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Postnatal Depression (or Postpartum Depression) is a condition that occurs soon after a woman has given birth. It can present the same as other types of depression, however, it comes about in response to the physical and social changes of giving birth and raising a baby. The severity of the depression can range from very mild and almost non-existent, to very severe and long-term. It is quite common for women to experience the 'baby blues', a short term feeling of tiredness and sadness in the first few weeks after giving birth. However, Postnatal Depression is different, and tends to last for longer than a few weeks, causing significant hardship for the mother at a significantly stressful time.
The most common symptoms that women are likely to experience with Postnatal Depression include:
- Lowered self-esteem
- Lack of confidence
- Guilt
- Inadequacy
- Negative thoughts
- Pessimism, feelings that life is meaningless
- Irritability
- Tearfulness
- Feelings of inability to cope
- Sleeping problems
- Lowered libido
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Heart palpitations
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulties in remembering or concentrating on things
Many factors contribute to the onset of Postnatal Depression. These include:
Physical Changes
Giving birth, easy or not, is a major experience for the female body and the sudden change in hormones affects the brain's chemical balance. The fact that there is a newborn child that needs attention also means that women are less likely to be able to get the sleep that they need. Broken sleeping patterns and exhaustion puts further strain on a new mother who may be dealing with the beginnings of Postnatal Depression.
Emotional Changes
The adaptation process that new mothers have to take is made increasingly harder by the fact that there is a newborn that requires care and attention. Recovery is made harder by underlying factors such as: broken sleep, changed relationship with a partner, loss of independence and the constant demands of the child that can sometimes become overwhelming for some women after childbirth.
Social Changes
The social stigma surrounding childbirth makes adjusting to this new addition extremely hard. A new mother may find herself losing contact with her friends while adjusting to a different lifestyle on one wage which can make the situation even harder.
Previous Experiences
Earlier life events may contribute to the susceptibility for Postnatal Depression. Women who have experienced poor parenting when they were young may be more at risk. Also, a history of abuse is often a factor that can predispose a woman to Postnatal Depression.
Genetics and Environment
It is unknown whether the environment (eg social changes and previous experiences) or genetics (eg the nature of the person) are more involved with the predisposition for Postnatal Depression. Both appear to be involved, so it is unlikely that there is a single cause for each case of Postnatal Depression.
References:
Postpartum Depression: Causes and consequences
Michael W. O’Hara
1995
Beyond the Blues: Understanding and Treating Perinatal Postpartum Depression
Shoshana S. Bennett, Ph.D. and Pec Indman, Ed.D., MFT
Postpartum Support International
2003
Risk factors for postnatal depression: a review and risk factors in Australian populations
Archives of Womens Mental Health, 6, 43-50
Philip Boyce
2003
Considerations in women’s mental health: Postpartum mood disorders
Primary Psychiatry, 11, 20-21
Anita H. Clayton
2004
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