Postpartum depression

Long weeks of bearing a child are full of worries and concerns: is everything okay with the intrauterine development of the baby, are there any deviations and pathologies, and finally - it happened! The woman became a mother, the birth was successful, the newborn is healthy and the mother's condition is normal. At first glance, everything speaks in favor of experiencing happiness and fully enjoying life, finding considerable pleasure in caring for the baby, surrounding him with constant care and maternal attention. But often this wonderful long-awaited event of the birth of a child is overshadowed by the emergence of such a phenomenon, seemingly completely incompatible with this joyful state, as postpartum depression.

Every tenth woman who is prone to developing postpartum depression encounters its symptoms during pregnancy. A woman preparing to become a mother is in a state of nervous tension, experiences constant stress, her psycho-emotional sphere is unstable. And the process of childbirth itself is also a strong shock for her. Due to these factors, feelings and emotions can change in a short time in a very wide range: joyful euphoria can at some point be replaced by anxiety and fear, and what if something happens to be done wrong, which can harm the baby. Unreasonable sadness rolls in, problems with sleep appear - insomnia, appetite worsens, a decrease in sexual desire is noted, the woman is often in a depressed mood.

When this becomes regular and prolonged, then we speak of postpartum depression. The extreme form of such a depressive state is the occurrence of postpartum psychosis. It is also necessary to note the difference between postpartum depression and postpartum blues. The blues come after a few days from the time of childbirth and are characterized by the appearance of excessive tearfulness, worries about oneself and the child. Irritability, nervous tension, loss of strength appear. This can happen due to hormonal imbalance after childbirth. Postpartum blues usually do not linger for more than one or a couple of days.

Postpartum depression should in no way be taken as evidence that the woman who has it is a bad mother or simply weak-willed. Sometimes it can indicate insufficient psychological readiness to be a mother. Timely measures to overcome this condition will help you learn to control your own emotions and receive only positive emotions from your child.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ]

Causes of Postpartum Depression

As to what are the causes of postpartum depression, medical science is currently unable to give any definite, unambiguous answer. It can be assumed that the fundamental factor is the individual characteristics of the brain biochemistry. However, there are a number of prerequisites that increase the likelihood of its occurrence.

So, postpartum depression can occur due to the fact that a woman had a predisposition to depressive states before pregnancy, and was also depressed during the period of bearing a child.

Furthermore, the death of a woman’s mother experienced in childhood can contribute to the aggravation of her psycho-emotional state.

Postpartum depression often develops from feelings of guilt because the newborn is sick or was born prematurely.

The lack of support from the man who is the father of the child, as well as the groans of family and friends, can lead to postpartum depression.

Not the least role is given to the social status and level of well-being of the woman. In particular, if for her the housing issue is very acute, say, or such a negative material aspect as the fact that she recently lost her job. An additional aggravating factor regarding employment may be dismissal precisely because of pregnancy, which in some cases takes place.

It happens that a woman who has never given birth before, after the birth of her first child, faces a multitude of problems and responsibilities that have fallen on her in connection with this. Of course, the baby was long-awaited and loved, but the young mother imagined everything a little differently. Of course, in theory, a woman who takes responsibility for the birth of a child is ready to overcome all sorts of difficulties, but often in fact she may not cope, she is exhausted. Coming to the understanding of this, the woman experiences stress from the fact that the situation in which she finds herself does not correspond to her previous expectations.

In the process of caring for the child and performing other household duties, the mother is required to give her all. As a result, severe fatigue occurs, and it is not always possible to replenish the reserve of strength during sleep to a sufficient extent. The child wakes up, he needs to eat at certain intervals, and at first it is difficult for the woman to adjust to the biological rhythms of the baby, and to adapt to rest in the periods between feedings.

A young mother may also feel helpless in the face of something that needs to be done, but she does not have the knowledge and experience for it. Against the background of such self-doubt, she may begin to panic, and whether the child is receiving sufficient care, and whether she is doing everything right. In this regard, a strong sense of guilt can develop, which in turn often leads to depression.

