What You Need To Know About Post Partum Depression
The causes and risks of postpartum depression are generally a result of hormone imbalance. It can be a serious disorder, and there can be major risks when the signs and symptoms are ignored. Often women will mask the symptoms and hide their feelings which can result in serious problems long term.
Due to women’s unique physical characteristics which are normally weaker than men, therefore increase the risk of being affected by illness. Just look from the incidence of depression, the female patient has accounted for 3/4 of the number of depression and the situation is worrying.
Causes and Risks
The factors that causes women to be more susceptible to PPD can be summarized into two points, first is stress overloading, and second is a few special physiological periods of women. Overload pressure derive from women’s all-round role. A lot of women work very hard in their career; also a very good housewife doing all the chores in the family. They may be able to split their time well within a short period and able to coordinate the two roles well. A lot of stress that evolve they tend to bear them down silently. There may be many legitimate grievances and unhappiness that can’t be resolve, and after long-term accumulation will have a subtle effect on mental health that easy to form a fragile and impulsive character.
In accordance with the normal physiological pattern, females will go through a few special periods in their life including pregnancy and menopause. During pregnancy, the hormone levels change dramatically. This may cause emotional fluctuations and physical weakness. By that time, their heart and body required a lot of cares from their husbands and close relatives.
However, many women tend to have strained relations with their spouses, and accumulated a lot of problems together which are yet to resolve. In the mean time, there is not enough care from husband and this lead to the escalation of conflicts which deepen the depression, and ultimately result in post partum depression.
Changes Physically and Emotionally
Post partum depression is the most common mental disorders in female. After delivery of baby, due to sex hormones, social roles and psychological changes, all these can bring changes to a woman physically, emotionally or psychologically.
In addition, menopause and pregnancy women tend to have the same characteristics, where their estrogen hormone levels may drop sharply, menstruation stops. Some are having aging problem and easy to become irritable, or being depressed and sensitive.
Some women may face changes in both psychologically and physiologically in bearing with menopause changes. If this is coupled with the people around them who do not understand their mind and improper handling of their menopausal, then the damage can be very serious as they tend to extremely susceptible to depression at this moment.
Symptoms in “Dangerous Period”
In fact, women who fall in these two “dangerous period” accounting for about 2/3 of the total number of female patients who are suffer with depression. If you have spouse or friends in this period, you need to show more of your understanding and cares as this depression is avoidable if handling well. Everyone did have depressed mood and it also a normal manifestation of the body. However, if you do not manage the feeling well, it will evolve into a depression. Depression has persistent and recurrent features. People who are suffer with depression often having symptoms associated with insomnia, hair loss, nausea and vomiting. This can be an affliction to a person both mental and physical.
The health of a woman after carrying and delivering a baby after nine months is extremely important. Sadly a percentage of women suffer from the medical disorder known as post partum depression. Facts show that when a woman hits the third trimester of her pregnancy her body is producing up to 10 times the usual hormone progesterone.
Pregnancy Moms After Delivery
First let’s look at the hormonal aspect of pregnancy. Women produce two main hormones they are estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are very important for balance and growth of the fetus and the placenta. If there is an imbalance in production and release there can be problems with relation to the baby’s size, and the woman’s ability to produce milk.
Shortly after the baby is delivered the doctor will remove the placenta. The placenta’s role during pregnancy is to produce progesterone. Many women suffer low levels of both hormones after birth. The hormone progesterone acts like an antidepressant and after delivery many women become depressed. When these hormone levels bottom out, many women start to have and unbalanced sense of well being and become depressed.
Post partum depression also known as PPD can be a serious disorder if it is not dealt with appropriately. Women tend to become withdrawn, feeling down and sad and many suggest feelings of hopelessness are common. Many women experience increased levels of anxiety; if these symptoms and feelings are not dealt quickly the disorder may worsen to a level known as post partum psychosis. It is important that the patient communicates these symptoms and feelings with their partner, or health professional. It is also very important to know that you are not alone and there is a bright side ahead.
