Post by Plus Size Crazy on Aug 9, 2009 0:33:44 GMT 10
Most women feel 'blue' and weepy a few days or so after they have a baby. This is due to all the changes in their bodies and lives and it goes away before long.
All women, after they have babies, have some bad days when they feel really down - due to tiredness, being constantly on call, not being able to keep their homes as well as they did, losing their old lifestyle and so on.
This is normal. Women need extra help and support when they are caring for a new baby - this is the time to accept offers of help and ask for what you need.
Postnatal depression
For some women, however, it is more than just having a bad day or days. The bad feelings become so strong that they take over and make it very difficult for the woman to cope with the demands of her life - this is called postnatal depression. Post natal depression affects almost one in six women giving birth in Australia.
Postnatal depression can occur soon after birth or come several weeks or months down the track. It is very distressing and can make life very difficult for the woman and her family but it can be helped and it is important to get support and help as soon as possible.
Post natal depression is not your fault. It happens just like any other illness for a variety of reasons and it will get better.
What causes postnatal depression?
There is often a mixture of causes which can include any of the following. It is not usually just due to one simple reason.
Biological/physical causes
Sometimes a woman has had episodes of depression in the past - perhaps triggered by stressful experiences. She may have a tendency to get depressed when stressed.
Sometimes there is depression in the family so the tendency for this kind of illness is inherited.
It can be partly caused by being worn out and lack of sleep.
It can be caused by not enough thyroid hormone.
Some women have bipolar disorder which can cause quite severe depression.
Psychological/emotional causes
Sometimes low self esteem (not feeling good about yourself as a person) can contribute to depression.
Some mothers are troubled by memories of their own parents and how they were parented.
It may be that a woman has experienced trauma such as abuse.
It sometimes happens to women who tend to be perfectionists, and want to do everything perfectly (no- one can do that with a new baby), and then blame themselves when they find they can't.
Some women have a need to be in control (again not possible all the time with a new baby).
It can come from grief, eg for previous loss of a child or a pregnancy.
Social reasons
There can also be social causes that contribute to post natal depression.
Sometimes a mother is very alone much of the time - perhaps having moved from a previous home, or having no family or friends who are available for support.
There could be relationship problems with your partner. The big adjustment of having a baby can be a time when partners lose the ability to understand and support each other - just when you need it most. Depression is also quite common in partners, due again to the big changes.
Sometimes there are problems getting on with other family members.
Women who come from other countries to Australia may be isolated and even more at risk of postnatal depression.
How do you know it is post natal depression?
These are some of the things that can be symptoms of postnatal depression.
How you feel and think
Mood changes - feeling anxious, depressed, tearful for a lot of the time.
Thought changes - having gloomy, hopeless thoughts in your head, or feeling guilty about feeling that you are not a good mother.
Obsessional - always seem to be worried. Worrying about your feelings for the baby. Not being able to stop the worries going round and round in your mind.
Behaviour changes - not being able to get going, sitting around all the time, not taking an interest in how you look or taking care of yourself.
Problems with organising routines and activities.
Physical changes - lacking energy, poor concentration, always tired (most new mothers might say this), sleep difficulty (lying awake after feeding the baby). Sometimes there can be excessive sleep, poor appetite or excessive eating for comfort. You don't feel like sex (many new mothers feel this at least for a time), crying a lot.
Getting on with others
Your relationship with your partner can be very stressed.
Every little thing makes you cross and irritable.
Getting angry with people a lot (there may be other reasons for this such as changes in family life).
Finding it hard to love the baby (many women feel this at first but with depression it hangs around - feeling you can't relate to the baby, then feeling guilty about it and so on).
Feeling angry with other family members such as other children.
Problems with friends.
If you have post natal depression these things are not your fault, you can't just 'pull yourself out of it'. You need help.
How you know when more help is needed?
If you feel bad enough to ask for help - but often mothers can feel really bad and not ask for help so don't rely on this.
If the problems have been there without improving for at least two weeks.
If you have thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby.
If you don't feel able to love the baby and it isn't getting better (it often takes a bit of time at the start).
If there are ongoing problems with getting to sleep, or waking up early or wanting to sleep most of the time.
If you are not able to do the everyday things that make your home work - get dressed, bath yourself and the baby, get meals etc.