The causes of postpartum depression can be of a very different nature. It is important to remember that motherhood is hard work, requiring absolute dedication and great exertion of strength, both physical and nervous, mental, plus a constant feeling of great responsibility for the baby. All this, under certain circumstances, can lead to a violation of the psycho-emotional stability of a woman and cause a depressive state.

[ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ]

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

The symptoms of postpartum depression primarily consist of a state of depression in which the woman is almost constantly. This is most pronounced in the morning or evening, or both in the morning and in the evening.

A woman who is depressed after giving birth to a child may be visited by thoughts about the meaninglessness of existence.

She may develop a guilt complex and feel guilty all the time.

The depressive state is accompanied by the appearance of irritability; the woman tends to show aggression towards her husband and older children.

Postpartum depression causes heightened emotional sensitivity, which can cause tears to flow from the eyes even for the most insignificant reason. Psycho-emotional exhaustion leads to a general decline in strength, and at the same time, their restoration during sleep can become difficult, since insomnia appears.

A frequent companion of postpartum depression is anhedonia - the loss of the ability to get pleasure from anything. This is also associated with the fact that the woman loses her sense of humor.

When depression occurs after childbirth, a woman may experience difficulty concentrating.

One of the characteristic features is constant excessive concern about the baby's health, which is why unjustified visits to various doctors to clarify his condition become more frequent.

The woman also begins to suspect her own health, which leads to searching for symptoms of all sorts of dangerous diseases in the body. Hypochondria develops.

On the other hand, a woman who has recently given birth to a child, in a state of depression, can take a position diametrically opposed to overprotection, become alienated from the baby, and claim that he is not her own, but a changeling.

Symptoms of postpartum depression, if they occur in combination with most of the above manifestations, require consultation with a medical specialist for subsequent appropriate correction of the woman's psychoemotional state. Postpartum depression is characterized by symptoms that are prolonged in nature, when a number of corresponding phenomena are observed over a long period. But some of these signs at some point in time may be situational, but the appearance of any of them is not always unambiguous and with good reason indicates that postpartum depression is taking place. All the considerable responsibilities of a woman who has become a mother place a great burden on her body, and therefore some failures in its functioning are almost inevitable.

Postpartum depression in men

Depression after childbirth is considered to be a problem that is predominantly exclusively female. However, this statement can be criticized and questioned with good reason. According to the results of research by American scientists, there is a certain reliably confirmed relationship. According to it, the presence of postpartum depression in women in families determines the possibility that postpartum depression may also occur in men. The ratio of cases in which it appears during the first year of a child's life is 14 percent of women and 4% (men), respectively. Researchers from Great Britain voice data indicating that every tenth man who has recently become a father is susceptible to developing postpartum depression.

The birth of a child in a married couple often acts as a catalyst for all the problems and disagreements between the husband and wife, sometimes completely hidden until that moment. This is explained by the fact that when a baby is born, the established way of life and way of life undergoes radical changes, each of the spouses is now not just one of two, from that pair of people who go through life together. With the appearance of a small third family member, they have to get used to the new roles of mom and dad, get used to performing all the functions and responsibilities associated with this.

In this regard, women are certainly in a winning position, since even in childhood, playing with dolls, they begin to prepare for motherhood, and basic skills for handling a baby are developed in a playful manner.

And already during the intrauterine gestation of the baby, the woman holds it under her heart, the expectant mother talks to the baby, which leads to the gradual formation of a strong emotional connection. That is, for a woman, the child, even unborn, already exists, it is already a fact for her.

In addition, one cannot discount the maternal instinct.

Men perceive all this somewhat differently. It is often difficult for them to come to the final understanding that there is a new human life there. Even when talking to a baby, they cannot fully comprehend this.

But the main changes burst into a man’s life with the first cry of a newborn.

The new mother from now on and on directs all her care, first of all, to the baby. In such a situation, the man has to be content with the insignificant crumbs of his former attention. When, of course, she has enough time and energy left for this. As a result, the man experiences a feeling of loneliness.

Postpartum depression in men is inextricably linked with the depressive state of a woman after the birth of a baby, so if any of its signs appear, it is better to go to a psychological consultation together.

