More Than The Baby Blues:
Post Natal Depression
By M. Withers
Post Natal Depression
By M. Withers
More than 80% of new mothers will experience the Baby Blues, somewhere
between the third and fifth day after giving birth. With a little bit of understanding
and support, these baby blues usually pass within a few days. Symptoms that a
mother is experiencing the Baby Blues include irritability, swinging low/ high
moods, anxiety, crying and general emotional distress.
Post Natal Depression has a great amount of stigma attached to it, and man
misconceptions surrounding it. Suffering can range from mild, to moderate, or
severe. Many women are uneducated about the illness and as such it goes
untreated for quite some time.
There are a number of factors that are thought to contribute to the likelihood of a
woman getting Post natal Depression, but no single,one identifiable cause. It can
affect women of all cultures, all ages, and can follow on from a miscarriage,
stillbirth, normal vaginal delivery or caesarean alike. Post Natal Depression can
occur after a woman has her first baby, it may only happen after a woman has
her third, or fifth child, or even still, it may happen after each of a woman's
children's births. The odds of getting Post Natal Depression are against you if
you have already suffered from it with a previous child, as 50% of women who
experience Post Natal Depression with one child will experience it with following
children.
There are a number of symptoms that can be used to identify and diagnose Post
Natal Depression. Depending on the severity of the illness in each individual,
some or all of these may present themselves, some more dramatically than others:
~ Sleep Disturbance (such as insomnia- difficulty getting to sleep, constantly
waking during the night, or sleeping excessive amounts) not in conjunction with
the new baby's sleep patterns.
~ Appetite Disturbance (not feeling hungry, refusal to eat, eating excessively)
~ Crying, or feeling the need to cry without actually being able to cry
~ Feeling unable to cope with everyday life, or feeling overwhelmed
~ Irritability
~ Aggressiveness, or trying to blame everyone/ anyone else for everything going
wrong- particularly the way the Post Natal Depression sufferer is feeling
~ Negative or morbid thoughts, even to the point of feeling suicidal, or wanting to
harm oneself or someone else (including the baby)
~ Fear of being alone, or fear of being with other people
~ Loss of concentration/ the ability to focus, and difficulty with memory
~ Feelings of guilt, and feelings of inadequacy
~ Loss of confidence, and self esteem, feeling as though the woman has “lost
herself”
~ Feeling as though there is no happiness in anything
The contributing factors to a woman getting Post Natal Depression, can be put
under three main headings- Psychological, Biological and Social.
Psychological factors that can contribute to this condition include- a difficult or
traumatic birth (including miscarriage and stillbirth), childhood traumas including
physical/ sexual/ emotional abuse, relationship difficulties with partner/ immediate
or extended family, and certain personality types are believed to have a higher
predisposition to this illness- particularly people with perfectionism/ controlling
issues.
Biological factors that are thought to contribute to this illness include- family
history (a genetic predisposition) of depression/ other mental illnesses, personal
history of depression and mental illness, complications during pregnancy or
childbirth, Post Natal Depression from a previous pregnancy/ childbirth,
nutritional deficiencies, and the hormonal changes a woman experiences after
delivery and the effect these hormonal changes can have on a person's brain
chemistry.
Social factors that can lead to Post Natal Depression may include- lack of family
and friends, lack of community support and social isolation, financial difficulties,
the woman's age, and stressful life events including divorce, a death in the family,
a serious illness in the family or moving interstate.
Post Natal Depression may be difficult to recognise and diagnose to treat in its
early stages. There are a number of reasons for this. Lack of education about
Post Natal Depression in women, mean that they often cannot recognise their
symptoms and do not seek help for their illness. Fear of losing one's child, is also
another driving factor in staying silent about the way a woman feels. The stigma
and preconceptions surrounding Post Natal Depression, or any mental illness,
and the lack of community support and knowledge regarding mental health issues
is another factor as to why women often do not come forward. Difficulties in
diagnosing Post Natal Depression by medical professionals- as there is some
debate as to what is considered normal transitional behaviour and feelings after
giving birth and what constitutes as Post Natal Depression, it is often not
diagnosed until it has progressed to a more severe case.
Post Natal Depression does not only affect the woman experiencing it, but also
her partner, child/ren, family and friends. It impacts on the relationships the
woman has with each of these people, and is also thought to have an effect on
the development of the infant.
If undiagnosed, and untreated Post Natal Depression may become dangerous to
the mother, the baby or to others. As the severity of the depression increases as
does the likelihood of suicide, self harm or harm to others including the mother's
own infant. Family, Friends and Partners may not know how to approach these
issues, but if they are concerned they should contact a mental health professional,
as these issues need to be addressed gently but firmly, and quickly.
Once diagnosed there are a number of treatment options available including one
on one counselling, support groups and medication. There are a handful of
antidepressants that have been trialled and have been shown to be effective in
treating Post Natal Depression, whilst being safe for breastfeeding mothers. A
General Practitioner, or Mental Health Professional will explore these options
with the sufferer, and together decide on a course of action suitable for the
individual- depending upon the severity of the depression, support available to
the mother and wishes of the person suffering Post Natal Depression.
Post Natal Depression, is a treatable and curable condition. It is more common
than you may think, with it effecting 15% of Australian women. Globally between
10 and 20 percent of all mothers are effected, that's at least 1 in 10 women.
