“I don’t want and can’t do anything, I just cry and run around to smoke. Even the cry of a child irritates me,” this is how some women who have recently given birth describe their condition. Severe postpartum depression, and these are precisely its signs, according to statistical indicators, occurs in 12% of new parents.
The situation is also complicated by the fact that those around her, and even the mother herself on maternity leave, do not always consider this phenomenon to be a serious illness. And yet, depressive moods after childbirth are a pathology, and if left to chance, it often leads to serious consequences for both mothers and children.
At the end of the third trimester, many women begin to worry about themselves and, above all, the child. Anxiety arises due to a certain loss of control over the situation, not always pleasant emotions and sensations. Concern grows even more when mommy realizes that she cannot live up to the image of the “ideal mother.”
Most likely, many people have an idealized idea of a mother on maternity leave: a rosy-cheeked toddler, a new mother sparkling with happiness and a proud head of the family nearby. Imagine what happens to a woman’s psychological state in the first month after childbirth, when a newborn baby makes serious adjustments to her life.
What is postpartum depression in new mothers? Despite the ambiguous attitude towards this phenomenon in society, in medicine it is considered a rather serious illness - a form of depressive disorder that develops during the first months of interaction between the mother and the newborn.
About 12% of mothers who give birth are depressed, but only 2-4% receive qualified support after diagnosis.
In fact, experts say that mild episodes of postnatal depression occur in almost half of women on maternity leave.
It is necessary to separate depression from the usual blues, sadness that occurs in the first month after the birth process. A moping woman sometimes describes her feelings using the same words (“I’m crying,” “I can’t sleep,” etc.), but at the same time she is happy about the appearance of a child in her life.
Sadness and melancholy usually go away after a month or two; besides this, these conditions do not require any specific help. What are its characteristic differences?
- Postnatal depressive disorder usually occurs within a few months after the birth of a newborn, but its symptoms can appear up to a year after birth.
- The symptoms of postnatal depression not only last significantly longer (from 5-6 months to a year or more), but are also distinguished by the severity of all manifestations and the inability to do anything. The symptoms are very similar to those of other types of depressive disorders.
- Blues usually goes away completely after a month (a little more), while postnatal depression often becomes chronic. Such “disguise” arises due to the woman’s non-recognition of this condition and reluctance to ask for help (the mother has to play the socially approved role of a happy and caring parent). A fifth of women with depression do not notice improvement even after 2-3 years!
- Psychologists are confident that postnatal depression leads the mother to rethink the role of her own parents in raising children. Such identification causes the activation of various problems and conflicts that were not worked through in childhood.
In addition to the above features, postnatal depression is characterized by a woman’s categorical refusal of medical or psychological help and inability to cope with the problem on her own. The reason for this is a feeling of guilt - “I can’t take care of the child, which means I’m a bad mother.”
The situation is constantly getting worse, and it “falls on” everyone: the child, the husband, the rest of the household, and other relatives who do not understand the reasons for the low mood and reproach the new mother for insufficient attention to the baby and maternal responsibilities.
Forms of postpartum depression
Postnatal depressive disorder can occur in various forms, each of which is distinguished by special symptoms, their severity and duration. Let's take a closer look at them.
Neurotic depression
This type of postnatal depression usually occurs in mothers who had certain neurotic disorders before childbirth. Since the birth process is a stressful situation, existing disorders worsen.
In this case, the woman experiences:
- irritability, anger and aggressiveness;
- hostile attitude towards close people;
- constant panic;
- cardiopalmus;
- increased sweating;
- loss of appetite;
- insomnia and other sleep disorders;
- sexual problems;
- fear for one’s health, especially acute at night.
In addition, it is common for mothers to experience their own lack of independence. Her self-esteem drops sharply, as a result of which she begins to emotionally depend on the people around her.
Postpartum psychosis
This type of postnatal depressive disorder has its own characteristics. Thus, mothers in this state are characterized by a feeling of guilt, lethargy, loss of orientation in certain situations, and inability to recognize their relatives.
In especially severe cases, a woman may experience obsessive thoughts after childbirth, which relate to the idea of suicide or the desire to harm her own newborn child.
Postpartum psychosis is quite rare in new mothers - in four out of a thousand women giving birth. Its symptoms appear in the first month after the birth of the baby - within 10-14 days.
It is impossible to say exactly how long it will last, since sometimes its prerequisite is manic-depressive psychosis in the mother.
This is the most common form of postnatal depression. However, it is quite difficult to define it, since it is “masked” as a variety of problems that are associated with the care and upbringing of children.
Prolonged postpartum depression develops gradually, and it begins with the usual blues, which continues after returning home. Women are constantly tired, but relatives attribute this condition to the birth process.
Distinctive signs are constant irritation and tearfulness. But it’s extremely unpleasant for a mother to hear children’s tears, and she blames herself for this and for insufficient care. Guilt also arises because caring for a child does not bring happiness to a woman.
Prolonged course of postnatal depression is most often observed in two types of mothers:
- Women with hysterical manifestations or obsessive fears of doing something wrong, especially if it concerns a child.
- Individuals who were deprived of maternal tenderness and affection in childhood.
It is impossible to determine how long the depressive state will last. Usually the time period does not exceed 10 months or a year. However, in especially severe cases, the process of withdrawing into oneself can last 2-3 years.
General signs
As you can see, different types postnatal depressive disorder has distinctive characteristics. However, experts identify several symptoms that are found in all varieties of this psychological condition. Among them:
Somewhat less often, in mothers, the above-described features can be combined with suicidal thoughts or with a desire to harm the child. Such thoughts often arise simultaneously with a reluctance to approach the newborn at all.
A woman’s well-being especially deteriorates in the time interval from three to 10 months after the birth of a baby. When the baby reaches the third month of life, the mother’s irritability and anxiety actively progress.
Many experts associate the occurrence of postnatal depressive disorder in a new parent with changes occurring at the psycho-emotional, social, and physiological level.
Despite the fact that there is still no clearly proven connection between a depressed mood in mothers and hormonal levels, this factor is not discounted. The assumption has a right to exist, since in pregnant women the level of certain hormones changes.
During pregnancy, the amount of female sex hormones increases almost 10 times, and after delivery there is a significant decrease in such indicators - almost to the level at which they were before conception.
In addition to hormonal changes, the mother is also “threatened” with colossal changes in all aspects of life with the newborn child. The psychology of women who have given birth is changing, and changes are also occurring in social status. Such “transformations” seriously increase the risk of postnatal depression.
In addition, experts identify several factors that can provoke the development of symptoms of depression in mothers who have given birth:
- Hereditary predisposition. These words mean the characteristics of the nervous system that a woman adopts from her own parents. More specifically, a mother with a weak nervous system inherited from the older generation tends to react more sharply to a variety of stressful situations, and there are a lot of them after the birth of a baby. In addition, the birth process itself is one continuous stress.
- Changes at the physiological level. In addition to surges in female sex hormones, the mother experiences a change in the volume of discharge thyroid gland. As a result of this decrease, fatigue begins, the mother has to do everything through “I can’t”, and this can result in depression. After the end of pregnancy, metabolism, blood volume and even blood pressure, all this affects the psychological health of the mother.
- Fear of not living up to the “title” of the mother. Some anxious individuals strive to become a kind of “supermom” who manages to take care of a child, enjoy life, be a good wife and friend, and look good. In reality, it is impossible for a mother to get closer to such an ideal, as a result of which her self-esteem decreases and a feeling of helplessness appears. And from here it’s not far to depressive disorder.
- Lack of free time. The natural desire of any mother is to restore moral and physical strength after childbirth. However, almost immediately she has to perform household duties and care for the child. These troubles are often combined with the process of contraction of the uterus, recovery after suturing the perineum or sutures from a caesarean section. Such time pressure often ends in depression.
- Problems with breastfeeding. The process of establishing lactation brings mother not only pleasant emotions, but also various difficulties. For example, the weaker sex after childbirth often expresses milk and feeds the baby at night (this makes it difficult to sleep). The lactation period is often accompanied by pain during feeding. In addition, there is a temporary decrease in milk volume, repeating after several months. We must not forget - stagnation of milk secretion.
- Selfishness of a woman. An unexpected factor, however, the fair sex does not always like to share the attention of others, even with their own children. Postpartum depression of selfish origin is especially typical for young and first-time mothers. After giving birth, the mother has to rebuild her usual routine to suit the baby’s needs, and she also needs to enter into “competition” for her husband’s attention. In addition, some mothers are not able to accept responsibility for the child.
- Changes in figure. Some mothers begin to almost panic when they notice changes in appearance, which were the result of pregnancy and the birth process. Gaining weight, stretch marks or sagging breasts - all this, coupled with low self-esteem, leads to real depression.
- Lack of finances. It is not always possible for a mother to provide her child with a decent infancy. Because of this, a woman begins to consider herself a bad mother, which again causes a depressive state, which intensifies under other conditions ( psychological characteristics, low self-esteem).
- Problems with your partner. The process of labor often leads to further difficulties with sexual life. First, there may be a variety of physical limitations. Secondly, fatigue, accompanied by decreased libido. Thirdly, sometimes women even develop an extremely negative attitude towards sex in the first few months after childbirth.
- Unfavorable atmosphere. This cause consists of several factors leading to postnatal depression. Among them may be the husband’s indifference, rejection from his loved ones, the spouse’s addiction to alcohol (he likes to smoke and drink in front of the child), and the lack of any support.
In some situations, postpartum depression occurs after a spontaneous abortion or after the birth of a stillborn baby.
Consequences for children and spouse
What is the threat of postpartum depression in a mother to her child? First of all, a depressed woman is simply not able to fully fulfill her maternal responsibilities. Sometimes a mother refuses to even feed her baby with breast milk because she does not feel love for him. What are the consequences?
- The development of the baby also slows down. The child sleeps poorly, worries, and in the future he may develop various mental disorders (for example, a predisposition to depression).
- Due to the lack of skin-to-skin interaction, the child suffers from various processes associated with emotional development. Subsequently, the baby may develop speech disorders (for example, logoneuroses), problems with concentration, etc.
- Children raised by depressed mothers rarely show positive emotions or interest in contact with objects and loved ones. It is curious, but such a child tends to worry less when separated from his mother (other children have a sharply negative attitude towards such a development of events).
How does the stronger sex react to female postpartum depression? Men are naturally dissatisfied with this behavior of their spouse. Some of them generally mistake a serious mental disorder for some kind of whim, and therefore treat women's problems accordingly.
The stronger sex naturally strives to restore their former sex life, which is usually not possible to achieve. It is no secret that among all the global changes in family life associated with the birth of a child, men strive, first of all, to maintain stability in the matter of intimate relationships.
In some situations, men also experience postnatal depression. Some of the reasons for its appearance are in certain ways related to development factors in women.
The stronger sex falls into the trap of depression due to a feeling of uselessness to the spouse, lack of finances, lack of sex, etc.
It is much easier to prevent the development of postnatal depression than to fight it later. Moreover, it is unknown how long it will take (days, weeks, months) for the symptoms of this psychological disorder to subside.
So, postpartum depression can have a negative impact on both the mother, the child, and other household members. And you don’t need to think that this condition certainly won’t affect me. That is why there is no need to let this problem go by itself.
If a woman doesn’t want to be disconnected from a full-fledged life for half a terrible year, she needs to act even before she ends up on maternity leave. What to do?
Let us repeat the common rule once again: it is easier to prevent a disease than to then try to get rid of it. Postnatal depression is also a disease, so you shouldn’t expect it to go away on its own. The help of a specialist is extremely important in such a situation.
If your condition after childbirth is expressed by the words “I’m crying, I can’t stop, no one understands me,” it’s time to help yourself and your child. Expert advice will help you get rid of postnatal depression.
- A doctor will help you cope with the problem. To save yourself from possible troubles, you must follow medical advice. For example, when prescribing drug treatment, all necessary procedures should be followed. However, taking medications on your own is strictly prohibited, even if the women’s forum says that “such and such a remedy saved me.”
- Do not refuse the support of loved ones. The help of a spouse or mother-in-law is not something shameful, but an important necessity, especially when you cannot get rid of negative thoughts on your own. Your husband, mother, grandmother or close friend will help you get out of the emotional “trap”. You should accept their support before you cross the line.
- There is no need for a new mother to be ashamed of being overweight. Remember that you have been eating for two for at least half of the prescribed period, so additional kilograms are a completely natural phenomenon. Do not go on diets according to the recommendations of “well-wishers”. Natural feeding helps you get rid of excess weight, so do not neglect breastfeeding, especially in the first month.
- Try to negotiate with your spouse about short-term “vacations”. Going to the cafeteria, visiting the pool or store, walking around your favorite place - all this will distract you from the need to constantly be near your child. Believe me, no one will think that you are a terrible mother, abandoning the baby to the mercy of fate.
- As we have already noted, the stronger sex pays special attention to the intimate side of married life. Try to talk with your husband about this topic, very calmly and tactfully. If you don't want to make love, give serious arguments. For example, it takes a month or a month and a half for the uterus to recover. This argument is better than saying, “I don’t care about sex right now.” By the way, making love is another effective method escape from postnatal depression.
- Try to step away from kitchen chores for a while, since it is much more important for a child to spend more time with mommy than to watch her culinary talents. Perhaps the stronger sex in the person of your spouse will take on the responsibility of preparing dinner.
- Postpartum depression is often aggravated by lack of sleep, when mommy tries to earn the title “supermom” for a year or longer. Have you put your child to bed? Lie down next to each other for at least 10 minutes. Believe me, the opinion “no one can replace me” is wrong. A woman will be more likely to get rid of depressive thoughts if she buys a baby monitor or shifts some of the worries to household members.
- Include in your diet foods enriched with calcium-containing foods and ascorbic acid. These substances help get rid of depression in some situations as effectively as medicines. This recommendation is another argument in favor of abandoning various dietary restrictions.
- A new mother will get rid of postnatal depression if she does not refuse to communicate with friends and close girlfriends while on maternity leave.
- Talk to other women who are facing a similar problem. Probably some of them coped with depressive thoughts and blues. In any case, even emotional support is half the job successfully completed. Mommy will be more likely to cope with the problem if she walks with her child more often.
Often, the monotony of actions seriously complicates the course of postnatal depression. Follow these tips through “I can’t”, focusing on the benefits for yourself and your child.
