Pregnancy and Depression

People discuss post-partum depression rather openly nowadays; as someone who had 3 children I can feel for those who have experienced it, as I had my moments. I was happy to hear when actress Brooke Shields came forward with her experience, because she helped normalize something some still felt they had to suffer in silence with. Yet something that we do not hear about often is the depression some women feel while they are pregnant, so I was glad when I found some research discussing this very important issue. Isn’t pregnancy supposed to be the happiest time in a woman’s … Continue reading →

Postpartum Depression: Angie’s Story (1)

Looking back at her life, Angie could see that she typified the perfect candidate for postpartum depression. In the months prior to becoming pregnant, and she had been promoted in her job, but her boss had also taken leave and she was expected to take on a large part of his workload. In addition, her parents were having marital problems. When she was three months pregnant she received a hysterical phone call from her mother demanding that she come immediately to the family home as her father was threatening to leave and had also hidden his heart medication tablets in … Continue reading →

Is It Post-Partum or Just Baby Blues?

After the births of my first two children, I had typical emotional responses. I felt overwhelmed, sleep deprived, stressed, but relatively normal, in the whole scope of things. But with the birth of Johnny, in November, things were a little different. First, I left the hospital too early. Johnny was born at 6:45 AM on a Friday, and they gave me the option of leaving on Saturday, after all, this wasn’t my first baby and I knew how to take care of a new baby and myself after delivery. I missed my girls, so I went home. I was not … Continue reading →

The Baby Blues: When It Won’t Go Away

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects roughly one in six women and can develop at any time in the first year after a baby is born and may persist for months if left untreated. The more common “baby blues” effects almost 80% of women and makes an appearance between day three and day ten of giving birth. The baby blues are caused by rapidly changing hormone levels in the mother, predominantly progesterone. Typical symptoms are weepiness, a sense of inexplicable sadness and a feeling of being overwhelmed by even the most trivial incident. By the end of a fortnight however, these symptoms … Continue reading →

Post-birth Weight Loss and its Psychological Impact

I read an interesting article recently about new mothers and their struggle to regain their figures after childbirth. Actually, it was more sad than interesting. The article told the story of a 37-year-old woman who had given birth to her second child and immediately started a five-day-a-week gym regime. This woman fairly quickly regained her figure. But alas there still persisted those elusive silvery stretch marks and she thought that things had sagged a little as well, Anyway, the exercising hadn’t given her back a 25-year old body. But why did she think it should? And why does she feel … Continue reading →

Post-birth Weight Loss and its Psychological Impact

I read an interesting article recently about new mothers and their struggle to regain their figures after childbirth. Actually, it was more sad than interesting. The article told the story of a 37-year-old woman who had given birth to her second child and immediately started a five-day-a-week gym regime. This woman fairly quickly regained her figure. But alas there still persisted those elusive silvery stretch marks and she thought that things had sagged a little as well,. Anyway, the exercising hadn’t given her back a 25-year old body. But why did she think it should? And why does she feel … Continue reading →

Postpartum psychosis: What is it?

Postpartum psychosis is the most severe of the three postnatal conditions as outlined in Postpartum depression: What are the symptoms? It affects roughly one in 500 new mothers and generally manifests within the first fortnight after giving birth. The two predominant symptoms of postpartum psychosis are major depression and manic episodes. Severe manic or depressive episodes, often involving psychosis where the individual loses contact with reality, are a feature of the illness. It should not be confused with the milder depression symptoms experienced with postnatal depression. The symptoms typically begin 2 to 3 days after delivery but may occur as … Continue reading →

Postpartum depression: Effects on the marriage

Postpartum depression can be one of the significant factors involved in marital friction and divorce. Despite the prevalence of the condition, women are reluctant to talk about the effect it has on their marriage. In previous blogs, we have discussed the symptoms of postpartum depression and requirements for recovery. Today we will look at the impact of the condition on the mother’s primary relationship: the one she shares with the father of her child. Since the myths surrounding having a baby are all largely positive, it can come as a rude surprise to the mother to discover that the baby … Continue reading →

Postpartum depression: Effects on relationships (3)

In this blog, we continue with looking at how postpartum depression affects the mother, her partner and family and friends as discussed in Postpartum depression: Effects on relationships (1) and (2). Antidepressant medication may or may not be required, depending on medical advice. Whether medication is indication or not, there will be periods where the new mother is well and functioning, and other times when the old symptoms return. This is normal. As previously discussed, household help will be required so that the mother can turn her limited resources towards the baby. She will also need time out from her … Continue reading →

Postpartum depression: Effects on relationships (2)

In Postpartum depression: Effects on relationships (1), we looked at this disturbing condition from the mother’s point of view, explaining that the lack of interest in the newborn and the inability to adequately care for the new baby is simply the effect of the illness, not a reflection of mothering ability. Today we will look at how postpartum depression affects other family members and how partners, friends, and grandparents can best act to assist in the mother’s speedy recovery. First, it is important that the mother, despite her transient unwellness, is not deprived of her mothering rights by well-meaning relatives. … Continue reading →