The months surrounding the birth of a new baby can an emotional roller-coaster ride, and some ups and downs are to be expected. While we like to think that a new baby brings nothing but joy, the fact is that the majority of new mothers experience complicated emotions that may involve a moderate amount of self-doubt, fear, and anxiety. When these negative feelings become severe and last for longer than a week or two, they may be categorized as postpartum depression. Studies have shown that this affliction affects up to one-fourth of all new mothers.
Is some depression normal?
Studies also show that 90% of new mothers experience at least some feelings of depression either in the lead-up to giving birth or in the months afterward. The feelings commonly take the form of loneliness or a generalized upset, and mothers often have difficulty pinpointing exactly why they feel the way they do. To make matters worse, mothers experiencing these feelings are often reluctant to talk about them. They assume that they should be feeling nothing but joy, and the guilt compounds their negative feelings.
Meanwhile, many women report feeling angry or resentful toward their partners, babies, or families, and this also tends to make them feel guilty. Along with this may come anxiety and sadness, which can result in difficulty sleeping, doubt about one’s abilities as a parent, and crying for seemingly no reason. All of these things are normal. However, they usually go away within one week.
When do baby blues become postpartum depression?
These normal feelings are nothing to be alarmed about. But if your feelings worsen and don’t go away, then you will need to see a doctor about ways to combat your feelings. Here are a few signs that indicate when normal baby blues have become something more serious:
• The negative feelings—whether depression, anxiety, anger, or general malaise—continue either constantly or intermittently for at least two weeks.
• Early signs of depression or anxiety go away but return with greater strength weeks or months after giving birth.
• These negative feelings interfere with everyday tasks.
• The negative feelings prevent you from doing everything you need to do to take care of your baby.
• You have difficulty sleeping or eating.
• You can’t derive pleasure from things you once enjoyed.
• You suffer panic attacks.
• You have trouble bonding with the baby and may feel resentful.
• You worry that your intense feelings may cause you to harm yourself or others.
If you’ve recently given birth and are experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t wait for them to go away on their own. Call your doctor as soon as possible, and don’t be afraid to talk openly about your feelings. While you may be understandably reluctant to tell your partner or family how you’re feeling, keep in mind that your doctor has likely seen it before. And he or she can’t help you if you’re not willing to tell the truth about what’s happening.
Causes of postpartum depression
It’s hard to say exactly what causes postpartum depression, and it probably varies from person to person. In most cases, it’s probably a combination of factors. Perhaps most importantly, women in the late stages of pregnancy or in the early post-pregnancy stages go through dramatic hormonal changes, and these can throw the body out of balance to such an extent that it affects the mood. Meanwhile, it’s no secret that new parents often fail to get enough sleep, and this just exacerbates the mood problems.
While these factors may explain postpartum depression during the first week or so after birth, depression that kicks in later on is more difficult to explain. Some women, for example, don’t experience the worst symptoms of postpartum depression until a month or more after birth. This could have to do with fatigue, but experts say that the stress associated with returning to work may also be a factor. Seeming to prove this, studies have shown that women in countries with better maternal leave policies tend to have lower rates of postpartum depression.
There are also several important risk factors that can make women more prone to postpartum depression, including:
• A history of depression.
• Stressful events during pregnancy or in the months immediately following birth.
• Financial hardship in the times surrounding birth.
• A poor family and spousal support system.
• An unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.
While these risk factors do increase the chances that a new mother will experience postpartum depression, it’s important to note that no mother is immune. This illness affects women from all economic and social backgrounds, and it can be serious even in women who have never had depression before. If you suspect that you may be suffering from postpartum depression, see your doctor as soon as you can.
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