Your healthcare provider will discuss your feelings and mental health to determine if you have postpartum baby blues or more severe depression.
Postpartum depression is common, so don’t be embarrassed to share your symptoms. Your provider may do a depression screening and order tests to rule out other causes.
Postpartum depression affects up to 15% of people and can cause emotional ups and downs, crying, fatigue, guilt, anxiety, and trouble caring for the baby. It can be treated with medication and counseling.
What is Postpartum Depression?
Having a baby is life-changing and can be exciting but also tiring and overwhelming. It’s normal to worry or have doubts, especially for first-time parents.
However, extreme sadness, loneliness, severe mood swings, and frequent crying may indicate postpartum depression (PPD).
PPD can affect not only the birthing parent but also surrogates and adoptive parents due to hormonal, physical, emotional, financial, and social changes after having a baby. Up to 1 in 7 new parents experience PPD.
Factors increasing PPD risk include a history of depression, limited social support, relationship conflict, pregnancy complications, and having a baby with special needs.
It’s a serious but treatable condition with therapy and medication. If you have symptoms, seek help from your healthcare provider.
What are the Types of Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression encompasses several types, each varying in severity and symptoms.
Understanding these types helps in recognizing and addressing the different ways new parents may be affected. There are three different types of postpartum mood disorders:
1. Postpartum Blues or Baby Blues
The baby blues affect 50% to 75% of new parents and typically start within the first week after delivery.
Symptoms include frequent crying, sadness, and anxiety. Although unpleasant, the condition usually resolves within two weeks without treatment.
To cope, rest as much as possible, accept help from loved ones, connect with other new moms, take care of yourself, and avoid alcohol and drugs. If breastfeeding issues arise, seek help from a lactation consultant.
2. Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is more serious than baby blues, affecting about 1 in 7 new parents. If you’ve had PPD before, your risk increases to 30% with each pregnancy.
Symptoms include mood swings, frequent crying, irritability, fatigue, guilt, anxiety, and difficulty caring for your baby or yourself. Symptoms can last for months but are treatable with psychotherapy and antidepressants.
Psychotherapy helps you cope with feelings and set realistic goals, while antidepressants, often safe for breastfeeding, can alleviate symptoms. Brexanolone is a specific treatment for PPD but requires hospital monitoring.
Without treatment, PPD can worsen and lead to dangerous thoughts, so early intervention is crucial.
3. Postpartum Psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is a rare but severe condition affecting 1 in 1,000 new parents. It typically develops suddenly within weeks after childbirth and requires immediate hospital treatment.
Symptoms include severe agitation, confusion, hopelessness, insomnia, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, hyperactivity, rapid speech, and mania.
Treatment may involve a combination of medications like antidepressants and antipsychotics, and sometimes Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) if other treatments fail.
Hospitalization can make breastfeeding difficult, but lactation support is available. Immediate medical attention is crucial due to the high risk of suicide and harm to the baby.
Can I Prevent Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression isn’t entirely preventable, but knowing its warning signs and risk factors can help. Here are some tips to reduce the risk:
- Set realistic expectations for yourself and your baby.
- Limit visitors when you first return home.
- Ask for help from others.
- Rest when your baby sleeps
- Exercise regularly, like taking walks.
- Stay connected with family and friends.
- Nurture your relationship with your partner.
- Accept that there will be good and bad days.
Treatment and Diagnosis
To diagnose postpartum depression, healthcare providers evaluate you at your postpartum visit, which might include discussing your health history, feelings since delivery, physical and pelvic exams, and lab tests.
They may use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a 10-question screening tool. Treatment varies based on symptoms’ type and severity and may include:
- Medications (anti-anxiety or antidepressants)
- Therapy (talk or cognitive behavioral therapy)
- Support groups
For severe cases like postpartum psychosis, treatment might involve medication, hospitalization, or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Breastfeeding mothers can still take medications under a provider’s guidance.
Your Mental Health is Important!
Postpartum depression can impact your baby, including bonding issues, behavior or learning problems, missed pediatric appointments, feeding and sleeping difficulties, higher risk of obesity or developmental disorders, and neglect.
For more information on caring for your baby and ensuring their well-being, visit Moon Mystical for expert baby care tips.
Untreated postpartum depression is dangerous and can cause fatigue, moodiness, difficulty caring for your baby, inability to focus, and harmful thoughts. Always be honest with your healthcare provider to get the support you need.