Postpartum depression is a condition that encompasses physical and emotional changes that many women may experience after giving birth. Postpartum depression can be treated with medication and psychotherapy.
There are three types of postpartum depression:
Maternal sadness– the mother has sudden mood swings, such as feeling very happy and then very sad;
Postpartum depression – can happen for a few days up to months after the birth of any baby, not just the first;
Postpartum psychosis – the woman may lose contact with reality, usually having sound hallucinations.
Postpartum depression affects women of all ages, social classes, and ethnicities. Any woman who has had a baby in the last few months, suffered a miscarriage, or recently stopped breastfeeding can develop postpartum depression.
The number of children a woman has does not affect her chances of developing postpartum depression.
The Cause
It is not known for sure what causes it. Hormonal changes in a woman’s body can trigger symptoms.
During pregnancy, the amount of the estrogen and progesterone hormones increases greatly.
In the first 24 hours after delivery, the amount of these hormones drops rapidly and continues to fall back to the pre-pregnancy amount.
Other factors that can contribute to postpartum depression: feeling tired after giving birth; irregular sleep pattern and lack of sufficient rest often prevent the mother from regaining her full strength for weeks, especially if she has undergone a cesarean section; doubting her ability to be a good mother; feeling stress due to changes in home and work routine.
Sometimes the woman thinks she must be a perfect “super mom”, which is unrealistic and causes stress; having feelings of loss – loss of control, loss of identity (who she was before the baby), loss of slim figure; and having less free time and less control over time, i.e. having to stay indoors for longer periods.
Prevention
Targeted advice for early detection and treatment of postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can be prevented and avoided, as long as the disorder is detected early.
Symptoms
Symptoms of postpartum depression may include:
- Feeling restless or irritable;
- Feeling sad, depressed or crying a lot; lack of energy;
- Having headache, chest pain, heart palpitations, lack of feeling, or hyperventilation (rapid, shallow breathing);
- Not being able to sleep, very tired, or both;
- Weight loss and not being able to eat;
- Overeating and weight gain;
- Concentration problems, memory problems, and difficulty making decisions;
- Being overly concerned about the baby;
- Feeling guilty and worthless;
- Being afraid of hurting the baby or herself;
- Lack of interest in pleasurable activities.
Treatment
It is important to know that postpartum depression has treatment. The type of treatment depends on how severe the postpartum depression is.
Postpartum depression can be treated with medication (antidepressants) and psychotherapy. Women with postpartum depression are often advised to join support groups to talk to other women who are going through the same experience.
If a woman is breastfeeding, she needs to talk to her doctor about the use of antidepressants, as some of these drugs can affect breast milk and should not be used.
Source: Secretary of Health of the State of Goiás 11/21/2019
