How to detect and treat postpartum depression

What is the prevalence of postpartum depression and who suffers from it the most?

Postpartum depression develops in about 10-15% of mothers.

Postpartum depression does not distinguish between women and can really affect anyone. No woman is immune to developing it, even if she may look happy and well adjusted on the outside.

What is the difference between postpartum blues and postpartum depression?

The period following delivery is full of changes, both physical and mental. Some women experience postpartum blues. This is a common condition that manifests in mild irritation, mood swings and over-sensitivity. These signs tend to present in the first few days following delivery and typically resolve spontaneously within two weeks.

Postpartum depression, however, usually develops several weeks after delivery and its symptoms are deeper and more persistent.

While postpartum blues can make it challenging to adjust to new life as a parent, it does not usually interfere with the basic ability to function. Postpartum depression, on the other hand, can affect all the different aspects of life, including the relationship with the infant, partner and family.

Postpartum blues can be thought of as a temporary cloud, moving across the sky, while postpartum depression is more like a large cloud blocking the sunlight.

What are the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression manifests in a wide variety of symptoms, including:

• Deeply depressed mood – a continuous feeling of sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness
• Changes to sleep habits – difficulties falling asleep, insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Appetite changes – loss of appetite or overeating
• Lack of energy – persistent fatigue and lack of interest in activities that one used to find interesting
• Difficulties concentrating – difficulties with concentrating on daily activities
• Guilt and a feeling of worthlessness – negative thoughts about yourself and your ability to be a good mother, a feeling of failure.
• Difficulties in creating a deep and emotional connection with the infant – lack of bond sensation or emotional closeness to the baby, difficulties in experiencing feelings of warmth and love towards the baby
• Loneliness and avoidance of social connections – feeling disconnected from the surroundings, emotional loneliness, a tendency to isolate oneself and avoidance of familial and social gatherings.

It’s worth emphasizing that postpartum blues are common and transient, while postpartum depression requires professional management.

What are the risk factors for developing postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is a much more common mental condition than one would anticipate, and it affects many mothers. The precise reasons for its development are not always clear, but there are several factors that may increase the risk of developing it:

• Hormonal changes – after the delivery, there are significant changes that occur in terms of hormones, and they may affect the mother’s mood and lead to depression
• Changes to the quality of life – the transition to parenthood comes with many changes in the quality of life, hours of sleep, nutrition, and daily routine, which could be exhausting and spur a feeling of lack of control.
• Mental overload – caring for a baby requires a lot of effort, and the social and personal expectations a mother experiences can be stressful, cause a mother to feel helpless and lead to chronic fatigue
• Personal factors – challenges within the partnership, a feeling of loss, a family history of depression and lack of a support system can increase the risk for development of postpartum depression.

Who is at risk of developing postpartum depression?

As mentioned above, postpartum depression can affect any women, regardless of age, origin or background. It can present after any delivery and not just after the first one, even if the pregnancy was normal and the infant is healthy.

Early detection and treatment are critical for a quick recovery. If you are concerned that you may be suffering from postpartum depression, do not wait and reach out for professional help right now.

Can men also experience postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is not exclusive to women. Men can also experience postpartum depression. The big changes to their life, the intensity of things, the concern for the infant and the partner, and the feelings of loneliness can lead to postpartum depression in new fathers. In addition, if the mother experiences postpartum depression, this could present a significant risk factor for development of depression for the father. The signs of depression are similar to those seen in women, but in men it may develop gradually and may be more hidden and undetected than it is in women.

Depression can cause a person to withdraw and hide their condition, which makes it more difficult to access help. The loneliness and suffering that occur as a result affect the close circle of family/friends as well, who tend to feel helpless. Despite the difficulties, the support and involvement of the close circle of people can play a major role in promoting recovery.

What are the different ways of managing and treating postpartum depression?

Have you noticed signs and symptoms that are in line with postpartum depression? Do not ignore them! Reaching out for professional help early can significantly shorten the length of time till recovery and prevent deterioration of the condition. Management tailored to the patient, can help you face the challenges and can get you your energy and happiness back. Postpartum depression can be treated, and there are several different effective approaches. The treatment is tailored to the woman experiencing the condition and can include psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy and/or pharmacological treatment.

Psychotherapy can aid with understanding the source of the difficulties and learning ways to cope, while anti-depressant medications help regulate mood. In addition, lifestyle changes, such as regularly exercising and keeping a healthy diet can contribute to generally improved wellbeing.

Treating postpartum depression is not a “one size fits all” kind of situation. Each woman experiences the depression differently, and therefore the treatment has to be tailored to the patient by a professional. When putting together a management plan, one must take into account the patient’s unique characteristics, the medical history and the availability of support. It is a process that requires collaboration between the patient and the caregiver, where they both work together to achieve the goals of treatment.

Adjusting the treatment to the patient allows the patient to feel like they are fully participating in the process.

Treating postpartum depression does not only include professional help, but also requires a support system. Family and friends can really help with the recovery process by listening, lending a helping hand, and lessening the feeling of loneliness.

It is important to keep in mind that postpartum depression is not a sign of weakness, nor is it a sign of absence of devotion or of being a bad mother but it just indicates that you need some support.

In summery, please do not hesitate to reach out for help if you are concerned you are developing signs of postpartum depression.