What to know about postpartum depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of depression that affects some women after giving birth to an infant.
Symptoms include sadness, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, low energy, anxiety, and irritability.
Typically, the condition develops within 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth, but it can sometimes take several months to appear.
It is not known why PPD occurs. However, depression is not a sign that you do not love your new arrival, as some mothers fear. It is a psychological disorder that can be effectively treated with the help of support groups, counseling, and sometimes medication. Anyone with symptoms should see their doctor immediately.
This type of depression does not only affect mothers. One study found that around 10 percent of new fathers experience postpartum or prenatal depression. The highest rates can be found 3 to 6 months after childbirth.
Symptoms
postpartum depression
PPD is a type of depression that occurs directly after childbirth.
Postpartum depression can affect parents in several different ways. Below are some common signs and symptoms:
a feeling of being overwhelmed and trapped, or that it is impossible to cope
a low mood that lasts for longer than a week
a sensation of being rejected
crying a lot
feeling guilty
frequent irritability
headaches, stomach aches, blurred vision
lack of appetite
loss of libido
panic attacks
persistent fatigue
concentration problems
reduced motivation
sleeping problems
the parent lacks interest in themselves
a feeling of inadequacy
an unexplained lack of interest in the new baby
a lack of desire to meet up or stay in touch with friends
PPD is not the same as baby blues, which affects many new parents for a few days after giving birth. However, if the ability to reassume daily routine is significantly undermined due to low mood, it is a sign of longer-term depression.
Many people with PPD do not tell people how they feel. Partners, family, and friends who are able to pick up on the signs of postpartum depression at an early stage should encourage them to get medical help as soon as possible.
Some people with postpartum depression may have had thoughts about harming their child. They may also think about committing suicide or self-harming. Neither parents nor the infant are harmed in most cases, but having these thoughts can be frightening and distressing.
Causes
PPD is likely to be the result of multiple factors. However, its exact causes are still not known.
Depression is usually caused by emotional, stressful events, a biological change triggering an imbalance of brain chemicals, or both.
The following factors may contribute to PPD:
the physical changes of pregnancy
excessive worry about the baby and the responsibilities of being a parent
a complicated or difficult labor and childbirth
lack of family support
worries about relationships
financial difficulties
loneliness, not having close friends and family around
a history of mental health problems
the health consequences of childbirth, including urinary incontinence, anemia, blood pressure changes, and alterations in metabolism.
hormonal changes, due to a sudden and severe drop in estrogen and progesterone levels following birth
changes to the sleep cycle
Difficulties with breast-feeding might also be linked to PPD. New mothers who experience breast-feeding difficulties in the 2 weeks following the birth of the infant have a higher risk of PPD 2 months later, according to a study carried out at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
People with a family history of depression have a higher risk of developing it themselves. However, nobody knows why this occurs.
A previous diagnosis of bipolar disorder might also increase the risk of developing PPD when compared to other people with a new infant.
Diagnosis
A doctor may aim to rule out baby blues by asking the person with suspect PPD to complete a depression-screening questionnaire.
The doctor will often ask whether they have felt low mood, depression, or hopelessness during the past month. They will also query whether the new parent still takes pleasure in activities that would usually make them happy.
The doctor may also ask if the patient has:
sleeping problems
problems making decisions and concentrating
self-confidence problems
changes in appetite
anxiety
fatigue, listlessness, or reluctance to be involved in any physical activity
feelings of guilt
become self-critical
suicidal thoughts
An individual who answers “yes” to three of the questions above probably has mild depression. A person with mild PPD is still able to continue with everyday activities. More “yes” answers suggest a more severe depression.
If the mother answers “yes” to the question of harming themselves or the baby, it is automatically diagnosed as severe PPD.
Some mothers with no partner or close relatives to help out might not want to answer these questions openly because they fear they will be diagnosed with postpartum depression and will have their baby taken away from them.
This is most unlikely to happen. An infant is only taken away in extreme situations. Even in very severe cases where the individual has to be hospitalized in a mental health clinic, the infant will usually accompany them. If a new parent has severe depression, they will face great difficulty functioning at all will not be able to function at all and will need extensive help from a dedicated mental health team.
The doctor may also order some diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, to determine whether there are any hormonal problems, such as those caused by an underactive thyroid gland, or anemia.
