what is postpartum depression and why does it require treatment

Postpartum depression

is a type of depression that happens after having a baby. It affects up to 15% of people. People with postpartum depression experience emotional highs and lows, frequent crying, fatigue, guilt, anxiety and may have trouble caring for their baby. Postpartum depression can be treated with medication and counseling.

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How to cure postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is a type of depression that happens after having a baby. It affects up to 15% of people. People with postpartum depression experience emotional highs and lows, frequent crying, fatigue, guilt, anxiety and may have trouble caring for their baby. Postpartum depression can be treated with medication and counseling.

What helps postpartum depression?

 · Because postpartum depression is a mental health condition, it can be treated through psychotherapy. This includes talk therapy with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other …

What triggers postpartum depression?

 · Postpartum depression is a serious mental illness that involves the brain and affects your behavior and physical health. If you have depression, then sad, flat, or empty …

Who treats postpartum depression?

 · Postpartum depression is a severe and long-lasting type of depression linked to this time. 2, 10 While postpartum depression, or PPD, is frequently described as depression …

Why is PPD important?

PPD can make it hard for you to care for yourself and your baby. This is why it's important to treat PPD as soon as possible. If PPD is untreated: You may skip your postpartum checkups and not follow instructions from your health care provider.

Why do people suffer from postpartum?

After childbirth, a dramatic drop in hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in your body may contribute to postpartum depression. Other hormones produced by your thyroid gland also may drop sharply — which can leave you feeling tired, sluggish and depressed. Emotional issues.

How do doctors treat postpartum anxiety?

The treatment options for postpartum anxiety are usually similar to those used for other types of anxiety disorders. Common treatments include: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Short-term talking therapy with a mental health professional to learn ways to change anxiety-producing thought patterns.

What happens during PPD?

Types of Postpartum Depression The "baby blues" happen to as many as 70% of women in the days right after childbirth. You may have sudden mood swings, such as feeling very happy and then feeling very sad. You may cry for no reason and can feel impatient, cranky, restless, anxious, lonely, and sad.

How do you cope with postpartum?

Life hacks: Dealing with postpartum depressionBuild a secure bond with your baby. Emotional bonding is the secure attachment that forms between parents and children. ... Take care of yourself. ... Slowly reintroduce exercise. ... Build a support network. ... Try psychotherapy and medication.

How do you care for postpartum?

Adjusting to motherhoodGet plenty of rest. Get as much sleep as possible to cope with tiredness and fatigue. ... Seek help. Don't hesitate to accept help from family and friends during the postpartum period, as well as after this period. ... Eat healthy meals. Maintain a healthy diet to promote healing. ... Exercise.

How soon does PPD start?

When does postpartum depression start? Postpartum depression can start anytime within the first year of giving birth. Most commonly, it begins between a week to a month after delivery, but it can also also be the continuation of an episode that started before or during pregnancy.

What medication is used for postpartum anxiety?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) However, paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac), and sertraline (Zoloft) are examples of SSRIs that have been studied for PPD treatment.

What considered postpartum?

What is the postpartum period? Post means "after," and partum means "pregnancy," so postpartum refers to the time period after you have a baby. It's usually considered the first 6 weeks after delivery.

How long are you considered postpartum?

For this reason, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists considers postpartum care to extend up to 12 weeks after delivery [2]. Some investigators have considered women to be postpartum for as long as 12 months after delivery.

What does PPD look like?

You feel hopeless, sad, worthless, or alone all the time, and you cry often. You don't feel like you're doing a good job as a new mom. You're not bonding with your baby. You can't eat, sleep, or take care of your baby because of your overwhelming despair.

What is post partum psychosis?

Postpartum psychosis is a serious mental health illness that can affect someone soon after having a baby. It affects around 1 in 500 mothers after giving birth. Many people who have given birth will experience mild mood changes after having a baby, known as the "baby blues".

Why is postpartum so hard?

