Innovative Psychiatry
After the birth of a baby, a woman’s hormones take a dramatic dip, while she is adapting to the reaction of her newborn’s introduction to life outside the womb. Babies are individuals, just like their parents, and some adapt more easily, while others experience some amount of pain and shock.
They may sleep well, or they may not. Sleep deprivation is a common factor that can contribute to a new mother’s overall condition. Parents and child can struggle to get through those early weeks. And that’s when all things are normal. But in some cases, the impact on the mother can be so daunting, that she may experience some level of depression.
The adjustment that feels like an uphill battle for a few weeks, then resolves, is known as the “baby blues,” and is not uncommon. As baby learns to sleep, and mom learns to nap when baby naps, and hormones begin to stabilize, those difficult first weeks can settle into a routine. The joys of having a new baby return. This happens with 50 – 75% of new moms.
However, sometimes, those problems don’t resolve for a longer period of time. And they become much more severe. When symptoms of depression arise, like feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt occur, intense irritability, crying for no reason, or crying often, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, Overwhelming tiredness, difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, changes in your appetite, difficulty bonding with your baby – or a lack of interest in your baby – or even wanting to hurt him, as well as loss of motivation and even thoughts of dying become part of your daily experience, you need to seek treatment.
Postpartum depression can be caused by hormonal changes, a history of depression, lack of support, extreme stress during pregnancy and/or delivery, and other factors. First, it is not your fault, just as any other illness is not your fault. Second, you need treatment to reduce or eradicate your symptoms, so you can move forward and enjoy a rewarding life with your child.
Postpartum depression is not limited to mothers. Sometimes dads suffer the symptoms of depression, caused by stress in the home, increased responsibility, sleep deprivation, and inability to soothe a baby who doesn’t stop crying. There is also a drop in testosterone levels in some men after the birth of a baby. Just like moms, some dads feel inadequate as fathers and self doubt creeps in.
But the good news is that postpartum depression in both parents can be treated very successfully, restoring your enjoyment in your baby and your confidence in yourself.
Keep reading to learn more.
Madison took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. Trying to calm herself, she knew her reaction wasn’t rational. Her husband had gently stroked her arm, but she’d been asleep. That touch triggered panic. She was flailing her arms and kicking before she knew what she was doing. As wakefulness turned on the lights […]
Whether you’re expecting your first child or your kids are senior citizens themselves, your heart has been on your sleeve for the duration. Is there anything like being a mother? Whether you’re a. mother of a baby, a teen, or a mother of senior citizens, the worry never dissipates. They’re always on your mind. Here […]
In addition to the suffering a new mother experiences from postpartum depression, the baby is at risk for lower IQ, increased likelihood of ADHD, slower language development, and increased risk of behavior problems and other psychiatric disorders. Indicators for postpartum depression — or risk factors, as we might call them — can be identified and […]
We say that childbirth is utterly natural. But the experience of giving birth doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes there are surprises, disappointments, unexpected changes, fears, and excessive pain. A terribly painful labor or delivery can become a traumatic memory for a postpartum mom. Loss of the baby during the process can also create an […]
Do you have a COVID baby? If so, you’ve had compounded stress. Most moms are familiar with the exhaustion (and the overwhelm!) that often takes over when your newborn comes home from the hospital. It isn’t as though you were sleeping great before you went into labor. Then contractions started and progressed to active serious labor. […]
Sarah Driscoll had looked forward to her first pregnancy for years. She had to complete her graduate degree first, so she could relax and enjoy every moment. Now she was pregnant, and it was going well. Every visit to the doctor revealed more growth in her baby. It was an exciting time. But as her […]
Treatment can help anxious moms relax and enjoy their babies. Jill was so excited to be pregnant. She’d waited for 4 years after she and Joe were married to start trying. She was just elated three months later when a home pregnancy test showed those two little lines. She was pregnant! Even the slightest thought of […]
Postpartum Depression and Paternal Postpartum Depression Mental Health Awareness Month is also Maternal Depression Awareness Month #BreaktheSilence So let’s stamp out the stigma and talk about mothers and Postpartum Depression. Treating postpartum depression requires fast-acting treatments because there’s so much at stake. Pregnant and breastfeeding moms are targets for anxiety and depression for so many […]
Paternal Postpartum Depression In the last ten years, we’ve heard more and more about postpartum depression. Celebrities like Brooke Shields, Drew Barrymore, and Gwyneth Paltrow have stepped up to speak out about their own struggles with it. But, as much as we talk about postpartum depression in mothers, very little is mentioned about the same […]
Does depression run families? I didn’t ask if it runs in families. Does it run your family? Well, let me ask you this. Do you love someone who’s depressed … ? I mean really depressed. Someone who’s been withdrawn, listless, drained, and nervous for months — or years… Maybe you hear how they wish they […]