Knowing When Depression Postpartum Hits

Giving birth to a baby could be one of the most wonderful moments in a woman’s life but it is also very stressful and involves lot of anxiousness. Most of the new moms go through these feelings and this is what is said to be postpartum depression. Some of the symptoms or signs of this depression is sleeping troubles, curiosity, anxiety, frustration, improper eating habits or less appetite for food, fear relating to handling and bringing up the baby in the future, etc. These natural feelings at times make the mothers think that they do not deserve to be mothers. These feelings become more active especially after three or four days after the delivery. These baby blues last for only a couple of weeks and cannot be termed as any kind of illness or disease. These things do not need any medical treatments and it also does not mean that the mother will stop caring for the child.

Depression Postpartum

But if these depressions last for a longer time or more than two weeks, then it is called Post Partum Depression (PPD). Some of the new mothers face this problem. This thing does not only happen with the first delivery but it exists with the subsequent deliveries as well. This PPD also interferes and distorts the relationship of a mother and a child.

Post natal depression is another name for post partum depression. It is basically a medical condition which affects women generally, but it also affects men at times. It affects women during the first few months of their pregnancy. Some of the problems the future mother faces are emptiness, anxiety, tiredness, sorrow, irregular appetite, sleeping disorders, decreased libido, irritation, speech problems, low self-confidence, guilty feelings, etc.

Factors causing PDD

Some of the hormonal changes in the mother after the birth of the child are some of the causes for PDD. There are some who blame vitamin deficiency for this. Some of the other things that cause PDD are history of depression and stress, smoking habits, less social support, anxiousness about child care, marital problems and incompatibility, financially weak, divorced or single parenthood, unwanted or unplanned pregnancy, problems relating to the infant, the baby not coming out to be the way the mother expected it to, which results in the mother thinking that she has not done enough for her child.

There are women who have PDD even without these symptoms. PDD should not be taken lightly. If the mother is not treated on time, then matters can get worse. There are also chances of the mother becoming aggressive and violent.

How to treat PDD

PDD should not be taken lightly and must be treated on time. Measures like proper nourishment, behavioral therapy and counseling sessions, adequate sleep and support of the family and the relatives would come in handy. Medication should be given too, if there is a need. There are very good chances of recovery if the treatment takes place at the early stages. These people can be treated in one’s home but if the cases are severe, then they should be taken to the hospital. For the severe cases or people in advanced stages can make use of a therapy called Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT).