Having a baby is a life-changing experience. Being a parent is exciting but can also be tiring and overwhelming. It’s normal to have feelings of worry or doubt, especially if you are a first-time parent. Postpartum depression (PPD) doesn’t just affect the birthing person. It can affect surrogates and adoptive parents, too. People experience hormonal, physical, emotional, financial and social changes after having a baby. These changes can cause symptoms of PPD.
What is Postpartum Depression (PPD)?
PPD is a type of mood disorder that affects women after giving birth. It is not the same as „baby blues,“ which is a milder and shorter-lived condition that affects up to 80% of new mothers. It can begin anytime within the first year after giving birth and is usually characterized by feelings of mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.
Some new moms experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as PPD. Sometimes it’s called peripartum depression because it can start during pregnancy and continue after childbirth. Rarely, an extreme mood disorder called postpartum psychosis also may develop after childbirth. Please keep in mind it is not a character flaw or a weakness.
Symptoms and Duration
Baby blues symptoms
Symptoms of baby blues — which last only a few days to a week or two after your baby is born — may include:
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Sadness
- Irritability
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Crying
- Reduced concentration
- Appetite problems
- Trouble sleeping
Postpartum depression symptoms
PPD may be mistaken for baby blues at first — but the symptoms are more intense and last longer. These may eventually interfere with your ability to care for your baby and handle other daily tasks. Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth. But they may begin earlier — during pregnancy — or later — up to a year after birth.
- Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and/or guilt
- Anxiety and worry
- Irritability or anger
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Signs of Postpartum Depression
The signs of PPD can be more noticeable to others than the symptoms.
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Difficulty bonding with the baby
- Avoiding social situations
- Expressing a lack of interest in the baby
- Neglecting personal hygiene and self-care
- Experiencing panic attacks
- Feeling overwhelmed or like you can’t cope
Cause of Postpartum Depression
More research is needed to determine the link between the rapid drop in hormones after delivery and depression. The levels of estrogen and progesterone increase tenfold during pregnancy but drop sharply after delivery. By three days postpartum, levels of these hormones drop back to pre-pregnancy levels.
In addition to these chemical changes, the social and psychological changes associated with having a baby increase your risk of postpartum depression. Examples of these changes include physical changes to your body, lack of sleep, worries about parenting or changes to your relationships.
RISK FACTORS may include: history of depression or anxiety, difficult or traumatic childbirth experience, lack of social support, relationship problems – as per Mayo Clinic.
Do fathers experience PPD too?
Studies show that new fathers can experience PPD, too. They may feel sad, tired, overwhelmed, anxious, or have changes in their usual eating and sleeping patterns. These are the same symptoms that mothers with postpartum depression experience.
Fathers who are young, have a history of depression, experience relationship problems or are struggling financially are most at risk of PPD. In fathers can have the same negative effect on partner relationships and child development as PPD in mothers can.
PPD is a common mental health condition that affects many women after giving birth and their partners. The symptoms and signs of PPD can vary from person to person, but it is important to seek help if you are experiencing any of them. With the right treatment, most women and men will recover within a few months. Remember, you are not alone, and there are many resources available to help you through this difficult time.
Seek HELP !
- Make an appointment for discussion with your health care representative.
- Research therapists in your area.
- Share your thoughts with other moms in Forums
- Cleveland Clinic – Frequently Asked Questions
- Helplines in Germany
Copyright 2023 – Elisabeta Munteanu