Becoming a new mother brings with it a host of challenges. Adjusting to life with a newborn, not getting enough sleep, taking on new responsibilities, and perhaps even breast pain while breastfeeding... You're probably exhausted from all of this. But what if, along with all these physical discomforts, you're feeling an unbearable amount of emotional pain and sadness after giving birth? We're not talking about the 'baby blues', a minor mood swing that goes away in a week or two. This is something much deeper and requires treatment. Medically, we call this 'postpartum depression.' Simply put, it's a severe form of depression that occurs after giving birth.
This condition is more common than you might think. A study of 10,000 new mothers found that one in seven mothers experience this condition. But the best part is that with the right treatment, this condition can be almost completely cured.
What exactly is Postpartum Depression?
This is the type of depression you can experience after having a baby. It can start at any time within the first year of having a baby. However, it is most common to start feeling the effects within the first 3 weeks after having a baby .
If you have this condition, you may feel sad, hopeless, and guilty all the time. You may feel like you don't want to bond with your baby or care for him or her. This is not your fault, it's the nature of the condition.
The important thing is that this condition is not unique to first-time mothers. If you have had children before, you may not have had this condition when they were born, but you may still develop it after having this baby.
Why does this situation occur?
There are several reasons for this. It is impossible to pinpoint one specific reason.
- Hormones: When you are pregnant, your body's hormone levels increase dramatically. After the baby is born, these hormone levels suddenly drop at an incredible rate. Just think, how much mood swings some people experience just before their monthly period, even with a small hormonal change. And such a big hormonal crash can affect the brain of some women, causing depression.
- Previous mental health conditions: If you have had depression before, or if someone in your family has had it, you are at a slightly higher risk of developing this condition.
- Stress and issues: If you didn't want to get pregnant, or if you don't have support from your partner or family to care for the baby, you may be under a lot of stress as a new mother. This is also common among women who have other major life stressors, such as financial problems or drug or alcohol addictions.
- Very young age: This risk is also higher for very young mothers who are not prepared to care for a baby and provide for its needs.
What are the symptoms of this?
Not every woman will experience the same symptoms. However, there are some common signs to watch out for. See if you're experiencing any of these.
| Symptom | To explain simply... |
|---|---|
| Always feeling sad and hopeless | Feeling very sad and empty for no reason. Not being able to think of anything good about the future. |
| Feeling like you can't take care of the baby or the housework | Loss of energy and interest in even simple tasks. Feeling like giving up on everything. |
| Frequent crying for no reason | Even the smallest things hurt, tears come to my eyes. Sometimes I can't even figure out why I'm crying. |
| Difficulty bonding with the baby | You lose the desire to hold your baby, love him, or look at him. You feel like the baby is not yours, like it's a stranger. |
| Loss of interest in things you previously enjoyed | They lose all interest in eating, having sex, thinking about their own cleanliness, and doing things they used to do for fun. |
| Sleep problems | Either you sleep too much, or you don't fall asleep at bedtime. |
| Attention and memory problems | You can't focus on anything, you can't learn anything new, and you forget things easily. |
How to get treatment?
Only a doctor can confirm whether you have Postpartum Depression or not. So if you think you have these symptoms, see a doctor without delay. This is nothing to be ashamed of. This is a condition that can be treated.
- Medication: Depending on your condition, your doctor may prescribe a type of medication called antidepressants. These medications work by balancing certain chemicals in the brain that are associated with depression. Most of these medications are safe to take while breastfeeding. However, if you are breastfeeding, you should definitely tell your doctor.
- Counseling: Talking to a psychologist or counselor can also be very helpful. This can help you identify negative thoughts that come to your mind and learn to deal with them better. It can also help you to talk about your past pressures and problems and free your mind.
The most dangerous aspect of this condition: Postpartum Psychosis
This is a rare but very dangerous mental illness that can occur with postpartum depression. Symptoms usually begin within the first two weeks after giving birth. Also, these symptoms are much more severe than postpartum depression.
- No sleep at all.
- A confused, disoriented state of mind. Inability to think clearly.
- Seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations) or believing things that are not real (delusions).
- Frequent, frightening thoughts about the baby.
- Having a strong suspicion of others (Paranoia), and that suspicion will not go away no matter what anyone says.
- Complete refusal to eat.
- Having thoughts of harming yourself or the baby.
Postpartum Psychosis is a medical emergency. If you or someone you know has these symptoms, do not delay. Take them to the nearest hospital Emergency Unit (ETU) immediately. You can also call the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Sri Lanka’s 24/7 emergency number 1926 for guidance.
Take-Home Message
- Postpartum depression is not a weakness or a sign of being a bad mother. It is a treatable medical condition.
- Don't feel like you're going through this alone. Ask for help, and talk to your husband, family, or a trusted friend about your feelings.
- If you feel unbearable sadness, fear, or loneliness, don't be ashamed or afraid to talk to a doctor about it.
- If you feel like harming yourself or your baby, it is an emergency. Go to the ETU immediately or call 1926 .
- With proper treatment and the support of loved ones, you can return to your normal life.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න