How long does postpartum depression last?

Depressive state is a mental disorder and behavioral reactions that often develops in a woman after the birth of a child. Postpartum depression is not one of the mental illnesses that is characterized by a high degree of severity, but the period immediately following childbirth is the time when its occurrence is highly likely. Due to a certain combination of factors, a woman may develop a number of mental states. These include: maternal melancholy, postpartum depression itself, and the development of postpartum psychosis.

Maternal melancholy, also known as "motherhood blues", affects up to 50 percent of women who have recently brought a new life into the world. This condition is characterized by heightened emotionality, which is reflected in excessive tearfulness, a woman's appetite worsens, and insomnia may occur. Maternal melancholy reaches its greatest severity by the 3rd to 5th day, which is why it is sometimes called "third-day melancholy". The duration of such melancholy often covers a fairly long period of time and can be as little as a couple of hours or can drag on for several days. With maternal melancholy, a woman is not prone to alienate herself from the need to do everything that the baby requires, she regularly feeds him on time and shows sufficient attention and care.

Maternal melancholy does not have the character of a mental illness, it appears against the background of postpartum hormonal imbalance in the female body and is transient. However, further exposure to stress factors is quite capable of causing it to flow into postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression often replaces maternal melancholy when a woman leaves the maternity hospital. However, this does not mean that as soon as you cross the threshold of the maternity ward, a depressive state immediately rolls in. This can begin when the baby is already several months old. How long does postpartum depression last? The duration of postpartum depression can vary from one month to several years.

In the four weeks after childbirth, in extremely rare cases (on average 1/1000), women experience the preconditions for postpartum psychosis to develop against the background of postpartum depression.

Based on how long postpartum depression lasts and what form and severity the woman's associated depressed state takes, the necessary measure of medical and psychological corrective action is determined in order to normalize the psycho-emotional sphere and restore the joy of life.

Prolonged postpartum depression

A depressed state of mind is found in many women in the period following the birth of a child. Mostly, such postpartum blues do not linger longer than a few days or one or two weeks. If after a certain period of time there is no obvious tendency to normalize the psycho-emotional state, then this may indicate that there is such a significant problem as prolonged postpartum depression. It can be provoked by a variety of situations occurring in a woman's life, which are of a material, social nature, problems in interpersonal relationships, lack of understanding and support from relatives and loved ones, etc.

There is no clearly defined time frame for the onset of postpartum depression, as a rule, it occurs in the first few months after a woman becomes a mother. Although it can also occur at any other time during the first year of motherhood. The symptoms of a woman's postpartum depressive state are measured in months, and when it takes on particularly severe forms, it often lasts for years. While under favorable circumstances, postpartum depression gradually fades away, in this case it makes sense to say that it acquires all the signs of a chronic disease.

Postpartum depression, especially in its protracted form, is the most frequent guest of many mothers. Moreover, its appearance is largely facilitated by certain personal characteristics of these mothers. In particular, women who are neurotic, prone to hysterical reactions, as well as to obsessive states of constant fear due to any of their actions of causing harm to the child, are predisposed to protracted postpartum depression. Another category of women who are highly likely to develop depression after childbirth are those who in childhood faced a lack of emotional participation from their mother. Due to this, they often have a contradictory perception of sexuality and motherhood, and as a result - low self-esteem and a feeling of insecurity. From here, in turn, it is practically one step to depression due to the inability to cope with problems.

How long this depressed state can last and how long the prolonged postpartum depression will last is determined by a combination of factors, including the temperament of the woman who has recently become a mother, her psychological state, and some external circumstances. Making assumptions about how long the depressive state caused by all this will last in each individual case is often beyond even the power of a competent psychologist.

Postpartum depression after cesarean section

Postpartum depression after a cesarean section, as evidenced by the results obtained in a number of studies, is noted in a significantly greater number of cases than when the resolution of childbirth occurs naturally. Certain physiological factors can serve as a justification for this. First of all, it is inextricably linked with the functioning of the endocrine system, with the hormonal balance in the woman's body.

