Postpartum Depression

What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression (dee-PRESH-un) is a type of mood disorder after giving birth. A mood is an emotion or a feeling that affects our behavior (how we act). Your mood also affects how you feel about yourself and life in general. Depression is a sad mood that you cannot control.

Women often feel sad, afraid, angry, or nervous after their baby is born. These are called postpartum or baby blues. These feelings usually go away in 1 or 2 weeks. With postpartum depression, symptoms get worse and stay for more than 2 weeks. It affects your daily activities and relationships. Postpartum depression is a serious condition and early diagnosis and treatment are needed to prevent further problems.

What causes postpartum depression?

Caregivers do not exactly know what causes postpartum depression. After childbirth, there is a sudden decrease of hormones. This is thought to cause postpartum depression. Having a previous episode of depression or having another family member with depression may also cause this condition. Several things may happen after childbirth that may trigger postpartum depression:

• Feeling of neglect by the husband or other family members.
  
  
• Feeling tired more than the usual.
  
  
• Lack of sleep, stress, and a poor diet.
  
  
• Pain during childbirth or breast-feeding.
  
  
• Sudden change in lifestyle.

What are the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression?

You may have one or more of the following:

• Easily irritated and confused.
  
  
• Frequent crying.
  
  
• Lacking energy to do things.
  
  
• Loss of appetite and weight loss.
  
  
• Sadness, worrying too much, or feeling hopeless.
  
  
• Trouble concentrating, making decisions, or sleeping.

How is postpartum depression diagnosed?

• Psychiatric assessment: Caregivers will ask if you have a history of psychological trauma, such as physical, sexual, or mental abuse. They will ask if you were given the care that you needed. Caregivers will ask you if you have been a victim of a crime or natural disaster, or if you have a serious injury or disease. They will ask you if you have seen other people being harmed, such as in combat. You will be asked if you drink alcohol or use drugs at present or in the past. Caregivers will ask you if you want to hurt or kill yourself or others. How you answer these questions can help caregivers decide on treatment. To help during treatment, caregivers will ask you about such things as how you feel about it and your hobbies and goals. Caregivers will also ask you about the people in your life who support you.
  
  
• Caregivers use a guide to diagnose postpartum depression. You have postpartum depression if:
  
  
  • You have either one of the following:
    
    
    • A depressed (very sad, blue, or miserable) mood.
      
      
    • A loss of interest or joy in activities.
    
    
  • You have at least four of the following symptoms:
    
    
    • Feeling tired more than the usual.
      
      
    • Feeling unimportant or guilty most of the time.
      
      
    • Frequent thoughts of death or suicide.
      
      
    • Loss of appetite and weight loss.
      
      
    • Restlessness or inactivity.
      
      
    • Trouble concentrating or making decisions.
      
      
    • Trouble sleeping even after the baby is asleep.
    
    
  • These symptoms affect you most of the day nearly every day for two weeks.
    
    
  • These symptoms began within 1 month after childbirth.
    
    
  • These symptoms affect your daily activities and your relationships with other people.

How is postpartum depression treated?

You may have one or more of the following:

• Psychotherapy: This is also called talk therapy and may include any of the following:
  
  
  • Couples therapy: You and your significant other meet with a caregiver to talk about how to cope with your illness. Your significant other may be your husband, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, or a friend.
    
    
  • Group therapy: This is a series of meetings that you attend with other patients and staff.
    
    
  • Individual therapy: A time for you to meet alone with your therapist.
  
  
• Medicines:
  
  
  • Anti-depressants: These medicines are given to decrease or stop the symptoms of depression. Other behavior problems may also be treated with anti-depressants.
    
    

What can I do to feel better?

• Rest is important. Do not try to do everything all at the same time. Do only what is needed and let other things wait until later. Ask your partner, family, or friends for help, especially if you have other children.
  
  
• Try to sleep when the baby naps. Ask your partner to help with night feedings or other baby needs if possible.
  
  
• Share your feelings with your partner, a friend, or another mother. Often just talking things out with someone you trust is a big help.
  
  
• Take good care of yourself. Shower and dress each day. Do not forget to eat. Try to get out of the house a little each day. Go for a walk or meet with a friend. Get a babysitter or take the baby with you. Be sure to spend time with your partner. It is also important that you have some time by yourself each day.

How do I find support and more information?

Having postpartum depression is a life-changing condition for you and your family. Accepting that you have postpartum depression is hard. You and those close to you may feel angry, sad, or confused. These feelings are normal. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings.

You may also want to join a support group with other women who have postpartum depression. Ask your caregiver for contact information for support groups. Call or write one of the following organizations for more information:

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Public Information & Communication Branch
  6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
  Bethesda , MD 20892-9663
  Phone: 1- 301 - 443-4513
  Phone: 1- 866 - 615-6464
  Web Address: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
  

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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