Many professionals suggest and prescribe antidepressants to woman that are suffering the side effects associated with PPD. Treatment depends on what exactly the woman is going through, whether or not she is breast feeding, and other considerations. It is important that new mothers have a solid support base. The health of Mom and Baby are the most important aspect in dealing with post partum depression.
Although women in today world is playing more and more important role, but they are at the same time still vulnerable in some ways. If they need to bear a lot of responsibilities at the same time, they will bear a lot of stress at the same time as well. Women who have family are having the role of wife and mother to play. They need balance and coordination in all aspects. They need sympathetic and understanding from their love one as well.
Why Do I Feel Depressed During Pregnancy?
Having a baby can be a special time for families. However for some mothers and their families it can be a difficult time if they are dealing with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and even anger. Depression during pregnancy is a common, thankfully there has been a lot of research and the medical field has a good grasp on the signs and symptom, ways to diagnose, treat and maintain a successful prognosis.
Identify the Disorder Before Too Late
It is very important to understand that depression during pregnancy can be a serious issue. The depression can progress during and after pregnancy. There are a number of ways families can deal with this difficult time. Over the years medication has been the most popular method. Recently studies have found that medication may not be the only way to cure the mother of these thoughts and feelings. Depression in pregnancy, also known as postpartum depression or PPD has many signs and symptoms.
Some women may experience some or all of the following:
- Extreme exhaustion
- Feelings of sadness that won’t go away
- Hopelessness
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Over eating or not eating at all
- Increase in irritability
It is normal for women to go through hormonal changes through their pregnancy. Often these changes can be attributed to PPD. The chemicals in the brain also undergo various changes of state which health care professionals and researches agree can result in some of these diagnoses.
Treatments are dependant on what level the women is at with regard to the depression. If the feelings are relatively new and the patient is deemed to be low risk, often prescribed hormonal replacements or supplements are adequate. Often treatment can mirror that of dealing with seasonal affective disorder, and the patient will have a complete medical history done including blood work to see what exactly is needed.
PPD Treatment
The medical field is somewhat split with regard to what is thought to be the best method to treat women suffering from PPD. If you polled one hundred medical professionals all would likely agree that hormonal drugs solve the problem. The same poll would also suggest that the patients best bet is to partake in some sort type of psychotherapy, or to enter a society for light treatment where the mother can relate with others that are or have suffered from the same problems. Having an environment that is positive and non judgemental is essential for the healing mother. It is also extremely important that things are taken care of at an early stage rather than allowing for the symptoms to manifest into a more serious stage of the disorder.
Like most health care conditions PPD patients respond well to various treatments. No two women are the same, and how they respond to medication, group therapy, or perhaps just one to one counselling with a professional will vary. The one common denominator here is to protect the new mother and the baby. The end goal is a balanced mental state where the entire family can go about life in a happy and warm state.
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression – Will I Always Feel Sad?
Postpartum depression also known as PPD, is an illness that can happen to a woman after delivering the baby. This kind of depression may be accompanied by the baby blues that can be difficult to deal with. The last thing a new mother wants to deal with is their own behavioral problems. It is important to realize however that in order to have a health active baby that Mom need to takes care of herself.
PPD is the most common mental disorders in female. After baby being delivered, a series of changes in sex hormones, psychology, physical and emotion can cause such depression.
Time for PPD Development
This illness is typically happen within 6 weeks after delivery. It can persist throughout confinement period and some even persist till children pre-school. The incidence of having postpartum depression is in 15% to 30%. Some can be self-recovery in 3 to 6 months while some serious one can persist up to 1 to 2 years. For a woman getting pregnant again, the recurrence rate of postpartum depression will be in 20% to 30%.
Postpartum depression comes with many forms of signs and symptoms. A high majority of women suffering from postpartum depression suggest that they experienced one or all of the following problems: exhaustion, moody, agitated excessive crying, anxiety, anger, and a general feeling of sadness.
