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.