During natural childbirth without surgical opening of the uterus, the hormone oxytocin is actively secreted, the peak intensity of its secretion is observed during the first minutes after childbirth. The effect that oxytocin produces leads to a state of euphoria, against the background of which the feeling of pain is significantly dulled. Thus, the birth of a child is associated with the emergence of positive emotions in a woman, and the negative phenomena associated with this process recede into the background. Speaking of oxytocin, it is often called the "love hormone". This hormone, among other things, becomes very important later, during lactation and breastfeeding, since it takes part in the processes of milk production.

The situation is completely different when it becomes necessary to deliver the baby by caesarean section. Since in this case there is no hormonal release of oxytocin, it must be administered specifically to stimulate uterine contractions and also to increase lactation.

In addition, one cannot exclude the importance of the mental state and emotional mood of the pregnant woman. She is inspired by the joyful anticipation of the appearance of such a desired baby, perhaps she has already managed to build a picture in her mind of how all this should happen, and at the same time (which is typical mainly for overly emotional and anxious people) she may be concerned that the birth should be only natural. In this case, what can be surprising in the fact that objective indications for a cesarean are perceived almost as a sentence. A woman can develop a guilt complex because she could not immediately see her baby, she did not form an emotional connection with the child, something important passed her by.

Time, as we know, heals. Postpartum depression after a cesarean section may pass earlier for some - in a few days, and for others it is not in a hurry to part with, lingering for weeks. One way or another, such problems gradually disappear without a trace, emotional contact between mother and child is established. The woman is completely overwhelmed by maternal feelings, the pain goes away, and fears dissipate.

Consequences of postpartum depression

The consequences of postpartum depression, in addition to being reflected in a woman’s prolonged depressed psycho-emotional state, can also have the most unfavorable effect on her baby.

Children who are breastfed by mothers who are depressed are prone to increased excitability. However, diametrically opposite manifestations are also possible – the child may be abnormally passive, lethargic, sad. During the first year of life, he is less inclined to demonstrate positive, bright, intense emotions. Significant introversion, insufficiently developed ability to concentrate, and low mobility are noted. These children have a significant probability of developmental delays, and a later onset of speech formation is noted. It is possible that they may face a number of problems upon reaching adolescence. Such children are more likely to show aggression and cruelty.

Postpartum depression in the mother leads to a disruption in the interaction between her and the baby. A woman in a depressed state after childbirth is sometimes unable to give an adequate response to the behavior and spontaneous actions of the baby. Sometimes they can even cause her to have a negative attitude and become irritated.

The interactions between a mother with postpartum depression and her child are classified into four main groups.

Mothers are detached from everything, immersed in their sad state, their expression of feelings is extremely weak, most of the time they remain silent.

Choleric women, whose internal tension is expressed in the form of involuntary facial movements.

Mothers who take a tyrant's position towards their child, demonstrating rudeness and unceremoniousness in their treatment of him.

Women who experience postpartum depression experience a combination of the three types listed above.

The consequences of postpartum depression represent a significant risk factor that the child in the process of development, growth and personality formation may come into contact with the emergence of mental disorders of various nature. In all likelihood, the prerequisites for this are, first of all, the insufficient attention he receives from his mother and the lack of the necessary emotional contact in the mother-child dyad.

[ 11 ], [ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ], [ 15 ], [ 16 ], [ 17 ]

Diagnosis of postpartum depression

Diagnosis of postpartum depression seems to be problematic and difficult to a significant extent due to the fact that it is characterized by specific negative changes occurring in the psycho-emotional sphere of a woman. And the human psyche is currently still not studied sufficiently for an accurate and unambiguous understanding of all the processes occurring in it. Feelings and emotions are not subject to any laboratory analysis, as a result of which one could state with all justification - here it is, postpartum depression.

First of all, the doctor should make sure that the depressive state does not develop due to a thyroid disorder. To exclude or, on the contrary, confirm this possibility, a blood test for hormone levels is prescribed.

During a visit to a psychiatrist, a woman should provide him with comprehensive information about family members, whether she has had depression in the past, and also tell about all the symptoms she has.

