Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

Symptoms of postpartum depression are plenty. Let’s discuss them on the blog. A severe form of depression that affects adults, women, and men less often is postpartum depression (PPD). Furthermore, it is typical to do so after delivery. Such depression can cause many problems. This type of depression can be treated.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

Depression risk is increased by the social, psychological, and chemical changes a baby brings. A sudden and sharp drop in hormone levels brings about these changes. Postpartum depression symptoms include sadness, altered eating and sleeping habits, extreme exhaustion, decreased libido, mood swings, crying spells, anxiety, and irritation. Other major depressive symptoms such as low mood, loss of pleasure, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, disability, and similar thoughts of suicide or death are present along with these symptoms.

Factors Associated with are:

• Age at the time of pregnancy — the younger you are, the higher the risk
• Doubt about the pregnancy
• During pregnancy, depression can happen.
• Having a history of depression or (PMDD)
• limited social support
• living alone
• Marital conflict

Types of Postpartum Depression

There are three levels of mood changes women can have after giving birth, and they are;

• The “baby blues, occurs in most women in the initial days after delivery and are considered normal. A new mother has sudden mood swings from very happy to very sad. She may burst into tears for no reason and feel impatient, irritable, restless, lonely, or sad. Similarly, the baby’s blues may last only a few hours or as long as one to two weeks after delivery. Most of the time, seeking help from other mothers or joining a support group for new mothers suffices.
• Postpartum depression (PPD) can happen a few days or even months after childbirth (the birth of any child, not just the first). Certainly, women can have feelings similar to the baby blues–sadness, despair, anxiety, and irritability–. Still, she would feel them much more than during the baby blues, and PPD often keeps a woman from doing the things she needs to do every day. Without treatment, the symptoms can get worse.
• Postpartum psychosis is a severe mental illness that affects new mothers, mainly within the first three months. It is an illness of losing touch with reality and having visual hallucinations. Other symptoms include lack of sleep, excitement, anger, and strange behaviors. Women detected with this type of condition need immediate treatment and medication. They may also require a hospital stay because they risk hurting themselves or someone else.

Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Disorder

Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, usually related to concerns about the baby or harming the baby, may appear or worsen in the postpartum period. Occasional cases of panic disorder may also occur. Both conditions often coexist with depression.

Seeking Professional Treatment

Untreated postpartum depression can be dangerous for new mothers and their children.