There are psychologists who specialize in the treatment of postpartum depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been widely researched and has been shown to be very effective in the resolution of postpartum depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and our behavior, not external things, like people, situations and events. The benefit of this type of therapy is that it puts the power to improve things in the hands of patient. We can change the way we think to feel and act better even if the people or situations do not change.
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Sigma Nursing answeredSee All 2 AnswersThere are a few things you can do to help prevent depression after delivery. You can let others help you and not try to do everything yourself when it comes to caring for your newborn. Talk to your partner or someone close to you if you are experiencing depressive feelings. Try to get adequate sleep by resting when your baby does or by asking others to babysit. Don't spend all day in bed, but get dressed and spend time outside to elevate your spirits.
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See All 2 AnswersThe exact cause of postpartum depression (PPD) is not known. Postpartum depression seems to be related to the sudden drop in the hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone that happens after giving birth. Other hormones produced by the thyroid gland also may drop, which can lead to feeling tired, sluggish and depressed. Changes in blood volume, blood pressure, immune system and metabolism can be further stresses that contribute to fatigue and mood swings in the weeks following birth. However, while all women experience these physiologic changes, not all women develop PPD. Postpartum depression results when these physiologic effects are paired with risk factors such as previous depression, poor support from the partner, friends and family, or a high level of stress.
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Discovery Health answeredSee All 6 AnswersApproximately 80 percent of new mothers experience mood swings that typically occur days after giving birth to their babies. These "baby blues" generally subside in a few weeks, as hormone levels return to normal.
However, if symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, the mother may be among an estimated 10 percent of moms that are diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD).
The symptoms of PDD are the same as those as for major depression - including thoughts of harms of harming the baby, or an unusual fixation on the baby's health.
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Riverside Health System answeredSee All 3 AnswersAfter childbirth you may feel sad, weepy, and overwhelmed for a few days. Many new mothers have the "baby blues" after giving birth. Changing hormones, anxiety about caring for the baby, and lack of sleep all affect your emotions.
Be patient with yourself. These feelings are normal and usually go away quickly. But if sadness lasts more than 2 weeks, go see your doctor. Don't wait until you postpartum visit to do so. You might have a serious but treatable condition called postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can happen any time within the first year after birth.
Signs of postpartum depression include:
Call 911 or your doctor if you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby!
• Feeling restless or irritable
• Feeling sad, depressed, or crying a lot
• Having no energy
• Having headaches, chest pains, heart palpitations (the heart being fast and feeling like it is skipping beats), numbness, or hyperventilation (fast and shallow breathing)
• Not being able to sleep, being very tired, or both
• Not being able to eat and weight loss
• Overeating and weight gain
• Trouble focusing, remembering, or making decisions
• Being overly worried about the baby
• Not having any interest in the baby
• Feeling worthless and guilty
• Having no interest or getting no pleasure from activities like sex and socializing
• Thoughts of harming your baby or yourselfSome women don't tell anyone about their symptoms because they feel embarrassed or guilty about having these feelings at a time when they think they should be happy. Don't let this happen to you! Postpartum depression can make it hard to take care of your baby. Infants with mothers with postpartum depression can have delays in learning how to talk. They can have problems with emotional bonding. Your doctor can help you feel better and get back to enjoying your new baby.
This answer is based on source information from the National Women's Health Information Center.
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredSee All 4 AnswersThough it's difficult to explain what happens neurologically to cause depression, changes in brain chemistry are thought to play a big role. We know that in depressed people, levels of the feel-good neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine are down, as are steroid hormones - all of which help you cope with stress. Inadequate levels of these hormones may be partly what triggers depressive states.
Even though estrogen likely combats depression in pregnant women, it doesn't work perfectly. In some women, high estrogen and progesterone levels can actually cause depression. Other women, despite estrogen's protective effect, may be experiencing slight (but important) alterations to what's going on along that HPA axis. In this case, just the slightest stressors or emotional changes triggers chemical changes that lead to sharp mood swings - and a hormonal symphony turns into a cacophony.
Typically, stress induces more steroid hormones and alters the amount of circulating epinephrine (aka adrenaline) in the HPA axis that cross-talks with brain hormones. Even minor changes in the amount of neurohormones can disrupt your rhythm and send you into a psychological mess. -
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See All 2 AnswersAlong with the stats and percentages of which women may be affected by postpartum depression, there is also the effect of postpartum depression on the woman, her partner, her family, and of course, the newborn. It can strike anyone. Many women wonder, "why me?" when they become depressed. In my practice, I have seen high functioning women in management positions become needy and helpless; even unable to structure their days when they become depressed postpartum. It's as if they don't know themselves anymore! And this affects their partner, who wonders what happened to the person s/he knew before the baby was born. The partner may actively grieve this loss and not know what to do to support the new mother. In terms of the family, I see it as a hand. "If one finger on the hand hurts, the whole hand hurts". Postpartum depression can affect the "whole hand", i.e. the entire family. They may need support and education, as well. As far as the newborn goes, there are many conflicting studies about the effect of maternal depression on the newborn. Some say "yes, the newborn can be affected by a depressed mom", however, this is often countered with the fact that if the baby receives care, stimulation, and attention from others (father & family), that can help prevent any impact the mother's depression may have on it. -
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RealAge answeredIf you have postpartum depression (depression after the birth of your baby), call your doctor immediately if:- Your feelings of sadness or feeling "blue" don't go away after two weeks.
- Your symptoms of depression worsen or intensify.
- Your symptoms of depression occur anytime after birth -- even several months later.
- You are having trouble performing essential tasks at work or at home.
- You are having trouble caring for your baby or yourself.
- You have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
- You start hearing or seeing things that other people cannot or develop thoughts that are not based in reality.
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Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answeredIf you have multiple sclerosis (MS), after giving birth you should watch for Postpartum Depression -- Given that depression is common both in MS and in women who have just given birth, it is to be expected that some women with MS will experience changes in mood after having a baby. It may be more likely, in fact, than a reoccurrence of your physical MS symptoms. If you experience post-partum depression, it is vital that you get treatment. Mothers who are breastfeeding should check with their doctor before taking an antidepressant to ensure the medication is safe for their baby.