Giving birth may be painful but it should be a joyous event that warranties a celebration. It is, after all, the welcoming of a new life and new member of the family. Postpartum depression, however, may be the villain lurking in the dark corners of your mind. It robs the complete happiness of the moment and replaces it with something like despair. Women who have given birth for the first time may not be aware that what they are feeling has gone beyond what is considered normal. True, women feel a jumble of emotions after giving birth. Many will feel overwhelmed and tearful in the first two weeks of birth. Still, postpartum depression is a whole lot different.
What is the difference between postpartum depression and the baby blues?
Baby blues refer to the moodiness, tearfulness and the overall feeling of being extremely overwhelmed after becoming a new mom. This is just understandable as the new moms experience a sudden crash in hormones. While there was a certain high associated with pregnancy, there would be a sudden feeling of loss after giving birth. Some moms may not even feel the baby blues. Those who do experience the blues as a new mom will be rid of the ill feelings after about a couple of weeks. By that time, new moms would have settled into a routine and would have felt more adequate and capable.
Women who experience postpartum depression have it harder. Postpartum, by the way, simply means after birth. Those with postpartum depression experience a longer and more intense version of the baby blues. Right after giving birth, these new moms feel horrible about themselves. They also think negative thoughts about their own babies. Some women may even feel like harming their own babies. Very few do act upon these thoughts. Those who do may be suffering from more than just postpartum depression and may have gone over to postpartum psychosis. Women who suffer from postpartum depression may feel suicidal or think morbid thoughts. They may cry all the time or feel as if their lives are no longer worth living. Even their new babies do not interest them. It seems that nothing interests these women anymore. They could be anxious, irritable and prone to unexplained weight loss or gain. Some may not feel like eating. After all, these women no longer feel like living.
What is postpartum psychosis?
When postpartum depression gets out of hand, it can become a full-blown postpartum psychosis. This condition is much more serious. Women suffering from postpartum psychosis are dangers to themselves and to their babies. They may suffer from hallucinations, hearing and seeing things that are not there at all.
What causes postpartum depression?
All women who give birth are susceptible to mood swings. Those who have a history of depression, however, may succumb to the condition again. The exact cause of postpartum depression is still somewhat a mystery, though. The chemical changes that happen after giving birth may be too much for some women. Those who are constantly experiencing a lot of stress and not getting a lot of emotional support are the ones who are more likely to become depressed after giving birth. A sick baby who needs a lot of attention may also cause depression for its new mom. Other factors that can cause postpartum depression are unemployment, poverty, history of mental illness, and other problems. Immediate causes may be insecurities over new figure, stress over new routine and getting used to being a mother. Miscarriage and stillbirth may also cause postpartum depression though there may not be live birth. The death of the child is a stronger reason for becoming depressed.
What should you do about postpartum depression?
If you think you are suffering from postpartum depression, you must immediately seek help. Just because you are functioning quite well as a mother does not mean that you are not depressed. Maybe you are already quite handy with your new baby but if your overwhelming feelings of panic, guilt and sadness are still lingering even as the weeks go by, you have to consult a therapist. You may even consult your OB about your situation. Do not think that your postpartum depression will just go away, especially if you have troubling thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. It is time to find someone who can help you rise above your situation. Having a new baby should be the happiest moment of your life. Do not let depression take away the supposedly happy, earliest moments with your baby. Medical treatment is definitely the best.
However, there are also ways to improve your mood that can be done without the help of a doctor. You can seek the support of family members and friends. You may also surround yourself with the company of new moms who are experiencing the same things. Mingling with people and going out can make your situation better. Still, you may need medication if things are not getting any better.
Postpartum depression may be dubbed as a thief. It takes away the time that you could be smiling and having fun with your little one. There is hope, though. You can still get well and enjoy the rest of the time you will have with your baby.