I am not the first or the last of the mothers, a phrase heard by women after childbirth, to reduce the burden on the mother’s shoulders, claiming that what a woman suffers is an easy matter that can be overcome with the passage of time, but the same phrase may become a crisis for a woman suffering from postpartum depression (Postpartum) Depression).
In addition to the physical pains of childbirth and the tasks imposed by the responsibility of motherhood towards the infant, women suffer from a group of disorders that begin with feelings of tension, sadness and anxiety instead of joy. They are called "baby blues", a disturbed mood that lasts for a few weeks after birth. And gradually disappear, while postpartum depression extends to several months and years sometimes if treatment is not done.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression, or PPD, is a clinical form of depression that begins after a baby is born.
Common symptoms include:
Anorexia.
Excessive crying or fatigue.
Difficulty bonding with your child.
Insomnia.
Anxiety and panic attacks.
Feeling very tired, angry, hopeless, or ashamed at times.
The mother needs the husband's support after childbirth by consulting a specialized psychotherapist (Getty Images)
No one knows for sure what causes postpartum depression, but like any other type of depression, it could be several different things, such as:
Lack of sleep.
Your body adjusts to major hormonal fluctuations.
The period of physical recovery from the impact of childbirth.
You have new and challenging responsibilities.
Feeling isolated, lonely and confused in the midst of new responsibilities.
Postpartum depression basically means a return to a state of not being pregnant, so those who have had a miscarriage can also suffer from many of the mental and physical effects of being in the postpartum period.
Moreover, husbands can also be diagnosed with postpartum depression, although they do not experience physical changes, they face a stormy difference in their daily lifestyle, and a 2010 analysis indicates that about 10% of fathers were diagnosed with postpartum depression.
When does postpartum depression begin?
Postpartum depression can start as soon as you give birth, but the mother may not realize it right away, because it is normal to feel sad, exhausted and generally disaffected during the first few days after the baby is born, which is the normal period of baby blues.
The postpartum period generally includes the first 4-6 weeks after childbirth, and many cases of postpartum depression begin during that period, but postpartum depression can also occur during pregnancy due to hormonal imbalance during that stage, and up to one year after birth, so do not rule out Your feelings if they happen outside of the usual postpartum period.
Postpartum depression that can appear within two weeks to 12 months after childbirth, so there is no set duration for it to last (Getty Images)
Duration of postpartum depression
Because postpartum depression can appear within two weeks to 12 months after birth, there is no specific length of time for it to last.
A 2014 review of studies on this condition indicates symptoms that postpartum depression improves over time, with many cases of depression being treated 3 to 6 months after they start.
However, in the same review, it was evident that many women still had symptoms of postpartum depression beyond 6 months of childbearing.
While just under half of the women studied still reported symptoms of depression 3 years after giving birth.
Why might it last longer for you?
The timeline for postpartum depression varies from woman to woman. If you have certain risk factors, you may find that your postpartum depression lasts longer, even with treatment.
The severity of symptoms and how long they appeared before starting treatment can influence how long the postpartum depression lasts.
Risk factors include a history of depression or other mental illnesses, breastfeeding difficulties, pregnancy or childbirth difficulties, or a lack of support from your partner or family members and friends.
Besides other major life changes that occur during the postpartum period, such as moving or losing a job.
There is no formula for determining who will experience postpartum depression and who will not, or for how long it will last, but with appropriate treatment, especially when received early, you can find relief even if you have one of these risk factors.
Immediately after birth, you must take care of your mental and psychological health in order to be able to provide appropriate care for your child (agencies)
How does it affect your life?
You already know, postpartum depression causes you some difficult symptoms, and it may also affect your relationships with those around you who may include your baby as well, which is why getting treatment and shortening the duration of your depression is a necessity that should not be put off.
And if you become withdrawn from those around, including your spouse, your marital relationship could undoubtedly be affected, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), when a person has postpartum depression, their partner becomes twice as likely to have it as well.
Postpartum depression can affect your relationship with your baby, and aside from affecting the way you care for him physically, postpartum depression can affect the bonding process between mother and child after birth, and it may also harm your current relationships with older children. .
Some researchers believe that postpartum depression may have long-term effects on a child's social and emotional development.
And a 2018 study found that babies of mothers with postpartum depression were more likely to have behavioral problems such as young children and depression as teens.
treatment
You cannot deal with postpartum depression on your own, you need medical and psychological treatment.
Also, receiving it quickly means that you will be able to continue loving and caring for your baby in the best way possible.
There are several treatment options, and you may need to use more than one strategy, and there are also lifestyle changes that may make recovery faster.