Postpartum Depression - An Overview

Bringing a new baby into the world is an exciting and life changing experience. But the turmoil endured by a woman's body throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum can wreak havoc on her emotional health. Postpartum depression is no exception, and awareness of the symptoms of this disorder gives new mothers the opportunity to seek treatment, protect themselves and their children and possibly save lives.


New mothers are often blindsided by the symptoms of postpartum depression, unaware that their uncontrollable negative feelings are common among women who have recently given birth. The whirlwind and massive lifestyle changes accompanying a new baby blur new parents' ability to recognize the symptoms of postpartum depression and seek treatment. The specific medical cause of postpartum depression remains a mystery, but it is believed that hormonal shifts, such as major drops in levels of estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol shortly after birth play a major role in its occurrence.


Distinguishing the commonly experienced "baby blues" from the more severe postpartum depression is important. The so called baby blues give new mothers temporarily heightened emotions, starting a few days after birth and lasting from several days to a few weeks. Baby blues cause a mother to cry easily and feel irritable and strained to the max emotionally. However, baby blues are short term, do not require treatment and do not interfere with a mother's ability to care for her baby.


Postpartum depression, on the other hand, is a more serious disorder that does interfere with mom's ability to take care of her baby. Postpartum depression emerges shortly after birth, within a few months of delivery. A history of serious depression or other mood disorders increases a woman's risk of suffering from postpartum depression. A woman who is suffering from this illness will feel fatigued, sad and tearful and be unable to enjoy herself. She will likely experience a change in appetite, feel inadequate as a parent and may have suicidal thoughts. A mother whose postpartum depression leads her to become suicidal may consider killing her baby from fear of abandoning the baby. Many women with postpartum depression worry about the well being of their babies but have thoughts of hurting them, though most never act on these thoughts.


Factors that are unique to each woman can contribute to postpartum depression. External stressors such as marital problems or a lack of familial support contribute to a woman's likelihood of developing postpartum depression. The birth of a child is one of the most significant life changes a person can endure, committing a woman to significant new responsibilities and a forever altered role in life. The change in routine, loss of sleep and physical stress from childbirth make adjusting to a new daily life particularly difficult for mothers.


Symptoms of postpartum depression vary greatly among women, and seeking medical attention is vital to the well being of a mother as well as her infant. Pregnant women, their significant others and close family members should be educated before birth about this illness, which will give them the power to recognize symptoms and therefore combat the illness.




About the Author

About the Author: Jon Flatt is the CEO of Red McCombs Media, a leading online provider of diaper delivery service to ease the burden on new parents. For more information, please visit www.hugsdiapers.net.