Therapeutic measures
Treatment of postnatal depressive disorder involves observation, examination of the woman, collection of information and comparison of symptoms.
If the doctor suspects that the cause of postpartum depression is a hormonal shift, he will suggest taking a blood test to determine the level of certain hormones.
Experts identify only two effective ways getting rid of depression: taking special medications and psychotherapeutic techniques.
- If the condition is caused by hormonal imbalance, a drug is prescribed to correct it. Another group of medications is the latest generation antidepressants, which maintain the necessary balance of hormones (in particular, serotonin). Some mothers are afraid to take antidepressants for fear of harming the baby or losing breastfeeding. However, a tense and irritated mother is much worse for the baby than medications allowed during feeding.
- Mommy will cope with difficulties faster if she uses the help of a qualified psychotherapist. Moreover, a specialist can offer NLP, psychoanalytic techniques, and the hypnotic method to solve the problem. It all depends on how severe the woman’s postpartum depression is. In addition, psychologists often suggest using methods from family or cognitive psychotherapeutic schools. These techniques work through deeper problems, youthful or even infantile complexes that smoothly flow into adulthood and lead to depressive moods.
Postpartum depression is a complex psychophysiological condition, the course of which depends on many factors. Sometimes the blues go away in a few weeks, in other cases it takes about two to three years.
In many ways, the effectiveness of treatment is related to a woman’s ability to get used to a new role and the desire to get out of a vicious circle. However, the support of a spouse and the help of close relatives are no less important.
Hello, I am Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully completed her studies at SUSU as a specialized psychologist, she devoted several years to working with children with developmental problems and consulting parents on issues of raising children. I use the experience gained, among other things, in creating articles of a psychological nature. Of course, I in no way claim to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers deal with any difficulties.
Text: Olga Kim
Many people know that after giving birth, women fall into apathy for some period of time, become irritable, and are constantly in a state of stress and anxiety. This condition is called postpartum depression. What causes it and how to deal with it?
Postpartum depression: fact or fiction?
It would seem that after a miracle has happened, after the birth of a baby, a young mother should experience completely different feelings than depression. But nonetheless, postpartum depression familiar to more than 70% of women who have given birth. The main thing is to treat this surge of emotions in the woman with understanding and surround her and the baby with care and love. Postpartum depression has two main causes: psychological and physiological.
The psychological reason depends on the woman’s character and her emotionality. If she is overly sensitive, has a fear of everything new and is afraid of responsibility, then for such a woman postpartum depression is quite understandable. But this does not mean that postpartum depression will not affect strong and self-confident women. The fact is that a new role in life is perceived differently by women, despite the fact that they have been preparing for this for 9 long months. When a woman realizes that she is now responsible for this little creature, she begins to be afraid of almost everything, holding the baby incorrectly, feeding it incorrectly, feeding it incorrectly, etc. This behavior is quite understandable and there is nothing terrible about it, but when the duties of a mother are perceived as torture for a woman, then postpartum depression takes over, and the young mother falls into apathy, plus the physical fatigue that lasted 9 months begins to speak out in her .
Postpartum depression: physiology of the problem
The physiological reason lies in the specifics of the female body and all the processes associated with the birth of a child. While carrying a child, the female body produces a huge amount of female hormones (progesterone and estrogens) to maintain pregnancy. Immediately after childbirth, their number decreases sharply, and this cannot but affect the central nervous system, and in particular on the mood and well-being of a young mother. And here are added all those new responsibilities for her that she is obliged to fulfill as a new mother.
In principle, the causes of postpartum depression are more than logical. But why do you need to fight them, and not leave the young mother alone? The fact is that postpartum depression causes only negative emotions in a woman - this is anxiety, this is fear, this is fatigue, this is drowsiness and bad mood. All this affects the child, and not in the best possible way.
Women begin to get irritated for any reason, are afraid to approach the child, they are confused and scared. Here the young mother has a “split personality”: physically she is with the baby and mentally understands that she should be here, but on the other hand, on the emotional side, this does not give her any pleasure and she takes care of the baby mechanically and without much affection and love . Of course, the child feels this and the mother’s postpartum depression can subsequently negatively affect his character. This is why it is important to recognize postpartum depression early and begin to fight it.
How to cope with postpartum depression?
- For the first time after giving birth, ask for help with the housework. A woman cannot immediately return to her duties as a homemaker, combining this with her new responsibilities as a mother. The sooner a young mother finds understanding with her child and begins to feel that invisible connection between them, the easier it will be for her to cope with both roles in the future.
- If there is no such person, plan your day so as not to get physically tired. Young children sleep several times a day, so try to nap with your baby. This way you will save strength and energy while he is awake.
- Take care of your child together with his dad. Very often men begin to be jealous of their wives for their own to your own child. This happens because women begin to give more love and affection to the small family member and men become offended. Therefore, you must take care of the baby together so that the parents develop love for him together.
- Leave time for your interests and hobbies. Watch your diet and physical fitness. Don't forget that you are not only a mother, but also a woman. Nobody says it's easy. But you've been through childbirth, and that's a lot more difficult, isn't it?
Postpartum depression happens often, and many women remember it with a shudder, but if you prepare for it correctly and follow all the tips for overcoming it, it will be possible to cope with it!
Waiting for a baby is full of worries. Having become a mother, not all women find peace of mind. Increased responsibility and care for the baby, changes in social status - all this does not allow the young mother to enjoy motherhood. Anxiety and tension gradually increase, developing into depression. The problem is complicated by the fact that many of those around, and even the mothers themselves, do not perceive this condition as a disease. However, postpartum depression is an illness that should not be left to chance, otherwise it can lead to very serious consequences for both the mother and the newborn.
Content:
Causes of depression after childbirth
According to statistics, every fifth woman is susceptible to postpartum depression to one degree or another, and this applies even to those women for whom the baby was desired and long-awaited. Most often, there is no clear cause for this condition. As a rule, this is a complex of factors, physical and mental, leading to an aggravation of negative feelings and emotions.
Physiological reasons
Childbirth is a serious stress for the body. In addition to the pain that a woman experiences, hormonal levels change dramatically, which affects the functioning of all organs and systems, leading to physical ailments, dizziness, and causing a feeling of constant fatigue. Not every woman is able to combine this condition with caring for a child and performing everyday household duties.
Postpartum depression develops more often in women who have had a cesarean section than in women who have given birth naturally. During natural childbirth, a woman's hormonal background changes gradually. The main hormone here is oxytocin, one of whose abilities is to dull the feeling of pain and speed up the formation of lactation. That is, some problems that lead to depression are eliminated during natural childbirth. During a caesarean section, the body does not have time to readjust itself, and a hormone imbalance occurs.
Many women initially experience problems with breastfeeding, manifested in the formation of cracks in the nipples, lack of sufficient milk, and mastitis. Trying to give only the best to their child, many mothers painfully experience difficulties in developing lactation.
Psychological reasons
A frequent psychological accompaniment of postpartum depression is a feeling of guilt that arises due to inconsistency with the image of the “ideal parent.” For everyone, new parents are full of happiness, cope with problems easily, love each other and their baby. Before giving birth and myself future mom paints a picture of an ideal family. In fact, often a woman does not even have time for physical recovery, not to mention moral and emotional.
