Postpartum depression is on the rise as it affects as many as 1 in 7 women during the first year after delivery. Postpartum depression could make women with a newborn have mixed feelings. Before I got married, I had heard stories of women who said seeing your newborn for the first time is the most beautiful feeling any woman would ever have. Some even described it as “love at first sight”. So having a baby was something I looked forward to with all eagerness in my own case. When I discovered I was pregnant I was over the moon with joy, I couldn’t wait to hold my baby in my arms and when I finally did, it was indeed one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had in my life. I fell in love with my son and for a moment all I wanted to do was to live my life for him. Well, I have had 2 more boys after, and each time I have had the same feeling of pure love.
Introduction
The birth of a child is something that comes with so much joy and happiness the world over. People all over the world celebrate the birth of a child, some even have special ceremonies that herald the birth of children. As a matter of fact, it is treated as a sacred and miraculous event in some parts of the world. Well, who wouldn’t? Having to see a new life make an entrance into your home is something worth celebrating.
While the general atmosphere in homes where a new baby has been born is usually one filled with joy. However, not every person or home has the same nice and joyous experience when having a baby. There are many homes where having a baby comes with many challenging even sad cases where the mother brought home the new baby but not long after the joy of newborn wears off, you start to realize something is not right, it might be fatigue, anxiety and irritable and you just don’t have the feeling of love or even happiness towards the life that you have just brought into the world.
And that is the issue that this article seeks to address and help you recognize and understand what might be going on with you if you are experiencing any symptoms of this serious mood disorder and how to get help if needed.
What is Post-Partum Depression?
Post-Partum depression is a medical condition that mothers who have just put to bed suffer from. The journey of pregnancy and the eventual birth of a baby is one that takes your body on a major change ride. Not only do women experience changes in their bodies, but their mind is also affected. In some cases, some women are even at the risk of having a mental health crisis. This is a very serious condition but it’s surprising to know that very few people know a lot about it, especially women. As I mentioned at the beginning it is estimated that 1 out of 7 new mothers suffers from Postpartum depression.
While a percentage of new mothers will experience “baby blues” which is totally different from Postpartum depression because it goes away after a short period of time while the latter can go on for as much as a couple of months and the woman will need to be treated for the condition. While it might seem like this condition affects just the mother, it will surprise you to know that even the newborn is affected. If the mother battles with severe depression during the pregnancy it can lead to the baby being born before term and this can cause health issues for the baby. Even if the baby gets to term and is born, postpartum depression can make it hard for the mother to bond with the baby which can lead to the baby having bonding issues with her and this can lead to other emotional or developmental complications. I will therefore advise that pregnant mothers and even their partners and loved ones pay close attention to the overall wellbeing of the mother as well as the baby.
Symptoms of Postpartum depression
Women who suffer from Postpartum depression usually have one or more of these signs or symptoms and identifying it will be a great way to know how best to handle it. Some of such symptoms are:
- Feeling of sadness, crying all the time, guilt or worthlessness.
- No interest in activities they once enjoyed.
- Loss of appetite or change in appetite.
- Sleeping problems (too much or less sleep)
- Tiredness
- Engaging in activities that are not purpose-driven.
- Inability to focus and make decisions.
- Having suicidal thoughts.
- No feeling of attachment or love for the baby.
- Fear of being a danger to the baby.
Even though there is no actual medical test to show a person has Postpartum depression, with these symptoms listed above it would be a lot easier to know when to seek help.
Why are women not talking about postpartum depression?
The general feeling of not being adequate or the feeling that she is not a good mother is one of the major reasons why a lot of women find it hard to speak up about postpartum depression. Imagine having to go through the stress of carrying a baby to term, giving birth to the baby, and them feeling you aren’t doing a good job. That is enough to make anyone feel depressed. In addition to this, a high percentage of women do not even know that they suffer from the condition or even how to go about getting a diagnosis for what they feel.
Another thing that could prevent women from speaking up about postpartum depression is the fact that since it is regarded as a mental condition, the fear of being stigmatized by society holds them back.
However, this shouldn’t be the case as it would only worsen the situation. Women should be encouraged to speak to their medical providers or even to family members and close friends about what they are experiencing. Speaking about it is the first step to handling it and getting better.
Effects of Postpartum depression on the mother, Child, and the family as a whole
In a home where the new mother is battling postpartum depression, its effects are not only on her and the baby but also on the family. While the mother may be the one going through it, the whole family still faces some form of repercussions. For the woman, she might suffer from mood swings and loss of appetite which will make it hard for her to put on weight and stay healthy enough to take care of her newborn.
She can also get to the point where she feels she is better off dead than alive. It can make her begin to show signs of anger towards not just her partner but also the baby.
On the part of the baby, postpartum depression can have long-lasting effects. Such effects range from major to mild cognitive delays, high rise of having behavioural problems, delayed language development, poor performance academically, and in some cases the onset of depression in late teens.
The family as well also bears the brunt of this condition. I have heard cases where couples have ended up getting separated. This is to tell you how much of a toll it takes on families. Also, if there are no family members to help the new parents, having to juggle taking care of the child and the home front can be very difficult.
Post-Partum Depression in men
I know you may be wondering why we are talking about postpartum depression in men. Well, there is such a thing as postpartum depression in new dads. Statistics show that 1 in 10 new dads have postpartum depression and in some cases even anxiety. Now more than ever there is a lot of awareness of the challenges fathers face too when they have to deal with helping their partners take care of the new baby.
Some of the causes of postpartum depression in men include:
- Depression in their partners, men who have partners who are battling with depression tend to also fall victim to it. I mean it’s hard work trying to handle a depressed person, and this can easily take a toll on the man.
- Not feeling connected to mother and baby a lot of men who are struggling with this condition feel a sort of disconnect from their partner and even the newborn. This is usually caused by the fact that fathers feel like they don’t get to do enough for the baby or even spend quality time with the baby.
- Hormones can also play a major role in causing depression in men. Research shows that there is a decline in the testosterone level of men when their wives are pregnant and even after they are put to bed.
- Family history of depression, men who come from families with a history of mental illness or depression are more likely to be depressed.
- Adjusting to parenthood; No matter how many times you have been a dad, you still face a level of helplessness when it comes to taking care of a newborn. And this is usually overwhelming for parents and even other kids in the family.
- Inadequate sleep; not having enough sleep as a new parent can be very detrimental to your mental state as a new dad. And this can have a general effect on how you handle other areas of your life.
- Having a preterm baby or a baby who has colic and is always uncomfortable or irritated.
- Financial stress or challenges in the workplace can also be another factor.
- Relationship strain with your partner can also trigger postpartum depression in men.
General symptoms of Postpartum depression in men will include
A sudden burst of anger, illicit substance use, easily irritated, little or no motivation to do anything, lack of concentration, suicidal thoughts, doing too much or too less, having relationship issues with your partner, etc.
Treatment of postpartum depression
Good thing that the awareness about postpartum depression is spreading and more people are speaking out and getting help. Doctors may prescribe antidepressants in some cases and in others, talk therapy and counselling are employed. Drugs like Brexanolone (Zulresso), have been found to help relieve the symptoms of postpartum depression.
Conclusion
Everyone needs good health to function optimally, and a new mother needs it a lot more than most because the person needs to deal with the whole pregnancy journey, delivery, and taking care of the newborn. So, it will help if every pregnant person is in great shape health-wise so that the person can carry out her duties effectively. So, if any pregnant person has these symptoms listed above then please the person should be encouraged to seek help and get treatment so that her baby and family don’t suffer. This article is for informational purposes do seek medical advice and do your own research as we are not liable for the error.
