Thursday, March 28, 2024

When Was Postpartum Depression First Recognized

What Can I Do At Home To Feel Better While Seeing A Doctor For Postpartum Depression

US authorities approve first drug to treat postpartum depression

Here are some ways to begin feeling better or getting more rest, in addition to talking to a health care professional:

  • Rest as much as you can. Sleep when the baby is sleeping.
  • Dont try to do too much or to do everything by yourself. Ask your partner, family, and friends for help.
  • Make time to go out, visit friends, or spend time alone with your partner.
  • Talk about your feelings with your partner, supportive family members, and friends.
  • Talk with other mothers so that you can learn from their experiences.
  • Join a support group. Ask your doctor or nurse about groups in your area.
  • Dont make any major life changes right after giving birth. More major life changes in addition to a new baby can cause unneeded stress. Sometimes big changes cant be avoided. When that happens, try to arrange support and help in your new situation ahead of time.

It can also help to have a partner, a friend, or another caregiver who can help take care of the baby while you are depressed. If you are feeling depressed during pregnancy or after having a baby, dont suffer alone. Tell a loved one and call your doctor right away.

Chronic Postpartum Depression Symptoms

Medical treatment for postpartum depression helps control symptoms. However, many women who receive medical treatment continue to experience chronic symptoms of postpartum depression over one year following childbirth. Women who remain untreated for their postpartum depression may continue to experience chronic symptoms up to four years after childbirth.

How Is Postpartum Depression Diagnosed

Postpartum depression may be detected and diagnosed during a routine doctor’s visit. A 2018 committee opinion by the ACOG recommends that doctors providing obstetric care screen mothers at least once during pregnancy and/or within the year following the birth of a child. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians continue to screen mothers for postpartum depression during their babies’ one-, two-, four-, and six-month checkups.

If the parent’s responses to screening questions suggest that they are depressed, doctors will follow up with a more thorough assessment, in which the clinician asks more questions about the person’s experience before making a diagnosis and recommending treatment, Byatt said.

Also Check: Where To Go To Get Diagnosed With Depression

Can You Hear A Baby Crying In The Womb

While its true your baby can cry in the womb, it doesnt make a sound, and its not something to worry about. The babys practice cries include imitating the breathing pattern, facial expression, and mouth movements of a baby crying outside of the womb. You shouldnt worry that your baby is in pain.

Because neglected depression can have a significant physical and also emotional effect, its important to have the best info in order to make the most effective decisions for yourself and also for your health and wellness. Below are 5 typical false impressions postnatal depression stories nz concerning depression, and the realities behind them. Did I actually believe that because I didnt feel my baby relocate every hr that something was incorrect with him? Did I require to call my OBGYN multiple times a day to see if I should rush to the hospital to see to it my baby was ok?

Tip : Lean On Others For Help And Support

Babies Are Really Smart!! » Help for Postpartum Depression

Human beings are social. Positive social contact relieves stress faster and more efficiently than any other means of stress reduction. Historically and from an evolutionary perspective, new mothers received help from those around them when caring for themselves and their infants after childbirth. In todays world, new mothers often find themselves alone, exhausted and lonely for supportive adult contact. Here are some ideas for connecting to others:

Make your relationships a priority. When youre feeling depressed and vulnerable, its more important than ever to stay connected to family and friendseven if youd rather be alone. Isolating yourself will only make your situation feel even bleaker, so make your adult relationships a priority. Let your loved ones know what you need and how youd like to be supported.

Dont keep your feelings to yourself. In addition to the practical help your friends and family can provide, they can also serve as a much-needed emotional outlet. Share what youre experiencingthe good, the bad, and the uglywith at least one other person, preferably face to face. It doesnt matter who you talk to, so long as that person is willing to listen without judgment and offer reassurance and support.

Need to talk to someone?

Read Also: How To Get Out Of A Depressed Mood

Overcoming Depression Requires Flexible Thinking Not Positive Thinking

Many different factors have been implicated in postpartum depression and other pregnancy-related woes. For certain aspects, such as bottle-feeding rather than breastfeeding, a consistent connection has been identified. For other factors, notably C-sections, the jury is still out. Such multifactorial complexity and a paucity of information from animal models have hindered successful treatment.

Recently, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been widely used to treat postnatal depression. However, a 2019 review by Ariela Frieder and colleagues reported positive results from trials of intravenously injected brexanolone a synthetic form of allopregnanolone . Trials indicated that brexanolone quickly reduces symptoms of postpartum depression, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its use for treatment in 2019.