Feelings of guilt and dissatisfaction with others arise for other reasons:
- Uncertainty and fear of simple actions. Often, even the inability to properly swaddle a baby, wash him, or clean his nose causes anxiety. What can we say about when a newborn has a fever, he is worried about colic, he screams in pain when teething, and the mother does not know how to calm the baby and how to help him. Such powerlessness is disheartening.
- Changing your usual daily routine. At first it is difficult to adapt to the child’s routine, because even at night he often wakes up. Not every person manages to relax and get a good night's sleep with intermittent sleep, especially a woman who has recently given birth and has not yet had time to recover.
- Constant lack of time. Child care must be combined with homework. If at the same time a woman does not feel support from relatives, but, on the contrary, feels pressure about an unprepared dinner or unironed laundry, then tension mixed with fatigue soon threatens to result in postpartum depression.
- Changes in appearance. Pregnancy and childbirth cannot but leave a mark on a woman’s body. A figure that has changed not for the better, stretch marks, and the kilograms gained during pregnancy do not leave everyone indifferent. Sometimes this is what plays a decisive role in the development of depression.
- Changes in relationship with husband. Priorities change, and the woman pays all her attention to the child. A decrease in libido, natural due to hormonal changes in the body and fatigue, also leaves its mark. Worrying about your spouse’s reproaches and trying not to deprive anyone of your family of care is emotionally draining.
- Social status, material and Family status women. Single mothers, women with housing problems, or those who have recently lost their jobs are more susceptible to postpartum depression, because now they will have to take care not only of themselves, but also of the well-being of the child.
Depression often occurs because the newborn is sick or the presence of congenital pathologies has been confirmed. The feeling of guilt towards relatives is aggravated by concern for the health and development of the child, his future.
Video: Psychotherapist on the causes and consequences of postpartum depression
Types of depression
Not every psychological state of a woman after childbirth can be called depressive. Melancholy and apathy, which visit every person from time to time, do not require urgent medical attention. On the other hand, there are conditions that require not just consultation with a specialist, but also hospital treatment.
"Mother's Melancholy"
This condition is otherwise called postpartum blues and should not be confused with postpartum depression. Blues is a condition that manifests itself against the background of a sharp hormonal change in the body. Tearfulness predominates, there is a feeling of fear for one’s health and the health of the baby, loss of strength, and nervous tension. Characterized by mild irritability that does not develop into aggression. Lasts from 2-3 days to a week. It differs from depression in that the mother does not withdraw from caring for and communicating with the child. If action is not taken in time, melancholy threatens to develop into depression.
Neurotic depression
It develops in women with existing neurotic disorders and is characterized by their exacerbation. In addition to frequent mood swings and irritability, there is a heightened sense of hostility towards others. Some women are susceptible to panic attacks, accompanied by increased blood pressure, tachycardia, and profuse sweating. Often, patients experience short-term memory loss, when they do not remember recent events (possibly related to pregnancy) or do not recognize loved ones.
Postpartum psychosis
In severe cases, hallucinations occur, which are subsequently embodied in delusional ideas, often directed at the child. Doctors define this condition as postpartum psychosis. It is rare, no more than 4 cases per 1000 births, mainly in patients with bipolar disorder. Postpartum psychosis is treated under the supervision of a doctor in a hospital setting.
Prolonged postpartum depression
The most common form of depression after childbirth. It begins as an ordinary blues associated with difficulties arising regarding the upbringing and care of a child. A woman tries her best to be a good mother and cope with her responsibilities, but any difficulty leads to despair and panic. The young mother reproaches herself for her inability to cope with the situation, for her irritability. This only makes the condition worse, and the blues develop into depression.
Common symptoms of postpartum depression
Deterioration occurs immediately after the birth of the child or after 3-9 months, when the mother’s fatigue reaches its highest point. If immediately after birth the baby sleeps a lot, growing up, he requires more attention, which is to the detriment of other matters. The woman feels unable to cope with the responsibilities that have fallen upon her, feels tired, and the future seems gloomy.
The main symptom of postpartum depression is an almost constant state of depression, the aggravation of which most often occurs in the mornings and evenings, during periods of greatest fatigue. The rest of the symptoms are the result of depression:
- drowsiness, irritability, tearfulness, frequent mood swings;
- insomnia, loss of appetite (or excessive appetite);
- lack of a feeling of joy and satisfaction with what is happening;
- lethargy, apathy, lack of interest in any events and activities, including those that were once considered favorite activities or hobbies;
- the presence of constant fear for one’s actions that could harm the child;
- feeling of inadequacy, inability to make decisions;
- lack of interest and affection for the child;
- manifestation of irritability, even aggression towards others (husband, older children);
- hypochondria, search for non-existent diseases, constant worry about one’s health;
- inability to concentrate on simple things, memory impairment;
- disturbances in intestinal function, headaches and joint pain.
If a woman has most of the above, then she needs to see a specialist before depression develops into psychosis. At the same time, if one or more signs appear, one cannot speak of postpartum depression. This condition is characterized by duration and intensification of symptoms.
Video: Symptoms of depression. How to help yourself: a mother’s experience.
When to visit a doctor
The woman herself decides whether to see a doctor or not as she feels an increase in symptoms that prevent her from fully caring for the child. Close people should also be wary if a number of signs are detected:
- apathy and depression do not go away for a long time;
- depression interferes with a full life, affects family relationships and child care;
- obsessive thoughts and ideas appear;
- there is a violation of memory, attention, and other mental processes.
First of all, the emotional sphere of the child suffers, because from the first days of life he is attached to his mother and needs not only care, but also communication, physical and emotional contact. Many women refuse breastfeeding, which is important in the development of digestive system baby, his immunity. That is why it is necessary to notice the symptoms of developing postpartum depression in time and prevent it from developing into a more serious form.
Preventive measures to prevent depression
It is important to learn to control your own emotions and avoid negative thoughts. It is important here to increase self-esteem and the ability to understand any problem that arises, and not let it take its course. Self-analysis will help you understand the root cause of your condition.
If possible, you should arrange a weekend for yourself. A visit to the salon, swimming pool, a walk or just a get-together with friends will perfectly lift your spirits, relax you and give you a break from everyday worries. If you don’t have anyone to leave your child with, you can take him with you to nature or go to children’s stores with him. Psychologists note that buying children's clothes and toys helps overcome hostility towards the baby.
Nature took care of the woman. During the first 2-3 months after birth, the baby sleeps for a long time, and the main care for him comes down to hygiene and feeding. If you allocate your time correctly, do not devote it only to everyday work, but leave a little for yourself, then postpartum depression is unlikely to make itself felt.
Skin-to-skin contact with the child and constant communication with him will gradually overcome the feeling of alienation, if any. In addition to taking care of your health, performing hygiene procedures and everyday duties, you need to play with your baby, just hug him, cuddle him, and breastfeed. This The best way speed up the emergence of attachment.
You should definitely review your diet and enrich it with all the necessary microelements. Lack of substances negatively affects well-being, including contributing to the development of depression. Particular attention is paid to the presence in food of sufficient amounts of vitamin C and calcium, which the body most needs in the postpartum period.
You need to walk more. This is useful for both mother and baby. Quiet walks help you relax; in addition, this is a good exercise that will put your figure in order.