Typically postpartum depression begins near the end of the pregnancy and after delivery. The signs and symptoms can appear quickly, or may worsen as the days and weeks pass. PPD can last for up to a year, and should be dealt with as soon as the mother feels a change in her mood.
Signs and Symptoms
PPD and the signs and symptoms that go with is caused by a decrease in hormone production. Recent studies also suggest that the Omega-3 acid called DHA aids in the body being able to deal with disorders such as PPD. DHA fatty acids make up a percentage of the brain and nerve endings which is important for the production and well being of the entire body.
When women go through nine months of pregnancy on top of labor and delivery the hormone levels as well DHA decrease drastically. When this happens there can be a risk of postpartum depression, increased anxiety, and other mood disorders.
Causes
1. Perfectionist Personality
For a perfectionist mom, due to unrealistic expectation which is not match with the real result, and also do not want to seek help in times of difficulties, so they may not be able to adapt to be a new mother. If her husband not helpful to take care of baby together or lack of moral support to her, then she will feel tremendous stress.
2. Having Emotion Fluctuation during Pregnancy
If a woman is having sever mood swing during pregnancy, such as moving house, death of friends or family, serious quarrel with husband, all these will cause a pregnant women more prone to postpartum depression. Many cases have shown that majority of women are already showing signs of postpartum depression during pregnancy, and many of them will have such illness continue to deepen.
3. Endocrine
In the course of pregnancy and delivery, the process of endocrine will underwent great changes, especially within 24 hours of delivery. The dramatic change in hormone level is the biological basis of the occurrence of postpartum depression. The study found that the release of the placenta before labor steroids to achieve the highest value, the patients showed a happy mood; and patients are showing depression when secretion of placental steroid sudden decrease.
4. Genetic
Family history of mental illness, especially those with a family history of depression may incline for depression. This indicating family genetic are likely to affect a woman’s susceptibility to depression and her personality. (However, even having some clinical researches show genetic tends to have correlation for some people to develop depression, but there is still no prove of it.)
5. Body
Those expectant mothers who have physical illness or disability are prone to postpartum depression, especially infections or fever which can have some impact on it. Besides, the susceptibility of the functionality of the central nervous, emotional and regulating movement of information processing systems (such as dopamine) effects may be related to the occurrence of postpartum depression as well.
Clinical manifestations
1. Become Moody
The most prominent symptoms are persistent depression, manifested as gloomy, lethargy, drowsiness, tears and crying. Patients common use the word of “unhappy”, “sad”, “boring”, “emptiness”, “lonely” to describe their feelings. Patients often feel depressed and easy get angry on minor issue.
In a very long period of time, the mood is depressed most of the time. Even there have been a few days or 1 – 2 weeks of good sentiment, but will soon fell into depress again. Nevertheless, the degree of depression is generally not serious, emotional reactions still exists, a few humorous mockery words can make a patient laugh. An easy conversation will also make him/her feel better temporarily. Patients themselves can also be aware of their own unusual emotion, but often they will put the blame on others or on the environment.
2. Cognitive changes
Patients of depression may lack of interest in daily activities, feel unpleasant to any entertainment or enjoyable thing. They often low in self-esteem, self-blaming and feel guilty. Mentally they will feel brain unresponsive and having difficulty in thinking. For serious patients, they will always carry a negative thinking, lost confidence in life, sense a bleak future, hopeless, feel life has no meaning, and even attempted suicide.
3. Physical Symptoms
About 80% of patients will have insomnia, headache, body pain, dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus and other physical symptoms. Some symptoms can persist, but no significant aggravation or mitigation. Once patients get recover, these physical symptoms of postpartum depression will lifted and disappear.
Communication and honesty is important when dealing with the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression. If your partner is pregnant in the last trimester, or has already delivered it is important that you monitor her behaviour. Providing moral support, talking about how she is feeling and helping to ensure that she gets sufficient rest is essential. Many women will deny the feelings that they are experiencing, they may feel that they are not being strong for their baby. It ‘s a great idea for the couple to discuss the signs and symptoms that are associated with PPD. Make an agreement that you both will communicate any changes in mood, and feelings of sadness. PPD effects not only Mom, but also can have a negative affect towards the baby as well other members of the family. It is very important that everyone communicates their feelings.
So a brief review of the postpartum depression signs and symptoms: Moms may go through periods of sadness, hopelessness, feelings of anxiety, and exhaustion. Other symptoms of the disorder may include but is not limited to, sleeping issues (oversleeping/or not sleeping at all), feelings of anger, guilt, and a general feeling of dread.
As discussed it is very important to not let Mom become withdrawn. Family members and friends should visit and spend time with the new Mother. Many women can overcome postpartum depression by simply communicating their feelings with her partner, changing her diet and doing light exercise. If these things do not help, consult your health care professional as you may need to look at various medical treatments and drug therapy.
Post Partum Psychosis – Beyond the Baby Blues
The birth of a child is truly a miracle. Women carry their babies for up to nine months, and the process is a beautiful thing. Labour and delivery can be difficult and this process in itself is truly a gift from God. But what happens when the beautiful aspect of child birth and rearing as a negative affect on the mother. Many women go through many levels of prenatal depression, what is ultimately called post partum depression. If the signs and symptoms are ignored the illness can progress to what is called post partum psychosis.
Possible Dangerous Diagnosis
Post partum psychosis is a very dangerous diagnosis. There is high risk to not only the mother, but also to the newborn baby. Often when a women is at this stage of post partum depression they are misdiagnosed as having bipolar disorder or schizophrenia many experience and acute polymorphic incident. Some of these disorders can be caused by hormonal imbalance others have a linkage to chromosome issues. Mothers that go through a puerperal episode often will have future incidents. They may be triggered by a specific source, or may return when they decide to have another child.
Professionals agree a high majority of women will experience some form of depression after childbirth. Some peg the number in the high eighties as a percentage. The mild end of the spectrum is what is called the baby blues. Women suffering from this syndrome often feel moody, sad, or stressed out. Often these feelings are reversed easily with hormonal treatment and adjustment to their sleep and dietary schedule which includes watching what they eat and getting additional rest.
Inclination of Mothers to the Disease
Research has been done on a number of mothers that have suffered with postpartum psychosis. Often they have a medical history of some sort of depression, may or may not be bipolar, and most have had some sort of psychiatric episode in their lives.
They may slip into this level of postpartum depression quickly, or it could in some cases take up to 12 months to manifest. Signs and symptoms include hallucinations, feelings of grandeur, increased agitation and anxiety, episodes of mania, and delirious thoughts of suicide and in the very worse case homicidal tendency. Many famous cases have been publicized where the mother actually kills her children.
Thankfully there has been excellent progress with regard to assisting women deal with postpartum depression. The thought and hope is to cure all women at the early stage, and to avoid the secondary and dangerous level of psychosis. Having a social support in place be it friends or family, group therapy, or a call centre available is essential.
What You Need To Know About Post Partum Depression
The causes and risks of post partum depression are generally a result of hormone imbalance. Post partum depression can be a serious disorder, and there can be major risks when the signs and symptoms are ignored. Often women will mask the symptoms and hide their feelings which can result in serious problems long term.
Due to women’s unique physical characteristics which are normally weaker than men, therefore increase the risk of being affected by illness. Just look from the incidence of depression, the female patient has accounted for 3/4 of the number of depression and the situation is worrying.
Causes and Risks
The factors that causes women to be more susceptible to PPD can be summarized into two points, first is stress overloading, and second is a few special physiological periods of women. Overload pressure derive from women’s all-round role. A lot of women work very hard in their career; also a very good housewife doing all the chores in the family. They may be able to split their time well within a short period and able to coordinate the two roles well. A lot of stress that evolve they tend to bear them down silently. There may be many legitimate grievances and unhappiness that can’t be resolve, and after long-term accumulation will have a subtle effect on mental health that easy to form a fragile and impulsive character.
