The Great Sadness After Having a Baby: Let's Talk About Postpartum Depression

Becoming a mother is the most beautiful dream of any woman's life. Ever since the time of having a baby, there has been an incredible joy in my heart. We all think that after having a baby, that joy doubles and triples. However, instead of this joy, some mothers feel unbearable sadness, loneliness, fear, and helplessness. Has this happened to you? Then you are not alone. This is not your weakness. This is a medical condition that we need to talk about, and there is treatment.

This condition is so severe that even Brooke Shields, a world-famous, beautiful, and talented actress, had to face it. She had it all - a successful marriage, world fame, and career success. But after her daughter was born, she faced a terrible mental battle. That was postpartum depression, or Postpartum Depression (PPD) . She even said that she didn't want to live at that time. From this story, we understand that this condition can happen to anyone, to a mother from any social status.

What is the difference between "Baby Blues" and "Postpartum Depression"?

Many people confuse these two conditions, so it is very important to understand the difference between the two.

Simply put, the "Baby Blues" are a common condition that many mothers experience in the first two weeks after having a baby. Hormonal changes, fatigue, and sleep deprivation can cause feelings of sadness, irritability, and crying spells. This usually goes away on its own within a few days to two weeks.

Let's look at this table to understand this difference more clearly.

What are the risk factors that contribute to this condition?

There is no single cause for PPD, but there are a few things that can contribute to it. In Brooke Shields' case, she had several of these risk factors.

• Complications during childbirth: Having to perform an emergency cesarean section (Emergency C-section), the umbilical cord being wrapped around the baby's neck, and excessive bleeding.
• Previous mental health problems: The risk is higher if you have had a condition like depression before or if someone in your family has had it.
• Severe stress: Stress caused by difficulties in getting pregnant, undergoing treatments such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and facing miscarriages.
• Traumatic life events: Death of a family member or loved one shortly before or after the baby is born (Brooke Shields' father died three weeks before her daughter was born).
• Decreased social support: Decreased support from husband, family, and friends. Having to do everything alone without anyone to help.
• Hormonal changes: After childbirth, the levels of the hormones `Estrogen` and `Progesterone` in the body suddenly drop. This sudden change can also affect the chemical processes in the brain and cause this condition.

What are the treatments for this? Is it something to be afraid of?

There is nothing to be afraid of at all. This is a treatable condition. The most important thing is to seek help as soon as possible. Don't suffer alone, and if you have these symptoms, definitely talk to your doctor.

Treatment methods can be divided into two main categories:

1. Counseling and Therapy: Talking to a trained counselor or psychiatrist to understand your emotions and learn to manage them is very important. This can provide great relief.

2. Medication: Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants to correct the chemical imbalance in your brain. There are medications that are safe for breastfeeding mothers to use. Whether or not you should use these medications, and which ones to use, is up to your doctor.

Even Brooke Shields used both of these treatments. According to her, it is impossible to understand this situation without counseling, and it is impossible to clear your mind without medication.

The support of your husband and family is very important!

At this time, a mother cannot afford the support she receives from her husband and family.

• Listen to what she says. Don't make her feel even more helpless by saying things like "that's just the way it is" and "make up your mind."
• Help with the baby's chores and household chores.
• Give her the opportunity to rest and get some sleep.
• Understand her and be with her.
• Encourage her to see a doctor. If necessary, go with her.

If you're thinking about having your next baby, a mother who has had PPD in the past has a 50% chance of developing the condition again. But there's no need to panic. It's important to be aware of it, talk to your doctor early, and take the necessary steps.

Postpartum Depression, PPD, baby blues, mental health, newborn baby, mother's health