The diagnosis of postpartum depression, since it is a special mental state, comes down to the fact that it is possible to judge its presence and assume that it is taking place only by taking into account the observed characteristic manifestations of behavioral reactions and changes in the female body that have a psychosomatic origin.

[ 18 ], [ 19 ]

Treatment for postpartum depression

Treatment of postpartum depression involves the implementation of appropriate measures in two main areas of influence on the depressive state of a woman who has recently given birth to a child. These include the use of antidepressant medications and possibly hormonal therapy, in combination with psychocorrection. It should be noted that the need to undergo an appropriate course of psychotherapy concerns both parents.

When using antidepressants, a woman is advised to refrain from breastfeeding during the lactation period; the child should be bottle-fed during the course of their use. However, according to some medical specialists, it is possible to protect the child from the entry into his body of medications taken by the nursing mother and at the same time may be present in her milk by separating the time of taking medications and feeding.

Today, there is a fairly wide range of pharmacological drugs that help effectively overcome postpartum depression. It is quite common among women to believe that the use of antidepressants is inevitably associated with the development of addiction and dependence on them. However, this is not entirely true. The essence of the problem in this regard is the correctness of their use. Antidepressants should be taken strictly at the prescribed times. Improvements, as a rule, should be expected no earlier than two weeks after the start of the course of treatment. In order for drugs to have the desired effect, they need to reach a certain level of content in the body. Therefore, if the expected results and visible effect are absent some time after their first use, you should not refuse further use. The total duration of treatment with antidepressants is on average six months. In case of early interruption of the course of such drug treatment, there is a possibility that the manifestations of postpartum depression will resume.

Currently, pharmaceutical manufacturers can offer antidepressants intended for use by nursing mothers. The likelihood of negative consequences for the baby is minimized.

Hormonal therapy may be prescribed to treat postpartum depression. Estrogen injections are designed to replace the hormone levels that have decreased after childbirth. This results in a reduction in some of the symptoms of depression in women in the postpartum period.

To a large extent, such an aspect as receiving psychological support from someone who is able to listen and show understanding of feelings and experiences contributes to the normalization of the psycho-emotional sphere of a woman with postpartum depression. It happens that such support cannot be found among relatives and friends, then it makes sense to go to a consultation with a psychologist whose specialization is postpartum depression. A specialist will be able to help choose the best ways to cope with this problem.

Qualified rational treatment of postpartum depression helps to successfully get rid of it in a few months, and only in a relatively small number of cases does it continue to last up to a year. The choice of necessary therapeutic measures should be made with an eye to the severity of the depressive state, as well as on the basis of what individual, personal needs the woman has.

How to get rid of postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is a very common phenomenon, and in most cases is not a critical reason to seek medical help. The decision to seek medical help with such a depressive condition is made by each woman at her own discretion. In terms of choosing ways to get rid of postpartum depression on your own, there are a number of recommendations and rules, adhering to which it becomes possible to achieve a speedy recovery.

It is necessary to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, which includes morning exercises, physical exercises, daily walks with the child in the fresh air. This also includes optimizing the diet, including healthy food with a small amount of calories in the diet and a categorical refusal to drink alcohol.

There is no need to force yourself into anything. It makes sense to part with some expectations and certain views on what an ideal family should be like, a woman should only do what she can do and leave everything else. When such a need arises, it would be a good idea to ask for help from loved ones or friends. Do not forget about rest. When there is a feeling that the world is slipping out from under your feet, and everything starts to fall out of your hands, you need to devote some time to this. To restore strength and find peace of mind, you can go for a walk, visit a friend, or run an errand.

You should not hide your feelings and emotions too deeply inside yourself; it would be good to share them with your partner, husband, close relatives, friends. Communication with other mothers can distract you from self-absorption in your depressive state, in the process of which you can learn from their experience, which is useful in solving some issues.

Postpartum depression can also be reflected in the emotional tension that arises in many of the close circle of the woman who is affected by it. In particular, when the mother is depressed after the birth of a child, this causes an increased risk of the man who has recently become a father also falling into a depressive state.