If, however, symptoms increase, do not delay visiting a specialist. It is important to realize that postpartum depression is a disease and, like other diseases, it must be treated.
Treatment of postpartum depression
The first thing you should do if you notice signs of depression is to visit a doctor, psychologist or psychotherapist. Based on the indicated symptoms, he will give recommendations for correcting behavior. For some women, it is the doctor who becomes the person to whom they can vent, because depression is often not perceived as a disease, but only as a whim of a woman who has recently given birth. It’s even better to come to a consultation with a specialist with your spouse. He will explain the seriousness of the problem and help improve family relationships.
Drug treatment
If necessary, assigned drug treatment postpartum depression, which involves taking antidepressants and adjusting hormonal levels with the help of hormonal drugs. As a rule, third-generation antidepressants are prescribed as drug therapy, the action of which is aimed at maintaining the balance of hormones. Many women are afraid of taking antidepressants, associating this with addiction, refusal of lactation and other problems. But it should be remembered that a tense, irritated, poorly controlled mother is much worse. In addition, strict adherence to the doctor’s recommendations will allow you to maintain lactation and avoid addiction.
It is necessary to take hormone tests. A hormonal study is carried out to confirm the diagnosis. The fact is that an insufficient level of, for example, thyroid hormone can also provoke depressive states, but they will be of a different kind. But with a reduced estrogen content, their replenishment can somewhat alleviate the symptoms of postpartum depression.
The drug and dosage are prescribed by the doctor taking into account individual characteristics and are adjusted as the result is achieved.
Traditional methods of stress relief
At the initial stage, you can cope with apathy using recipes from traditional healers. Of course, our grandmothers did not know the concept of postpartum depression, but they also felt depressed and tired, which herbal sedatives helped them relieve. Before using these compounds, it is advisable to consult a doctor, especially if a woman is breastfeeding.
2 tsp. Pour bird's-eye knotweed herbs into a glass of water. Leave for 15-20 minutes, strain. Take ½ cup 2 times a day for 2 weeks. After a week's break, repeat the course if necessary.
1 tsp. peppermint, pour a glass of boiling water, leave in a thermos. Drink as tea 1-2 times a day.
Motherwort infusion helps relieve irritation and tearfulness. 1 tsp. dry herbs pour a glass of boiling water. Take several sips throughout the day.
Brew 100 g of black poplar leaves in 1 liter of water, leave for half an hour, strain. Pour the resulting infusion into the bath. Take a warm bath for 15-20 minutes.
Postpartum depression lasts from several weeks to several years. It depends on how much a woman adapts to the role of a mother and knows how to control her emotions, how quickly attachment to the child arises, on social adaptation after childbirth and many other factors. During this period, the young mother needs support and attention. It is important that close people take on part of the child’s care, allowing him to get used to the new role. It should be remembered that the health and proper development of the baby largely depends on the mother’s well-being.
Video: Yoga as the best way out of depression
In this article we will talk about the symptoms of depression and present real stories of mothers who faced depression. In them they will tell you how they were able to cope with this difficult condition.
Depression is a hormonal imbalance that affects all women after childbirth. Depression is accompanied by unstable mood, apathy, aggression and anxiety.
Depression, in addition to changes in hormonal levels, is aggravated by household chores, increased responsibility, fatigue and monotony of life.In some cases, these sensations develop into a severe depressive state.Despite the ambiguous attitude towards postpartum depression in society, in medicine it is considered a rather serious illness. Depression usually develops during the first months after the birth of a newborn.
In this article we will talk about the symptoms and causes of postpartum depression. Let's imagine the stories of mothers who faced depression. In them they will tell how they dealt with this difficult condition.
Depression manifests itself in a whole complex of manifestations: sudden changes in mood, tearfulness, uncontrollable outbursts of anger, hysterics, etc. Let's look at each symptom in more detail.
- Sudden mood swings and increased sentimentality. Postpartum depression causes increased emotional sensitivity. For this reason, tears can flow even for the most insignificant reasons.
- Increased irritability . A depressive state is accompanied by the appearance of irritability. A woman tends to show aggression towards her husband and crying child.
- Insomnia due to an influx of anxious and negative thoughts . Psycho-emotional exhaustion leads to a general loss of strength. And their restoration during sleep can become difficult. The child's frequent awakenings at night do not allow the mother to gain strength and rest.
- Increased anxiety, restlessness . A feature of depression is a constant concern that can be directed towards the health of the infant. For this reason, unnecessary visits to various doctors are becoming more frequent. Young mothers find a problem where there is none. This greatly weakens her nervous system and makes her worry even more.
- Prevalence of depressed mood. A woman sees the world in gray colors, dull and boring. There is a loss of the ability to enjoy what is happening.
- Ideas of self-blame arise most often they arise out of nowhere. A mother may unreasonably blame herself for being a bad mother, since she cannot cope with all the household chores and also soothe a crying baby.
- Lethargy, apathy, lack of interest to any events and activities, including those that were once considered favorite activities.
- Inability to concentrate on simple things, impaired memory and coordination.
- Bowel dysfunction is also a symptom of depression.
In different proportions and to varying degrees of severity, these symptoms are detected in all women after childbirth.
If a new mother has most of the above, then she needs to see a specialist before depression develops into psychosis.
Types of depression
- Postpartum psychosis. It manifests itself in severe cases, hallucinations occur, which are embodied in delusional ideas, often directed at the child. It is rare, no more than 4 cases per 1000 births, mainly in patients with bipolar disorder. Postpartum psychosis is treated under the supervision of a doctor in a hospital setting.
- Neurotic depression. Manifested by frequent mood swings and irritability. There is a heightened feeling of hostility towards others. Sometimes women are susceptible to panic attacks, accompanied by increased blood pressure, tachycardia, and profuse sweating.
- Maternal melancholy. Appears against the background of a sharp hormonal change in the body. Tearfulness predominates, and there is a feeling of fear for one’s health and the health of the baby. There is a loss of strength and nervous tension. If measures are not taken in time, melancholy threatens to develop into severe depression.
- Prolonged postpartum depression. It begins as an ordinary blues associated with difficulties arising regarding the upbringing and care of a child. A woman tries her best to be a good mother and cope with her responsibilities, but any difficulty leads to despair and despondency. Sometimes the condition only gets worse, and the blues develop into depression.
Main causes of postpartum depression
- Physiological changes. After the end of pregnancy, metabolism, blood volume and even blood pressure change, all this affects the psychological health of the mother.
- Fear of being a bad mother or harming the child. When a mother encounters the first difficulties, her self-esteem decreases and a feeling of helplessness appears. And from here it’s not far to depressive disorder.
- Heredity. A new mother with a weak nervous system inherited from the older generation tends to react more sharply to a variety of stressful situations, and there are a lot of them after the birth of a baby.
- Lack of free time. The natural desire of any mother is to restore moral and physical strength after childbirth. However, almost immediately she has to perform household duties and care for the child.
- Problems with breastfeeding. The process of establishing lactation brings mother not only pleasant emotions, but also various difficulties and even pain. Details about breastfeeding we talked in .