In accordance with the normal physiological pattern, females will go through a few special periods in their life including pregnancy and menopause. During pregnancy, the hormone levels change dramatically. This may cause emotional fluctuations and physical weakness. By that time, their heart and body required a lot of cares from their husbands and close relatives.
However, many women tend to have strained relations with their spouses, and accumulated a lot of problems together which are yet to resolve. In the mean time, there is not enough care from husband and this lead to the escalation of conflicts which deepen the depression, and ultimately result in post partum depression.
Changes Physically and Emotionally
Post partum depression is the most common mental disorders in female. After delivery of baby, due to sex hormones, social roles and psychological changes, all these can bring changes to a woman physically, emotionally or psychologically.
In addition, menopause and pregnancy women tend to have the same characteristics, where their estrogen hormone levels may drop sharply, menstruation stops. Some are having aging problem and easy to become irritable, or being depressed and sensitive.
Some women may face changes in both psychologically and physiologically in bearing with menopause changes. If this is coupled with the people around them who do not understand their mind and improper handling of their menopausal, then the damage can be very serious as they tend to extremely susceptible to depression at this moment.
Symptoms in “Dangerous Period”
In fact, women who fall in these two “dangerous period” accounting for about 2/3 of the total number of female patients who are suffer with depression. If you have spouse or friends in this period, you need to show more of your understanding and cares as this depression is avoidable if handling well. Everyone did have depressed mood and it also a normal manifestation of the body. However, if you do not manage the feeling well, it will evolve into a depression. Depression has persistent and recurrent features. People who are suffer with depression often having symptoms associated with insomnia, hair loss, nausea and vomiting. This can be an affliction to a person both mental and physical.
The health of a woman after carrying and delivering a baby after nine months is extremely important. Sadly a percentage of women suffer from the medical disorder known as post partum depression. Facts show that when a woman hits the third trimester of her pregnancy her body is producing up to 10 times the usual hormone progesterone.
Pregnancy Moms After Delivery
First let’s look at the hormonal aspect of pregnancy. Women produce two main hormones they are estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are very important for balance and growth of the fetus and the placenta. If there is an imbalance in production and release there can be problems with relation to the baby’s size, and the woman’s ability to produce milk.
Shortly after the baby is delivered the doctor will remove the placenta. The placenta’s role during pregnancy is to produce progesterone. Many women suffer low levels of both hormones after birth. The hormone progesterone acts like an antidepressant and after delivery many women become depressed. When these hormone levels bottom out, many women start to have and unbalanced sense of well being and become depressed.
Post partum depression also known as PPD can be a serious disorder if it is not dealt with appropriately. Women tend to become withdrawn, feeling down and sad and many suggest feelings of hopelessness are common. Many women experience increased levels of anxiety; if these symptoms and feelings are not dealt quickly the disorder may worsen to a level known as post partum psychosis. It is important that the patient communicates these symptoms and feelings with their partner, or health professional. It is also very important to know that you are not alone and there is a bright side ahead.
Many professionals suggest and prescribe antidepressants to woman that are suffering the side effects associated with PPD. Treatment depends on what exactly the woman is going through, whether or not she is breast feeding, and other considerations. It is important that new mothers have a solid support base. The health of Mom and Baby are the most important aspect in dealing with post partum depression.
Although women in today world is playing more and more important role, but they are at the same time still vulnerable in some ways. If they need to bear a lot of responsibilities at the same time, they will bear a lot of stress at the same time as well. Women who have family are having the role of wife and mother to play. They need balance and coordination in all aspects. They need sympathetic and understanding from their love one as well.
How Long Does Postpartum Depression Last?
Depression is a common “mental disease” or “mental illness” according to almost all doctors. For the past 30 years, depression is not a popular illness, but since the past 10 years, depression has become one of the top illnesses in the world. Many has done research about the serotonin or whatever chemical imbalance in depression patients’ brain. Many of the depression patients did not realize they have depression especially for the woman who has postpartum depression.
