SOURCES; Wikipedia, postpartum depression.com
(See my post on motherhood part 1,dear young moms, motherhood part2, kids its bedtime, never give up, marriage/relationships is not a bed of roses, abusive relationships)
Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a type of clinical depression which can affect both sexes after childbirth.
The difference between PPD
and depression?
One difference is the timing:
Depression is called PPD when it occurs during the period after childbirth. And
unlike depression that's not related to pregnancy, PPD is linked to the unique
hormonal changes that occur after childbirth. Researchers think that sudden
changes in hormone levels after delivering a baby can trigger depression in
women who are more sensitive to shifts in estrogen and progesterone.
Between 0.5% to 61% of women will experience
depression after delivery.[1]
Postpartum psychosis occurs in
about 1–2 per thousand women following childbirth.[5]
Among men, in particular new fathers, the incidence of postpartum depression has been estimated to be between 1% and 25.5%.[6] Postpartum depression is one of the leading causes of the murder of children less than one year of age . As well as suicide for newly mums
Its mother’s day today and I would like to tribute this post to mothers who have been going through post natal/partum depression, and to anyone who has been through it .
Becoming a mother has its highs and lows. However it is important to remember that it’s a divine gift from God to give birth to another human being and be part of the creative process that one is entrusted with. This is the responsibility that God entrusted us with and he never gives you something you can’t handle.
You are not abnormal for feeling this way you are not alone and no it doesn’t make you a bad mother. At the end of your day as a mother you just have to give the best you can. A mother is not a super hero she is human too. Do what you can when you can and hope for the best. Everybody has expectations, hopes and dreams and just because some things don’t go as planned doesn’t mean you stop trying. Just believe in the creator that entrusted you with the life you hold in your arms
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SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS
Symptoms may include sadness, low energy, changes in sleeping and eating patterns,and reduced desire for sex, crying episodes, anxiety, and irritability. While many women experience self-limited, mild symptoms, postpartum depression should be suspected when symptoms are severe and have lasted over two weeks.
The emotional effects of postpartum depression can include sleep deprivation, anxiety about parenthood and caring for an infant, identity crisis, a feeling of loss of control over life, and anxiety due to lack of support from a romantic or sexual partner
·
You feel
overwhelmed. Not like “hey, this new mom thing is hard.” More like “I
can’t do this and I’m never going to be able to do this.” You feel
like you just can’t handle being a mother. In fact, you may be
wondering whether you should have become a mother in the first place.
- You feel guilty because you believe you should be handling new motherhood better than this. You feel like your baby deserves better. You worry whether your baby can tell that you feel so bad, or that you are crying so much, or that you don’t feel the happiness or connection that you thought you would. You may wonder whether your baby would be better off without you.
- You don’t feel bonded to your baby. You’re not having that mythical mommy bliss that you see on TV or read about in magazines. Not everyone with postpartum depression feels this way, but many do.
- You can’t understand why this is happening. You are very confused and scared.
- You feel irritated or angry. You have no patience. Everything annoys you. You feel resentment toward your baby, or your partner, or your friends who don’t have babies. You feel out-of-control rage.
- You feel nothing. Emptiness and numbness. You are just going through the motions.
- You feel sadness to the depths of your soul. You can’t stop crying, even when there’s no real reason to be crying.
- You feel hopeless, like this situation will never ever get better. You feel weak and defective, like a failure.
- You can’t bring yourself to eat, or perhaps the only thing that makes you feel better is eating.
- You can’t sleep when the baby sleeps, nor can you sleep at any other time. Or maybe you can fall asleep, but you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep no matter how tired you are. Or maybe all you can do is sleep and you can’t seem to stay awake to get the most basic things done. Whichever it is, your sleeping is completely screwed up and it’s not just because you have a newborn.
- You can’t concentrate. You can’t focus. You can’t think of the words you want to say. You can’t remember what you were supposed to do. You can’t make a decision. You feel like you’re in a fog.
- You feel disconnected. You feel strangely apart from everyone for some reason, like there’s an invisible wall between you and the rest of the world.
- Maybe you’re doing everything right. You are exercising. You are taking your vitamins. You have a healthy spirituality. You do yoga. You’re thinking “Why can’t I just get over this?” You feel like you should be able to snap out of it, but you can’t.
- You might be having thoughts of running away and leaving your family behind. Or you’ve thought of driving off the road, or taking too many pills, or finding some other way to end this misery.
- You know something is wrong. You may not know you have a prenatal mood or anxiety disorder, but you know the way you are feeling is NOT right. You think you’ve “gone crazy.”
- You are afraid that this is your new reality and that you’ve lost the “old you” forever.
- You are afraid that if you reach out for help people will judge you. Or that your baby will be taken away.
- Your thoughts are racing. You can’t quiet your mind. You can’t settle down. You can’t relax.
- You feel like you have to be doing something at all times. Cleaning bottles. Cleaning baby clothes. Cleaning the house. Doing work. Entertaining the baby. Checking on the baby.
- You are worried. Really worried. All. The. Time. Am I doing this right? Will my husband come home from his trip? Will the baby wake up? Is the baby eating enough? Is there something wrong with my baby that I’m missing? No matter what anyone says to reassure you, it doesn’t help.
