Postpartum Depression -...

Postpartum Depression

Friday, December 12, 2014


• Many women experience major mood shifts after childbirth, ranging from brief, mild baby blues to longer-lasting, deeper clinical depression known as postpartum depression.



• Baby Blues– Up to 80% of women experience something called

the baby blues, feelings of sadness and emotional surges that begin in the first days after childbirth

– With baby blues a woman might feel happy one minute and tearful or overwhelmed the next

– She might feel sad, blue, irritable, discouraged, unhappy, tired, or moody



• Baby Blues– Baby blues usually last a few days, but can linger as

long as a week or two

– The cause is believed to be a natural effect of the hormone shifts that occur with pregnancy and childbirth

– As hormone levels normalize, baby blues usually resolve on their own without medical treatment



• Baby Blues– Make sure the mother gets proper rest and

nutrition, being sleep deprived or feeling stressed can reinforce and fuel feelings of sadness and depression

– Talk to the new mother and make sure she feels supported

– Take care of the baby so the mother can relax with a shower or nap



• Baby Blues– If baby blues linger longer than a week or two, talk

to the mother’s doctor to discuss whether postpartum depression may be the cause of emotional lows



• Postpartum depression– About 10% of new mothers experience postpartum

depression, which is a true clinical depression triggered by childbirth

– Postpartum depression usually begins 2 to 3 weeks after giving birth, but it can start any time during the first few days, weeks, or months post-delivery



• Postpartum depression feelings can include:– Sadness

– Tearfulness

– Despairing

– Discouraged

– Hopeless

– Worthless



• Postpartum depression symptoms include:– Trouble concentrating

– Trouble completing routine tasks

– Loss of appetite or interest in food

– Feelings of indifference for baby

– Not bonding with baby

– Feeling overwhelmed by situation

– Not able to feel happy, interested, pleased or joyful about anything



• Postpartum depression is a medical condition that requires attention and treatment

• Postpartum depression can affect any woman, but women who have battled depression at another time in their lives or have one or more relatives who have had depression might have a genetic tendency to develop postpartum depression



• Most postpartum depression is thought to be related to fluctuating hormone levels that affect mood and energy

• Levels of estrogen and progesterone that increased during pregnancy drop suddenly after delivery

• Stress hormones may have an added effect on mood



• If feelings of sadness or depression are strong or linger for a few days schedule a visit with the doctor

• A new mother who feels like giving up, who feels life is not worth living, or has suicidal thoughts or feelings needs to see her doctor right away



• Postpartum depression can last for several months or longer if not treated.

• Treatment may include talk therapy, medication, or both.

• It may take several weeks for the mother to begin feeling better once she is receiving treatment, some women feel better even sooner.



• A more serious and rare condition is postpartum psychosis

• This condition affects about 1 in 1000 women who give birth and occurs within the first month after labor and delivery

• It may include hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things, or feelings of paranoia



• With postpartum psychosis, a mother can have irrational ideas about her baby

• She may think that her baby is possessed or that she has to hurt herself or her baby

• Immediate medical attention is required



• A newborn brings special demands on a mother’s time, attention, and energy

• For first-time mothers there is a lot to learn about meeting baby’s most basic needs like sleeping, feeding, bathing, and soothing

• There are a lot of new routines to establish



• The baby’s sleeping, waking and feeding schedule can make it hard for a new mother to get the sleep and rest she requires to handle all these new stresses and responsibilities

• Without a good nights’ sleep even small things can seem overwhelming



• There are little things you can encourage the mother to do to make it easier to get through the first few weeks

– Focus on little things to look forward to during the day, like a hot shower, a walk outside, or talking on the phone to a friend

– Read something fun and uplifting

– Ask for help when she needs it



• More little things the new mom can do

– Indulge in simple pleasures like paging through a magazine, listen to music, or eat a piece of chocolate

– Be patient, it may take time to feel better

– Be optimistic, help the mother remember all the things she has to be grateful for



• What you can do to help– Check in with her regularly to see how she is doing

and ensure she is safe

– Listen when she wants to talk

– Be patient

– Be kind

– Believe in her and remind her of her good qualities and strengths



• What you can do to help– Remind the mother that postpartum depression

isn't a character flaw or a weakness

– Sometimes postpartum depression is simply a complication of giving birth

– Prompt treatment can help manage her symptoms — so she can enjoy her new baby


Postpartum Depression -...

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