Postpartum Depression

From a distance, an outsider would wonder, “how can someone be depressed when you are blessed to have a beautiful, healthy bundle of joy?” Postpartum depression is a reality that affects many women and needs to be addressed by people that surround the Mother because most women that are experiencing it, might not even realize that they are.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BABY BLUES AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?

The best way I can describe the Baby Blues is by characterizing it as a form of mourning. The body has been nourishing this precious new life for the last 37 plus weeks and now it is no longer in the body. It goes through a natural form of mourning the absence of that life. Naturally, the body has to adjust to what it was like before. So, it is going through the hormonal balance again, which can bring on other symptoms. Fatigue is a given because Mothers are awake every 2-3 hours in the first weeks and have no constant, deep sleep. Fatigue alone can cause a woman to be more irritable and have lack of energy.

This leads to brain fog and memory issues. The days begin to blur and Mothers lose track of what day or month it is. Mothers will get easily stressed because of the huge demand this new little life brings, let alone other responsibilities like needing to cook, clean, do laundry, accommodate visitors that are anxious to meet the baby and to have to do it all with a “refreshed happy face” is a lot of pressure for a new Mother! With the Baby Blues, it is not long-term and is easily made better by speaking to a Provider, friends, family, etc.

In contrast, postpartum depression is brought on by all the above plus some! It is environmental factors and not having a good support system. Not all Mothers are blessed with having everything they need, an amazing husband, all the right tools/baby items or even the money for life in general.

Families that are at higher risk for postpartum depression include anyone that is affected by five or more of these listed:

Not having Jesus in their life
Single parenting
Lower income
Lack of a support system
No job
No resources
No transportation
Lack of necessary baby items
No friends that can help
No family that can help
Having addictions
Having a high A.C.E.S. score
Having previous history of Depression
Poor eating habits
Poor health
Physical, mental or emotional disability
In a toxic or abusive environment
Unstable environment
Not knowing the culture’s language and not being able to communicate

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?

Fatigue to the point where there is no desire to get out of bed, get showered or dressed.
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Overly worried about the baby (paranoid behavior) or not worried at all.
Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
Feeling guilty or worthless
Abnormal appetite and rapid change in weight
Poor sleeping habits
Trouble forming a strong bond or attachment to the baby
Signs of anxiety like headaches, rapid breathing, numbness in hands or feet, rapid heartbeat or chest pain, but not having a cause for them.
Loss of interest in pleasure or hobbies/activities (including sex)
Not talking to anyone and withdrawing from people
Negative thoughts about one’s ability to even take care of a baby
Sadness, always crying.
Thoughts about suicide, death, harming the baby or oneself.
Having experienced recent grief or loss of a loved one, including miscarriage.

If you know someone with these signs after having a baby, please talk to them and help them get support by counseling, seeing their Provider for possible anti-depressants (temporary). If you are someone with postpartum depression, please reach out to someone! There is no shame in it, you just need the help to get past this season in your life.