Skip to main content

Postpartum Depression Symptoms

Postpartum depression is usually experienced within the first three weeks after delivering the child. This article discusses its symptoms, as well as the causes and treatment, in order to give you a better understanding about this condition.
The birth of a child is one of the most blissful experiences of life. But it is also true that childbirth and a newborn's need for constant care can put a lot of stress on a new mother. Along with these, the changes in the levels of hormones after childbirth can result in something really unexpected like depression.

The term that is used for the depression that new mothers experience shortly after childbirth is postpartum or postnatal depression. Sometimes, the new fathers can also get depressed during this period.

Depression After Childbirth

Causes
Several factors can contribute towards the development of this condition. One of the most important factor is hormonal fluctuations. During pregnancy, the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone increase in the body. But after childbirth, there is a significant drop in the levels of these two hormones, which can manifest in depression at times.

In addition to these, factors like sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and the lack of support from the family or the partner can contribute or aggravate this condition. So, both emotional and physiological changes a woman experiences after childbirth can lead to depression.

Men can develop this condition due to the changes in their emotional environment, sleep deprivation, financial issues, and extra pressure and responsibilities of the family. After childbirth, a woman has to give more attention to the baby, instead of maintaining her bond with her husband. As a result, the new father can feel lonely and neglected, which can eventually cause depression.

Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of this condition can be mild or severe. Typically, the symptoms appear in women within 2 to 3 weeks following the delivery of the child. The most common symptoms include:

  1. Mood swings
  2. Loss of pleasure and interest in daily activities
  3. A feeling of emptiness
  4. Changes in appetite, usually a decrease in appetite
  5. Loss of energy and motivation
  6. Sadness and anxiety
  7. Problems in sleeping
  8. Irritability
  9. Lack of interest in the baby, as well as in herself
  10. A sense of worthlessness
  11. Withdrawal from friends and family
  12. Changes in weight
  13. A lack of interest in sex

Some of the symptoms of postpartum depression in men and women can be similar. For example, a lack of interest in the baby or an inability to bond with the child may be observed in both men and women affected by this condition. Additionally, men may exhibit the following symptoms if they are suffering from this condition:

  1. Irritability
  2. Loss of interest in daily activities
  3. A feeling of hopelessness
  4. Aggression
  5. Changes in sleeping patterns
  6. Increased anger and conflict
  7. Frustration
  8. Withdrawal from family and friends
  9. Headaches and digestive ailments
  10. Increased use of alcohol

Postpartum psychosis is a rare condition that can develop in some women within the first two weeks after childbirth, and is quite severe than postpartum depression. Its symptoms can include:

  1. Confusion
  2. Disorientation
  3. Delusions and paranoia
  4. Hallucinations
  5. Attempts to harm the baby or herself

Treatment
Mild depression after childbirth or 'baby blues' can resolve within a few weeks. For a severe case, treatment in the form of counseling can be required. Medications like antidepressants and hormone therapy are also used at times. For men, counseling is the best treatment option. Sometimes, antidepressants are also used for treating this condition in men.

Postpartum psychosis on the other hand, requires immediate medical attention and treatment with antidepressants, antipsychotic medications, mood stabilizers, and electroconvulsive therapy. To sum up, postnatal depression needs proper medical treatment, if it lasts more than a few weeks. If left untreated, it can last for a year or so, and one can develop severe depression. However, this condition can be managed effectively with prompt treatment, a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and a balanced diet, and emotional support from the family and friends.
 
Chandramita Bora
Read more www.buzzle.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top 10 Secrets to Nip Nibbling

1. Observe: Have you ever seen another Mom eat off her children's plates? When we're able to look at something objectively we often see how we must look when we do the same thing. If you don't like how it looks, don't do it yourself. 2. Visualize: Imagine everything you've snacked on throughout the day...a few handfuls of chips while you're watching TV, a few tastes of the meal you're preparing for dinner, some cookies that were on the counter. Now imagine putting it all on a plate. How does the plate look? Visualize this plate in addition to the meals you've eaten throughout the day. 3. Distract: Often just getting involved in another activity is enough to stop you from "mindless munching". Try cleaning out a drawer, taking the dog for a walk, writing in a journal or any other activity that distracts you from nibbling and gives you pleasure.
Post a Comment
Read more

Want Power Before Will Power

The problem isn't that you don't have enough will power to achieve what you want. You have will power, but it's not will power you need, it's want power.  You have to first want  You must want to change your habits, want to lose some weight, want to give up your evening snacking before your will comes into play. Once you want a thing badly enough, you will do whatever it takes. If you think you want something (to make a change in your eating habits perhaps), but then find it difficult to follow-through with your plans, most likely you simply want your current reality (your current habits and patterns) more than you want your goals (less weight, better health, etc.) I can hear you all the way over here, telling me I'm wrong: "No, that's not right! I want this more than anything, I just don't have any willpower!" Round and round you go, but the truth is, you will get what you really want. Think back, has there ever been a time when you rea...
Post a Comment
Read more

Phentramin-d: A key ingredient for a successful weight loss story

No diseases have ever affected the mankind as obesity has over the years. This disease has surpassed all the boundaries. No matter where you live and what you do you are not at all immune to this disease. The more you in most of the cases obese people themselves are responsible for their condition. The main reason that propels obesity is aimless eating habits. In simple language the food, we take is laden with fat. Lack of exercising makes it worse because our body is designed to burn the calories we intake. The calories that we intake is stored inside our body as fat. If we don't exercise properly this fat keeps on accumulating and ultimately causes obesity. In order to stay fit and fine one should exercise regularly with a proper diet. If you are able to do that for a fair amount of time then nothing can stop you from gaining what you want. However, when you eat a little less your old eating habit haunts you like ghosts, and you have to face those irregular hunger pangs. In m...
Post a Comment
Read more