Singer-songwriter Amy Sky with her son Ezra and daughter Zoe.
Serious postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in 10 to 15 per cent of women who have just given birth.
A less severe form, known as "baby blues," is common, occurring in about 90 per cent of women. It is not considered a mental illness.
PPD can occur at any time within the first year after a woman gives birth.
The causes of PPD may be related to hormonal changes brought about by childbirth and to the changes a new baby brings to the life of a family. Women who have a family history of depression, or who have suffered from depression before, are at greater risk for PPD.
Singer-songwriter Amy Sky lived through PPD when she became a mother 16 years ago – first giving birth to a daughter, and later a son. Sky wrote about her fears about being a mother in the song I Will Take Care of You.
Sky said she experienced a range of distorted thinking that, at the time, she did not want to label as postpartum depression.
"Unexplained mood changes," Sky recalled. "Like I'd be fine with the baby, and then it would be like a light switch turning off. I would just feel completely irrationally panicked about nothing. I had very distorted, confused thoughts running through my head, almost like I could hear my thoughts out loud. Colours were very vivid, sounds were too loud and they would irritate me."
One day, Sky was sitting in her home with her daughter when she looked at the electrical cords and in an extreme case of anxiety, she suddenly feared being electrocuted. She ran outside to the driveway with her daughter.
While the "baby blues" have mild symptoms of sleeplessness and crying spells, serious postpartum depression has a wider range of symptoms, and they typically last longer than two weeks.
Sky experienced some of the symptoms of PPD, which include:
- Changes in sleep patterns, either being unable to sleep or sleeping too much.
- Fatigue or lack of energy.
- Changes in appetite, either eating too little or too much.
- Feeling hopeless, a loss of control or great sadness.
- Crying for no reason.
- Having no feelings or too much concern for the baby.
- Irritability or outbursts of anger.
- Feeling little interest in daily activities.
- Feelings of guilt.
- Anxiety or panic attacks.
- Difficulty making decisions.
- Suicidal thoughts.
- Scary and repetitive thoughts about the safety of the baby.
In about one in 1,000 women, postpartum depression can take a more severe form: postpartum psychosis. The symptoms of postpartum psychosis are exaggerated to the point of delusions and hallucinations, including hearing voices.
Hallucinations and uncontrollable agitation are signs the mother needs immediate medical attention.
PPD in any of these forms is treatable with counselling and/or medication.
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More:
More on Postpartum depression
CBC stories
- Houston mother convicted of killing her five children
- March 12, 2002
- Doctor wants attention paid to postpartum depression
- Sept. 19, 2001
- More depression during pregnancy than after
- Aug. 3, 2001
- Mother who killed son on subway dies of injuries
- Aug. 20, 2000
- Mother and baby twice escorted from subway before jumping
- Aug. 12, 2000
- More arrests expected in alleged bomb plot
- June 5, 2006
External Links
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Alberta Children's Services
- Women's Health Matters Network
- Caring for Kids
- Canadian Women's Health Network: Postpartum Depression
- WellMother.com, Dr. Shaila Misri
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