With all the excitement of being a new mom holding your newborn, postpartum depression is not the most fun topic of conversation. Motherhood is a happy and joyous thing to be celebrated, but there are also difficult moments that shouldn’t be ignored either, especially when PPD affects one in every seven moms.
What does PPD look like?
Since each woman is unique, PPD shows up in many different ways such as:
- Anger or rage
- Fatigue
- Extreme insecurity
- Extreme anxiety
- Sense of hopelessness and failure
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Apathy
PPD hits as early as 2 weeks after birth and as late as one year. As a combination of these emotions settles, certain behaviors typically follow. PPD can lead to mood swings, excessive crying, changes in appetite, lack of interest in the baby, aggressively overprotective, or difficulty making decisions.
You might think that PPD is more common in women with a history of mental illness, but don’t be caught off guard. PPD is just as common in women who have no history of depression, both first time mothers and those who already have children.
What are the causes of PPD?
Having a baby is huge lifestyle change; however, with PPD, there’s a lot more going on under the surface than just the fact that life is changing. No one completely understands what causes PPD, but it could be a combination of many things—hormonal shifts and imbalances, lack of sleep, lack of family support, stress, difficult pregnancy, or a history of mental illness.
How to treat PPD?
If untreated, PPD can persist for weeks or months. Common treatments for PPD are therapy or support groups for new moms. Some doctors may prescribe anti-depressants that are safe for breastfeeding mothers, but the first and most important thing is to make sure the new mom feels supported by friends and family. Then be honest and open as you inform your pregnancy care professional so that he or she can help you to the best of their ability.
Postpartum depression and baby blues are important topics to talk about so women can feel supported as they experience all the emotions that come after the birth of a child, good and bad. PPD doesn’t have to be embarrassing, scary, or taboo to talk about.
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