Overall, the good news is that treating postpartum depression with a combination of therapy and medication is often very effective. It generally takes a while, but patients do usually recover in due course. The crucial point is that any woman feeling depressed beyond two weeks after birth should seek medical advice and not try to fight the battle alone.

Additional considerations

References

Abou-Saleh, M.T., Ghubash, R., Karim, L., Krymski, M. & Bhai, I. Hormonal aspects of postpartum depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology 23:465-475.

Anonymous Postpartum disorder. Diagnosis Dictionary, Psychology Today

How Does Postpartum Depression Affect The Baby And The Mother

Postpartum depression can make it harder for the parent and baby to bond, said Dr. Simone Vigod, a perinatal health researcher and chief of psychiatry at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. There’s also some evidence that having a mother with untreated postpartum depression is associated with developmental delays and social-emotional problems in children, she added.

However it’s important that parents with postpartum depression don’t blame themselves for the potential harms that could result from the illness, Vigod told Live Science. “Depression is a medical illness. If people could just snap their fingers and snap out of it, I wouldn’t have a practice. Nobody chooses this, and nobody is just not working hard enough to make it better,” she said.

Postpartum depression affects the parent, first and foremost. “Having a depressive episode means that her mental health and well-being is impacted it means that the experience of parenthood is impacted,” Vigod said. “And it opens the door, especially if it’s not treated, for having continued mental health issues or continued depression across the lifespan.”

Related: More than half of all pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, CDC says

You May Like: What Should I Do For Depression

Prior To The 19th Century

Western medical science’s understanding and construction of postpartum depression has evolved over the centuries. Ideas surrounding womenâs moods and states have been around for a long time, typically recorded by men. In 460 B.C., Hippocrates wrote about puerperal fever, agitation, delirium, and mania experienced by women after child birth. Hippocrates’ ideas still linger in how postpartum depression is seen today.

Why Do I Have Postpartum Depression

How to Cope with Postpartum Depression by Kaiser Permanente

Experts dont know exactly what causes postpartum depression. They believe it could be caused by hormones in a womans body that change during pregnancy and affect her brains chemistry. After she gives birth, the amount of estrogen and progesterone in her body is dramatically reduced, which may cause sensitive individuals to react by developing postpartum depression. Another possibility is that women with postpartum depression may have an underlying problem with an underactive thyroid gland after delivery. This issue is easy to treat if it is detected.Currently, researchers are studying other biological or social problems that may cause postpartum depression. This type of depression is most likely linked to other forms of depression, since women who have suffered previously from depression of any kind are more likely to develop depression after giving birth. Women with relatives who have had depression also have a higher risk of developing postpartum depression.

You May Like: Coping Skills For Depression Worksheet

Suicide During The Postpartum Period

Completed suicide rates are lower during the postpartum period compared with nonpuerperal time periods, although rates in postpartum adolescents are higher than in older postpartum women. A study of perinatal maternal deaths in the United Kingdom from 19971999 reported that suicide was the leading cause of maternal death, was increased in women with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders, and was more likely to be a violent death compared with the suicides of men and nonpuerperal women. Suicide may also be a leading cause of maternal deaths in Australia.

A study of a United States population sample reported that there was a 3 times greater risk of a suicide attempt and that inpatient psychiatric admissions were increased after fetal death or infant death in the first postpartum year. In this study, labor and delivery complications, cesarean section, pre-term delivery, low birthweight, and congenital malformations were not associated with increased risk of suicide attempts. A review of studies that confirmed that suicide rates are lower during pregnancy and the postpartum period emphasized that perinatal women complete suicide by more violent and lethal means than do women who are not perinatal. Assessment of suicidality in the perinatal woman should include specific inquiry about depressed mood, substance abuse, previous suicide attempts, current or previous psychiatric illness, previous trauma, current intimate partner violence, and access to firearms.,

Identifying Those At Risk

In most cases, women who are at risk for PMD can be identified during pregnancy so that appropriate follow-up can be initiated after delivery. Studies have consistently demonstrated that dissatisfaction with the marital relationship and the amount of social support from a spouse and other significant persons increases the risk of PMD.25 As with nonpuerperal depression, stressful life events have been shown to be associated with PMD.26 For example, a woman who is on maternity leave is likely to feel more vulnerable if her husband is laid off from his job than she would if she herself were working full time. Interestingly, complications of labor have not been consistently shown to predict the occurrence of PMD. Some studies have found that obstetric factors increase the risk of PMD,21,27 whereas others have found the opposite association26,28 or no association.20,29 Of 13 studies addressing the role of socioeconomic status in PMD, only two found that low socioeconomic status is predictive of PMD.30

