Baby Blues

New Mums are Overwhelmed by their New Task at Hand

​Depression is not just a state of mind for a temporary period of time, but a serious illness that involves the brain. It can strike a person during anytime in his/her life, especially after the death of a loved one, during pregnancy or after childbirth.

Pregnancy & Childbirth Depression
While the woman involved may not know any symptoms, the physician can easily gauge if the symptoms are due to depression or something else. Depression is beyond the feeling of “baby blues” or “down in the dumps” which may continue just for a few days’ time. Here., the sadness, empty feeling or anxiousness don’t disappear and hinder normal life activities as well. The good news is that, with treatment most people with depression get better.

With more women working nowadays, the ratio of stay-at-home women has drastically decreased and childbirth curbs a woman many of her pleasurable things and freedom to do what she wants. These things have made depression a common problem among women during and after pregnancy. Almost 13% of pregnant women and new mothers have depression.

When a Woman is Termed to be Depressed?
Some women might not know that they are depressed while being pregnant or after delivering a baby. Certain strong symptoms that indicate depression include:

1. Feeling worthless and guilty
2. Having headaches, aches, pains and stomach problems that don’t go away
3. Crying constantly
4. Without any energy or motivation
5. Either sleeping too little or too much
6. Being aloof without speaking to friends/family
7. Having memory problems and showing disinterest in activities you were previously interested in
8. Feeling sad, hopeless, overwhelmed, restless or moody
9. Trouble with decision making or focusing on things
   
   

Factors Causing Depression
There is no single cause but a combination of factors that can make a person fall into the baits of depression:

1. Depression is a mental illness that is genetic. Women with a family history of depression are more prone to acquiring the illness.
2. Changes in brain chemistry or structure play a pivotal role in depression.
3. Unhappy or negative life events, such as the death of a loved one, caring for an aging family member, abuse and poverty can trigger depression.
4. Certain hormonal factors, unique to women, can cause depression in a woman. Women undergo a multitude pf physical and hormonal changes throughout their lives which can stir up depression-right before periods, puberty, during and after pregnancy and during perimenopause. Menopause too makes a woman undergo a cascade of emotions that need to be handled in the appropriate way. Get tips on handling menopause syndrome from the website www.firsteatright.com.
   
   

Hormonal changes can bring about symptoms of postpartum depression (depression after childbirth). Factors that can provoke postpartum depression include:

1. Lack of ‘me’ time
2. Doubting on your abilities to handle a mom’s role
3. Less attractive
4. A feeling of overwhelm with the new baby
5. Suffering from lack of sleep or broken sleep
6. Tired after delivery
7. Dramatic changes in work and home routine
8. Unrealistic need and effort to be the ‘perfect’ mom
9. A total upside-down life routine and losing your own self of who you were before a baby
   
   

Postpartum Psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is usually rare: about 1 in 4 of every 1,000 moms get it some 2 weeks after delivery. Confusion, rapid mood swings, seeing things that don’t exist and trying to hurt yourself or the baby are few things that indicate such a disorder.

Possible Ways to Curb Depression As Soon As Possible
It is better to meet a doctor if:

• Depression does not go away after 2 weeks or symptoms of depression gets intense
• You are unable to care for yourself or your baby
• You think about harming yourself or your baby
• You are not able to work at home or office
  
  

The best way to fight depression is to talk it out. You can speak with your mom and ask for her experience in rearing children, make time to go out, visit friends and spend time with your partner, don’t try to do too much or be too perfect, talk with other moms and ask for their experiences and try not to make any major life changes during pregnancy or right after child birth.

But, it is necessary to treat depression either using talk therapy (psychologist) or medicines. Untreated depression can lead to use of harmful substances such as tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs, sleeping trouble, unable to meet the child’s need, premature birth and problems during pregnancy and after delivery.
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Every child deserves to be loved and cared by a healthy mom. Every mom deserves to enjoy her life and her children. If you feel that you are affected by depression, immediately notify a loved one about it and call your doctor right away.