Postpartum depression: Effects on relationships (1)

Postpartum depression affects roughly one in 8 women and is much more than a feeling of unhappiness or sadness. It is a real illness, is beyond the mother’s control, and requires medical intervention. Postpartum depression may develop as a result of a pre-existing depression which worsens after birth, or it may come entirely out of the blue. The condition may occur immediately after the birth, develop suddenly in the days and weeks following the birth. Alternatively, it may slowly manifest over a period of weeks and months so that mother and family alike are initially unaware of the presence of … Continue reading →

Postpartum depression: What are the symptoms?

The birth of a baby is both a happy and a stressful time for a woman. Months of anticipation are over, the infant has arrived and is healthy, and both sets of grandparents are beaming. But you’re not. Postpartum, or postnatal, depression can happen to any woman, and it can occur after one birth but not another. Mood changes after birth are so common as to be almost expected, and most new mothers are taught to expect emotional “ups and downs” as a natural part of the birthing experience. There are three types of mood disturbances that can manifest in … Continue reading →

Fathers and postnatal depression

A new study from the University of Melbourne in Australia has revealed a vital link between postnatal depression in new mothers and the behaviors of the baby’s father. Traditionally, new mothers presenting at their family doctor or at early parenting centers with symptoms of postnatal depression have been prescribed antidepressants. While the medication may assist the mother in the short-term, the long term problem regarding what is causing the depression in the first place is not addressed via drug intervention alone. In addition, breastfeeding is not recommended while taking antidepressant medication, and both mother and child may miss out on … Continue reading →