Birth is hard work for the body. Afterwards, a woman is exhausted, but usually cannot rest because the needs of the newborn baby come first. In addition, there are physical changes – the stomach, breasts and metabolism change abruptly.

Is postpartum considered a mental illness?

The postpartum blues or “baby blues” Symptoms generally do not last for more than a few weeks, and this condition is not considered a mental health disorder, however if a person continues to experience moods swings or feelings of depression for more than two weeks after childbirth, the problem may be more serious.

Is postpartum a psychological disorder?

Postpartum Depression, or PPD, is a mood disorder in women shortly after childbirth. Mothers with PPD experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that can affect the woman's ability to care for herself or for others.

How long are you considered postpartum?

For this reason, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists considers postpartum care to extend up to 12 weeks after delivery [2]. Some investigators have considered women to be postpartum for as long as 12 months after delivery.

What is the treatment for postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is often treated with psychotherapy (also called talk therapy or mental health counseling), medication or both. Psychotherapy. It may help to talk through your concerns with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional.

How to treat postpartum psychosis?

Treatment may include: Medication. Treatment may require a combination of medications — such as antipsychotic medications, mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines — to control your signs and symptoms.

What to do after first mental health appointment?

After your first appointment, your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional who can create the right treatment plan for you . You may want to find a trusted family member or friend to join you for your appointment to help you remember all of the information discussed.

What to do when someone offers to babysit?

If someone offers to baby-sit, take them up on it. If you can sleep, take a nap, or maybe you can catch a movie or meet for coffee with friends. You may also benefit from asking for help with parenting skills that can include caregiving techniques to improve your baby's sleep and soothe fussing and crying.

Can postpartum depression be chronic?

With appropriate treatment, postpartum depression symptoms usually improve. In some cases, postpartum depression can continue, becoming chronic depression. It's important to continue treatment after you begin to feel better. Stopping treatment too early may lead to a relapse.

Can postpartum depression be a short term condition?

Don't be embarrassed ― postpartum depression is common. Share your symptoms with your doctor so that a useful treatment plan can be created for you.

Can you take antidepressants while breastfeeding?

If you're breast-feeding, any medication you take will enter your breast milk. However, most antidepressants can be used during breast-feeding with little risk of side effects for your baby. Work with your doctor to weigh the potential risks and benefits of specific antidepressants. With appropriate treatment, postpartum depression symptoms usually ...

What to do if you are depressed after a baby is born?

If you're feeling depressed after your baby's birth, you may be reluctant or embarrassed to admit it. But if you experience any symptoms of postpartum baby blues or postpartum depression, call your doctor and schedule an appointment. If you have symptoms that suggest you may have postpartum psychosis, get help immediately.

How soon can you call your doctor for postpartum depression?

It's important to call your doctor as soon as possible if the signs and symptoms of depression have any of these features: Don't fade after two weeks. Are getting worse. Make it hard for you to care for your baby.

What are the symptoms of postpartum psychosis?

Signs and symptoms may include: Confusion and disorientation. Obsessive thoughts about your baby.

How long does it take for depression to develop after birth?

Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth, but may begin earlier ― during pregnancy ― or later — up to a year after birth. Postpartum depression signs and symptoms may include: Depressed mood or severe mood swings. Excessive crying. Difficulty bonding with your baby.

What are the effects of having a baby?

The birth of a baby can trigger a jumble of powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also result in something you might not expect — depression. Most new moms experience postpartum "baby blues" after childbirth, which commonly include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.

What to do if you think you are harming your baby?

If at any point you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, immediately seek help from your partner or loved ones in taking care of your baby and call 911 or your local emergency assistance number to get help.

Is postpartum depression a weakness?

Postpartum depression isn't a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's simply a complication of giving birth. If you have postpartum depression, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms and help you bond with your baby.

How to treat postpartum depression?

Postpartum Depression Therapy. Because postpartum depression is a mental health condition, it can be treated through psychotherapy. This includes talk therapy with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional. For women who feel isolated, anxious and scared, talking about their feelings in a safe environment can be incredibly ...

