Many women have the “Baby Blues” during the first few weeks after giving birth. You may feel anxious and overwhelmed, have mood swings, or get teary over minor things. You may experience a loss of appetite or have trouble sleeping (and not because baby is keeping you up). All of this is perfectly normal – in fact, 80% of women respond to postpartum hormone changes with symptoms such as these. However, if those feelings persist or intensify, you could be suffering from postpartum depression (PPD). While the condition usually starts within the first month postpartum, the onset can be any time from the beginning of the third trimester through the first year after your baby’s birth.
The causes of PPD are still being researched but the most likely trigger is hormonal changes. Levels of estrogen and progesterone are at an all-time high during pregnancy, but they quickly drop within the first 24 hours after you give birth. Researchers suspect that for some women, this sudden change in hormone levels triggers depression. Thyroid hormone levels may also go down after delivery, and this too can trigger depressive symptoms.
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is quite common, with one in eight new mothers reporting one or more of the below symptoms within a year of giving birth. If you experience any of these for more than two weeks, be sure to call your healthcare provider:
- Depressed mood, severe mood swings, irritability, intense anger and excessive weepiness
- Difficulty bonding with and caring for your baby
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Changes in appetite – overeating or not eating at all
- Insomnia or sleeping too much
- Severe fatigue and lack of energy
- Reduced interest and pleasure in favorite activities
- Feelings of shame, guilt and inadequacy or worrying you are not a good mother
- Hopelessness and despair
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty getting things done at home or work
- Excessive energy and agitation
- Severe anxiety and panic attacks
If you have any thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
A Serious Condition
Make sure you don’t ignore or minimize your PPD symptoms. Postpartum depression is a serious mental health issue that affects not just your mood but your behavior and physical wellbeing. It interferes with your connection with your baby and the people you love. Feeling sad or overwhelmed doesn’t make you a bad mother, but those emotions may get in the way of enjoying your baby’s first year. You deserve to be at your best during that special time and it’s essential to seek professional help.
Risk Factors
Anyone can develop postpartum depression, but women with one or more of these risk factors should be especially vigilant:
- A history of postpartum depression, or a history of depression before or during pregnancy
- A family history of depression or mental illness
- Having experienced abuse or adversity as a child
- A difficult or traumatic delivery
- Problems with a previous pregnancy or birth
- Lack of support from family, friends, or partners
- Past or present domestic violence in the home
- Life stressors such as relationship issues, money problems, or the loss of a loved one
- Being younger than 20 years old
- Breastfeeding challenges
- A baby that was born premature or has special care needs
- An unplanned pregnancy
Whether or not women have risk factors, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that doctors ask them about depression symptoms both during and after pregnancy.
Treating Postpartum Depression
Effective treatment for PPD often includes a combination of interpersonal, or cognitive-behavioral therapy, support from family and friends, and/or medication such as antidepressants or newer drugs developed specifically for treating postpartum depression. It may also help to join a support group and share your feelings with others who are going through the same thing.
El Camino Health has a special program dedicated to the treatment of postpartum depression. The Maternal Outreach Mood Services (MOMS) Program is a collaborative effort between maternal health services and the Scrivner Center for Mental Health & Addiction Services. The program staff includes experienced clinical nurse specialists, marriage and family therapists, and psychiatrists with expertise in pregnancy and postpartum mood problems. Group sessions cover topics like stress management, mother-baby bonding, self-care and handling conflict with your partner. For more information, click here or call 650-940-7291.
This article appeared in the October 2024 edition of the HealthPerks newsletter.