- Changes in figure. Some mothers begin to almost panic when they notice changes in appearance that are the result of pregnancy and the birth process. Gaining weight, stretch marks or sagging breasts - all this, coupled with low self-esteem, leads to real depression. We talked about how to get rid of the gained kilograms in the article:
- Lack of finances. It is not always possible for a mother to provide her child with a decent infancy. Because of this, a woman begins to consider herself a bad mother, which again causes a depressive state, which intensifies under other conditions (psychological characteristics, low self-esteem).
- Problems with your partner. The process of labor often leads to further difficulties with sexual life. First, there may be a variety of physical limitations. Secondly, fatigue, accompanied by decreased libido. Thirdly, sometimes women even develop an extremely negative attitude towards sex in the first few months after childbirth.
A recent study by doctors from the University of Kent, who studied the health of 300 women after childbirth, showed that the development of postpartum depression also depends on the gender of the child and the course of pregnancy and childbirth. It turned out that mothers of boys have a 79% higher risk of postpartum depression. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy their immune system is very active and hormonal changes occur somewhat differently. Also, childbirth with complications increases the likelihood of severe depression by three times.
This is a mental illness with a profound decline in mood and behavior. You need to talk to a woman more often about what worries her, patiently listening to everything that happened to her and the child in the absence of her husband.
The birth of a child brings many strong emotions, ranging from delight and joy to fear. But many young mothers also experience another feeling: depression.
For a few days after giving birth, many women experience a mild depression called baby blues. This condition can last from a few hours to two weeks after birth. However, for some women it takes a more severe form called postpartum depression, which can last weeks or even months after giving birth. Without treatment, this can drag on for a year or more.
Postpartum depression is depressive symptoms that persist more than 2 weeks after birth and interfere with daily activities.
Postpartum depression occurs in 10-15% of women after childbirth.
Any woman is at risk, but women are most susceptible to:
- transient postpartum depression,
- history of depression,
- depression after previous childbirth,
- family history of depression,
- stress factors,
- lack of support (for example, from a partner or family members),
- mood changes during the perimenstrual period,
- unfavorable birth outcome.
The exact etiology is unknown, but previous depression and hormonal changes during the postpartum period, insufficient sleep are major risks, and genetic predisposition may also contribute.
Unlike transient postpartum depression, which usually lasts 2-3 days (maximum 2 weeks) and has mild symptoms, postpartum depression lasts more than 2 weeks and interferes with daily activities.
Causes of postpartum depression in women
Frequency - 10-15% of postpartum women. It is facilitated by neuro-endocrine changes before pregnancy. Additional provoking factors are low levels of education, unstable marital status or a broken family. Heredity for this complication in 1st and 2nd degree relatives also contributes to depression.
There are three variants of the course of postpartum depression:
- Postpartum depression is temporary. This state of short-term depression occurs in 1/3 of postpartum women shortly after childbirth and goes away on its own, without special treatment;
- atypical forms of postpartum psychoses (the same cyclothymic or bipolar alternation of manic and depressive psychoses).
The specificity of the postpartum period is that women often last weeks During pregnancy, women are separated from the family more or completely, due to complications they cannot have closeness with their husbands, communication with relatives is limited, and all this can lead to problems in the family. This negatively affects the mental state of the pregnant woman. In addition, women are subjected to various diagnostic methods, the results of which are alarming, frightening, and cause a state of constant anxiety. If pregnancy was initially unwanted or subconsciously rejected, then this is also a risk of psychosis. Complicated childbirth, trauma and blood loss in the mother, and injury to the newborn aggravate the situation. If during pregnancy high level Placental hormones ensured the intensity of blood flow in the vessels of the placenta, and at the time of birth contributed to the contractility of the uterus, then after childbirth the level of hormones drops sharply, which causes significant moral and emotional devastation.
The cause of postpartum depression is unclear. Perhaps physical, mental, and social factors play a role. After childbirth, levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop sharply. In addition, changes occur in blood volume, pressure, immune system and metabolism. All these changes can affect a woman’s physical and mental well-being.
Other factors that can cause postpartum depression and increase its likelihood include:
- Presence of depression before or in relatives.
- Negative childbirth experience.
- Severe or life-threatening pregnancy.
- Pain or complications after childbirth.
- Difficulties caring for a child.
- Exhaustion from caring for a child or several.
- Frustration due to unrealistic expectations of motherhood.
- Stress due to changes at home and at work.
- Feeling of loss of identity.
- Lack of support.
- Difficulties in relationships with others.
Prognostic factors for postpartum depression:
- Severe mental disorders:
- schizophrenia;
- affective insanity;
- postpartum psychosis;
- severe depression.
- Previous observation by a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, including hospital stay.
Symptoms and signs of postpartum depression in women
In the first few days after childbirth, many women experience a bad mood and sadness. They may be slightly depressed, whiny and irritable. These subclinical manifestations reach their peak by 4-5 days after birth, and usually disappear by 10 days. According to some data, women who experience such “blues” are more likely to develop PPD in the future.
Postpartum depression is temporally tied to the birth of a child, but its symptoms are no different from ordinary depression. Episodes of depression occurring in the first year after childbirth are also considered PPD.
Manifestations of postpartum depression:
- Depressed mood.
- Tearfulness.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss.
- Inability to rejoice, experience happiness, lack of interest in life.
- Sleep disturbance.
- Feelings of hopelessness, inability to cope, worthlessness.
- Decreased libido.
- Drowsiness.
- Decreased attention.
- Psychomotor retardation.
Typically, symptoms develop gradually over 5 months, but the onset may be sudden. Postpartum depression prevents women from caring for themselves and their baby.
Psychosis is rare, but postpartum depression increases the risk of suicide and infanticide, which are the most severe complications.
Women cannot form an attachment to their child, which can cause emotional, social and cognitive problems in the child.
Fathers also have increased risk depression and stress.
Without treatment, postpartum depression can resolve on its own, but it can also become chronic. The risk of relapse is 1 in 3-4 cases.
Signs and symptoms of moderate depression include episodes of anxiety, sadness, irritability, crying, headaches and feelings of worthlessness. This often goes away within a few days or weeks. But sometimes postpartum depression can develop. With postpartum depression, symptoms are more intense and longer lasting.
These include:
- Constant feeling of fatigue.
- Lack of appetite.
- Lack of joy in life.
- Feeling trapped and emotionally dull.
- Withdrawal from family and friends.
- Reluctance to take care of yourself and the child.
- Insomnia.
- Excessive concern for the child.
- Loss of interest in sex.
- Severe mood swings.
- Feelings of failure or inadequacy.
- Inflated expectations and demands.
- Difficulties in understanding what is happening.
If you feel depressed after having a baby, you may find it difficult to admit it. But it's important to tell your doctor that you have symptoms of postpartum depression.
The first symptoms of depression appear during the first six weeks of the postpartum period. The first thing to appear is a decrease in mood in the morning, and the earlier a woman wakes up, the worse her mood. Her sleep is disturbed. The condition is so depressed that my appetite is reduced and I don’t feel like eating. But here there is the exact opposite option: decreased mood, depression and weakness lead a woman to the refrigerator and stove. Accordingly, weight decreases or increases. A feeling of guilt and self-abasement appears, self-accusation for no reason. Self-esteem also decreases. Attention is impaired, child care suffers, and there are visible hesitations before making decisions. At the same time, increased anxiety and concern about the condition of the newborn and his safety appear. When communicating even with loved ones, irritability appears - “don’t touch me, leave me alone!” The vision of the future is gloomy and hopeless. Accordingly, interest in life is lost and libido decreases.