How to help a wife recover from postpartum depression?

Depending on the situation, relationship therapy for spouses may be an important factor in recovering from postpartum depression. In general, therapy can help women develop a more positive way of acknowledging, addressing and recovering from their postpartum depression. Learn More About Therapy Options.

What is the purpose of SSRIs?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are drugs that specifically improve serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is one type of neurotransmitter responsible for emotions and mood. SSRIs block the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain making it more readily available in the brain. This helps to elevate mood and reduce general symptoms of postpartum depression.

What is the best medication for postpartum depression?

Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed type of medication for postpartum depression. Antidepressants work to elevate and stabilize the mood. This prevents postpartum depression symptoms such as mood swings, sadness and irritability.

What is the effect of SSRIs on mood?

SSRIs block the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain making it more readily available in the brain. This helps to elevate mood and reduce general symptoms of postpartum depression.

Why do psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants?

Unlike psychologists, psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications like antidepressants to help correct chemical deficiencies and imbalances that cause PPD. Because of the scientific approach to treatment, psychiatrists will also look to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms as postpartum depression, such as malnutrition or a thyroid disorder.

What are the factors that affect postpartum depression?

These factors include: The severity of the condition. Medical history and background of the mother. Other individual needs. Postpartum depression treatments generally include therapy with a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. Another common treatment method, used in conjunction with therapy, ...

Who treats postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression needs to be treated by a doctor or nurse.

What is the best way to help someone with depression?

Therapy. During therapy , you talk to a therapist, psychologist, or social worker to learn strategies to change how depression makes you think, feel, and act.

How long does it take to feel sad after pregnancy?

Your body and mind go through many changes during and after pregnancy. If you feel empty, emotionless, or sad all or most of the time for longer than 2 weeks during or after pregnancy, reach out for help. If you feel like you don't love or care for your baby, you might have postpartum depression. Treatment for depression, such as therapy or medicine, works and will help you and your baby be as healthy as possible in the future.

Can postpartum depression affect your ability to parent?

Untreated postpartum depression can affect your ability to parent. You may:

Is depression a problem after pregnancy?

Depression is a common problem after pregnancy. One in 9 new mothers has postpartum depression. 1

Can hormones cause depression?

Hormonal changes may trigger symptoms of postpartum depression. When you are pregnant, levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are the highest they’ll ever be. In the first 24 hours after childbirth, hormone levels quickly drop back to normal, pre-pregnancy levels. Researchers think this sudden change in hormone levels may lead to depression. 2 This is similar to hormone changes before a woman’s period but involves much more extreme swings in hormone levels.

Can being a bad mother make depression worse?

Feeling like a bad mother can make depression worse. It is important to reach out for help if you feel depressed.

When does postpartum depression start?

Postpartum depression can begin within days of giving birth or anytime within the first year after childbirth. Many women experience a milder condition called the baby blues in the first two weeks after giving birth, and it typically resolves on its own.

What are the factors that contribute to postpartum depression?

1, 2. Lifestyle changes from having a newborn that can be physically and emotionally taxing—sleep deprivation, new responsibilities, stress, and anxiety can all contribute to postpartum depression.

What happens after childbirth?

After childbirth, a woman’s body undergoes a massive hormonal shift. The female hormones estrogen and progesterone peak during the last trimester of pregnancy, and then plummet back to normal pre-pregnancy levels after delivery. 2 New mothers also undergo dramatic changes to their lifestyle (altered schedules to accommodate feeding and the baby’s sleep needs; adjusting to the new family dynamic; maternity leave, etc.) The difficulties of this transition and the hormonal changes in the body are thought to play a role in the development of baby blues and postpartum depression. 1

What are the risk factors for a baby to be hospitalized?

Having a baby who has been hospitalized. Of these, two risk factors stand out: Having a prior episode of postpartum depression and experiencing depression during pregnancy , says Katherine Taljan, MD, a psychiatrist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

How many new mothers experience postpartum depression?

