Knowing the causes, symptoms and possible treatments of this often misunderstood disorder may help you or someone you love avoid months of difficulty after the birth of a child.
I rejoiced with my friend Laura when she gave birth to her first child a few years ago. He was beautiful, and for the first few days after her emergency cesarean she was fine. By the end of the first week, however, Laura was feeling very strange. She felt severe anxiety about her son’s health, rushing into his room every five minutes to make sure he was still breathing. She lost interest in the things she once counted important and withdrew into herself. At times, she was even fearful that she might hurt her newborn son. We didn’t know it at the time, but Laura was suffering from postpartum depression. In a fit of desperation one night she handed her baby to her husband and checked herself into the hospital, where she finally got help. It was the best thing she could have done.
Up to 80% of women experience some form of “baby blues” in the weeks after giving birth. Symptoms of this common and temporary malady include: crying for no reason, irritability, lack of feeling for the baby, restlessness, low self-esteem, and irritability. Fortunately, this form of postpartum reaction is temporary and treatable. Often, having a network of supportive friends and family members who are willing to help with the baby and time are enough to overcome the baby blues. Postpartum depression, however, is another matter entirely. Contrary to popular belief, it will not go away on its own. It is a serious form of depression and needs to be treated as such. Laura’s story isn’t uncommon. Postpartum depression afflicts 10% to 20% of new mothers in the weeks and months after giving birth, although only 20% of women suffering from this mood disorder are treated for it. This means that hundreds of thousands of women in this country suffer in silence with this frightening disease instead of seeking help, and hundreds of thousands of families are impacted as well.
What are the Symptoms?
Postpartum depression is more than just a form of the baby blues and has its own unique symptoms, some of which include:
Uncontrollable mood swings
A fear of being alone
Feelings of hopelessness or being overwhelmed
A fear of hurting oneself, one’s partner or the baby
Loss of energy or motivation
Withdrawal and isolation from friends and family.
This disorder can also cause physical symptoms like extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, tremors, chest pains and headaches.