More than 50% of women experience temporary symptoms after having a child. This is sometimes called postpartumblues website. These mixed feelings are often associated with irritability. Tears, insomnia, mood swings and mood changes. Baby blues (also known as Postpartum Depression or PPD) is associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Common symptoms of PPD
The early onset PPD, which is mild in nature and subsides within a few days for 80 percent women after childbirth, is a common occurrence. It is the later onset PPD which is less severe and only detected a few months after childbirth. Up to 16 percent are affected by this type of PPD. Baby blues are characterized by anxiety, insomnia, tears, and sadness. Early onset baby blues occur within a couple of days after childbirth and disappear in 10 to 12 day. This means that baby blues are only temporary. Nearly 20 per cent of women have postpartum blues, which progress to a permanent depression. New mothers who experience depression for longer than several weeks should speak to their doctor.
Symptoms can persist up to an entire year. Symptoms can sometimes be so frightening that they are even scary. When you are experiencing such an intense case of PPD, it is likely that you won’t feel like doing your normal work. You may lose interest in everything. It becomes a habit to cook, work at home or in the office, and dress. Both the good and bad are always with you. These symptoms could also include a fear of hurting your child. If you are depressed, it is possible that you will feel ashamed about your feelings. It may even be difficult to talk to anyone else. Telling others that you are feeling this way may make you feel like your baby will be taken from you. But, this is not the case. You should not hesitate to reach out for professional help if you are experiencing intense PPD. It will help you get rid of these feelings, and you can take better care of yourself and your child. Women with PPD histories and women who have suffered from PPD are at the highest risk of developing postpartum Depression.
Other factors
Other factors that may increase the risk include:
Unrealistic feelings of motherhood.If the pregnancy was forced upon or complicated pregnancy.Anxiety or depression during pregnancy.Severe premenstrual syndrome.Indifferences with partner and lack of support.New born with physical deformities.Low self esteem.
Managing Postpartum Depression:
Understanding that the ‘babyblues,’ which can appear early on in a baby’s life, is a mild depression may help mothers to cope. In the case of PPD (later onset depression), mothers must be very careful and judicious in seeking professional help. For you, your family and baby it is vital to seek professional assistance. Treatment is based on Cognitive-behavioral counseling for mother and dad. This therapy can help change the way that you think and feel, as well as give your partner advice about how to best support you. Interpersonal counselling is another form of treatment for you and your spouse. It focuses primarily on the relationships between the two and the effects that the newborn has had. The majority of mothers who use antidepressant drugs are able to overcome postpartum anxiety.