Postpartum Depression, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services affects approximately 13 percent of new mothers. It is a serious illness, which requires medical and/or therapy. Postpartum depression is caused by the normal hormonal changes that occur during and after pregnancy. If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from postpartum depression please speak with your Doctor.
Women frequently experience Baby Blues or Postpartum Blues which are normal mood changes due to the body’s hormone changes and the lifestyle changes that occur with the birth of a child. The symptoms are similar to postpartum depression but, the symptoms resolve on their own in a short amount of time without the need for treatment.
Postpartum depression symptoms include:
- Feelings of anxiety, fatigue, agitation, irritability, guilt and worthlessness
- Negative feeling toward the baby
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Mood changes
- Restlessness
- Crying a lot
- Lack of energy or motivation
- Change in eating patterns, eating too little or too much
- Change in sleep patterns, sleeping too little or too much
- Memory problems, including trouble focusing on tasks, and decision making
- Loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Physical aches and pains, head aches, muscle and joint aches, persistent stomach problems
Postpartum depression can last up to 1 year after child birth, but usually symptoms begin to appear within four weeks of birth. Hypothyroidism can also cause similar symptoms, and it is recommended that women experiencing these symptoms have a blood test to check for low thyroid hormones.
Some health factors may cause and increased incidence in Postpartum Depression, they are; personal or family history of depression, age (young age when pregnant), lack of support from family and friends, anxious or negative feelings about the pregnancy/baby, money and/or marriage problems, previous pregnancy problems, substance abuse, and highly stressful life events.
Postpartum psychosis is rare about 1 to 4 women out of every 1,000 births will be affected. It most often occurs within two weeks of birth, and requires immediate medical attention and often hospitalization. The symptoms include; trying to harm yourself or your infant, seeing things that aren’t there, rapid mood swings, confusion. Women with a mental health condition known as schizoaffective disorder have a higher risk of postpartum psychosis.