Problems with your relationship with your partner, friends or family starting or getting worse.
You have had depressive illness before.
You or others are really worried about what is happening.
All women, after they have babies, have some bad days when they feel really down - due to tiredness, being constantly on call, not being able to keep their homes as well as they did, losing their old lifestyle and so on.
This is normal. Women need extra help and support when they are caring for a new baby - this is the time to accept offers of help and ask for what you need.
Postnatal depression
For some women, however, it is more than just having a bad day or days. The bad feelings become so strong that they take over and make it very difficult for the woman to cope with the demands of her life - this is called postnatal depression. Post natal depression affects almost one in six women giving birth in Australia.
Postnatal depression can occur soon after birth or come several weeks or months down the track. It is very distressing and can make life very difficult for the woman and her family but it can be helped and it is important to get support and help as soon as possible.
Post natal depression is not your fault. It happens just like any other illness for a variety of reasons and it will get better.
What causes postnatal depression?
There is often a mixture of causes which can include any of the following. It is not usually just due to one simple reason.
Biological/physical causes
Sometimes a woman has had episodes of depression in the past - perhaps triggered by stressful experiences. She may have a tendency to get depressed when stressed.
Sometimes there is depression in the family so the tendency for this kind of illness is inherited.
It can be partly caused by being worn out and lack of sleep.
It can be caused by not enough thyroid hormone.
Some women have bipolar disorder which can cause quite severe depression.
Psychological/emotional causes
Sometimes low self esteem (not feeling good about yourself as a person) can contribute to depression.
Some mothers are troubled by memories of their own parents and how they were parented.
It may be that a woman has experienced trauma such as abuse.
It sometimes happens to women who tend to be perfectionists, and want to do everything perfectly (no- one can do that with a new baby), and then blame themselves when they find they can't.
Some women have a need to be in control (again not possible all the time with a new baby).
It can come from grief, eg for previous loss of a child or a pregnancy.
Social reasons
There can also be social causes that contribute to post natal depression.
Sometimes a mother is very alone much of the time - perhaps having moved from a previous home, or having no family or friends who are available for support.
There could be relationship problems with your partner. The big adjustment of having a baby can be a time when partners lose the ability to understand and support each other - just when you need it most. Depression is also quite common in partners, due again to the big changes.
Sometimes there are problems getting on with other family members.
Women who come from other countries to Australia may be isolated and even more at risk of postnatal depression.
How do you know it is post natal depression?
These are some of the things that can be symptoms of postnatal depression.
How you feel and think
Mood changes - feeling anxious, depressed, tearful for a lot of the time.
Thought changes - having gloomy, hopeless thoughts in your head, or feeling guilty about feeling that you are not a good mother.
Obsessional - always seem to be worried. Worrying about your feelings for the baby. Not being able to stop the worries going round and round in your mind.
Behaviour changes - not being able to get going, sitting around all the time, not taking an interest in how you look or taking care of yourself.
Problems with organising routines and activities.
Physical changes - lacking energy, poor concentration, always tired (most new mothers might say this), sleep difficulty (lying awake after feeding the baby). Sometimes there can be excessive sleep, poor appetite or excessive eating for comfort. You don't feel like sex (many new mothers feel this at least for a time), crying a lot.
Getting on with others
Your relationship with your partner can be very stressed.
Every little thing makes you cross and irritable.
Getting angry with people a lot (there may be other reasons for this such as changes in family life).
Finding it hard to love the baby (many women feel this at first but with depression it hangs around - feeling you can't relate to the baby, then feeling guilty about it and so on).
Feeling angry with other family members such as other children.
Problems with friends.
If you have post natal depression these things are not your fault, you can't just 'pull yourself out of it'. You need help.
How you know when more help is needed?
If you feel bad enough to ask for help - but often mothers can feel really bad and not ask for help so don't rely on this.
If the problems have been there without improving for at least two weeks.
If you have thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby.
If you don't feel able to love the baby and it isn't getting better (it often takes a bit of time at the start).
If there are ongoing problems with getting to sleep, or waking up early or wanting to sleep most of the time.
If you are not able to do the everyday things that make your home work - get dressed, bath yourself and the baby, get meals etc.
Problems with your relationship with your partner, friends or family starting or getting worse.
You have had depressive illness before.
You or others are really worried about what is happening.