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 20% of new mothers experience one or more symptoms of postpartum depression, that number may be higher or lower based on where you live, your age, your risk factors, and your race/ethnicity. 6

What does it mean when you have a PPD diagnosis?

You have thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby. Getting a PPD diagnosis as soon as possible means you can discuss beginning treatment right away. This is especially important if you’ve had depression or PPD before.

How many women have PPD?

In some states, as many as one in five women experience PPD. You can view your state’s prevalence using the CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). According to another CDC study, postpartum depression may be more common among: 4. Black women.

What is the best treatment for postpartum depression?

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is commonly prescribed alone or with antidepressants to treat postpartum depression. Your doctor can refer you to a qualified mental health professional who specializes in treating postpartum depression.

What do counselors do for postpartum depression?

Your counselor will teach you how to look at some things differently and how to change certain habits to help yourself feel better. There are two common types of therapy for women with postpartum depression:

How to help a depressed baby?

You may not want to take a prescription drug, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor about whether you should try any of these therapies, either instead of or along with standard medical treatment: 1 Yoga. In one study of depressed new moms, more than three-quarters of them who did yoga twice a week for 8 weeks got better. 2 Massage. It may have a positive effect on postpartum depression. Although more studies are needed, findings suggest that massage helps improve symptoms. 3 Relaxation training. Techniques like deep breathing, g uided imagery, and self-hypnosis can teach you to soothe yourself. More than a dozen studies have shown that relaxation training can help you recover from depression. 4 Meditation. Learning to meditate lets you “exist in the moment.” You focus on your breathing and let go of your thoughts. It might help you with your depression.

What is the best therapy for mental health?

Cognitive behavioral therapy. You and your counselor work together to identify, then change, thoughts and behaviors that are harmful to your mental health. Interpersonal therapy. Your therapist helps you better understand how you behave in your relationships and how to work through any problems.

Can postpartum depression flare up before menstruation?

While you’re recovering from postpartum depression, you’ll probably see an improvement from month to month. Be aware that your symptoms may flare up before a menstrual period because of fluctuations in your hormones.

Can you take antidepressants while pregnant?

Also, if you’ve had a previous episode of postpartum depression, your doctor may suggest that you take preventive medicine shortly after the baby is born or during pregnancy. Most antidepressants don’ t pose any major risks to a developing fetus, although all medications have potential risks.

Does massage help with postpartum depression?

Massage. It may have a positive effect on postpartum depression. Although more studies are needed, findings suggest that massage helps improve symptoms.

How does postpartum therapy help with depression?

Provides Long-Term Self-Help Skills. Postpartum depression therapy will help people learn coping and self-help tools that can be used to fully treat postpartum depression. Strategies such as mindfulness, meditation and trigger recognition can help people cope with chronic depression and anxiety.

What is the goal of postpartum depression therapy?

The ultimate goal of postpartum depression therapy is to heal the mother or other affected people from the effects of their disorder and help them manage a higher quality of life.

Why is therapy important for women?

Therapy allows women to work through their condition and understand the progress they make. Therapists can also make adjustments to treatment in response to the woman’s progress. Therapy is a personal and vital way to treat postpartum depression.

How does postpartum depression affect marriage?

Postpartum depression takes a serious toll on marriages and relationships. Couples therapy opens lines of communication while providing a safe space for each person’s concerns to be heard . Therapists facilitate conversations and help couples identify relationship patterns that can cause problems.

Why is group therapy important for mothers?

Group therapy provides education about postpartum depression, helpful coping tools and validation from therapists and other group members.

What is EMDR therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) addresses traumatic experiences involved in postpartum depression. This makes it a useful therapy for women with postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), women who may have experienced traumatic childbirths or other circumstances.

What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression therapy is a vital part of the recovery process. It works with medication to help relieve with the symptoms of postpartum depression. It also helps people understand the root causes of the condition.

What is the best medication for postpartum depression?