How long does it takes to recover from postnatal anxiety?
Depression normally attacks those women after birth without warning. Many of the postpartum depression cases have not been treated early because most of the women did not realize they have depression. Some women are suffered from such disease right after pregnancy. There are also high chances for women to get depression after a miscarriage.
When they were diagnosed for postpartum depression, the first question they always ask is how long does postpartum depression last? How long do I need to go through postpartum depression? Will I ever be recover? What do I need to do in order to recover?
Well, PPD is the disorder which suffering approximately 13% of pregnant women after they deliver their babies. The suffering period can be extended from few weeks to a year after giving birth. However, most women are having PPD in the first three months and this is a common scenario.
Most of the new mom thinks that postpartum depression is due to the hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood, fatigue after childbirth, and stress from childbirth and so on. Many of the doctor’s advice made the new mom believe this are the main reason for postpartum depression. And doctors normally find to difficult to answer the new mom popular questions, how long does postpartum depression last?
Before answer that question, we have to look into the real cause for postpartum depression. Many times, rooted cause may not be mentioned to those new mom, such as childhood bad experience like trauma, childhood family influence and raising up, relationship with hubby, relationship with in law (more to Asian family), financial situations in family, new mom own personality, support from family after the childbirth, traumatized experience during delivery of baby, excessive worry and anxiety for baby during pregnancy, pregnancy without planning and so on.
For most Asian family, delivering baby girl also give a lot of pressure to new mom especially to those traditional family who only want baby boy. There are many reasons that cause postpartum depression that needed to be looked into before we can identify the best way to help the new mom. So, how long does postpartum depression does last depends on the root cause of the problem. If the problem is due to the childhood traumatized experience, then it might take longer time to cure. If the problem is due to excessive worry and anxiety for baby during pregnancy, it might only take few months to cure. Anyone with childhood traumatized experience will mostly be attack by depression not only to new mom. It just a matter when the childhood traumatized experience explodes after so many years of stored deeply in our subconscious. So how long does postpartum depression last? Nobody can answer that for sure.
Can this disease last without treatment?
There are many types of treatment recommended by psychologist or psychiatrists. Mostly are based on medicine, some face to face counseling or some cognitive therapy. But there are many cases of the postpartum depression patients did not response well to any of the medicine, counseling or therapy. Below are some natural healing methods that might bring new hope to depression patients. Natural healing remedy or therapy is important because many of the depression patients did not response well to medicine or cognitive therapy.
From my previous postpartum depression experience, here are some natural healing methods that help you to go through those depression periods with more peace, and gradually recover with more confident and inner joy.
Suggestions to recover with natural remedies
There are many types of natural remedies that suit to many kinds of emotions. There are remedies for worry, fear, anxious, grief, anger, hatred, jealousy, resentful, uncertain, hopeless, lose interest in daily activities, lost direction in career, obsessive thinking minds, over-concern to other people life, over-control on other people life, lack of confident and so on. It is very convenient to drink and you can bring it to anywhere as it is only a small bottle with 30ml size. You can drink it anytime anywhere.
Besides taking natural remedy, I also doing some easy and safe breathing exercise. You can also try meditation but you need a professional teacher to guide you. From my previous experience, some people not suitable to do meditation without teacher guidance. It is better to play safe.
Please whatsapp me to share your story before we get to know which types of natural remedy is match to your situation. It will be very effective healing if you have the right natural remedy to match to your current situation. Healing process is faster than those remedy which is not match.
Feel free to whatsapp me at +60123809109 to share on the main cause for your depression and to find the best suitable natural remedy for your current situation. This natural remedy is suitable for any kind of emotional problem and depression, such as panic attack, anxiety, insomnia, perfectionist, workaholic, grief, uncontrollable thoughts strong feeling of regretful, resentful, hatred, hyperactive kids, impatient adults, OCD and many more.