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.

 Who is at Risk?

While no one can predict exactly who will be affected by postpartum depression and who will not, there are some contributing risk factors that increase a woman’s chances. Some risk factors include depression or substance abuse in a woman’s personal or family history, family and friends who are unsupportive of the pregnancy, problems with a previous pregnancy or birth, depression after a previous pregnancy, financial or marital difficulties, being a young or single mother, having a complicated labor and delivery, experiencing a major life change at the time of the birth, and having a baby with serious health problems.

Is it Really that Serious?

Postpartum depression affects more than just the mother. It can put tremendous strain on a marriage and affect a woman’s ability to mother her child. A mother’s lack of energy or feelings of apathy toward her child can create emotional problems for the child later in life and ruin the bond between a mother and her baby. This starts a difficult cycle in many women: as the depression affects a woman’s skills as a mother, she loses confidence in her abilities and becomes more depressed.

What is Postpartum Psychosis?

Postpartum psychosis is a rare and very severe form of postpartum depression, affecting women in only 1 or 2 out of every thousand births. Symptoms can include delusions and hallucinations. If left untreated, postpartum psychosis can result in the suicide of the mother or harm to the children. In cases of postpartum psychosis, it is essential to receive treatment right away.

What Can I Do?

The good new is that postpartum depression is treatable. The key to healing postpartum depression lies in recognizing it right away and seeking help immediately. The longer it goes untreated, the worse it can become and the more damage can occur. Many women feel embarrassed, guilty or ashamed of what they’re feeling and are reticent to ask for help, but getting help as early as possible is essential in treating postpartum depression. Two methods often used in the treatment of this illness are psychotherapy and medication. Short courses of psychotherapy (often six to twelve week programs) can be very effective in alleviating feelings of guilt, anxiety, anger and so forth, and are often used in more serious cases of depression. Antidepressants are also a common treatment, with a new line of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (called SSIRS) being a popular choice for many doctors. Although these drugs are generally considered safe, no in-depth studies have yet been conducted on the effects of SSIRS.

Other helpful tips to minimize the impact of depression include:

• Get as much rest as possible. Nap when the baby naps. This may mean that certain things, like cleaning the house or writing thank you notes, go undone, but isn’t your health far more important?

• Don’t put pressure on yourself to be a “supermom.” Acknowledge that you can’t do everything. Do what you can and don’t worry about the rest.

• Ask for help. Enlist your partner, family and friends to help with the baby.

• Talk to your partner, family and friends about how you’re feeling.

• Don’t isolate yourself or spend a lot of time alone. Leave the house whenever possible, even to take a walk or run an errand.

• Join a support group for postpartum depression. Talking to other mothers can help you realize that you’re not alone.

• Don’t make any major life changes (like moving, changing careers, etc.) during pregnancy.

• Spend time alone with your partner whenever possible.

• Exercise during and after pregnancy. Studies show that women who engage in regular exercise have lower rates of postpartum depression.

Although there are things you can do yourself to help lessen the effects of postpartum depression, it’s essential to seek professional help if you suspect you may be suffering from this. Talk to your doctor right away!

It’s been almost three years since my friend Laura’s bout with postpartum depression. With the help of her doctor and some antidepressants she is once again a loving, vivacious woman and a wonderful mother. No woman has to live with the devastation of postpartum depression. It is a treatable disease if it is recognized. 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.