Postpartum Depression

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

For many in our society, the diagnosis of "postpartum depression" still sounds like a whim and whim of a woman who has given birth. As a rule, this condition is described as immature behavior, spoiledness, but not a disease from which both the mother and the baby suffer. Therefore, it is important to say that such a disease exists. And it is necessary to know about this not only for pregnant women and mothers, but also for everyone, without exception, because often the signs of depression are noticed first of all by loved ones. A woman suffering from postpartum depression is usually unaware of what is happening to her.

What is postpartum depression (PDD)?

This is a mental disorder, the main signs of which are depression, lack of joy and pleasure from life, inadequate sense of guilt, lethargy - motor, mental, emotional. PRD occurs in 10-15% of women in the postnatal period, and its causes are not fully established. Scientists only note that this condition is due to many factors: genetic predisposition, individual experience, hormonal background, features of the central nervous system, peculiarities of pregnancy and childbirth, living conditions after childbirth, etc. It is important to understand that depression is a clinical diagnosis made by a psychiatrist and is usually treated with medication.

How does PRD manifest?

Signs of PRD are different, but if you notice at least a few of the above symptoms in yourself or in someone close to you, you should be especially careful and, if necessary, consult a specialist:

• tearfulness, excessive emotionality, or, on the contrary, emotional detachment, numbness;
• sleep disturbance: increased permanent drowsiness, or insomnia, overly sensitive and disturbing sleep;
• anxiety, reaching the point of panic (may be accompanied by panic attacks);
• fear and anxiety - for the child, for oneself, fear of harming the baby;
• nutritional problems (complete lack of appetite, or excessive need for food);
• inadequate reaction to the crying of the child: attacks of anger or even rage, or vice versa - detachment, apathy, lack of reaction to the cry of the baby;
• obsessive negative, sometimes absurd, suicidal thoughts (“they want to steal the baby,” “I can't cope, I need to give the child,” “they are persecuting us, it is necessary to save the baby,” “this is not my child,” and the like);
• frequent, unreasonable mood swings (from euphoria to apathy);
• an overwhelming sense of guilt;
• inadequate reaction to the baby (unwillingness to pick up, disgust, complete indifference, panic fear of being alone with the newborn).

It is important to understand that not one of the above symptoms (except for obsessive inappropriate thoughts) in itself is not a sign of PDD, but requires increased attention to the state of the woman in labor.

Is the PRD different?

As a rule, the first few weeks after giving birth, many women experience a depressed, tearful state - after all, the body of the woman in labor is restructuring at all levels (hormonal, physical, mental, social). This condition is also called baby blues, postpartum blues (I wrote about this in detail) But by 2-3 weeks the condition usually returns to normal - the mother gradually gets used to the baby and a new life and the symptoms disappear.

If a woman does not have the necessary support and assistance, if there are various aggravating factors (health problems for the mother and / or baby, financial and / or everyday difficulties, a traumatic family situation, etc.), then the postpartum blues can develop into postpartum depression. And this can happen even a year after the birth of a child (as a rule, due to accumulated fatigue and emotional burnout on maternity leave).

There is also such a mental disorder as postpartum psychosis, which usually accompanies other mental illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder). Its most striking symptoms are hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, lack of critical thinking, manic behavior. The danger of such a state is that a woman is not aware of the disturbances in her thinking and activity, and therefore - can harm herself or the child (up to the deprivation of life).

It is important to understand that a woman who shows signs of postpartum psychosis needs immediate consultation with a psychiatrist.

Who is at risk?

Women who:

• already had a history of clinical depression;
• have any other psychiatric diagnosis;
• have not planned a pregnancy, have a low level of psychological readiness for motherhood;
• have had a difficult pregnancy and / or childbirth (both physically and psychologically);
• have been stimulated during labor (oxytocin, epidural anesthesia);
• are separated from the child immediately after childbirth;
• have lost a child in late pregnancy, childbirth or infancy.

Most often, postpartum depression occurs in primiparous women.

What to do if you notice symptoms of PDD?

Get support

The first step is to seek help and support, both physical and emotional. From the very first days, connect the child's dad, because he is the same full-fledged parent, responsible for the life and health of the baby, like the mother. Actively involve grandparents, girlfriends, neighbors. Do not hesitate to delegate some everyday tasks to your loved ones, talk specifically about how they can help you. Remember that the child was born not only to you - he was born into a family!

Talk about your condition

It is important not to withdraw into yourself, not to be ashamed of your feelings and emotions. Find someone you can confide in and share your experiences, share concerns, ask for advice. Important: do not look for support on the Internet, communication on forums and social networks can even aggravate the condition of a young mother (due to the devaluation of her feelings, experience of people on the other side of the screen).

Get yourself a good rest

It is necessary to find an opportunity to eat well and get enough sleep. Use your child's sleep time for your own relaxation (go to bed or just lie down). Sleeping with a baby and a baby sling greatly facilitates the first months of motherhood. Minimize household tasks, optimize the cooking and cleaning process, delegate household chores.

Prioritize

If you are in a permanent state of "I am not doing anything" and because of this you are tormented by a sense of guilt and consider yourself a bad mom, decide on your priorities. Remember that it is impossible to do everything, it is important to do the main thing. And the main thing now is the health of the child and yours. Pots and dirty floors can definitely wait.

Seek help from specialists

If you feel that you cannot cope with your emotions, if you have a prolonged state of depression and the condition only gets worse, if obsessive negative or suicidal thoughts visit you, be sure to urgently consult a specialist (psychologist, psychotherapist; with signs of postpartum psychosis - to a psychiatrist).

Established postpartum depression is treated with antidepressants (prescribed only by a psychiatrist) and psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven to be the best treatment for these types of disorders.

What to do if you notice symptoms of PDD in loved ones?

• Talk to your husband, mother, or other loved one living with the woman who you have noticed the manifestation of PRD. Explain your worries, recommend paying attention to the behavior of the new mother. Let me read articles about the features of the conditions of women who have recently given birth.
• Try to communicate with the young mother as often as possible, offer her your help, if possible, do not leave her alone with the child for a long time.
• Take care of your mom's basic needs (food, sleep, rest). Best of all, if you can take care of the chores around the house, leave your mom with baby care.
• Praise, encourage the newborn mother in every possible way - emphasize how great she is doing, how the baby looks at her in a special way and how he calms down in her arms.
• Be interested in the state of the woman who gave birth, find out how her day went, what thoughts and feelings accompany her, how she feels in a new role, ask what difficulties she has to face, how her physical recovery is going. Remember that not only a baby was born, but a new mother was also born.

IMPORTANT! If you have ever heard from a recently given birth woman the words “it would be better if he wasn’t born”, “this is not my child”, if she has shared with you that she heard “voices in her head”, or she has excessively strange or inappropriate behavior (she is afraid of germs, constantly strives to "save" the baby, etc.), urgently take the mother to a psychiatrist. Remember that mental health is no less important than physical health, and in this matter it is better to "overdo it than overdo it."

USEFUL INFORMATION ON THE TOPIC OF DEPRESSION

Most (not all!) AD are not compatible with lactation. To determine if a medication for the treatment of PDD is compatible with lactation, use the website

Express test for the diagnosis of possible depression -

Depression test -

Vodopyanova N. E.

CBT psychotherapists:

support for women who have lost children during pregnancy and childbirth

Health to all of you and your kids!