Reasons and Risks of Postpartum Depression

Reasons and Risks of Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a form of acute depression, which can affect women, and less frequently men, after childbirth.

Postpartum depression is suggested to be caused with hormonal changes in the woman’s body soon after blessed event. The fact is that fathers may also experience the postpartum depression. This form of depression may be as foudroyant so lengthy. It may last from a few hours to several days, sometimes weeks and gain momentum with lifestyle changes and a discomfort coming from it.

The problem with some descriptions can be called the maternity blues, but it is not so, that is not the same thing as postpartum depression. When the maternity blues is a mild case of the problem, the postpartum depression is suggested to be a kind of psychosis. As a rule, the postpartum depression lasts from some hours to 21 days and declines with getting adequate amounts of sleep.

Symptoms of this depression can come into being anytime in the first year, not only right after the childbirth. The symptoms of frequent occurrence are:
– tearfulness;
– hopelessness;
– irritability;
– hypochondriasis;
– sleeplessness;
– guilt;
– impairment of concentration;
– sleep and eating disturbances;
– feeling of total discomfort;
– headache;
– exhaustion;
– blank;
– anhedonia;
– being inadequate in taking care of the baby;
– sexual activity lowering. There are some risk factors for postnatal depression, those increase 2-folds the problem probability:
– artificial feeding;
– childcare stress; prenatal or depression;
– other stresses;
– instable marital relationship or unwed mother;
– unwanted pregnancy;
– baby’s health problems (gripes, for example);
– sleep time deficiency.

In point of fact, special attention should be given to women whose families have a history of mental illnesses and disorders such as bipolar, schizophrenia and autism, and the above-average rates of drug addiction or alcoholism. Risk of postpartum depression developing is rather more for them.

If the postpartum depression symptoms occur, the woman should be treated with the specialist. Diet and necessary supplementation may help to improve the situation. The following things are important as to treat so to prevent the depression:
– omega-3 fatty acids,
– necessary protein dosage,
– hydration,
– vitamin supplement (especially B vitamins).

From the other side, partners, friends and elder children may lend effective help to postpartum mother being attentive and warm-hearted. Knowing that the depression is treatable with a variety of methods is important on its own account.