Postpartum DepressionDepression is best described as feeling down, sad, miserable, blue, unhappy, unworthy, in a funk, or down in the dumps. Many women feel down for a period of a few days here and there, but clinical postpartum depression involves profound and sustained feelings of sadness and irritability, and a sense of being withdrawn from others, that can last for several weeks or months after the pregnancy.
Depression during pregnancy or after pregnancy is termed
postpartum depression. Studies show that depression is one of the most common conditions experienced by women after childbirth. Many times, pregnancy and the birth of a new child overshadow a woman’s underlying psychological condition, and the symptoms of depression in the mother are overlooked. Even if the condition is recognized, the diagnosis and
treatment come late because the mother is so overwhelmed with the child’s well-being that she forgets to care for herself and seek treatment for depression.
There are many
hormonal changes occurring in a woman’s body during the first month after a baby is born, and these hormonal changes may lead to a sense of helplessness in the woman as she focuses on the herculean task of caring for a newborn. Anxiety, lack of sleep, distraction and other factors all play into the condition known postpartum depression.
Mothers who are very young and inexperienced may be at greater risk for experiencing bouts of postpartum depression. A history of substance abuse, financial problems, problems with a previous pregnancy, and lack of an active support group or net of family members and friends all contribute to increase the likelihood of postpartum depression.
If you are suffering from any of the symptoms of postpartum or feel that you are at risk for postpartum depression, it’s important to
seek treatment. Above all, women suffering the symptoms of postpartum must articulate their feelings of despair to their doctor, to a friend, or to their partner. Your doctor may want to prescribe medication that will help you deal with these feelings of anxiety of depression.
postpartum depression is treatable, but you must seek help. If you feel you are suffering from postpartum depression, speak to your OBGYN or therapist about treatment options. Don’t suffer in silence – get help today.