After having a baby, some people experience postpartum depression. 15% of people can be affected by it. Weeping frequently, feeling exhausted all the time, feeling guilty, feeling apprehensive, and finding it difficult to care for infants are all symptoms of postpartum depression. Both medicine and counselling are effective treatments for postpartum depression.
What is postpartum depression?
Having a child transforms your life. Parenting is fun, but it can also be exhausting and overwhelming. Being a first-time parent can make you feel anxious or uncertain. If you experience excessive depression or melancholy, mood fluctuations, and crying, you may develop postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression refers to the depression that occurs after giving delivery (PPD). All young parents, not just the mother, are impacted by postpartum depression. Adoptive parents and surrogates are also susceptible. In addition to hormonal changes, physical changes, emotional changes, monetary changes, and social changes occur after having a child. These alterations may lead to symptoms of postpartum depression.
Please understand that if you have postpartum depression, you are not alone, it’s not your fault, and treatment is available. You can relieve your symptoms by consulting your doctor or other medical professionals.
What are the types of postpartum depression?
Postpartum mood disorders can be classified into three types:
Postpartum blues or baby blues
It is estimated that between 50% and 75% of people experience baby blues after giving birth. You will cry for extended periods frequently and for no apparent reason if you experience the baby blues, along with unhappiness and anxiousness. In the first week, the illness often starts to show symptoms one to four days following delivery. Even though the situation is unpleasant, it usually passes on its own after two weeks. You should seek support and assistance from friends, family, or your spouse.
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is a much more serious disorder than baby blues that affects approximately one in seven new parents. If you’ve previously experienced postpartum depression, your risk rises to 30% with each pregnancy. Additionally, you may experience mood swings, incessant crying, impatience, and exhaustion, as well as feelings of guilt, anxiety, and incapacity to care for yourself or your child. A week after delivery, mild to severe symptoms may appear or they may appear gradually over time, possibly even a year after delivery. Although symptoms can continue for several months, psychotherapy or antidepressants are very effective forms of treatment.
Postpartum psychosis
A severe form of postpartum depression called postpartum psychosis calls for immediate medical attention. Only 1 in 1,000 people after delivery are affected by this illness, making it very uncommon. There is usually a start to the symptoms soon after delivery, they are severe and last for several weeks to months. These symptoms include agitation, confusion, feeling of helplessness and shame, lack of sleep, paranoia, delusions, hyperactivity, fast speech, and mania. Postpartum psychosis needs quick medical attention due to the increased risk of suicide and potential harm to the pregnant child. Medication, counselling, and hospitalization are frequently used as treatments.
What distinguishes postpartum depression from baby blues?
Baby blues are a typical postpartum side effect. There are many similarities between the symptoms of baby blues and postpartum depression. Baby blues symptoms, on the other hand, are less severe and only last for about 10 days. Postpartum depression symptoms are more severe and last for weeks or months.
You might be experiencing baby blues if you:
- Cry uncontrollably.
- Feel overburdened
- You stop eating.
- Unable to get any sleep.
- Have abrupt mood swings.
Keep in mind that discussing your symptoms with your doctor won’t hurt. They can determine whether you require therapy for your symptoms.
Conclusion
It’s okay to experience being overwhelmed. Having a baby is challenging, and parenting is full of ups and downs. Postpartum depression symptoms can often be lessened with expert support. You don’t have to suffer in silence if you experience depression. Your doctor can assist you in locating a treatment that is effective for you. At Rukmini Healthcare, you will receive helpful, relevant, and useful health & wellness consultations.