Or, they may have you try brexanolone ( Zulresso ), a new medication that is a synthetic form of the hormone allopregnanolone and is specifically used to treat postpartum depression. Just be sure to let your doctor know if you’re nursing. Counseling. Talking to a psychologist or therapist also can be a great help.

When does postpartum depression start?

This rare and serious form of mental illness can happen with postpartum depression. Symptoms often begin during the first 2 weeks after your baby is born, and are more severe than those for postpartum depression.

How common is postpartum depression?

It’s more common than you think. One study of 10,000­ moms with newborns found that about 1 in 7 get postpartum depression. Luckily, most of those women find that treatment helps.

How to get back to feeling like yourself after postpartum?

But if you think you have it, make an appointment right away. If it’s postpartum depression, there are treatments that will get you back to feeling like yourself again. Medication. Your doctor might decide prescribing you antidepressants will help. These drugs help balance certain brain chemicals linked to depression.

What are the symptoms of a young woman not caring for her baby?

Symptoms. Yours might not be the same as for other women, but there are common things to look out for: Sadness, loss of hope, despair. Feeling unable to care for your baby or do basic chores.

When do you feel depression after having a baby?

It can start any time during your baby’s first year, but it’s most common for you to start to feel its effects during the first 3 weeks after birth.

Can postpartum depression cause confusion?

Symptoms often begin during the first 2 weeks after your baby is born, and are more severe than those for postpartum depression. You can’t sleep. You’re confused. You can’t think clearly.

How effective is IPT for postpartum depression?

Several studies, including one large-scale randomized controlled trial, have supported the effectiveness of IPT for treating postpartum depression. O’Hara and colleagues randomized 120 women with postpartum depression to receive 12 weekly 60-minute individual sessions of manualized IPT by a trained therapist versus control condition of a wait-list. 101 The women who received IPT had a significant decrease in their depressive symptomatology (measured by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory) as compared to the wait-list group, as well as significant improvement in social adjustment scores. In another study by Clark et al 35 women with postpartum depression were assigned to individual IPT (12 sessions) versus mother–infant group therapy versus a wait-list condition. 102 Both IPT and mother–infant group therapy were associated with greater reduction in depressive symptoms as compared to the wait-list conditions. Both studies support the effectiveness of IPT as a treatment for PPD, though there is not enough data to suggest a specific benefit to IPT compared with other therapeutic modalities.

What are the symptoms of a postpartum depression episode?

However, studies suggest that depressive episodes are significantly more common in women in the first three months after delivery, 32 and an increased vulnerability to psychiatric illness may persist for a year or more. 33 It is important to differentiate PPD from other psychiatric and nonpsychiatric diagnoses. The “postpartum blues” or “baby blues” is a transient mood disturbance that affects up to 75% of new mothers in the 10 days following delivery, and consists of crying, irritability, fatigue, anxiety, and emotional lability. Symptoms are generally mild and self-limited, and do not involve total loss of pleasure or interest, persistent low mood, or suicidal ideation. 34 On the other extreme, postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency that requires immediate intervention, and is characterized by the rapid onset of severe mood swings, a waxing and waning sensorium, delusions, hallucinations or disorganized behaviors, and a relatively high incidence of suicidal ideation or homicidal ideation toward the infant. 35 Women presenting with a depressive episode, mood elevation, or psychotic symptoms should be screened for any prior history of mania or hypomania to rule out previously undiagnosed bipolar disorder. 36 Anxiety disorders are common in perinatal women, and women may have depression comorbid with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. 37 Substance use and medical causes of psychiatric symptoms, such as thyroid disorders, should also be considered.

What is psychosocial intervention?

