Postpartum Depression/ Postnatal Depression

Postpartum or postnatal depression (PPD) is one kind of depression which occurs after someone has given birth.

Postpartum depression (PPD) can affect anybody after such an event such as adoptive parents, the father, or a surrogate. There are many factors that go into the experience of having a child such as hormonal, emotional, financial, physical, and social changes. All these changes can cause depression symptoms.

If you are experiencing postpartum depression, it is not your fault, you can get help by contacting a healthcare provider to manage your symptoms. You can read more about this condition on mental-md

The most common symptoms of depression are feelings of sadness, irritability, low energy, difficulty focusing, loss of pleasure, feelings of worthlessness which is called anhedonia.

Everyone feels sadness from time to time but with depression, these feelings of sadness don’t go away and can affect  sleep, appetite and can cause physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach pain.

The highest risk of developing depression is during the child bearing years due to fluctuations in hormone levels during and after pregnancy. Due to these factors, the risk of developing postpartum depression/postnatal depression is higher.

Depression will affect a mother’s functioning and ability to parent or be a good mother.

On the other hand, Postpartum/postnatal depression can negatively affect a woman’s ability to take care of and bond with her baby.

Being a parent can be overwhelming and tiring, but if the feelings include severe sadness, loneliness, and extreme mood swings that are interrupting your life, then you may be suffering from postpartum depression (PPD).

There are three different types of postpartum depression.

• Postpartum blues affect 50-75% of people after birth. The symptoms of postpartum blues include long durations of crying for no obvious reason, extreme sadness, and anxiety. The condition usually starts at the beginning, first week post delivery. This condition will feel like depression and can be very unpleasant but usually it will subside within two weeks without needing treatment. In this situation, the best thing to do is ask for help and support from the people around you.
• Postpartum depression (PPD) is considered a more serious condition than the postpartum blues. It affects 1 in 7 of new parents. Previous postpartum depression increases the chance of it happening again by 30% in the next pregnancy. The symptoms include irritability, alternating mood swings, frequent crying, guilt, and inability to care for the child or yourself. These symptoms can occur within the first week of delivery or could come on little by little as time passes. These symptoms could last months, but there are treatment options available. Seek help if you are experiencing these symptoms or go online to mental-md.com to book an appointment.
• Postpartum psychosis is a very severe condition and requires urgent medical attention. Affecting only 1 in 1,000 people, this condition is considered a rare type of postpartum depression. The symptoms include confusion, paranoia, agitation, delusions, hallucinations, shame, and hopelessness. The symptoms start quickly and severely, and can last for several months. This condition does increase the risk of suicide and/or harm to the baby. Patient does need to seek emergency medical attention and treatment could include hospitalization, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy.

There are also family situations that will increase the chances of depression in new mothers, examples are having a child with developmental problems, being in violent or abusive relationships, lack of support from family and friends, and being a caregiver for an elderly or a sick parent.

Some studies reported Higher rates of abortion, premature birth, and low birth weight when depression is left untreated during pregnancy. Also, untreated depression in mothers can negatively affect the child’s behavior or development in the future.

Postpartum depression (PPD) can also affect the baby.

Treatment can be helpful for both the parent and the baby.

Some of the issues that might be caused by PPD include not being able to bond with the baby, no connection made with the baby, behavioral problems for the baby, learning disabilities for the baby, sleeping and feeding issues with the baby, medical issues, obesity risk for the baby, neglect, and impaired social skills.

Mothers who already suffer from depression and would like to get pregnant, need to consult with their healthcare providers about the treatments before they get pregnant because some changes in medications and treatments may be required.

There is no test to diagnose postpartum depression (PPD).

A healthcare provider will need to evaluate and assess the patient postpartum. There may be a depression screening to help identify if there are postpartum depression symptoms.

It is important to go to all your postpartum check ups and be honest with your healthcare provider, to ensure you receive the appropriate treatment and care.

There are some physical signs that could point to postpartum depression (PPD) and could be tested via blood.

There are different treatment modalities for depression during pregnancy.

It could be talk therapy, medication or social support.

Herbal remedies have not been studied enough to determine if they are safe during pregnancy.

Most antidepressants are considered safe during pregnancy, however you need to consult your psychiatrist about the specific treatments and possible risks to pregnancy.

It is difficult for providers to detect mild cases of postpartum depression so it is important to be open and honest with your providers. There are also depression scales used to determine if postpartum depression is a possibility.

Management and treatment

Depending on the severity of the condition or symptoms, different treatment plans can be available.

Treatments include psychotherapy, medication, or support groups. The more severe the condition, the more treatment that might be needed such as p

The benefits and risks  of taking antidepressants versus stopping them should be considered.

If the patient and the doctor decide to stop the medication, the doctor may suggest to slowly decrease your medication to prevent withdrawal symptoms that some people may experience when they suddenly stop taking certain antidepressant medications.

Abrupt discontinuation of medication could also worsen depression symptoms.

Some patients use alcohol, marijuana, or smoke cigarettes to self medicate for their depression, however,  small to moderate amounts of substance use during pregnancy could cause harm and have serious effects on the pregnancy and the baby.

It is important for the patients to reach out to healthcare professionals to receive appropriate treatment and continue the treatment even after they feel better because symptoms of depression / anxiety may come back if mothers stop taking medications.