How to get rid of postpartum depression can be found out during a consultation with a doctor, who will give practical recommendations and, if necessary, prescribe treatment using medications - antidepressants, hormonal therapy, etc. The sooner you seek medical and psychological help, the more likely it is that this problem will lose its relevance in the shortest possible time.

Treatment of postpartum depression with folk remedies

Treatment of postpartum depression with folk remedies is based on the use of fairly simple methods. They allow you to begin implementing treatment measures independently and begin to have a beneficial effect within the shortest time.

Among the most significant factors that help overcome postpartum depression is following the principles of proper nutrition. The results of special studies show that there is a direct relationship between the amount of sugar consumed and the frequency of postpartum depression in women. The same can be said about chocolate, which is why it is advisable to avoid it or reduce it to a minimum in the diet.

Drinking decoctions and infusions from all kinds of medicinal plants and herbs can be of considerable benefit in cases of depression associated with the birth of a child.

An herbal infusion of knotweed is prepared by pouring one glass of boiling water over two teaspoons of dry crushed raw material. After this, the infusion should be covered and left to brew for a quarter of an hour to 20 minutes. Then filter and take half immediately, and the rest after half an hour.

Herbal decoction with peppermint - one teaspoon of dry crushed raw material per glass of boiling water is placed in a water bath for 15-20 minutes at a low boil. After cooling and filtering, take twice a day.

There is one condition - this type of treatment using folk remedies has contraindications for existing disorders of the digestive system, in particular, increased acidity.

An infusion of motherwort is prepared in the following way: one teaspoon of it in dry crushed form should be poured with a glass of boiling water, covered and left to brew for 20-30 minutes. The resulting infusion is filtered and taken several times (2-3).

Baths with an infusion of black poplar leaves added to the water can also be cited as a very simple and at the same time effective method of combating postpartum depression. Young dried leaves are used for preparation. Swollen poplar buds collected in early spring can also be used as medicinal raw materials. 100 grams of dried raw materials are brewed in one liter of water over low heat for 20 minutes. The resulting infusion, after filtering, should be poured into a filled bath. Such a bath should be taken for a quarter of an hour.

Treatment of postpartum depression with folk remedies, therefore, comes down to a number of rules, among which we can highlight the need to avoid significant overloads, both physical and mental, to walk in the fresh air more often, to properly and rationally organize nutrition with a preferred content of plant products in the diet.

Treatment of postpartum depression with antidepressants

Postpartum depression, when a woman’s condition as a result of psychotherapeutic sessions does not show a tendency to restore her psychoemotional optimum, may require the use of medications in the antidepressant category.

Treatment of postpartum depression with antidepressants involves a six-month course of their use. After its completion, treatment continues for another 6 months in order to minimize the possibility of relapses in the future.

In terms of their pharmacological action, antidepressants used to treat postpartum depression belong to selective inhibitors, the action of which is to reuptake serotonin. The drugs that exist today are well tolerated, but in order for the effect they produce to begin to be fully actualized, a fairly long period of time may be required from the moment they are used.

Prozac is the first drug that actually started the development of the industry of drugs that help fight depression. It helps to stabilize the mental state during depression. Thanks to its use, a significant improvement in the mood of patients is observed. It has the form of hard gelatin capsules containing 20 mg of fluoxetine hydrochloride, which should be taken in the initial recommended total daily dose of 20 mg, regardless of food intake. Side effects can be: nausea, vomiting, taste disturbances, tremors, seizures, nervousness, increased anxiety accompanied by tachycardia, confusion, insomnia, skin rashes, urticaria, itching may appear.

Zoloft is available in film-coated tablets. One tablet contains sertraline hydrochloride 50 mg. In the treatment of depression, it is prescribed at an initial dose of 50 mg per day - 1 tablet in the morning or evening. Taking the drug does not depend on food intake. It may be accompanied by a number of negative manifestations in the form of nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, tachycardia, the occurrence of arterial hypertension, muscle cramps, fainting, drowsiness or insomnia, nightmares, dizziness, tremor, hallucinations, migraine, anxiety, mania, suicide.