As compared with IPT or CBT, psychosocial interventions are unstructured and nonmanualized, and include nondirective counseling and peer support. Nondirective counseling (also known as “person-centered”) is based on the use of empathic and nonjudgmental listening and support. In the first notable study evaluating this intervention, Holden randomized 50 women with PPD to 8 weekly nondirective counseling sessions with a health visitor or routine primary care. 108 A health visitor in the UK is a public health nurse who conducts home visits with pregnant and postpartum women. This study found that the rate of recovery from PPD for counseling (69%) was significantly greater than that of the control group (38%). In a similar study conducted in Sweden, Wickberg and Hwang randomized 31 women with PPD to receive six nondirective counseling sessions by child health clinic nurses or routine primary care. 109 As in the Holden study, a significantly greater percentage of women in the treatment group (80%) had remission of depression than in the control group (25%). Study limitations include the removal of four study participants, two in each group, for more intensive mental health services due to illness severity.

How does mother to mother support affect depressive symptoms?

In a pilot study, CL Dennis 113 evaluated the effect of mother-to-mother support as delivered over the telephone on depressive symptomatology in a postpartum patient population identified as at high risk for PPD based on EPDS score >9. Standard postpartum care in addition to individualized telephone-based peer support resulted in a significant reduction in depressive symptoms at 8 weeks. More recently, in a larger randomized multisite trial, Dennis and colleagues demonstrated that high-risk postpartum women who received telephone-based peer support over 12 weeks were at lower risk for developing PPD (as defined by EPDS >12) compared to a control group receiving usual care. 114 Due in part to the telephone-based nature of the study, the investigators were unable to confirm the findings from rating scales with structured clinical interviews.

How does depression affect a mother?

Untreated maternal depression is associated with serious morbidity for the mother, the infant, and the family system. Perinatal depression causes significant suffering in women at a time when personal or societal notions of motherhood as a uniquely joyful, if tiring, experience may be incongruous with the depressed woman’s ability to feel gratification in the mothering role, 13 connect with her infant, or carry out the often overwhelming tasks of caring for a new baby. 14 Such a disconnect can reinforce the disabling sense of isolation, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness that frequently characterize the depressed state. Women with PPD are at higher risk for smoking, 15 alcohol or illicit substance abuse, 16 and are more likely than nondepressed mothers to experience current or recent physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Although rates of suicide for women during pregnancy and the puerperum are lower than the general population, suicide is an important cause of maternal mortality. 17 Self-inflicted injury is the leading cause of one-year maternal mortality in the United Kingdom. 18 A recent World Health Organization report on women’s health identifies self-inflicted injury as the second leading cause of maternal mortality in high-income countries; suicide remains an important cause of maternal deaths in moderate and low-income countries. 19 Intrusive thoughts of accidental or intentional harm to the baby are common in the early postpartum time. 20 These thoughts are more frequent and distressing in women with postpartum depression; 21 however, nonpsychotic depressed women are unlikely to commit infanticide. 22

How many mothers are affected by postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is a major international public health problem that affects at least 1 in 8 mothers and their children in the year after childbirth worldwide. PPD may be more common and may be associated with more morbidity for both mothers and children in resource-poor countries.

What are the risk factors for postnatal depression?

6, 7 Significant risk factors for PPD include a history of depression prior to or during pregnancy, anxiety during pregnancy, experiencing stressful life events during pregnancy or the early puerperium, low levels of social support 8 or partner support, 9 low socioeconomic status, and obstetric complications. 7 Although mental health often is not prioritized as a problem in poorer countries where access to basic nutrition and health care are not consistent, the evidence suggests that postnatal depression may be both more common and more grave for women and their children in low-income countries. The limited data from resource-constrained countries suggests that rates of depression in mothers of young infants exceeds 25%, 10 and in some settings may be as high as 60%. 11 The intersection of cultural, interpersonal and socioeconomic factors may also confer significant risk of PPD: in one study in Goa, India, risk for depression after delivery increased with economic deprivation, marital violence, and female gender of the infant. 12

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Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Coping and Support

• The already stressful, exhausting period following a baby's birth is more difficult when depression occurs. But remember, postpartum depression is never anyone's fault. It's a common medical condition that needs treatment. So, if you're having trouble coping with postpartum depression, talk with a therapist. Ask your doctor or therapist about local...

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