- You may be having disturbing thoughts. Thoughts that you’ve never had before. Scary thoughts that make you wonder whether you aren’t the person you thought you were. They fly into your head unwanted and you know they aren’t right, that this isn’t the real you, but they terrify you and they won’t go away. These thoughts may start with the words “What if …”
- You are afraid to be alone with your baby because of scary thoughts or worries. You are also afraid of things in your house that could potentially cause harm, like kitchen knives or stairs, and you avoid them like the plague.
- You may feel the need to check things constantly. Did I lock the door? Did I lock the car? Did I turn off the oven? Is the baby breathing?
- You may be having physical symptoms like stomach cramps or headaches, shakiness or nausea. You might even have panic attacks.
- You feel like a captive animal, pacing back and forth in a cage. Restless. On edge.
- You can’t eat. You have no appetite.
- You’re having trouble sleeping. You are so, so tired, but you can’t sleep.
- You feel a sense of dread, like something terrible is going to happen.
- You know something is wrong. You may not know you have a prenatal mood or anxiety disorder, but you know the way you are feeling is NOT right. You think you’ve “gone crazy.”
- You are afraid that this is your new reality and that you’ve lost the “old you” forever.
- You are afraid that if you reach out for help people will judge you. Or that your baby will be taken away.
- You may also feel intensely self-conscious about your postpartum body and fear being intimate with your partner. An anxiety disorder can also affect your physical health. For example, you might experience muscle tension or have trouble sleeping.
HOW TO COPE WITH PPD
Be good to yourself Make sure your own basic needs are met: Try to sleep and eat well, and do your best not to feel guilty. Having PPD doesn't mean you're a bad mother or don't love your child. After you begin treatment, these feelings of guilt and despair should start to fade.
Don't demand too much of yourself
If you have clinical depression or anxiety, it can be hard enough just to get
out of bed and face the day. Be gentle with yourself, and take things one at a
time.
Ask for support
Part of being a good mother knows when to ask for help, so doesn’t be afraid to
ask for it during this difficult time. Let your partner know about different
ways to help, whether it's taking care of the baby, handling chores, or going
with you to doctor appointments. Relatives or close friends may be able to help
as well.
Share your feelings
Keep the lines of communication open with your partner and talk about what's
going on. Call a sympathetic friend. Join a mothers'
group or a PPD support group, or chat with moms about postpartum
depression in the BabyCenter
Community. You may be surprised by how many
women are experiencing similar feelings.
Pamper yourself
Taking care of your physical self can sometimes help you feel better inside.
Have your partner or a friend watch your baby so you can take a shower or a
relaxing bath. Put on makeup if you usually wear it. Go on a shopping trip just
for yourself and buy something new for your post-baby wardrobe. Wear a favorite
outfit on especially difficult days to give yourself a boost.
Get some rest
The rigors of caring for a newborn 24/7 can leave you exhausted.
Unfortunately, moms with postpartum mood conditions often can't sleep when they
want to. But it's still important to take breaks to rest, even if you just read
a magazine or watch TV. Taking 10-minute
naps is helpful too. Consider hiring a postpartum
doula or a sitter
experienced with newborns, or asking a relative or friend to watch your baby
for an hour or so each day.
Note:
Always put your baby on a safe
sleep surface (such as his crib or bassinet)
before you settle down to rest.
Venture outdoors Put
your baby in a stroller and take a walk around the block, or meet a friend at a
nearby café. The fresh air, sunshine, and conversation will do you and your
baby a world of good. If even a brief excursion is too much for you right now,
then just go outside, close your eyes and take a deep breath, or sit in the
sunshine for a few minutes.
Slow down
Resist the temptation to do the laundry or other chores while your baby sleeps
– the housework can wait. Have food delivered, or ask your partner to pick up
takeout on the way home. Resist the urge to check your email or phone, and
relax with a book and a cup of chamomile tea instead. If you're on maternity
leave, don't stress about all the work waiting for you at the
office – you'll get back on track soon enough.
- Depression or anxiety during pregnancy
- Stressful life events during pregnancy or soon after giving birth
- Traumatic childbirth experience
- Preterm delivery
- A baby needing neonatal intensive care
- Lack of social support
- Previous history of depression
- Breastfeeding problems
Other risk factors include:
- Baby blues after delivery
- Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy
- A baby with birth defects or other medical problems
- Multiple babies (such as twins or triplets)
- Family history of psychiatric problems
- Being single
- Low socioeconomic status or financial instability
- Domestic violence
- Unemployment
- Many medical appointments during pregnancy
- Pregestational or gestational diabetes
Remember that these risk factors
don't actually cause PPD. Many women with multiple risk factors never
experience clinical depression or anxiety, while others with just one risk
factor (or even none) can end up with a diagnosis of PPD.
WAYS PPD CAN BE TREATED
The treatment for PPD is the same as
the treatment for depression that happens before or during pregnancy. If you
have mild symptoms, your provider may recommend watchful waiting with regular
check-ins. If your symptoms are more severe, your provider may recommend talk
therapy, antidepressant medication, or both.
Talk
therapy, also called counseling or
psychotherapy, can be one-on-one with your therapist or in a group setting with
other women going through a similar experience. In family or couples therapy, a
therapist works with you and your partner or relatives.
