Postpartum Depression And Depression

Even if pregnancy was desired and a new mother loved the newborn more than anything else, physical, hormonal, and psychological changes after pregnancy and childbirth can cause conflicting emotions.  When a child moves from the hospital home with a child, major changes take place in life that do not necessarily match the woman’s imaginations or desires. In addition to this, the mother may be very tired and may have states of fear. Many associate such symptoms with postpartum depression, but much more often it is the so-called baby blues.

Today we tell you how postpartum depression and depression differ. It is important to understand when there is normal and transient sadness and when there is postpartum depression that requires professional help.

Postpartum depression

Most people have probably heard of postpartum depression, but not everyone knows that postpartum sadness can manifest itself in varying degrees and types – for example, the so-called baby blues, or postpartum depression. According to statistics, more than half of new mothers experience an unspecified feeling of sadness in the postpartum period.

During baby blues, a woman is exposed to unexplained depression for a few days or weeks. This stage is often accompanied by major hormonal and psychological changes, fatigue, new and frightening responsibilities, the release of long-term tension, and the re-perception of oneself. Postpartum depression can cause mood swings, fear, sadness, seizures, anxiety, irritability, and feelings of despair. A fresh mother may feel like she is covered in a veil of fog or that her world is falling apart.

Postpartum depression begins immediately or moderately quickly after delivery and usually lasts for up to ten days. After this, the symptoms begin to disappear without the need for therapy or medication. The only treatment needed is usually the right kind of support from a partner and others close to you.

Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression refers to a state of depression that begins within a month or a few months of delivery. While a large proportion of new mothers experience transient postpartum depression, about  10 to 15 percent of women who give birth develop a longer-lasting and more severe depressive condition.

Symptoms of postpartum depression may include irritability, restlessness, low mood, fatigue, lack of interest, lack of interest in things and one’s own child, crying, difficulty falling asleep and sleeping, changes in appetite, feeling guilty, poor concentration and suicide.

Symptoms of postpartum depression usually improve within 2 to 6 months, but some women are known to suffer from the problem for up to a year. If the normal postpartum sensitization phase does not pass in a couple of weeks or the symptoms worsen into a clear depression, it is important for the new mother to consult a clinic staff or doctor. Medications and various psychotherapies are used to treat postpartum depression.