Having a baby is one of the most life-changing events in a woman’s life.
The general expectation is that a new baby will be a source of joy, light, and happiness in the family of the newborn, but many women are plagued with a condition known as postpartum depression upon giving birth and in the early stages of motherhood.
Postpartum depression can cause women who have given birth to feel like something is wrong with them or like they are bad parents, but it’s a treatable condition that can be overcome with the right kind of support.
If you are going through postpartum depression, we promise there is light at the end of this tunnel. Working closely with a behavioral therapist or psychologist can help you find ways to cope and help you get your bearings as you navigate motherhood.
What Is Postpartum Depression?
Most moms experience what’s commonly called the ‘baby blues’ within a couple of days of giving birth. The ‘baby blues’ come with symptoms such as mood swings, anxiety, irritability, trouble sleeping, and excessive worry about your newborn. These are normal feelings and they can last up a few weeks after giving birth.
However, some women have a very different experience after giving birth. Along with the typical ‘baby blues’, they experience intense, negative feelings of sadness and depression surrounding the birth of their child. This condition is known as postpartum depression, sometimes called PPD.
Women who experience PPD go through intense emotional, behavioral, and physiological changes.
Unlike the ‘baby blues’, postpartum depression can last for months—and in some cases, even years.
Postpartum depression affects first-time mothers, but it also affects mothers who have given birth before and did not experience this condition the first time around.
What Causes Postpartum Depression?
There is no single factor that determines whether a new mother will experience postpartum depression.
Some women who experience PPD believe that they did something wrong during pregnancy or they are not fit to be mothers, even when this is not the case. PPD is a behavioral condition that can affect even very emotionally stable women.
Although there is no single cause, there are certain contributing factors that create an environment where it thrives. Many women get very little sleep after their newborn comes along, and they also become worrisome or anxious about the health and well-being of the child, questioning their own ability to provide care. These factors, melded with rapid hormone changes and imbalances during pregnancy, create an environment that is conducive to PPD.
There are other risk factors that might heighten your chance of experiencing this condition, such as previous experience with anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses; giving birth to a child with special needs; a stressful home situation; a lack of familial or social support; or experiencing other stressful situations alongside birth and pregnancy.
How to Tell If You Have Postpartum Depression
Because postpartum depression shares a few similarities with ‘baby blues’, it might be easy to mistake one for the other. However, there are some telltale signs that can help you determine whether you are suffering from PPD.
One major sign is the length of time that your symptoms last. The ‘baby blues’ go away in a week or two, while PPD can last for months at a time.
The symptoms of PPD can be more severe and are accompanied by behavioral changes, like a mother not wanting to touch, look at, or interact with her baby.
Parents who experience PPD might have thoughts of harming themselves or the baby, become withdrawn from family and friends, feel intense guilt or shame, or have trouble making good decisions. They may also cry excessively or even contemplate suicide. Professional help is strongly recommended to aid recovery.
If you think you may be experiencing PPD, this self-assessment from Mental Health America can help to give you a better idea. Although an online assessment can’t diagnose you with a mental condition, it can help you better understand the severity of your symptoms and determine whether you need to seek professional help.
Fathers Can Experience Postpartum Depression Too
Although most conversation around postpartum depression tends to center around mothers, it’s important to note that fathers of newborns can also fall victim to this condition.
Just like mothers, fathers can experience prolonged periods of sadness and deep depression after a baby’s birth, as well as feelings of inadequacy and anxiety surrounding their ability to parent.
Young first-time fathers who have a history with depression, feel like they don’t have enough to provide for the child, or otherwise feel overwhelmed with life have an increased chance of experiencing Postpartum Depression.
PPD in fathers is sometimes referred to as paternal postpartum depression.
What To Do If You Are Experiencing Postpartum Depression
PPD affects the entire family, both baby and parents. It can also lead to an even more serious condition called postpartum psychosis.
If, two weeks after giving birth, you are experiencing prolonged depression and other symptoms of PPD, you should seek immediate care from a mental health provider, especially if those symptoms seem to be getting worse. Consider getting in touch with the National Helpline if you need to talk to someone immediately.
If you are in Alabama and think you might be experiencing PPD, reach out to one of our mental health clinics, where we specialize in providing treatment to individuals who are struggling mentally, physically and emotionally. We can help you get to that light at the end of the tunnel and enjoy the beauty that comes with the birth of a child. Call us today at (855) 422-1618 to set an appointment.