How To Know If It’s Depression
As noted earlier, it can be very difficult to distinguish between normal grief over a loss of a baby and all that baby meant in your life, and clinical depression. Nearly 20% of women who experience early pregnancy loss experience symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. What is most important is that you seek help if you are feeling down.
Studies suggest that when depression occurs after a miscarriage, it may last for one to three years.
Can You Have Postpartum Depression After Miscarriage
Losing a pregnancy is an emotionally devastating experience. Heres how to deal with feelings of grief and depression after miscarriage.
Having a miscarriage is physically and emotionally difficult under any circumstance. Indeed, “in a national survey that we completed, one in five women reported that the emotional loss following a miscarriage was similar to that of losing an older child,” explains Dr. Zev Williams, M.D., director of the Program for Early and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Some women even develop postpartum depressionafter miscarriage.
Though time and comfort are often the best healers, it helps sometimes to understand the mourning process that can accompany a miscarriage, and to know what you can do to start coping with pregnancy loss. Here’s how to begin.
How Does Depression Affect Pregnant Women
If you have depression while youre pregnant, you may have trouble caring for yourself.
Depression during pregnancy can also lead to:
- miscarriage,
- delivering before the due date ,
- giving birth to a small baby .
If depression during pregnancy isnt treated, it can lead to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a serious condition that can last for months after giving birth. It can affect your health and how well you bond with your baby.
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Who Is Affected By Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is common. As many as 50 to 75% of new mothers experience the “baby blues” after delivery. Up to 15% of these women will develop a more severe and longer-lasting depression, called postpartum depression, after delivery. One in 1,000 women develop the more serious condition called postpartum psychosis.
Why It Might Last Longer For You
The timeline for PPD is different for everyone. If you have certain risk factors, you might find your PPD lasting longer even with treatment. The severity of your symptoms and how long you had symptoms before beginning treatment can affect how long your PPD lasts.
Risk factors include:
- a history of depression or other mental illness
- breastfeeding difficulties
- a complicated pregnancy or delivery
- a lack of support from your partner or family members and friends
- other major life changes occurring during the postpartum period, like a move or loss of employment
- a history of PPD after a previous pregnancy
Theres no formula to determine who will experience PPD and who wont, or for how long itll last. But with the right treatment, especially when its received early, you can find relief even if you have one of these risk factors.
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Emotional Aspects Of Miscarriage
Many women form an attachment to their baby early in the pregnancy, particularly if they’ve been trying to conceive for some time. So after a miscarriage, they’re likely to go through a period of mourning and possibly experience the same stages of grief that can accompany the death of a loved one. The stages are:
Understanding Ppd In Adoptive Parents
Postpartum depression can also affect adoptive parents. Adoptive parents do not have the same physical experience that a birthmother does. However, there are similar emotional and mental stresses that come with welcoming a new child into the home.
Often referred to as post-adoption depression, this mood disorder can be just as crippling as postpartum depression is in new mothers. The reasons for post-adoption depression are many. Some new adoptive parents feel they are not forming the bond they hoped they would with their child. Others underestimate the work and lifestyle shifts that come from adopting a child.
Still, post-adoption depression remains largely unrecognized. Many adoptive parentsboth new mothers and fatherssuffer from their symptoms in silence. This is often because postpartum depression is associated with biological factors that many adoptive parents feel they are exempt from.
If you are an adoptive parent struggling with post-adoption depression symptoms, you are not alone. There are plenty of treatment, counseling and self-help tools available to help you cope with your new parenthood.
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How Is Postpartum Depression Treated
Postpartum depression is treated differently depending on the type and severity of the womans symptoms. Treatment options include anti-anxiety or antidepressant medicines, psychotherapy, and support group participation.
In the case of postpartum psychosis, medicines used to treat psychosis are usually added. Hospital admission is also usually necessary.
If you are breastfeeding, dont assume that you can’t take medicines for depression, anxiety, or even psychosis. Talk to your healthcare provider about your options.
If I Take Antidepressants During My Pregnancy Will They Hurt My Baby
You may think you should stop taking medication for depression when you are pregnant. Remember that, if left untreated, depression can have serious effects for both you and your baby. If you are taking antidepressants and are thinking about getting pregnant , talk to your doctor first, before stopping any medication. You can also consult the following trusted resources: www.mothertobaby.org, www.medicinesinpregnancy.org.
