Overview
Having a baby is one of life's most wonderful experiences. It's exciting and joyous, but it can also be very frightening. After a woman has had a baby, she may find that she is confused and overwhelmed about the various emotions that she feels. She may worry that she's unable to deal with the responsibility of being a full-time parent.
After childbirth, many women experience symptoms of depression that can range from a brief attack of the "baby blues" to a serious and major clinical depression known as postpartum depression. A great majority of new mothers, about 80%, will experience a mild form of "baby blues", usually within a few days after giving birth. These feelings will usually resolve on their own and disappear over a few weeks time. Postpartum depression affects about 10% to 15% of new mothers. This type of depression can affect women who have never been depressed before. Approximately 50% of women who were depressed during or after their pregnancy will also experience depression during future pregnancies.
Postpartum psychosis is the most severe form of postpartum depression. It is relatively rare, and requires immediate discussion and treatment with a qualified health-care provider.
Causes
There has been no single cause identified for postpartum depression.
In fact, many factors can contribute to it. They may include:
- hormonal changes
- disappointment in birth experience
- a sense of loss from no longer being pregnant
- level of marital satisfaction
- caring for a very needy baby
- lack of family and social support
- exhaustion
- family history of postpartum depression
- history of depression
Symptoms
For women experiencing the "baby blues", feelings of sadness,
anger, irritability, and insecurity are common. Self-doubts about being
a competent mother may contribute to these feelings. Bursting into tears often
occurs without reason. "Baby blues" may also include the occasional
negative thought about the baby. While these feelings are upsetting and disturbing,
they're actually perfectly normal, and women shouldn't feel guilty for feeling
them.
Postpartum depression is more severe and longer-lasting than the "baby
blues." In addition to the above symptoms women may also experience:
- constant fatigue
- lack of joy in life
- sense of numbness
- social withdrawal from family and friends
- lack of concern for self or the newborn baby
- severe insomnia
- overconcern for the baby
- loss of sexual responsiveness
- strong sense of failure and inadequacy
- severe mood swings
- appetite changes
- thoughts of suicide
Postpartum depression actually resembles many other forms of depression, with the added dimension that some of the symptoms involve thoughts about the baby. For example, the woman may not be either too concerned about the baby or not concerned enough; or she may have thoughts or fears of harming the baby.
Postpartum psychosis is a very serious condition that usually begins a couple of days or weeks after childbirth. A woman experiencing this form of depression has become severely depressed and may experience acute anxiety, restlessness, hallucinations, paranoia, and hysteria and have thoughts related to harming herself or the baby.
Treatment
If you're experiencing mild depression or the "baby blues" you
should take care of yourself by getting adequate rest, eating a nutritious diet,
exercising in moderation, and accessing your social support system. Listen
and respond to your body's cues for rest. If possible, get some rest during
the day while the baby is napping.
If you're suffering from one of the more severe forms of postpartum depression, you should seek early treatment with a doctor so you can have a more rapid recovery. Treatment methods vary and may include counselling, antidepressant medication, anti-anxiety medication, and hormone therapy. Support groups may also be very helpful. Concerned family members should always discuss these symptoms with the family doctor if the new mother does not want to speak with the doctor herself. People suffering from this type of depression are often the last to admit how they really feel.
In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary. Usually, the baby will be
admitted with the mother or taken in for visits. The goal of treatment for postpartum
psychosis is to keep mother and baby safe and to preserve the mother's sense
of competence as a parent while she recovers.
If you're prescribed certain medications, you may need to stop breast-feeding
and turn to bottle-feeding instead, as some antidepressants can enter breast
milk and affect the baby's health. However, this is not the case with all antidepressants.
If you want to continue breast-feeding, ask your doctor about medications that are safe to use while nursing.
The good news is that there's a very high recovery rate for postpartum depression. While a few women may have a longer-lasting experience with depression, most women will find the condition improves within two to three months.
Other tips:
Postpartum depression is often overlooked because new mothers spend a lot
of time alone with their infants, and it may take some time before anyone notices
that they're depressed and in need of professional help. Because they get
less sleep, most new mothers are generally exhausted anyway, and family and
friends may consider strange or different behaviour to be a reaction to being
tired and coping with a new baby.
If you're a new mother and experience any of the above symptoms, you should
speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor may wish to investigate
the possibility of postpartum depression. Your doctor will want to spend some
time discussing the symptoms with you, and may refer you for counselling or
psychological support. If you are close to a new mother and notice symptoms of postpartum depression, remember that it is important to report these concerns to the family doctor immediately.
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