Postpartum depression
When a baby is born, it brings with it a lot of feelings and emotions for both parents and relatives, but it can also cause anxiety and some feelings of sadness in the parents, especially the mother.
But how normal is this feeling of sadness? How is it considered unhealthy?
It can be said that in more than 50% of mothers, grief of having children is seen, which lasts from 2-3 days after delivery until the end of 2 weeks. Symptoms of this disorder include mood swings, occasional crying, sleep problems, and anxiety. If these symptoms are not severe and go away after two weeks, we interpret it as childish grief, which is somewhat normal and resolves on its own, but if the symptoms worsen and remain for a long time, and in the parent’s ability to Interfere with the baby’s care and daily activities. The mother suffers from postpartum depression or PDD, which requires therapist intervention and treatment. Postpartum depression is seen in 1 in 10 mothers. In rarer and more severe cases, about 1 in 1,000 mothers may develop depression, such as delusions or hallucinations. A parent is needed.
How do I know if I have problems after giving birth? What are the symptoms and their differences?
Symptoms of grief that you only feel a few days to two weeks after your baby is born include feelings of sadness, restlessness and anxiety, mood swings, crying, decreased concentration, feeling stressed, and minor sleep and eating disorders. .
But the symptoms of postpartum depression that you may confuse with grief at the birth of your baby include:
- Depressed mood or severe mood swings
Intense crying
Feeling that you can not communicate emotionally with your baby.
Severe sleep and eating problems in the form of insomnia, oversleeping and anorexia or a strong desire to eat
- Feeling rejected by those around you
Excessive fatigue or restlessness
- Lack of motivation to do your favorite routine activities
- Fear of not being a good mother
- Anxiety and panic attacks
Thoughts of hurting yourself or your child
Thoughts of death and suicide
Postpartum psychosis, which is a rare condition, has more severe symptoms, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions about the child or self, and attempts to harm oneself or the baby. And prompt treatment is needed.
Is postpartum depression unique to the mother?
No! Fathers can also experience postpartum depression, especially if they are young or have financial or family concerns. A father’s history of depression can also increase the risk of developing depression. The general symptoms of this depression in fathers are the same as in mothers.
Who is at risk for postpartum depression?
- People with a history of depression, bipolar disorder, or close relatives.
- People who have experienced stressful situations such as illness in the past year.
- People with health problems
- People who can not breastfeed their baby.
- People who have financial or family problems.
- People who have given birth to twins or multiples or who have had an unwanted pregnancy.
These people are at higher risk for postpartum depression.
What causes postpartum depression?
The exact cause of this depression can not be determined, but a number of possible causes are:
Hormones: A severe drop in female hormones occurs after childbirth, which can lead to a depressed mood.
Emotional and social: Emotional problems with a spouse or lack of support from relatives or friends.
Anxiety: Concerns about the ability to care for a child
Self-esteem: Feelings of lack of control over life, loss of identity, or loss of attractiveness may reduce self-esteem and ultimately create a depressed mood.
Is postpartum depression treatable or preventable? What are the consequences if left untreated?
If postpartum depression is not treated, it may persist in the mother for a long time and even affect her mood in the future. If the mother is depressed, the father is more likely to be depressed, and children with depressed parents have more difficulty eating, sleeping, relaxing, and talking.
Treating depression definitely requires the help of a specialist, and if you experience any of these symptoms, seek help immediately. Also remember that having healthy emotional relationships, a healthy diet, exercising, being in the community and getting more information and getting help from a psychologist can help you control the situation and sometimes prevent it.