Introduction
Many women develop postpartum Depression after childbirth. This condition occurs in women, especially after the birth of the first child. However, in some women, this problem comes after the birth of every child.
The causes of this Depression are usually psychological.
I had earlier shared a post Mental illness in Pregnancy: All About Mental health in Pregnancy I hope you read.
How can you tell if you have baby blues or Postpartum Depression? let’s see in details.
Table of Contents
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Postpartum blues
The feeling of sadness women may have in 2 to 3 days after having a baby can last up to 2 weeks. Symptoms are include:
- Feel sad and cry a lot.
- Feel moody or cranky.
- Have trouble sleeping, eating, or making a decision
- Feel overwhelmed that you can’t do an excellent job of taking care of your baby
- Anxiety and Depression
- Poor concentration
I have already covered:
- What Is Mood Disorder?: Types, Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment
- Do I Have A Sleep Disorder?: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
Treatment
- Taking care of the mother is the best way to decrease the symptoms of the baby blues.
- Maintain a well-balanced diet.
- Get outside to enjoy the fresh air.
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Postpartum depression
It is a mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth.
A more severe, long-lasting form of Depression that persists more than two weeks after childbirth.
Causes of Postpartum Depression
- Hormonal changes ( decline in estrogen level )
- Constant lack of sleep can lead to physical discomfort
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression
- Feeling sad, hopeless
- Crying for no apparent reason
- Unable to sleep even though when the baby is sleeping.
- Losing interest in activities
- Eating too little or too much
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- doubting about caring baby
- Thinking about harming herself or her baby
Treatment
Psychotherapy :
- It helps to find better ways to cope with your feelings, solve problems, set realistic goals, and respond to situations positively.
Antidepressants:
- Fluoxetine or paroxetine is effective and has fewer side effects, and also safe for breastfeeding.
Estrogen patch:
- Estrogen plays an essential role in Pregnancy.
- During childbirth, the amount of estrogen is reduced. To help with Postpartum Depression, wear an estrogen patch on your skin to replace the estrogen that your body lost.
Read:
Postpartum Psychosis (Schizophrenia)
They are observed in about 0.14 to 0.26 of mothers.
They are sometimes called “PUERPEREAL PSYCHOSIS” or “POSTNATAL PSYCHOSIS.”
It is the most severe form of postpartum illness, and a psychiatric emergency requires immediate intervention to prevent suicide.
Risk Factors of Postpartum Psychosis
- Personal or family history of postpartum psychosis
- Bipolar or schizoaffective disorder
- Hormonal changes
- Sleep deprivation
Symptoms of Postpartum Psychosis
Onset is sudden, usually within four days of delivery, manifested by:
- Fear
- Hallucination ( auditory hallucination )
- Delusion ( others are trying to harm her baby )
- Insomnia
- Refusing to eat
- Periods of delirium or mania
- Suicidal or homicidal thoughts
- Hyperactivity
- Suspiciousness
Read: Severe Anemia In Pregnancy: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
How to treat postpartum depression?
Antipsychotics:
- Help with delusions or hallucinations.
- Chlorpromazine: 50 to 150 mg 3 times a day
Mood stabilizers:
- Reduce manic episodes.
- Lithium is indicated.
ECT:
- Very rarely use.
- It is given when your symptoms are particularly severe.
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Therapy: After seeing the symptoms of depression in the woman after delivery, the doctor may recommend talk therapy. This therapy may help relieve symptoms of postpartum depression.
In addition, postpartum women can be treated with hormone therapy to balance the reduced estrogen levels in the body. This reduces the effect of postpartum depression.
Family Support: After delivery, family members can also get the woman out of depression by giving emotional support. Along with this, they can also help in their daily work. It may also help reduce the symptoms of postpartum depression. Apart from medicine and therapy, the doctor can give such advice to pregnant family members.
when to see a doctor
- As we have discussed the symptoms of postpartum depression in detail. If these symptoms are felt, a doctor needs to be consulted. Postpartum depression leaves a different effect on every woman, so it is essential to talk to a doctor. If you have the following symptoms, take proper advice from the doctor without delay
- Baby blues symptoms don’t go away within two weeks
- disinterest in work
- child carelessness
- the rapid rise in tension
- having thoughts of hurting yourself or the child
- seeing or hearing something that cannot be seen or heard by others
- It is essential to look into this problem from the very beginning. By doing this, this problem can be avoided from escalating. If you ignore its symptoms and do not take care of your health, it can also have serious consequences. Take care of yourself, too, and share this article with others to make them aware of postpartum depression.
Also read: Pregnancy with Heart Disease: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment