Pregnancy & Depression

What is Postpartum Depression?

After giving birth a mother will experience both psychological and physiological changes. Depression felt after giving birth is believed to be caused by the change of hormone levels within the mother’s body. Within the first 24 hours after giving birth, estrogen and progesterone decrease rapidly. Thyroid levels may also drop which lead to symptoms of depression. Symptoms of depression can range from mild to severe and last anywhere from hours to months.

Three Types of Postpartum Depression (PPD) Baby Blues can occur within days after childbirth and may last a few hours to two weeks after giving birth.

The “baby blues” does not always require treatment, but support groups and talking with other mothers often helps.
General Postpartum Depression can occur within a few days to months after giving birth. Symptoms are similar to “baby blues” but more severe. They can last up to a year if not treated through medication, counseling, or both.
Postpartum Psychosis, considered a mental illness, may occur within the first three months of pregnancy. Symptoms are very severe including auditory and visual hallucinations, anger and abnormal behaviors. Medication is almost always needed in treatment.

Signs and symptoms
-trouble sleeping
-sleeping too much
-lack of interest
-feelings of guilt
-loss of energy
-difficulty concentrating
-changes in appetite
-restlessness, agitation or slowed movement
-thoughts or ideas about suicide
-feelings of sadness
-headaches
-difficulty remembering
-excessive worry about the baby
-being afraid of hurting the baby or oneself

Coping with Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression may lead mothers to be inconsistent with childcare. Women diagnosed with postpartum depression often focus more on the negative events of childcare, resulting in poor coping strategies.

Four coping strategies:
Avoidance coping: denial, behavioral disengagement. Avoidance coping is one of the most common strategies used. It consists of denial and behavioral disengagement subgroups (for example, an avoidant mother might not respond to her baby crying). This strategy however, does not resolve any problems and ends up negatively impacting the mother’s mood, similarly of the other coping strategies used.
Problem-focused: active coping, planning, positive reframing
Support seeking: emotional support, instrumental support
Venting: venting, self-blame

Realize this isn’t a disorder. In fact, it’s quite normal. As many as 80% of the moms have experienced some form of these baby blues. It’s important that you recognize feelings of anger, restlessness, irritability and low self-esteem and address them as best you can.
Keep your doctor informed. Most cases of postpartum distress (baby blues) are mild, but sometimes the symptoms are more severe and last for longer periods of time. PPD can affect your emotions as well as your sleeping patterns and appetite. It’s important to you and your child’s health that you communicate with your health care provider.
Medication is an option. In nearly 85% of postpartum depression or psychosis cases suffering women are relieved by this choice.
Support groups can be very successful at mending your sorrows. The objectivity of outsiders can help you work through some of your more difficult feelings. Sometimes sharing is easier when it’s with a stranger who can empathize with your situation.
Above all else, remember to pamper yourself. You can enlist outside help—your mom, mother-in-law, sister, best friend and anyone else who’s interested. Schedule regular visits so that you can get in a peaceful shower or nap. Take the time to paint your toenails or give yourself a facial. These age-old pick-me-ups can be lifesavers.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Now is the time to use your support system. Talk to your spouse about your feelings.

About two weeks after the birth of my daughter the panic set in. What on earth was I thinking when I convinced my husband that it was time to have a baby? I wasn’t ready for this and I sure as heck didn’t know what I was doing. All I knew was to change my daughter's diaper whenever she started to crank and if that didn’t work, I could try to feed her. Frankly, I felt overwhelmed by my new responsibility. By nature I knew I needed to talk about my feelings. I let my family and friends know that I was freaking out and they were there to support me. My husband received countless calls to his pager in the weeks that followed. My mom called daily to see how I was doing. Even our birth class instructor got a couple worry calls in the middle of the day when I couldn’t get a hold of any one else.

Reach out. Your family and friends want and expect you to. You would want your loved ones to lean on you when they need, so don’t deny yourself the strength of your support system.

Natural approach to coping with Postpartum Depression

1. Maintain proper sleep
2. Eat a well-balanced diet
3. Manage anxiety as advised by your health care professional
4. Participate in an exercise program
5. Set realistic goals for yourself
6. Create small and manageable tasks
7. Let others you can trust such as family and friends help you
8.Take some risks. Reach out for experiences and relationships you need if you are to be happier.
9. Do something for someone who is in need.
10. Don’t measure yourself against everyone you meet
11.Take responsibility for your depressive feelings. Recognize they might be doing something for you, protecting your from failures or other consequences you fear. Begin to control these feelings.
12. Don’t hesitate to seek help from trained professionals
13. Engage in physical activity
14. Get together with people – people who are important to you.
15. Talk it out. Let someone you can trust get to know you better.
16.Take time to appreciate yourself and others. Savor the dignity and worth implicit in being a unique human being.
17. Don’t let feelings of hurt and anger smolder inside. Learn to express them appropriately.