Postpartum depression (PPD) is depression that occurs to a mother after a childbirth. PPD is defined as an episode of non-psychotic depression with onset within 1 year of childbirth. PPD can happen any time after childbirth. It often starts within 1 to 3 weeks after a childbirth and may last for weeks or months at a time.
The word "postpartum" means "after birth," so "postpartum depression" is talking only about depression after the baby is born. For many women, this term is correct: they start feeling depression sometime within the first year after they have the baby. But some women start to feel depression while they're still pregnant and the term "perinatal depression" is used to describe this situation. The word "perinatal" describes the time during pregnancy or just after birth. Researchers believe that depression is one of the most common problems women experience during and after pregnancy. Perinatal depression affects as many as one in seven women.
This type of depression does not only affect mothers. Sometimes new fathers also experience postpartum or prenatal depression.
Feelings of postpartum depression are more intense and last longer than those of “baby blues”. It is a term used to describe the worry, sadness, and tiredness many women experience after having a baby. “Baby blues” symptoms typically resolve on their own within a few days.
Mothers with postpartum depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that may make it difficult for them to complete daily care activities for themselves or for others.
Postpartum depression is a common complication of childbearing and as such represents a considerable public health problem affecting women and their families and make it an important medical condition to diagnose, treat and prevent.
References-
www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/postpartum-depression.aspx
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/postpartum-depression-facts/index.shtml
www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Postpartum-Depression?IsMobileSet=false
www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/index.htm
The patterns of symptoms in women with postpartum depression are similar to those in women who have depression unrelated to childbirth, apart from the fact that the content may focus on the delivery or baby.
Some of the more common symptoms a woman may experience include:
References-
www.cdc.gov/features/maternal-depression/index.html
www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/lit_review_postpartum_depression.pdf
Postpartum depression probably is caused by a combination of factors. These factors include the following:
Other risk factors may be-
References-
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/postpartum-depression-facts/index.shtml
www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Postpartum-Depression?IsMobileSet=false
www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/postpartum-depression.aspx
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/postpartum-depression-facts/index.shtml
www1.nichd.nih.gov/ncmhep/initiatives/moms-mental-health-matters/moms/Pages/default.aspx
A health care provider can diagnose a woman with postpartum depression. Because symptoms of this condition are broad and may vary between women, a health care provider can help a woman figure out whether the symptoms she is feeling are due to postpartum depression or something else. A woman who experiences any of these symptoms should see a health care provider right away.
Your doctor will usually talk with you about your feelings, thoughts and mental health to distinguish between a short-term case of postpartum baby blues and a more severe form of depression. Don't be embarrassed, share your symptoms with your doctor so that a useful treatment plan can be created for you.
As part of your evaluation, doctor may:
Reference
www.cdc.gov/features/maternal-depression/index.html
Many options are there for managing PPD during pregnancy or after birth. Some women may participate in counseling (talk therapy); and others may need medication. There is no single treatment that works for everyone.
Treatment can include:
Counseling/Talk Therapy:
Woman with PPD may have one-on-one therapy with just she and the therapist (a counselor, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker) or group therapy where she meets with a therapist and other people with problems similar to her.
Another option is family or couple’s therapy, in which she and her family members or her partner may work with a therapist. Sometimes, therapy is needed for only a few weeks, but it may be needed for a few months or longer.
Counseling can be done with two ways:
Support groups: These are groups of people who meet together or go online to share their feelings and experiences about certain topics. Counselor can suggest the support group to help.
Medicine: PPD often is treated with medicine. Several medications can treat depression effectively and are safe for pregnant women and for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.
In addition to treatment following things can be advised to new mothers to manage PPD:
Stay healthy and fit:
Ask for and accept help:
Family members and friends may be the first to recognize symptoms of postpartum depression in a new mother. They can encourage her to talk with a health care provider, offer emotional support, and assist with daily tasks such as caring for the baby or the home.
Without treatment, postpartum depression can last for months or years. In addition to affecting the mother’s health, it can interfere with her ability to connect with and care for her baby and may cause the baby to have problems with sleeping, eating, and behavior as he or she grows.
References-
www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/postpartum-depression.aspx
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/postpartum-depression-facts/index.shtml
www1.nichd.nih.gov/ncmhep/initiatives/moms-mental-health-matters/moms/Pages/default.aspx
Certain kinds of counseling can prevent perinatal/postpartum depression (PPD) in women at increased risk of depression. Counseling by a counselor or therapist helps the woman to solve problems and cope with things in her everyday life.
Counseling can be recommended for women with one or more of these risk factors:
Two types of counseling can be recommended to prevent PPD for women at increased risk:
Support groups: These are groups of people who meet together or go online to share their feelings and experiences about certain topics. Counselor can suggest the support group to help.
Optimal postpartum care provides an opportunity to promote the overall health and well-being of women. Timely recognition of maternal distress, both physical and psychological, during the course of pregnancy and in the postpartum period should be important concerns for her family members and health care professionals.
References-
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/postpartum-depression-facts/index.shtml
www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Postpartum-Depression?IsMobileSet=false