Paxil is a film-coated tablet containing 22.8 mg of hydrochloride hemihydrate, which is equivalent to 20 mg of paroxetine. Take 1 tablet daily with your morning meal. Side effects associated with the use of the drug include loss of appetite, drowsiness or insomnia, nightmares during sleep, tremors, headaches, dizziness, diarrhea or constipation, dry mouth, vomiting, increased sweating, and skin rashes.

The drug Cipramil is a film-coated tablet, each of which, depending on the form of release, may contain citalopram 20 mg or 40, respectively. The dose prescribed for depression is 20 mg per day at any time, regardless of food intake. Use can often provoke dry mouth, nausea, diarrhea, lead to drowsiness, cause tremors, insomnia, severe sweating, agitation.

Treatment of postpartum depression with antidepressants is prescribed with individual selection of dosage, and is also adjusted according to the achieved positive effect. If the patient shows obvious suicidal tendencies, she is subject to immediate hospitalization in a specialized department.

Prevention of postpartum depression

In such a matter as prevention of postpartum depression, it is impossible to say with all possible certainty what actions need to be taken so that a woman can be insured against its occurrence with 100% certainty. There are only certain prognostic factors that can help reduce the risk of developing this phenomenon, which has the most detrimental effect on both the woman and her child. Among such favorable moments, one can name the presence of support received during pregnancy from loved ones. Thanks to this, the maternal instinct gets the opportunity to sufficiently form and establish itself. Therefore, a woman should pay the closest attention to her condition, take maximum care of herself. It is necessary to avoid stressful situations whenever possible and keep yourself in good physical shape.

One of the primary tasks in this is to take care not to bring yourself to a state of extreme fatigue. Undoubtedly, while the baby is sleeping, his mother is puzzled by how to extract maximum benefit from this time and manage to do a great many things. But it is often difficult to cope with all the household chores at once, and the woman falls off her feet from fatigue. It would be good to plan, for example, in cooking, not to take on dishes that require a laborious cooking process, but to opt for those that are simpler.

In addition, it is important not to forget that the psycho-emotional state is closely connected with the physical state. In order to return to the previous physical form before pregnancy and childbirth, you can start doing a set of special exercises aimed at restoring the figure and tightening the tummy. Dance movements can be excellent for this purpose, while the child is in your arms.

When there is such an opportunity, you should not refuse to break away from the circle of tiring daily duties, even for a short time. If you have someone to leave the child with for a while, it is worth going to visit with your husband, or to the cinema with a friend. When you are walking with the baby, it would also be great to meet other mothers and discuss all sorts of common concerns.

Prevention of postpartum depression, therefore, involves, on the one hand, taking steps to strengthen all the woman’s strengths – improving her health, improving her physical condition, getting into optimal shape, etc., and on the other hand, ensuring that the proverb “where it’s thinnest, it breaks” does not come true. In this regard, in particular, if you suspect a predisposition to depressive states, it makes sense to see a doctor at least once a quarter. And if depressions have occurred before, it is worth visiting a psychotherapist during pregnancy.

Prognosis for postpartum depression

The prognosis for postpartum depression under certain unfavorable circumstances may consist of the transition of such a depressed psychoemotional state of a woman who has recently given birth to a child into a more severe stage of mental disorders called postpartum psychosis.

The severity of a woman's depressive state after childbirth depends on how timely the signs of postpartum depression were recognized and how soon the necessary steps were taken to prevent its worsening. After all, we must not lose sight of the fact that the extreme feature of the progression of negative phenomena in the female psyche in some cases is suicide, that is, sometimes we are talking about life and death. Postpartum psychosis, according to statistics, occurs in one or two women out of 1000 who have recently given birth. Both women themselves suffer from its manifestations, and it has the most negative effect on the health and development of children of such depressive mothers.

There is, however, an opposite, positive tendency and prognosis for postpartum depression. If the mother and child are surrounded by love, care and understanding from loved ones, always ready to come to the rescue with advice and action, the woman feels protected. Due to this, all existing problems, worries and troubles do not acquire insurmountable proportions in her eyes. She is confident in the future and carries a positive attitude, which leaves no room for depression.