The Postpartum Period

November 5, 2021

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The time after you give birth is a time of great emotional upheaval, a mixture of great joy and love yet at the same time you feel helpless and ill equipped for the task of caring for your newborn. Each birth is unique but most women will have some sort of mood swings as your hormones settle down

POSTPARTUM BLUES

Janet* not her real name told us “A few days after getting my baby, I woke up feeling weepy and sad. I wondered why I was feeling this way yet this was supposed to be the happiest time of my life. I did not know it then but I was experiencing the “baby blues”. The labor and delivery, in addition to caring for my newborn, brought another level of stress especially since this was my first baby. “I felt lonely and misunderstood as I was caring for my baby and I wondered if I could run away from it all”.

This period immediately after birth is physically and mentally draining on a woman, which is why so many women experience what is commonly called “baby blues” or “postpartum blues.” Since this is common in a majority of mothers, the baby blues is not considered a form of postpartum depression. These upsets are probably related to the hormonal changes of childbirth. The new mum will experience a range of emotions that in the first few days after delivery. However, if these symptoms persist for more than two weeks, the mother may be experiencing postpartum depression, which requires medical attention. In contrast, symptoms of the baby blues usually disappear soon after as long as the mum gets lots of support from family and her support structure.

If your ‘baby blues’ moments seem to last longer than just a few days, then you may be having Postpartum Depression. This is a serious Mood Disorder that requires medical intervention. It is not your fault and you may not be able to control your feelings. A proper diagnosis helps to get the correct treatment.

Common signs of postnatal depression

Feelings:

Having a low mood
Feelings of inadequacy and a failure as a mother
Getting a sense of hopelessness about the future
Constant exhaustion
Cannot shake the feelings of sadness
Weepy feeling
Experiencing anxiety or panic attacks
Fear for the baby and of the baby
Fear of being alone or going out

Actions:

Lack of interest or pleasure in usual activities (including sex)
Insomnia or excessive sleep
Appetite changes (not eating or over-eating)
Decreased energy and motivation
Withdrawal from social interactions with friends and family
Lack of personal hygiene
Lack of interest in the baby, refusing to breast feed etc, ignoring the baby crying
Inability to cope with the daily routine.

Thoughts:

Inability to think clearly or make decisions
Poor concentration and memory;
Suicidal thoughts
thinking about running away from everything
worrying about your partner leaving;
worrying about harm or death occurring to partner or baby.

Causes of Postpartum Depression

There is no clear reason for postpartum of Postpartum depression but studies show that there is a combination of physical, psychological and social factors that may contribute to developing the depression. These are: