Basically this is a condition known as the 'baby blues' due to the extreme changes in the life of the mother following childbirth. A new baby can make women fearful, tearful or even just plain tired. It is most likely to affect women in their first pregnancies, single mothers, Caesarean births and women who are in unsupportive relationships. Sleep deprivation is also a factor.
The time following a major medical event such as this is a time we usually use to recuperate, for new mothers though there is no reprieve. Baby wants feeding and changing and there are meals to prepare, washing to wash and this is not a quiet restful time.
Usually cases of post-natal depression abate within one month after delivery, when both mother and baby are settled into a routine and life has returned to a degree of normality.
Other times what results is a severe case of post natal depression in which the mother feels she cannot cope with the demands placed upon her. These feelings can lead to physical and emotional breakdowns and can, in extreme cases, lead to thoughts of suicide, infanticide or excessive stress.
Many women have troublesome feelings at this time, 60 to 80 percent of new mothers have some kind of baby blues which may last for few days and generally no longer than two weeks.
If you have the blues, you may be weepy, anxious, and unable to sleep. You may also be irritable and moody. Mums often find themselves feeling better after getting some rest and help with the baby. But if they last longer it may be Post Natal Depression.
Symptoms of Post Natal Depression include:
- insomnia
- weepiness or sadness that persists all day
- diminished interest in almost all activities
- difficulty concentrating
- change in appetite
- anxiety, moodiness and irritability
- excessive guilt
- panic attacks (symptoms include heart racing, dizziness, confusion, feelings of impending doom)
- suicidal thoughts
Be kind to yourself and make sure your own basic needs are met. Do not feel guilty about the way you feel, just because you have Post Natal Depression doesn't mean you're a bad mother or don't love your child.
Call your doctor and talk it through with them, they may need to prescribe some medication if your symptoms are severe.
At risk factors for PND:
- a history of depression or other mental problems
- you were prone to bouts of intense anxiety while you were pregnant
- your pregnancy was not planned
- your spouse or partner is insupportive
- you're having marital difficulties
- you're having financial problems
- you've recently gone through a separation or divorce
- you went through a serious life change such as a big move or loss of a job at or around the time you had the baby
- you suffer from severe premenstrual syndrome
- you had obstetric complications
- you were subject to early childhood trauma, have a history of abuse, or a dysfunctional family