More than the Baby Blues, Post Natal Depression is a common mental health
condition that more people need to be aware of.
~M Withers
between the third and fifth day after giving birth. With a little bit of understanding
and support, these baby blues usually pass within a few days. Symptoms that a
mother is experiencing the Baby Blues include irritability, swinging low/ high
moods, anxiety, crying and general emotional distress.
Post Natal Depression has a great amount of stigma attached to it, and man
misconceptions surrounding it. Suffering can range from mild, to moderate, or
severe. Many women are uneducated about the illness and as such it goes
untreated for quite some time.
There are a number of factors that are thought to contribute to the likelihood of a
woman getting Post natal Depression, but no single,one identifiable cause. It can
affect women of all cultures, all ages, and can follow on from a miscarriage,
stillbirth, normal vaginal delivery or caesarean alike. Post Natal Depression can
occur after a woman has her first baby, it may only happen after a woman has
her third, or fifth child, or even still, it may happen after each of a woman's
children's births. The odds of getting Post Natal Depression are against you if
you have already suffered from it with a previous child, as 50% of women who
experience Post Natal Depression with one child will experience it with following
children.
There are a number of symptoms that can be used to identify and diagnose Post
Natal Depression. Depending on the severity of the illness in each individual,
some or all of these may present themselves, some more dramatically than others:
~ Sleep Disturbance (such as insomnia- difficulty getting to sleep, constantly
waking during the night, or sleeping excessive amounts) not in conjunction with
the new baby's sleep patterns.
~ Appetite Disturbance (not feeling hungry, refusal to eat, eating excessively)
~ Crying, or feeling the need to cry without actually being able to cry
~ Feeling unable to cope with everyday life, or feeling overwhelmed
~ Irritability
~ Aggressiveness, or trying to blame everyone/ anyone else for everything going
wrong- particularly the way the Post Natal Depression sufferer is feeling
~ Negative or morbid thoughts, even to the point of feeling suicidal, or wanting to
harm oneself or someone else (including the baby)
~ Fear of being alone, or fear of being with other people
~ Loss of concentration/ the ability to focus, and difficulty with memory
~ Feelings of guilt, and feelings of inadequacy
~ Loss of confidence, and self esteem, feeling as though the woman has “lost
herself”
~ Feeling as though there is no happiness in anything
The contributing factors to a woman getting Post Natal Depression, can be put
under three main headings- Psychological, Biological and Social.
Psychological factors that can contribute to this condition include- a difficult or
traumatic birth (including miscarriage and stillbirth), childhood traumas including
physical/ sexual/ emotional abuse, relationship difficulties with partner/ immediate
or extended family, and certain personality types are believed to have a higher
predisposition to this illness- particularly people with perfectionism/ controlling
issues.
Biological factors that are thought to contribute to this illness include- family
history (a genetic predisposition) of depression/ other mental illnesses, personal
history of depression and mental illness, complications during pregnancy or
childbirth, Post Natal Depression from a previous pregnancy/ childbirth,
nutritional deficiencies, and the hormonal changes a woman experiences after
delivery and the effect these hormonal changes can have on a person's brain
chemistry.
Social factors that can lead to Post Natal Depression may include- lack of family
and friends, lack of community support and social isolation, financial difficulties,
the woman's age, and stressful life events including divorce, a death in the family,
a serious illness in the family or moving interstate.
Post Natal Depression may be difficult to recognise and diagnose to treat in its
early stages. There are a number of reasons for this. Lack of education about
Post Natal Depression in women, mean that they often cannot recognise their
symptoms and do not seek help for their illness. Fear of losing one's child, is also
another driving factor in staying silent about the way a woman feels. The stigma
and preconceptions surrounding Post Natal Depression, or any mental illness,
and the lack of community support and knowledge regarding mental health issues
is another factor as to why women often do not come forward. Difficulties in
diagnosing Post Natal Depression by medical professionals- as there is some
debate as to what is considered normal transitional behaviour and feelings after
giving birth and what constitutes as Post Natal Depression, it is often not
diagnosed until it has progressed to a more severe case.
Post Natal Depression does not only affect the woman experiencing it, but also
her partner, child/ren, family and friends. It impacts on the relationships the
woman has with each of these people, and is also thought to have an effect on
the development of the infant.
If undiagnosed, and untreated Post Natal Depression may become dangerous to
the mother, the baby or to others. As the severity of the depression increases as
does the likelihood of suicide, self harm or harm to others including the mother's
own infant. Family, Friends and Partners may not know how to approach these
issues, but if they are concerned they should contact a mental health professional,
as these issues need to be addressed gently but firmly, and quickly.
Once diagnosed there are a number of treatment options available including one
on one counselling, support groups and medication. There are a handful of
antidepressants that have been trialled and have been shown to be effective in
treating Post Natal Depression, whilst being safe for breastfeeding mothers. A
General Practitioner, or Mental Health Professional will explore these options
with the sufferer, and together decide on a course of action suitable for the
individual- depending upon the severity of the depression, support available to
the mother and wishes of the person suffering Post Natal Depression.
Post Natal Depression, is a treatable and curable condition. It is more common
than you may think, with it effecting 15% of Australian women. Globally between
10 and 20 percent of all mothers are effected, that's at least 1 in 10 women.
More than the Baby Blues, Post Natal Depression is a common mental health
condition that more people need to be aware of.
~M Withers
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