The Baby Blues: For Many New Mothers, Postpartum Depression Disrupts Happy Time of Life
Are You Experiencing These Symptoms of Postpartum Depression?
- A persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood
- Sleeping too much or too little, early morning awakening
- Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased appetite and weight gain
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
- Restlessness, irritability or excessive crying
- Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
- Feeling worthless, guilty, helpless, hopeless, or pessimistic
- Fatigue or loss of energy, feeling "slowed down"
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
If any of these symptoms persist for longer than a couple of weeks, or if they interfere with your daily routine, please seek help.
Updated October 2002 — "We've all felt a case of "the blues" at one time or another. For new mothers, however, the blues can progress into something far more serious than a melancholy mood. Left untreated, the "baby blues" can escalate into a condition called post- partum depression (PPD).
Postpartum depression can range from mild or moderate depression to severe psychosis. If the depression becomes clinical, professional help is needed. About 10 percent of women who experience PPD develop clinical depression. One percent of those women progress to symptomatic psychosis, when proper diagnosis and treatment are critical.
Triggers that should alert new moms to seek help include feelings of inadequacy or impending doom, emotional instability and thoughts of suicide. Unfortunately, most women are told that crying fits and feelings of inadequacy are normal after childbirth, so they don't seek help if the condition gets worse.
Without support, women experiencing PPD may try to control their feelings. However, there is no way to "control" PPD; instead, patients must learn to deal with it.
Family support is very important. A partner, parent, sister or friend can assure the new mom that everything will be okay and advise her to seek professional help, if needed. A support network can also give the mother a break from her duties, allowing her time to relax. By taking time for herself, the mother has an opportunity to focus and regroup.
Asking for Help
At such a joyous time in life, it is important to understand the changes taking place and how to adjust to them. Any mother who has concerns about PPD should consult her OB/GYN first. The physician can then recommend proper methods of dealing with the situation. These may include mother's groups, family places, postpartum support groups and other valuable resources.
The Transitioning Into Motherhood Support Group meets from 10am - Noon the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Memorial Hospital West in the Family Birthplace waiting room, 703 North Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines. The free meetings give new moms support during the first months of motherhood. For more information, please call (954) 844-7110.