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Recognizing Signs of Depression in Postpartum Women
It is fairly common for postpartum women to suffer from mood swings which are prone
to come and go quite frequently. Most husbands can tell you that it is a rollercoaster ride
of intense bouts of incredible happiness followed by a torrent of tears the next. Sometime
this symphony of reverse moods is simply what is known as the baby blues, and it fades
away fairly quickly. However, there are times when the mood swing are intense, and do
not fade away. This is condition is what is known as postpartum depression. It is
important for new parents to know the signs of depression so that they know whether the
new mommy has a case of the baby blues, or an actual case of postpartum depression.
The baby blues usually begins to manifest after about four days after the baby has been
delivered and will only lasts for a few days. During these days, the new mother may feel
like they have a tough time concentrating for any length of time as well as have a total
loss of appetite. She may also feel very fatigued during this time and have and
unexplained feeling of anxiety. The symptoms usually fade away after about seven days
or so.
True postpartum depression however, has all the signs of clinical depression and is not go
away within a few days. It can also not occur until several weeks or months have passed
since childbirth. Some of the most prevalent signs of postpartum depression are and
unexplained fear of hurting the newborn baby, trouble falling or staying asleep, loss of
appetite and decreased energy, and feelings of unexplained guilt, hopelessness and
worthlessness. Someone who is a victim of postpartum depression will also lose interest
in many of the activities that they once held dear.
It has been shown that if you have suffered previously from postpartum depression you
are at an increased risk to suffer from it again. Other risk factors which tend to increase
the chances that you'll suffer from postpartum depression are previous bouts of
depression which are not pregnancy related, problems in your marriage, a history of
severe PMS and previous cases of postpartum depression.
Currently it is unknown why women develop postpartum depression. Some researchers
have speculated that it could have something to do with the hormone changes that the
body goes through during and after pregnancy. The hormone levels in the body change
rapidly after childbirth and it is possible that these will in some way trigger postpartum
depression.
If you or someone you know has been exhibiting signs of depression while they are
pregnant or after they have delivered, they should be analyzed their to see if they fit in the
category of baby blues or postpartum depression. Either way, it is important that any
woman who is suffering from depression during or after childbirth should be seen by a
competent medical professional as quickly as possible.
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How long will the recession last? - CNNMoney.com
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Deflation Fears Hearken Back to a Simpler Time of Sound Money - Seeking Alpha
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Less sun, more depression for people with SAD - CNN
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Report: Abortion does not lead to long-term depression. - Think Progress
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Bernanke's Playbook - Gold Seek
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