The general tone is reduced, weakness, fatigue lead to the eternal depressive “position” on the sofa or bed, facing the wall.
Postpartum psychosis can be a manifestation of blood poisoning - sepsis, so a general examination is required - blood and urine tests, blood cultures. It is possible that postpartum psychosis is again a manifestation of bipolar or cyclothymic disorder - manic-depressive psychosis.
Psychosis is a mental disorder in which there is a loss of contact with reality, hallucinations, delusions, and thoughts appear. Hallucinations - false perceptions, usually auditory delusions - false beliefs may include persecutory, religious delusions; disorganization of thinking - a violation of the logic of the thinking process. However, women with an existing diagnosis of a mental disorder may experience worsening of the disorder during pregnancy. Relapse rates are also high for women who had psychosis during a previous pregnancy.
Now the main occupation of a woman is caring for a newborn. For about a year, all her time will be completely devoted to him, and the first few months the load will be doubly greater. Feed, swaddle, care for, respond to the slightest hesitation mood, the mother will have to doubt and worry, regardless of whether it is the first child or not. Of course, most of all the baby needs his mother, her love and support. She understands him like no one else, rejoices at his first successes and worries if something goes wrong. And although it is believed that the father and his participation in the process of care and upbringing are also extremely necessary for the child already during the first year of life, often this burden falls heavily on the mother’s shoulders.
Both physically and psychologically, a woman is in a stressful state, she gets tired quickly, and sometimes develops chronic lack of sleep.
Attachment to a child, dependence on his well-being and needs forces a woman to significantly change her lifestyle and minimize her personal time. Added to this are physical fatigue and nervous exhaustion after childbirth, and sometimes postpartum hormonal imbalance. As a result, a woman may experience postpartum depression. Its symptoms: moodiness, melancholy, depression, inconsistency of actions and extreme touchiness. The woman becomes tearful, her mood changes frequently and for no reason, her intelligence decreases, and she does not want to move. Sometimes appetite decreases and sleep deteriorates. Sudden weight fluctuations are possible. The skin becomes dry, hair and nails become brittle, blood pressure rises or falls, and the heart rate noticeably increases.
A woman’s relationships with relatives and friends deteriorate sharply, and unmotivated aggression towards the child may appear, accompanied by a feeling of guilt. The situation is further complicated by the fact that in many cases the woman is also burdened with household chores. If her family and, first of all, her husband do not understand her, if they do not strive to help and take on part of the daily worries, this is a serious test. It’s even worse if the husband goes into open conflict and accuses his wife of selfishness, hysteria, inability to cope with housework and raising a child, and threatens to leave home. In this case, the woman’s depressive condition may worsen to such an extent that it requires emergency medical intervention. At this crucial moment, the correct reaction of loved ones, especially the husband, is very important. He is quite capable of taking on a significant part of the household chores, especially those requiring physical effort, and providing his wife with the opportunity to take care of only the child, without being distracted by everyday trifles.
It is necessary to support your spouse emotionally - share her hobbies, walk with her, read aloud to her, listen to music. It’s good if your family initially has a warm, trusting relationship, in which case everything happens by itself. In other cases, some effort should be made to create a positive atmosphere in the home.
If you are showing signs of postpartum depression, don't be scared or blame yourself. This is the body's natural response to postpartum stress. It will end soon, and you won’t even remember about them. Try to pull yourself together and be a little more tolerant of your family. For them, this is also a serious test, all the more serious because they did not experience what you had to endure. Be a little more lenient with them. Now you all have one big task - to raise a new good person. You are the most wonderful mother, you have the most wonderful baby, and all problems are solved as they arise. Don't worry about little things. Try to explain to your loved ones that you still love them, but you need their help and support. Ask them to sit with the baby, and devote some time to yourself - go to the hairdresser, to the cinema, just for a walk, visit friends. Take a break from your worries for a while! Believe me, nothing bad will happen during your short absence. Mom and husband will cope with everything perfectly and certainly will not harm the child. And this short vacation will be extremely useful for you. Try to experience as many positive emotions as possible! You should feel happy, loved and desired. This is important for everyone, especially for a child who develops harmoniously, grows well and successfully masters new knowledge and skills in the friendly atmosphere of a friendly and happy family.
Diagnosis of postpartum depression
- Clinical assessment.
Sometimes assessed using depression scales. Early diagnosis and treatment significantly improve outcomes for women and children. Due to cultural and social factors, women may not always be able to self-report symptoms of depression, so they should be asked about symptoms before and after childbirth. Women should be taught to recognize symptoms of depression that they may mistake for normal part of motherhood (eg, fatigue, difficulty concentrating). At the postpartum visit, women can be tested using a variety of questionnaires.
Postpartum depression (or other serious mental disorders) should be suspected if the following are present:
- symptoms lasting more than 2 weeks;
- symptoms that interfere with daily activities;
- thoughts of suicide or murder (the woman should be asked about the presence of such thoughts);
- hallucinations, delusions, or psychotic behavior.
Treatment of postpartum depression
Treatment includes antidepressants and psychotherapy. Exercise therapy, phototherapy, massage, acupuncture and ω 3-fatty acids may also have a positive result.
Your doctor will likely want to evaluate your symptoms. Because so many women feel tired and emotionally unsettled after having a baby, your doctor may use a depression rating scale to determine whether it's a short-term low spirit or a more serious form of depression.
Postpartum depression is a recognized and treatable medical problem. Treatment methods depend on the individual case.
These may include:
- Support groups.
- Individual counseling or psychotherapy.
- Antidepressants or other medications.
If you are depressed after having a baby, your risk of depression after your next birth increases. Postpartum depression occurs more often after the second birth. However, with early detection and proper treatment There is less chance of serious problems and a greater chance of a speedy recovery.
With mild PDD, the choice of treatment - psychotherapeutic or medication - can be left to the patient. In more severe cases, drug therapy is preferred. For PDD, conventional antidepressants are effective, SSRIs are especially indicated, because do not give a sedative effect, have an anxiolytic effect and are well tolerated. The choice of antidepressant depends on the patient's response and side effects. In addition, the clinician can introduce the woman to local support group services that provide information and education on PPD, and should ensure that the patient has the full support of family and friends during this difficult time. Interpersonal psychotherapy (considers interpersonal relationships and changing roles of women) reduces the severity of depression, improves social adaptation and can be used as an alternative or an auxiliary method to drug treatment.
However, PDD differs from other types of depression in that even with treatment, the patient bears responsibility, which means there is still concern about caring for the baby. Standard treatment reduces the manifestations of PDD in the mother, but does not have a direct effect on the stress associated with parenting responsibilities and on the relationship between the woman and her child. The effect of treatment on the child is completely unknown. According to the principles of proper clinical practice if a woman with a mental disorder needs hospital treatment within a year after giving birth, she is placed in a special ward for mother and child, unless there are contraindications for staying together.
| Severity of PRD | When planning a pregnancy | During pregnancy | With hepatitis B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight |
|
|
See "During Pregnancy" |
| Moderate or severe depression |
|
|
See "During Pregnancy" |
Is it safe to take antidepressants for breastfeeding?
