POSTPARTUM

What is postpartum depression?

 “Postpartum” means the time after childbirth. Most women get the “baby blues,” or feel sad or empty, within a few days of giving birth. For many women, the baby blues go away in 3 to 5 days. If your baby blues don’t go away or you feel sad, hopeless, or empty for longer than 2 weeks, you may have postpartum depression. Feeling hopeless or empty after childbirth is not a regular or expected part of being a mother.

Postpartum depression is a serious mental illness that involves the brain and affects your behavior and physical health. If you have depression, then sad, flat, or empty feelings don’t go away and can interfere with your day-to-day life. You might feel unconnected to your baby, as if you are not the baby’s mother, or you might not love or care for the baby. These feelings can be mild to severe.

What causes postpartum depression?

Hormonal changes may trigger symptoms of postpartum depression. When you are pregnant, levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are the highest they’ll ever be. In the first 24 hours after childbirth, hormone levels quickly drop back to normal, pre-pregnancy levels. Researchers think this sudden change in hormone levels may lead to depression. This is similar to hormone changes before a woman’s period but involves much more extreme swings in hormone levels.

Levels of thyroid hormones may also drop after giving birth. The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that helps regulate how your body uses and stores energy from food. Low levels of thyroid hormones can cause symptoms of depression. A simple blood test can tell whether this condition is causing your symptoms. If so, your doctor can prescribe thyroid medicine.

Other feelings may contribute to postpartum depression. Many new mothers say they feel:

• Tired after labor and delivery
• Tired from a lack of sleep or broken sleep
• Overwhelmed with a new baby
• Doubts about their ability to be a good mother
• Stress from changes in work and home routines
• An unrealistic need to be a perfect mom
• Grief about loss of who they were before having the baby
• Less attractive
• A lack of free time

These feelings are common among new mothers, but postpartum depression is a serious health condition and can be treated. Postpartum depression is not a regular or expected part of being a new mother.  Mind Body Connection Health and Wellness will develop a treatment plan tailored to you. We prescribe medication for postpartum as well as supplemental recommendations.