Some newborn babies may have symptoms such as irritability, fast breathing, tremors and poor feeding if their mothers took antidepressants during pregnancy. These symptoms are usually mild and pass quickly, usually within 2 weeks. These babies typically respond well to a quiet environment, swaddling, skin-to-skin contact, and frequent small feeds. Serious problems such as heart defects or more severe breathing issues are very rare.After your baby is born, they will be watched closely to make sure they are healthy. Your doctors and nurses will make sure that you are both well before letting you go home. You may need to stay an extra day or two in the hospital so that they can be sure.
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Whats The Difference Between Baby Blues And Postpartum Depression
The baby blues is a mild form of postpartum depression that many new moms experience. It usually starts 1 to 3 days after the birth and can last for 10 days to a few weeks. With baby blues, many women have mood swingshappy one minute and crying the next. They may feel anxious, confused, or have trouble eating or sleeping. Up to 80% of new moms have the baby blues. Its common, and it will go away on its own.
About 13% of new mothers experience postpartum depression, which is more serious and lasts longer. You are at a greater risk if you have a family history of depression or have had depression before.
Some of the symptoms include:
- feeling like you cant care for your baby,
- extreme anxiety or panic attacks,
- trouble making decisions,
- hopelessness, and
- feeling out of control.
No one knows exactly what causes postpartum depression. If you think you have the symptoms, its important to get help right away. Postpartum depression needs to be treated. Talk to your doctor or call your local public health office.
Diagnosing Postpartum Depression In Adoptive Parents
Many people are unaware of the likeliness of postpartum depression in adoptive parents. Therefore, it is largely unrecognized and under-diagnosed condition.
If you suspect that you are struggling with post-adoption depression, it is important to get clear on your symptoms. Then, you can visit a physician, explain your symptoms and be assessed for post-adoption depression.
Many doctors will look at these symptoms and use a depression screening questionnaire. This method ensures you are able to receive treatment immediately, instead of waiting until things worsen.
You do not need to suffer in silence. Seeking help from a physician or mental health professional is imperative for your personal health and the health of your child.
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/5how Prevalent Is Postpartum Depression After A Miscarriage
According to a report by the World Health Organisation , every year around 2 million babies are stillborn and moreover these deaths are preventable. These numbers could be even higher since many stillbirths in some developed countries are not systematically recorded. A stillbirth or a miscarriage can impact the mental and physical health of the mother who encountered the death of her unborn child. A pregnancy brings with it a lot of hormonal, physical and mental changes such as morning sickness, increased urination, hormonal rush or emotional breakdown, but what motivates a mother to withstand such challenges is the dream to welcome a new life.
Is There Any Research About How Long Ppd Usually Lasts
Because PPD can appear anywhere from a couple of weeks to 12 months after birth, theres no average length of time it lasts. A 2014 review of studies suggests that PPD symptoms improve over time, with many cases of depression resolving 3 to 6 months after they begin.
That said, in that same review, it was clear that plenty of particpants were still dealing with PPD symptoms well beyond the 6-month mark.
Anywhere from 30%50% percent met criteria for PPD 1 year after giving birth, while a little less than half of the people studied were still reporting depressive symptoms 3 years postpartum.
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How Men React To Miscarriages
Men and women often experience a miscarriage differently. Men tend to have less of an emotional attachment to the pregnancy in the early months, so they may feel less pained and grief-stricken by the miscarriage. Sometimes this can cause a misunderstanding and conflict in a marriage, since each partner tends to expect the other to react to the miscarriage in a similar way.
The important thing to remember is that mourning is a process that takes time. While some people are able to put aside their feelings and move on, others find that they need weeks or even months to be able to fully function again. Eventually, though, the pain of a miscarriage will subside and the world will indeed look brighter. But until then, it’s important to honor your feelings and to take the time you need to grieve.
Depression After Miscarriage Can Linger
Study Shows Depression for Women Who Have Had Miscarriage Continues Even After Birth of a Baby
March 3, 2011 — Feelings of depression and anxiety following a miscarriage may last for almost three years after the birth of a healthy baby, finds a new study in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
âHealth providers and women themselves think that once they have a healthy baby after a loss, all would be fine and that any anxiety, fears, or depression would go away, but that is simply not the case,â says study researcher Emma Robertson Blackmore, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. âI honestly thought that once a woman had a baby or had gone past the stage of her previous loss, the anxiety and depression would go way, but these feelings persist.â
Of 13,133 pregnant women studied, 21% had experienced one or more previous miscarriages, 108 had one previous stillbirth, and three women had two previous stillbirths. All of the women in the study were assessed for depression and anxiety during their pregnancy and after having their babies.
