The normal and expected reaction when holding your own baby right after giving birth is joy. However, there are times when this feeling can be temporarily derailed by a rush of fluctuating hormones and chemical reactions that create confusion, grief, and a whole lot of emotions to the mother. Being overwhelmed and anxious is also normal after giving birth. However, when those feelings seem to choke the happiness out of you for weeks on end, you may be suffering from more than just the baby blues, but you may be suffering from postpartum depression or the intense feeling of sadness you might feel after giving birth.
If you are suffering from postpartum depression, you may not be insane but you may do some things that may be thought of as crazy for a mother who is supposed to be connected with her baby. If postpartum depression becomes worse, it can turn into a full-blown postpartum psychosis, which can make you see things and even act on thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. That is why it is better to nip things at the bud, before your life turns into a complete misery. You must know the symptoms of this condition so you can seek help immediately.
Lack of energy
It is understandable why women are too exhausted after giving birth, especially after a long, drawn-out labor or after having been given a lot of pain medication. The nine months before the birth also contribute to the exhausting road toward delivery. However, if you cannot muster enough energy to even want to live or to feed your baby, there must be something wrong with you. Most healthy women manage to find strength to care for their baby.
Sleeplessness
While most new moms may experience sleeplessness, there are those who cannot sleep at all. If you are suffering from postpartum depression, you may find yourself unable to sleep even during the times your baby is sound asleep. There may be just too many worries on your mind, or you just do not feel like sleeping at all.
Loss of hope
One of the worst signs of postpartum depression is the feeling of hopelessness and worthlessness. This is the state in which depressed new moms suddenly feel that their lives are not worth it at all. Suicidal thoughts then take over. If you are a depressed new mom, you may find yourself wanting to kill yourself because you cannot find anything worth living for. You may even lose interest in the things that you usually love to do or used to care for.
Extreme emotions
Postpartum depression causes extreme feelings of despair and anxiety. If you know the symptoms of baby blues, then you have an idea how postpartum depression goes, except that the feelings are more intense. There are times, however, when the feelings you have during a bout of baby blues are just about equal with what you will feel when suffering from postpartum depression. The main difference will be the duration of the conditions. Postpartum depression lasts longer and may not be cured without professional help.
Eating problems
Those suffering from postpartum depression may also lose their appetites. After all, if you feel worthless and empty and no longer have interest in anything, then you may lose your appetite for food and just about anything. Some may even skip food for the purpose of starving themselves to death, whether consciously or not.
Isolation
There are women who, instead of seeking some comfort in the support of friends and family, turn their backs on them. They isolate themselves emotionally and sometimes, even physically. This isolation, unfortunately, only worsens the condition. In fact, it is advised that depressed people should seek the company of more people, especially those who they care about. For some women, it is the isolation and the lack of support that actually make them vulnerable to postpartum depression. Women who are constantly alone or who believe that they have nobody to depend on are more likely to get depressed.
Lack of connection
One of the saddest symptoms of postpartum depression is the lack of connection between the new mom and her baby. When a woman gives birth to her baby, the baby is immediately placed on her chest for instant bonding. There should be an unquestionable connection between the mom and the baby. They have been together for about nine months already and have finally met face to face. For a mom to have no interest in her baby is unnatural. She has taken care of the baby in her womb for months and has risked her life to bring a new life into this world. There must be something completely wrong if she does not want to have a connection with her child.
There are many different signs and symptoms of postpartum depression. No matter what combination you have, you have to consult a doctor if things are not getting any better, especially when this has been going on for a couple of weeks or more. It is important that you seek help immediately as soon as you recognize the symptoms. This is so you can get your life back, all the while preventing harm from coming to you or your child.