Everybody around you is happy because you have just given birth to a beautiful baby however, you are not ecstatic. What is the reason of feeling so low and blue?
Mothers experience some sort of emotional vulnerability soon after the birth of their first baby we call it baby blues. This emotional complexity begins a few days to few weeks. In case you have baby blues you feel like crying, you are anxious and irritable. However if the condition persists for long you may have developed Postpartum Depression.
If you are concerned about your health and want to know whether you have developed postpartum depression them you must visit your health practitioner. The health practitioner will try to figure out your symptoms and at times can refer you to counsellor.
It is observed that 10 to 15% women face clinical depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD.
In case if you think you feel like hurting yourself or your baby, you must first get professional help.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression can develop anytime during the initial months after delivering baby. Some of the symptoms are:
- Hypersensitivity
- Lack of concentration
- Irritability
- Felling to cry
- Anger
- Negative feeling like guiltiness, helplessness
- Fatigue
- Change in eating habits
- Headaches and backaches
- Women develop this feeling that they will hurt their child
What is postpartum anxiety?
In case if you experience some of the above-mentioned symptoms you might have developed postpartum depression. The recent research mentions almost 10% of postpartum mothers develop clinical anxiety.
The symptoms of anxiety will develop after first two to three weeks soon after the delivery of baby. There is a time when there is overlap of anxiety and depression. Often symptoms of both depression and anxiety occur in women.
Some of the symptoms of anxiety and panic are:
- Extreme anxiety and irritation
- Restlessness
- Short breath
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Sensation of chocking
- Tingling of hands and feet
- Faintness
- Trembling of limbs
- Hot or cold flashes
- Fear of dying
Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder
If you are experiencing violent thoughts, disturbing images and ideas you may have developed postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder. These thoughts will arise soon after delivering your baby. Most commonly, you will feel that you will harm your child. In many cases, women have stabbed their children or kept baby in oven.
The suffers of OCD will view danger in every condition and situation. People feel like washing their hands and checking the door every now or then. Some people also develop ritualistic behaviours in order to keep their mind away from bad thoughts. Often mother hide knives or avoid entering the kitchen because they have this feeling that they will kill their child.
Many women refuse to bathe their baby as they feel they will drown their child. The thoughts in Postpartum OCD are very negative as compared to postpartum psychosis. The postpartum psychosis is a rare illness where women develop hallucinations, mania, bizarre thinking and suicidal tendency.
Reason of depression after childbirth
There are combinations of factors, which result in PPD. They are biochemical reactions in body, hormonal imbalance and psychological factors. One of the eminent reasons of PPD is anxiety during pregnancy.
Some predictions of PPD are:
- Doubts of depression and anxiety during your pregnancy
- Prior history of anxiety
- Family history of depression
- Difficulty in marriages
- Stressful life and problems in job
- Child care stress
- Child with different temperament
- Lack of social and financial support
- Low self esteem
Some other risk factors are:
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Being single
- Lower socio economic status
- Postpartum blues
If in any case you have developed these symptoms, you must first check with your health expert. These symptoms are definitely the sure shot cases of Postpartum depression.
What should you do?
You must be good to yourself. Try to get your basic need like sleep, good food and avoid negative thoughts. Listen to good music, watch nice movies and read good books. Never believe that you are a bad mother.
Do not expect a lot out of yourself. Be very positive and confident that you can fight everyday with positivity.
Seek support of your family and friends. Do not hesitate to take clinical support.
You must share your feelings. Talk to a friend who understands you and who can motivate you to come out of this condition. Join similar support groups. They help a lot in such situations. There are many baby centre community support groups which understand the feelings of PPD mothers.
Take care of your looks and try to carry yourself well. Ask your partner to look after the baby while you are taking some time to get ready or want to take a relaxing shower. Put on makeup wear good dresses. Make yourself feel beautiful.
It is very important to take sufficient amount of sleep. you must take enough rest under such conditions.
Put your baby in a pram and stroll outside. Go for evening walks, meet your neighbours and friends. Go for shopping with your baby. Eat outside and enjoy every moment.
Do not think a lot about baby laundary, food and sleep. Take it easy on you. Ask your partner to take out some time. If you are  working women take some maternity leave, do not think much about office.
Often medical practitioners give you antidepressants in such conditions. However many women has asked about the effect of antidepressant on child if mother is nursing. There are no such strong case studies and research on this fact. Many women take their antidepressants and there has been no significant effect on their children. However consult your doctor for in this case.
Postpartum periods are very difficult for the fathers. They have to be very conscious for their child. At the same time, they need to provide care and love to their partners. Fathers should take lot of rets so that they are energetic for the entire day. They should offer help to their spouses. Be calm and patient with your wives. Take help of midwives. You must discuss the case with your partner’s obstetrician and therapist. Give her your love and support.