Postpartum depression is ‘baby blues’. It is a condition of depression which occurs after the birth of a new child, and it usually throws a woman’s life into significant upheaval.

A woman may describe emotional feelings of being blue, unhappy, miserable, sad, exhausted, have a headache, irritable, feel a sense of inadequacy, or just simply feel more down than usual. It’s not a temporary feeling, but a true clinical depression that interferes with the woman’s life over a period of time immediately following the birth of the child.

The attack of depression can come in varying degrees ranging from mild or moderate depression, to very severe. Any woman experiencing these symptoms should see a physician or psychologist, who will help determine what treatments will be used to alleviate the symptoms.

It can be distressing to feel happy, one minute and to begin crying the next. Usually the depression also manifests in a loss of appetite and a loss of sleep. Of course this tends to be a vicious circle, which aggravates the depression.

The most common form of baby blues usually lasts no more than 3, 4 days after the birth. During this time, it is beneficial, if there is someone else in the house to help get over this period. Another female who can help with the meal preparation and just be there for the new mother to speak with can be very helpful. It can also help the new mother make it quicker recovery.

The more moderate form of postpartum depression may appear several weeks after the delivery, and is a more severe type of depression. This is the form of baby blues were a woman experiences symptoms of constant fatigue, emotional numbness, perhaps a feeling of failure, impaired thinking or lot of concentration, severe mood swings, excessive emotional concern for the baby, and perhaps a loss of interaction with family and friends.

Even more severe is postpartum psychosis, a condition of severe postpartum depression, which is thankfully rare. Again, it develops within the first six weeks after delivery. This is the very extremely depressive condition were women feel or experience a fear of harming themselves or their baby. They may experience confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, delusions, and even paranoia.

There may be a number of medical reasons for the onset of postpartum depression. A further stressful life event, hormonal changes, or even a death in the family can all cause the onset of the condition even as late as one year after the birth.

The new parent’s immediate family circle should be aware that there is always this chance that the condition may develop, so for the first year, they should really be watching out for these signs. Most people assume once the first few weeks have passed, everything is great. Not so. The condition should always be watched for so that early treatment can lead to a quicker recovery and less emotional stress and pain for the new mother involved.

Some women will have a hard time admitting their feelings because they feel they are letting their husband or family down, and they feel it is somehow their own fault. They feel they should be happy with their beautiful new baby, but because they aren’t, they feel very guilty and worry that they may be seen as an unfit mother. They may even beg you not to call the doctor, but to let them sort it out themselves.

This is why early recognition and treatment is essential, and husbands especially need to be aware of the background of postpartum depression. If you think you are suffering from this, or if you are a husband who thinks his wife may be suffering from this condition, please seek advice from a doctor or midwife immediately.

Tags: postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, baby blues



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