Already during pregnancy, a woman prepares for the future role of the mother at the psychological level, as well as for all the difficulties that arise in this period. After childbirth, many ladies are afraid of breastfeeding and caring for the baby. There may also be a fear for the health of the newborn. However, very soon all fears are left behind, the woman calms down and gradually enters the role of the mother. Unfortunately, far from all, this period ends happily. Some women have a painful state of anxiety, unreasonable for objective reasons. In medicine, these kinds of changes are called depression. In this article, we will talk in more detail about this condition, the main causes and ways to prevent it.
What is postpartum depression?
This is a rather serious mental illness that forms exclusively in the postpartum period and is distinguished by a depressed mood and loss of past interests. Such a pathological condition most often occurs in the first or second week after the baby is born.
This type of depression has a direct relationship with social, chemical, as well as psychological changes in the life of a lady. Fortunately, this pathology is very treatable.
Chemical changes observed in the body are explained by fluctuations in hormone levels after childbirth. However, experts have still not been able to find scientific confirmation of the relationship between hormones and depression itself. It is known that during the period of gestation, the level of progesterone and estrogen increases 10 times. After the baby is born, these indicators drop sharply, and after another three days they return to the level that was before pregnancy.
Along with hormonal changes, social and psychological transformations also affect the onset of a depressive state.
Main reasons
To combat this condition is not only possible, but also necessary. Better yet, prevent signs of postpartum depression and prevent the development of serious mental disorders. Not all the ladies who gave birth are affected by this condition: someone was able to survive it very quickly and now rejoices with each child every new day, while others experience daily bouts of irritation and anger, as a result it even comes to a divorce. Why is this happening? In order to prevent the development of depression, it is important to know its causes and try, as far as possible, to avoid them. Provoking factors:
- Unwanted or difficult pregnancy.
- Problems with breastfeeding.
- Conflicts with the father of the child (treason, quarrels, scandals, separation).
- Upset nervous system even before the baby is born.
- Excessive exercise.
- Problems of a financial nature.
- Moral exhaustion.
- Lack of basic assistance from outside.
- Unjustified expectations.
Of course, not all causes of a depressive state depend on a woman. Often they are dictated by social and living conditions. However, the emotional state of a young mother directly depends on thoughts and daily mood, on attitude to life and others. That is why psychologists strongly recommend minimizing all negative emotions.
Symptoms
How is postpartum depression manifested? How to understand that you have exactly this problem, and not another disease? After all, this may be the most common tiredness from accumulated cases, which often goes away on its own. Specialists identify a number of signs indicating a depressed postpartum state. If they appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only a specialist can confirm the presence of such a problem as postpartum depression.
- Symptom No. 1. Regular complaints of a woman about suffering due to loneliness and excessive fatigue. In addition, mom may have tearfulness, sudden mood swings, uncontrolled outbursts of anger. Already, relatives and friends should sound the alarm, because that is how postpartum depression begins.
- Symptom number 2. Panic fear about the condition and health of the newborn. Very often a woman has a feeling of guilt due to the most minor failure. Suicidal thoughts, a gloomy vision of the future may also appear.
- Symptom No. 3. Provoking conflict situations, daily tantrums, quarrelsomeness. Relatives and friends, as a rule, are not aware of the main reasons for this behavior of a young mother. However, it is it that indicates that there is a place to be postpartum depression.
- Symptom No. 4. A feeling of panic and anxiety, accompanied by a strong heartbeat, loss of appetite, regular headaches, insomnia. Sometimes a woman has an irresistible desire to commit meaningless, according to others, actions. Simple conversations with a young mother most often end in serious scandals.
It is these symptoms that accompany postpartum depression. If you find one or two of the above signs, there is no reason to worry, as this can be banal fatigue. If this figure goes off scale, it's time to sound the alarm and immediately seek help from specialists.
Why is it important to recognize the problem in a timely manner? The thing is that prolonged depression after childbirth, which in some cases can last for months, without the intervention of doctors often ends in psychosis. This condition is characterized by confusion, delirium, hallucinations, complete inadequacy. Of course, here we can already talk about restricting mom’s access to the baby.
What factors increase the likelihood of a disease?
There are several of them, and they all have a different nature:
- Age. The sooner a woman becomes pregnant, the higher the risk.
- Loneliness.
- Lack of psychological support from relatives and friends.
- Ambiguous perception of pregnancy.
- Children. The more children, the higher the chance of depression in every subsequent pregnancy.
Types of Postpartum Depression
Specialists distinguish three types of disorders of this nature, which are formed exclusively after the birth of a child:
- Postpartum blues. Every woman is familiar with this condition, it is a normal reaction of the body to the changes that have occurred. A young mother can change her mood dramatically. Only now she feels happiest in the world, and after a few minutes she begins to cry. A woman becomes irritable, intolerant, agitated. According to experts, postpartum spleen can last for several hours or a couple of weeks. This condition does not need specialized treatment, as it most often goes away on its own.