Treatment
Recent parents who feel that they are showing PPD symptoms should get in touch with their doctor. Although recovery may sometimes take several months, and in some cases even longer, it is treatable.
The most important step on the road to treating and recovering from PPD is to acknowledge the problem. Family, partners, and the support of close friends can have a major impact on a faster recovery.
It is better for the person with PPD to express how she feels to people she can trust, rather than repressing emotions. There is a risk of partners or other loved ones feeling shut out, which can lead to relationship difficulties that add to the PPD.
Self-help groups are beneficial. Not only do they provide access to useful guidance, but also access to other parents with similar problems, concerns, and symptoms. This may reduce the feeling of isolation.
Medications
The doctor may prescribe an antidepressant for people with severe PPD. These help to balance the chemicals in the brain that affect mood.
Antidepressants may help with irritability, hopelessness, a feeling of not being able to cope, concentration, and sleeplessness. These medications can help with coping also bonding with the baby but can take a few weeks to become effective.
The downside is that antidepressant chemicals can be passed on to infants through breast milk, and there is little indication of the long-term risks. According to some small studies, tricyclic antidepressants, such as imipramine and nortriptyline, are most likely the safest to take while breast-feeding a baby.
TCAs are not suitable for people with a history of heart disease, epilepsy, or severe depression with frequent suicidal thoughts.
Those who cannot take TCAs may be prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), such as paroxetine or sertraline. The amount of paroxetine or sertraline that eventually gets into breast milk is minimal.
A mother with PPD should discuss feeding options with her doctor so that selecting the right treatment, which may include an antidepressant, is safe for both her and the child.
Tranquilizers may be prescribed in cases of postnatal psychosis, where the mother may have hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and irrational behavior. However, in such cases, the medications should be used for a short time. Side effects include:
loss of balance
memory loss
lightheadedness
drowsiness
confusion
Psychological therapies
postpartum depression therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one treatment option for PPD.
Studies have found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be successful in moderate cases of PPD.
Cognitive therapy is also effective for some people. This type of therapy is based on the principle that the thoughts can trigger depression. The individual is taught how to better manage the relationship between her thoughts and state of mind. The aim is to alter the thought patterns so that they become more positive.
For those with severe depression, where motivation is low, talking therapies alone are less effective. Most studies agree that the best results come from a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
Electroconvulsive therapy
If the symptoms are so severe that they do not respond to other treatment, they might benefit from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). However, this only suggested when all other options, such as medication have not been successfully.
ECT is applied under general anesthetic and with muscle relaxants. ECT is usually very effective in cases of very severe depression. The benefits, however, may be short-lived.
Side effects include headaches and memory loss that is usually, but not always, short term.
Treating severe postpartum depression
A person with severe PPD may be referred to a team of specialists, including psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and specialized nurses. If the doctors feel that the patient is at risk of harming herself or her child, she may be hospitalized in a mental health clinic.
In some cases, the partner or a family member may care for the infant while the person with PPD is being treated.
Life hacks: Dealing with postpartum depression
Life hacks: Dealing with postpartum depression
Click here for some more tips on coping with postpartum depression.
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Lifestyle tips
The more a doctor knows during or even before a pregnancy about the medical and family history, the higher the chances are of preventing PPD.
The following changes may help:
Follow a well-balanced, healthy diet.
Eat frequently to maintain blood sugar levels.
Get at least 7 to 8 hours good-quality sleep each night.
Make lists and be organized to reduce stress.
Be open in talking to close friends, partners, and family members about feelings and concerns.
Contact local self-help groups.
Statistics
Researchers from Northwestern Medicine reported in JAMA Psychiatry that postpartum depression affects approximately 1 in every 7 new mothers.
In their study, involving over 10,000 mothers, they also found that close to 22 percent of them had been depressed when they were followed up 12 months after giving birth.
The team also discovered that:
More than 19 percent of the women who had been screened for depression had considered hurting themselves.
A large proportion of mothers who had been diagnosed with postpartum depression were previously diagnosed with another type of depression or anxiety disorder.
A Canadian study found that postpartum depression is much more common in urban areas. They found a 10 percent risk of postpartum depression among women living in urban areas compared with a 6 percent risk for those in rural areas.