POST PARTUM DEPRESSION
Condition
Depression is a mood disorder in which persistent feelings of profound sadness, loss, anger and frustration interfere with your daily life. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious state of depression that is estimated to affect about 10 percent of new mothers. It can occur within days to months after the birth of a baby and lasts at least two weeks.
Women most at risk for postpartum depression include those who:
- have a personal or family history of depression
- had a difficult or stressful pregnancy (for example, there may be medical problems, marital problems or money problems)
- had complications during labor or delivery (such as labor that lasted more than 24 hours or an unplanned cesarean section)
- have limited social support
- live alone
- are young
- have had postpartum depression before.
Awareness of these risk factors may help prevent postpartum depression or lessen its severity.
Causes
The causes of postpartum depression are not very well understood. However, the following appear to contribute to the development of the disorder:
- a significant, rapid decrease in the level of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone that occur after birth of a baby
- a drop in the level of thyroid hormone that may also occur after delivery
- lack of sleep or broken sleep
- feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities that come with a new baby.
Symptoms
A woman with postpartum depression usually has several of these symptoms at the same time:
- eating too much or too little
- sleeping too much or not enough
- crying spells
- persistent feelings of sadness, guilt, hopelessness and helplessness
- thoughts of harming yourself and/or the baby
- loss of desire for intimacy and sex
- low self-esteem
- trouble concentrating or remembering
- loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
- lack of interest in or excessive preoccupation with the baby
- feeling anxious and unable to cope with responsibilities
- physical symptoms including headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations (it feels like your heart is beating fast and skipping beats), hyperventilation (fast and shallow breathing).
PPD is different from postpartum blues, which affects more than half of women after delivery and resolves within two weeks without treatment. Postpartum psychosis is an extremely severe form of PPD that occurs rarely and requires immediate medical help that often includes hospitalization.
WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR POST PARTUM DEPRESSION
Call Your 911 Now (you may need an ambulance) If
- You have suicidal feelings.
- You want to harm yourself, the baby or someone else.
- You feel you are losing control and need to be seen immediately for treatment.
Call Your Doctor Right Away (night or day) If
- You feel you need to be admitted into the hospital.
- You have run out of or have lost your medication and need it immediately.
Call Your Doctor During Regular Office Hours If
- You want medication to treat your depression. There are medications you can take even if you are breastfeeding.
- You want to change medications because the ones you are taking are not helping.
- You want a referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist.
HOME CARE ADVICE FOR POST PARTUM DEPRESSION
- If your doctor has given you medications, take them exactly as prescribed.
- Ask for help with household chores and childcare. If possible, have a relative, friend or professional caregiver help you out for part of the day.
- Maintain contact with friends and family. Tell them how you are feeling. Don't spend a lot of time alone.
- Exercise regularly. Get out of the house and go for a walk.
- Get adequate rest and sleep. Take a nap when your baby does.
- Follow a sensible and healthful diet.
- Make time for your partner.
- Get help for marital or financial problems.
- If are under the care of a mental health provider, keep your appointments.
- A support group or group therapy may be helpful.
For More Information Click on the Links Below
- FamilyDoctor.org Post-Partum Depression
References
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Clinical Updates in Women's Health Care, Vol.1, Number 2, 2002.
- Up to Date, Postpartum Blues and Depression, Luskin, S.I., MD, Misri, S., MD, 2006.
Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new healthcare information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional