sad and grieve over it. Furthermore, research has shown that women who experienced a spontaneous abortion or pregnancy loss are more likely to experience sadness during the following pregnancy.
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression
Intense post-delivery symptoms can persist for a very long time, eventually making it challenging for you to look for your child.
Postpartum depression symptoms generally build within the initial few weeks after delivery but might even begin earlier, i.e., during pregnancy. Signs of this depression may include:
- Depressed mood
- Extreme mood swings
- A bloated feeling of crying
- Difficulty connecting with your baby
- Avoiding family members and friends
- Loss of hunger or eating a large amount meal than usual
- Lack of sleep or sleeping excessively
- Overwhelming tiredness
- Decreased interest and enjoyment in activities you used to enjoy
- Severe irritability and bitterness
- A feeling of fear that you're not a good mom
- Distress
- Emotions of worthlessness or guilt
- Diminished power to think and make decisions
- Turmoil
- Severe panic attacks
- Thinkings of hurting yourself or your baby
- Frequent thoughts of demise or suicide
Maternal depression would last for months or years if these symptoms were disregarded and neglected.
Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression?
If this mental illness is not treated appropriately, it may affect your interactions with your kid, partner, and family. It will have a lot of adverse effects on all your relationships.
Further, it can revolve into chronic depressive order and lead you to have numerous attacks of unhappiness in the long run.
In addition to moms, fathers are also susceptible to postpartum depression. Additionally, postpartum depression may likely affect the children of depressed mothers. They might have delayed development and a propensity to cry more often than usual.
Remedies for Postpartum Depression
- Your doctor might prescribe you anti-depressing medicines to help balance absolute brain chemicals linked to your depression. They are secure to take while you breastfeed but just ensure to let your doctor know if you’re having those medicines.
- You can get help from a psychologist or therapist. You can share your emotions and any personal stress or negative thoughts you get with them so that they will assist you better in dealing with them.
- If you previously had a history of depression, you might experience it again, so the best cure is maintaining a positive attitude. The better you care for your body and mind, the quicker you heal.
- Avoid having caffeine and alcohol. Simply quit drinking alcohol and caffeine if you are suffering from postpartum depression.
- Support groups can help you to get answers to your questions and lack of knowledge in dealing with the condition.
- Eat healthy meals and take light exercise like going for a short walk to feel good.
- Getting sufficient and peaceful sleep is essential to get rid of depression.
- Yoga, mindfulness practices, and meditation can help you greatly to cure depression.
- Always try to interact with people around you; this way, you will not feel alone, and depressing thoughts will not come to your mind.
Conclusion
The cure for postpartum depression is not a miracle. You have to move slowly every day. You will recover from postpartum depression and be able to form bonds with your child and your loved ones with the help of family support, psychotherapy, self-care, and medication. You can contact Antenate for advice on treating postpartum depression if your symptoms don't go away.
