When Mommy Is Sad: Talking About Postpartum Depression
We’ve all been told that the period of time after giving birth should be joyous. Sometimes after giving birth, however, women have feelings they don’t want to discuss with anyone else for fear of looking like a “bad mother” who doesn’t appreciate her newborn. The stigma attached to postpartum depression (PPD) is so great that, although one in eight women will experience PPD, 80% of these cases will go undiagnosed and untreated. Just admitting to yourself and others that you have PPD is the first step towards getting help. After the birth of my son five years ago, I suffered from PPD, yet to this day, only my husband, my mother, and my OB/GYN know about it. At least two of my friends admitted to me after the fact that they had experienced PPD too, yet didn’t seek out any friends at the time to talk about it.
Depression symptoms don’t have to occur just after birth to qualify as PPD. PPD symptoms can occur anytime during the first year after a live birth, stillbirth, or miscarriage. Depression associated with PPD may be mild, moderate, or severe, and has absolutely no bearing on one’s worth as mother. Eighty percent of all women will experience a mild “baby blues” after birth, including feelings of sadness, anxiety, and loneliness, which usually passes within a few weeks. Symptoms lasting over two weeks usually qualify as PPD, which is only experienced by about 12% of all new mothers. The more severe postpartum psychosis, in which the new mother experiences psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions, occurs in only 0.01% of all new mothers.
Causes of PPD are unknown, but are thought to be a change in hormone levels after pregnancy, lack of sleep, feeling isolated and alone, loss of freedom, medical problems after birth, a difficult birth, high levels of stress, and/or a family history of depression. Some of the symptoms of PPD include insomnia or sleeping too much; appetite changes; feeling irritable, angry, or nervous; feeling exhausted; lack of interest in the baby; lack of interest in friends or family; lack of interest in sex; feeling guilty or worthless; feeling hopeless; uncontrollable crying; feeling like a bad mother; problems concentrating; low energy levels; thoughts of hurting the baby; and/or thoughts of hurting oneself.
Treatments recommended for PPD include support groups, individual counseling, and antidepressant medications. Medication isn’t the answer for everyone, however, as some women can’t tolerate the side effects. (One common side effect from SSRI antidepressants is loss of libido, which can cause even more problems for a woman who is already depressed and/or anxious). Alternative, non-medical treatments include exercise, supplements, and acupuncture.
We’d like to hear from you. Have you suffered from PPD, or know someone who has? Sharing our stories can help other women who may be going through the same thing right now, or educate pregnant women about possibilities of what to expect after birth. Feel free to email us with your stories or comments, which may be featured in a future UpscaleBaby.com/blog post. You may remain anonymous if you wish.