This issue is of greatest concern to patients and physicians when treating PDD. In recent years, breastfeeding has been actively promoted as the best way to provide the baby with essential nutrients. It is believed to bring a lot of benefits to both mother and child. At the same time, women are urged to be vigilant during pregnancy and lactation and not to use substances and medications that can harm the baby.
Unfortunately, there is not enough information available to women and doctors about the safety of psychotropic drugs for breastfeeding. There are no controlled studies of the safety of these drugs in nursing mothers, and treatment recommendations are based primarily on case reports and small series of various psychotropic drugs. All studied drugs prescribed for mental disorders pass into breast milk.
Use of antidepressants during pregnancy and pregnancy
Risks to consider:
- Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, imipramine, nortriptyline) carry the least risk during pregnancy, but most are more likely to cause death in overdose than SSRIs.
- Of the SSRIs, fluoxetine is associated with the lowest risk during pregnancy.
- When taking SSRIs after 20 weeks. During pregnancy, newborns experience persistent pulmonary hypertension.
- Venlafaxine in large doses may cause increased blood pressure; in case of overdose, its toxicity is higher than that of SSRIs and some tricyclic antidepressants; difficulty of cancellation.
- Withdrawal syndrome or toxicity in newborns when a pregnant woman takes any antidepressants (in most cases, the effect is weak and does not require treatment).
- Imipramine, nortriptyline and sertraline are found in lower concentrations in breast milk.
- In high concentrations in breast milk: citalopram and fluoxetine.
What to do?
A woman who is taking paroxetine and plans to become pregnant or becomes pregnant unplanned should stop taking the drug.
What is the long-term prognosis for women who have PPD?
As with other types of depression, after a first episode of PPD, women are more likely to experience relapses, both birth-related and non-childbirth-related. The risk of developing PPD during subsequent pregnancies and births is 50%.
How to deal with postpartum depression
If you have been diagnosed with depression or think you have it, you need to seek professional help.
To promote recovery, try the following:
- Get enough rest. Rest while your baby sleeps.
- Eat right. Load up on grains, fruits and vegetables.
- Provide daily physical activity.
- Keep in touch with family and friends.
- Ask family and friends for help with child care and household chores.
- Make time for yourself. Leave the house, go for a visit, take a walk.
- Connect with other mothers. Find out where there are groups for new mothers.
- Spend time alone with your partner.
Our baby Polina is already 1 month old, and she sees that I am constantly depressed. Shouldn't I feel better?
Simple solutions and natural remedies
Aromatherapy
Try to find time every day to take care of yourself. Ask someone close to you, such as your husband, to sit with your baby for at least 15-20 minutes. This should not cause you any remorse: do not forget, dad also needs to communicate with the child so that a close bond is formed between them. Take advantage of the break and try to relax. A warm bath will help you with this. Add 4-6 drops to water essential oils rose or jasmine to relieve symptoms of postpartum depression. These are “feminine” oils that promote the production of oxytocin, restore hormone balance and relaxation.
The table shows the properties of other oils that can be useful to a woman during the recovery period after the birth of a baby: thanks to them, you will love your body again, calm down, and strengthen the nervous system. This is an excellent way to combat depression.
| Oil | Beneficial features |
|---|---|
| Bergamot | Restores emotional balance, disturbed due to lack of sleep, brings cheerfulness and self-confidence. |
| Clary sage | Recommended for nervousness, stress and emotional exhaustion. Setting up balance of various body systems. |
Grapefruit |
Eases sadness and remorse, gives joy. |
| Mandarin | Eliminates the feeling of emptiness resulting from depression, calms the nervous system and relaxes the body. |
| Geraniums | Helps with sudden mood swings, uncertainty and increased sensitivity. This plant gives maternal care to the mother herself. |
| Jasmine | Perfectly soothes depression and low self-esteem. Helper in the fight against guilt, anxiety and tension. |
| Neroli | Orange flower essential oil helps women cope with the shock they experienced during a caesarean section, dispels melancholy, and curbs panic. Excellent product treatment of depression. |
Homeopathy
If after giving birth a young mother becomes depressed, withdraws into herself and often cries, homeopathic medicines can provide her with effective help in solving emotional problems. To alleviate postnatal depression, homeopaths advise taking arnica 6c (repeated 6 times a hundredfold dilution), which stabilizes hormonal and emotional balance, as well as St. John's wort.
Herbal products
Herbal teas (with lemon balm, mint or orange blossoms) will lift your spirits and restore joy and calm. You can also drink St. John's wort to restore the balance of hormones and relieve the painful feelings that accompany depression.
Reflexology
Reflexology can help you eliminate hormonal imbalances and digestive problems caused by pregnancy and childbirth. An experienced reflexologist will restore lost harmony to your body, and you will feel healthy and happy again. Reflexology sessions will be especially effective if you also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a relaxing atmosphere and, if you wish, freely talk about your problems.
Flower-Based Remedies Flower extracts have properties that help fight postpartum depression. The following flowers are especially often used for this purpose:
| Flower | Beneficial features |
|---|---|
| wild apple tree | Helps to overcome trauma and get rid of feelings of self-hatred. |
| Elm | Useful for mothers who are “crushed” by the responsibility for a child. |
| Pines | If you have forgotten how to look into the future with optimism, a remedy based on pine flowers will help you overcome postpartum shock (especially in the case of an unplanned caesarean section) and a feeling of dissatisfaction with yourself. |
| Red horse chestnut | Combats anxiety, which often occurs with postpartum depression. |
| Mustards | Improve your emotional condition, if you feel hard and sad, but you don’t quite understand why. |
Nutrition
Recovery hormonal balance take after childbirth nutritional supplements containing zinc and vitamin B.
Postpartum depression
When the blues do not go away for a long time, it turns into real postpartum depression. Although one is often mistaken for the other, these are different conditions.
True postpartum depression is rare (about 10% of women) and lasts a long time - from several weeks to 1 year or more. Most often it appears 1-2 months later. Not always immediately upon returning from the maternity hospital (first menstruation after childbirth) or at the time of weaning the child.
Sometimes women prone to depression had relatives suffering from this disease. They have a difficult time with pregnancy due to medical complications or obvious depression. Another reason that suppresses them is a difficult birth or a sick child.
The symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to those of the blues, but they are more pronounced. The most obvious signs of postpartum depression are: tearfulness, fatigue, sleep problems (insomnia or, conversely, extreme sleepiness during the day), sadness and hopelessness, feelings of incompetence or inability to do something and, especially, excessive worry about the baby. A depressed mother is unable to take care of herself or her child, or she simply doesn’t want to.
If these symptoms continue for weeks without improvement, medical attention may be needed. It is advisable to inform your loved ones and seek their support; go to see your doctor. He recommends a therapist trained in dealing with postpartum depression. Contact us immediately. We are talking, perhaps, about ten sessions in which the mother, in the presence of the child, is freed from her worries. In addition to sessions to help you get back on your feet quickly, your therapist may prescribe mild antidepressants if necessary.
Whatever the treatment, remember it should be done urgently. Without effective treatment Depression will lead you to unnecessary suffering and affect the behavior and development of the child. Instead of the happiness of communicating with him, you risk experiencing disunity. Even your relationship with your husband or other possible children may end in discord, not to mention the consequences for your own health.
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