- Postpartum Depression Symptoms that characterize this condition most often appear a few days after the birth of the baby. They are similar to signs of postpartum spleen (sadness, despair, irritability, anxiety), but they are manifested to a greater extent. During this period, a woman, as a rule, cannot fulfill the daily duties assigned to her. When this happens, you should immediately seek help from a psychologist. Despite the complexity of this ailment, depression after childbirth responds well to therapy. Moreover, modern medicine offers a variety of solutions to this problem, so that every woman can choose the most suitable option for herself.
- Postpartum psychosis is the most serious mental illness diagnosed in young mothers. The ailment appears unexpectedly and rapidly develops (during the first three months from the time of birth). Initially, a woman loses her habitual ability to distinguish between the real world and the imagined one; sound hallucinations arise. Other symptoms include insomnia, persistent agitation, and anger at the outside world. When the primary signs appear, it is extremely important to seek the help of a qualified doctor. In some cases, even hospitalization is required, since there is a risk of harm not only directly to yourself, but also to the newborn.
When does postpartum depression begin and how long does it last?
Postpartum depression is considered a more serious problem than regular spleen. If young mothers who have overcome the spleen have already managed to cope with all the difficulties and experience the joy of caring for the baby, then women with postpartum depression every day feel more miserable and exhausted.
Sometimes a lady even before the appearance of crumbs in the world is struggling with a depressive state, and childbirth only exacerbates a previously existing problem.
In some cases, the symptoms of this mental illness appear months after the baby is born. Initially, a young mother experiences extremely positive emotions and the pleasure of communicating with a child, but after a while, all these chores begin to exhaust, and the woman herself feels unhappy and depressed.
How long does postpartum depression last? It depends not only on the mother herself, but also on her environment. Very often, a woman is in no hurry to seek qualified help from a psychologist, believing that the problem will be solved herself. Sometimes the fair sex is simply afraid to seek support because of complete disappointment in themselves and constant concern for the health of the child.
Of course, such a mood only exacerbates the situation. Do not be shy to ask for help. First of all, psychologists recommend talking with loved ones, telling about all the anxieties. If they agree to take on some of the housework, their mother will have time to relax and even consult with specialists.
What should be the treatment?
How to get rid of postpartum depression? This is the question most often asked by relatives and friends of a woman who had to deal with this problem. First of all, you should seek qualified help. Trying to independently help a young mother is not recommended, since in some cases it is necessary to take medications and consult a psychologist. Self-medication can only aggravate the current situation, which will entail the development of postpartum psychosis.
Depending on the type and complexity, depression is treated either on an outpatient basis or in an inpatient setting. The decision on the latter option is made solely on the basis of identifying the risk of suicidal tendencies and the severity of the general condition. Modern medicine offers several methods of treatment:
- Psychotherapy. This treatment option is carried out either individually or in groups.
- The use of antidepressants.
- The use of tranquilizers.
- Prescribing antipsychotics (these are drugs that are responsible for reducing motor activity and overt psychotic symptoms).
As a rule, the use of the above drugs implies a complete rejection of breastfeeding, as these funds can harm the baby. It is important to note that any medications should be taken only after consulting a doctor. When postpartum depression disappears, the drugs are gradually withdrawn, and the woman returns to her usual life.
What to do to the husband?
Psychologists recommend that relatives and friends help young mothers who are faced with a problem such as postpartum depression. The causes of this disease, as you know, often lie in the lack of rest. A husband can help his wife by taking on a number of household responsibilities to meet the physical needs of the newborn. It is no secret that this kind of disorder is less often diagnosed in those couples where husbands initially took an active part in common family affairs.
An invaluable support for a woman is also the fact that the spouse is ready to listen to all her experiences and anxieties, to cheer. Sharp criticism and condemnation is recommended.
Complications
The unpleasant consequences include the following:
- Protracted depression (more than one year).
- Suicide attempts.
In addition to complications of a medical nature, quite serious social consequences are possible. First of all, this is the breakdown of the family. Indeed, constant changes in a woman’s mood, dissatisfaction with her own life, increased irritability - all these factors often push both spouses to divorce. In addition, some women in a fit of despair decide to abandon the child. Typically, this kind of situation is common among single mothers.
Prevention
How to avoid postpartum depression? The exact causes of this condition are still unexplored. That is why specialists cannot offer effective measures for its prevention.
However, psychologists call a number of measures that, to one degree or another, help reduce the likelihood of depression:
- Pregnancy planning.
- Preliminary preparation for future motherhood (reading specialized literature, a course at the hospital, talking with a psychologist).
- Detection and timely treatment of the so-called postpartum blues (this condition, characterized by emotional instability and tearfulness, develops after the baby is born).
- Psychological support of pregnancy.
Conclusion
In this article, we described what constitutes postpartum depression in women. Symptoms and causes of this condition in each case may differ. It is important to remember that depression is primarily a rather serious illness. The young mother herself is not to blame for the fact that she has to suffer so. That is why just a woman can not pull herself together and cope with the problem. After all, not a single person with the willpower can overcome the flu, diabetes or a heart attack.
On the other hand, the attention of the husband and relatives helps the woman to feel truly loved. It will be much easier for her to find free time for relaxation or a hobby. This kind of care contributes to the quick recovery of the young mother and her return to the family.