Postpartum Depression

Also called Depression, Postpartum and Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a condition of low mood that affects women who have just had a baby. It can occur shortly after delivery or up to one year later. Most of the time, postpartum depression happens within the first three months postpartum. It can cause a woman to feel like she doesn't love her child, to have problems caring for the child and even to have problems feeling a sense of harm toward the child.

The causes of postpartum depression include having changes in the hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain. The hormones change drastically following the delivery and this causes a secondary change in brain chemicals. Your work and life changes a great deal after the birth of a baby and this can contribute to depression. A lack of sleep can be related to depression as can worries about your mothering ability.

It is normal to feel anxious, tearful, irritable and restless after a baby is born. These happen in the first few days of a baby's birth and are known as the baby blues. The symptoms pass quite quickly and do not need treatment. When it lasts longer than two weeks, it can be called postpartum depression.

The risk of postpartum depression increases if you abuse alcohol or take illicit drugs, if you are younger than age twenty, if this was an unplanned pregnancy, if you are at risk for depression and bipolar disorder already, if the pregnancy was stressful, if you have a close family member with depression, if you have financial trouble and have little support from your relatives or friends.

Symptoms of postpartum depression are much the same as depression itself. There is a depressed mood along with irritability or agitation, changes in appetite, problems with feeling withdrawn, having a loss of concentration and poor energy, and having thoughts of suicide or death. Sleep can be interrupted and there can be significant anxiety around the baby. A mom with postpartum depression will be unable to care for the baby and may be afraid to be alone with the baby. There is usually a lot of worry around the baby or a complete lack of interest in the baby.

Doctors can test for postpartum depression by doing a psychological examination or by giving the patient a test such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score. This can show depression in postpartum women and can get them on the treatment they need. Doctors need to make sure there is not something else going on, such as hypothyroidism, which is common after pregnancy and which can make for symptoms of postpartum depression.

The treatment of postpartum depression includes taking antidepressant medication as long as you are not breastfeeding. If you have postpartum depression, you need to ask your partner, family and friends to help take care of the baby. Talk therapy helps a great deal as well. You shouldn't make any life changes while you are in the postnatal state or even during the pregnancy. Know that you will not be perfect and acknowledge that you are doing the best that you can. You need to take time to go out and enjoy yourself more. Support group therapy can be helpful to the new mom and dad.

Depression needs close follow up for around six months after treatment is started. If you are a breastfeeding mom, you can take sertraline or nortryptyline in the postnatal state. It may be important to be referred to a therapist who understands postpartum depression and who can help with cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy-both good treatments for the symptoms of postpartum depression.