Among the women who had one previous miscarriage or stillbirth, 13% were still experiencing symptoms of depression almost three years later, and about 19% of women who had two previous pregnancy losses were still depressed after 33 months, the study showed.
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What Are The Symptoms
A woman who has postpartum depression may:
- Feel very sad, hopeless, and empty. Some women also may feel anxious.
- Lose pleasure in everyday things.
- Not feel hungry and may lose weight. .
- Have trouble sleeping.
- Not be able to concentrate.
These symptoms can occur in the first day or two after the birth. Or they can follow the symptoms of the baby blues after a couple of weeks.
If you think you may have postpartum depression, take a short quiz to check your symptoms:
A woman who has postpartum psychosis may feel cut off from her baby. She may see and hear things that aren’t there. Any woman who has postpartum depression can have fleeting thoughts of suicide or of harming her baby. But a woman with postpartum psychosis may feel like she has to act on these thoughts.
If you think you can’t keep from hurting yourself, your baby, or someone else, see your doctor right away or call 911 for emergency medical care. For other resources, call:
- The national suicide hotline at 1-800-273-TALK .
- The National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD .
Postpartum Depression After Abortion
by Sydna Masse | Apr 10, 2017
My abortion was a few days ago. I cant move or talk to anyone, including my husband. I have so much regret Im usually asleep by now and I cant keep my eyes shut. Please tell me what I can do. I can tell this is going to get worse for me, the post-abortive woman wrote after finding Ramah Internationals post abortion healing site.
Abortion clearly involves giving birth. It obviously involves the loss of a child. However you view the abortion issue, there is no denying that this form of voluntary child loss has a physical impact on the women that choose it.
The hormones a mothers body produces to ensure the pregnancy is maintained are abruptly halted and thrown into disarray by abortion. It is biologically clear that post-abortive women endure the fallout of this hormonal shift immediately after their abortion because the pregnancy is lost.
Many post-abortive women experience postpartum baby blues after their abortions. Others encounter a deeper level of angst which is called postpartum depression. This impact often includes mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping.
Because of this hormonal shift, postpartum depression often results and a deep despair can settle over a womans heart without any understanding as to its source. If abortion is safe and legal, most of us believed it must have been well researched. I never knew that making this voluntary choice to end my childs life could impact me at a postpartum level.
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Miscarriage And Clinical Depression
As for whether miscarriage grief can become postpartum depression, it is definitely possible that you could be clinically depressed in the aftermath of your miscarriage. The line between grief and depression that requires treatment can be hard to distinguish sometimes.
Both grief and depression have nearly identical symptoms. But here’s the keyyour feelings are interfering with your ability to go about your daily routines for more than a few weeks after your miscarriage, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor to see if you might benefit from treatment for depression. Even if you’re just wondering whether you might need help, let your doctor know so you can discuss it.
Can You Have Postpartum Depression After A Miscarriage
During the mourning period, emotions may be thrown into turmoil. If a woman has been trying hard to conceive, she may mourn the child she has lost as well as the fact that she’s no longer pregnant. If she’s suffered more than one miscarriage, she may be saddened by the fact that she’s unable to carry a pregnancy to term.
Some women may develop a form of postpartum depression after miscarriage. Symptoms include intense sadness, emptiness, anger, irritability, fatigue, guilt, worthlessness, and jealousy of those who are pregnant. The woman may also be preoccupied with her loss or unable to take pleasure in lifeeven in things she previously found enjoyable. Postpartum depression is especially possible if these symptoms last for more than a few weeks.
If you’re having trouble dealing with these emotions, speak with your doctor, who can refer you to a counselor if necessary. Severe cases of postpartum depression may need treatment with antidepressant medications, talk therapy, or behavioral methods like cognitive behavioral therapy.
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Depression In Pregnant Women And Mothers: How It Affects You And Your Child
Depression is an illness that affects the way people think, act and feel. About 6% of women will experience depression at some point in their lives. This number increases to about 10% for women who are pregnant.
Women are more at risk of depression while they are pregnant, and during the weeks and months after having a baby. During pregnancy, hormone changes can affect brain chemicals and cause depression and anxiety. Sometimes, pregnant women dont realize they are depressed. They may think they have symptoms of pregnancy or the baby blues, which many women experience right after birth.
Its also important to know that as many as 10% of fathers experience postpartum depression after the birth of a child.
The good news is that depression can be treated. Read the signs listed below, and talk to your doctor if you have any of them. Let your partner and family members know the signs so that they can also be aware.
If you dont get help, depression can cause problems for you and your baby.