Postpartum Depression

You spend 9 months preparing to welcome a beautiful new life into the world, after everything is over and you finally have your baby all you want is to feel happy and enjoy your new life. So why don’t you feel happy?

What a lot of people don’t know is that the birth of a baby can sometimes trigger a lot of powerful emotions from joy and excitement to anxiety and fear.

Many new moms experience “postpartum baby blues” after giving birth. Symptoms commonly include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping. Baby blues typically begins within the first 2 or 3 days after giving birth, and may last for up to 2 weeks.

Although postpartum baby blues is temporary and mild, some new mothers experience a more severe, long lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression.

Symptoms of postpartum depression after childbirth vary and range from mild to severe and can start during pregnancy or at any time up to a year after giving birth. Signs of postpartum depression are feeling sad, worthless, hopeless, guilty, or anxious. Some moms feel irritable or angry, lose interest in things they used to enjoy, and may withdraw from others. Depression can make it hard to focus on tasks and remember information. It can be hard to concentrate, learn new things, or make decisions. Depression can change appetite, sleep patterns, and physical health.

A mother/ father with postpartum depression may not enjoy their baby as they thought they would and may have frequent thoughts that they are a bad parent. They may also have scary thoughts about harming themselves or even the baby. Although it is rare for a parent to make plans to act on these thoughts, they are still very serious and requires urgent medical care.

Postpartum depression can affect anyone. Although it is more commonly reported in mothers, it can affect any new parent–either moms or dads– and can affect parents who adopt. Postpartum depression is likely caused by many factors including family history, personality, life experiences, and the environment (especially sleep deprivation).

Having postpartum depression can take a toll on you and everyone around you, especially if you are dealing with it by yourself. It can be difficult and scary to speak up and say that you are struggling. Becoming a new parent is hard enough and the challenges added by depression can make it even more overwhelming. It is important to remember that there is no such thing as a perfect parent. You are doing the best you can, and with care and support, you can recover and enjoy time with your family again.

Treatments for postpartum depression include:

-Counselling

-Support Groups

-Medication

If you are struggling with depression after you give birth, don’t suffer in silence. The best thing you can do is to talk to your doctor or even a loved one as soon as you start feeling symptoms. Early detection is key to getting better and enjoying your life again. Don’t feel embarrassed or scared of being judged, there are so many others who are dealing with the exact same thing.