New mothers are prone to depression. Discover the warning signs and symptoms, as well as what you can do to feel better.
Depression in new mothers is common.
No matter how much you’ve been looking forward to it or how much you love your child, having a baby is stressful. Normally, new moms feel like they’re on an emotional rollercoaster due to sleep deprivation, increased responsibilities, and a lack of time for themselves.
Minor melancholy and mood swings in new mothers are so prevalent that they have their name: the baby blues.
Postpartum depression or baby blues?
Immediately after childbirth, most women suffer at least some symptoms of baby blues. It’s caused by a combination of stress, isolation, sleep loss, and tiredness, as well as an abrupt change in hormones following delivery. You may become more tearful, overwhelmed, and vulnerable emotionally. This usually begins within the first few days after delivery, peaks around one week, and then fades by the end of the second week.
Although the baby blues are normal, if your feelings persist or worsen after a few weeks, you may suffer postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression signs and symptoms
Postpartum depression, unlike the baby blues, is a more serious issue that you should not dismiss.
Postpartum depression might appear to be the regular baby blues at first. Postpartum depression differs because the symptoms are more severe (such as suicidal thoughts or an inability to care for your infant) and stay longer. Mood swings, sobbing fits, sorrow, sleeplessness, and irritability are signs of postpartum depression and baby blues.
You may retreat from your partner or be unable to form a strong attachment with your child. You may discover that your worry is out of control, keeping you from sleeping or eating properly, even while your baby is napping. You can be overwhelmed by emotions of shame or worthlessness, or you might start thinking about death or even wish you weren’t living. All of these symptoms point to postpartum depression.
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is a screening tool for postpartum depression detection. A score of higher than 13 indicates that you should be evaluated further since you may be suffering from postpartum depression. Carefully follow the directions.
Causes and risk factors for postpartum depression
There is no one explanation why some new moms suffer postpartum depression and others do not, but the condition is thought to be caused by many interconnected causes and risk factors.
Hormonal shifts in women’s estrogen and progesterone hormone levels decline dramatically after delivery. Thyroid levels might decline as well, resulting in weariness and sadness. Postpartum depression can be triggered by these fast hormonal changes and changes in blood pressure, immune system function, and metabolism that new moms face.
Giving birth causes a lot of physical and psychological changes. Physical changes are taking place. You may feel worried about your physical and sexual attractiveness due to physical discomfort after the delivery or the difficulties of shedding the baby weight.
Stress. The strain of caring for a baby may be exhausting. Sleep deprivation is common among new moms.
Furthermore, you may be concerned about your capacity to adequately care for your newborn and feel overwhelmed. These transitions can be especially challenging if you’re a first-time mother who has to adjust to a whole new identity.
Postpartum psychosis signs and symptoms
Postpartum psychosis is an uncommon but life-threatening disease that can occur after childbirth and is marked by a lack of contact with reality. Hospitalization is frequently essential to keep the mother and the baby safe due to the high risk of suicide or infanticide.
Postpartum psychosis strikes rapidly, generally within two weeks of birth but occasionally within 48 hours. Among the signs and symptoms are:
- Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there is a type of hallucination that occurs when a person sees or hears things that aren’t
- Imaginations (paranoid and irrational beliefs
- Anxiety and agitation are at an all-time high.
- Suicidal ideation or behaviour
- Perplexity and disorientation
- Extreme mood swings
- Unusual conduct
- Inability or unwillingness to eat or sleep
- Suspicion of injuring or murdering your child
There is indeed a difference between postpartum depression or baby blues, let us know in the comments if you have been having these symptoms…