Women who have a previous history of mood disorders, both puerperal and non-puerperal, are at increased risk of relapse after delivery. At least one third of the women who have had PMD have a recurrence of symptoms after a subsequent delivery,31,32 and as many as 60 percent of women with bipolar disorder have a relapse after childbirth.33 Fortunately, identification of these women can be accomplished during the pregnancy with appropriate prenatal screening.

Don’t Miss: What To Do When You Think You Have Depression

Helping A New Mother With Postpartum Depression

If your loved one is experiencing postpartum depression, the best thing you can do is to offer support. Give her a break from childcare duties, provide a listening ear, and be patient and understanding.

You also need to take care of yourself. Dealing with the needs of a new baby is hard for the partner as well as the mother. And if your significant other is depressed, you are dealing with two major stressors.

Factors That Impact The Ppd Timeline

Postpartum Depression and the Baby Blues: Whats the ...

There are a number of factors that can determine the postpartum depression timeline towards recovery.

These timeline factors include:

  • When the initial symptoms start
  • The severity of the symptoms and whether they persist chronically
  • How soon a diagnosis is reached after symptoms present themselves
  • Which type of postpartum depression the woman is diagnosed with
  • How soon treatment begins after a diagnosis
  • The types of treatments pursued
  • How effective the treatment is at controlling and managing symptoms
  • Whether or not the affected woman has adequate social and family support
  • A womans history of anxiety and depression prior to pregnancy
  • Other life circumstances, such as financial or relationship stress

These factors can help determine how soon a woman will recover from her PPD symptoms. Adhering to a postpartum depression treatment plan and implementing regular self-care practices are critical factors in achieving full recovery as quickly as possible.

Don’t Miss: Do Cell Phones Cause Depression

Are Some Women More At Risk Of Postpartum Depression

Yes. You may be more at risk of postpartum depression if you:3

  • Have a personal history of depression or bipolar disorder
  • Have a family history of depression or bipolar disorder
  • Do not have support from family and friends
  • Were depressed during pregnancy
  • Lose your appetite
  • Have trouble sleeping

The baby blues usually go away in 3 to 5 days after they start. The symptoms of postpartum depression last longer and are more severe. Postpartum depression usually begins within the first month after childbirth, but it can begin during pregnancy or for up to a year after birth.5

Postpartum depression needs to be treated by a doctor or nurse.

Tip : Take Care Of Yourself

One of the best things you can do to relieve or avoid postpartum depression is to take care of yourself. The more you care for your mental and physical well-being, the better youll feel. Simple lifestyle changes can go a long way towards helping you feel like yourself again.

Skip the housework Make yourself and your baby the priority. Give yourself permission to concentrate on yourself and your baby there is more work involved in this 24/7 job than in holding down a full-time job.

Ease back into exercise. Studies show that exercise may be just as effective as medication when it comes to treating depression, so the sooner you get back up and moving, the better. No need to overdo it: a 30-minute walk each day will work wonders. Stretching exercises such as those found in yoga have shown to be especially effective.

Practice mindfulness meditation. Research supports the effectiveness of meditation for making you feel calmer and more energized. It can also help you to become more aware of what you need and what you feel.

Dont skimp on sleep. A full eight hours may seem like an unattainable luxury when youre dealing with a newborn, but poor sleep makes depression worse. Do what you can to get plenty of restfrom enlisting the help of your partner or family members to catching naps when you can.

Get out in the sunshine. Sunlight lifts your mood, so try to get at least 10 to 15 minutes of sun per day.

Don’t Miss: Baclofen For Anxiety And Depression

Who Does It Affect

Postpartum depression can affect anyone. Although its more commonly reported by mothers, it can affect any new parentsboth moms and dadsand it can affect parents who adopt. Postpartum depression is likely caused by many different factors that work together, including family history, biology, personality, life experiences, and the environment .

How Our Helpline Works

First Postpartum Depression Drug Approved By FDA

For those seeking addiction treatment for themselves or a loved one, the PsychGuides.com helpline is a private and convenient solution.

We are standing by 24/7 to discuss your treatment options. Our representatives work solely for AAC and will discuss whether an AAC facility may be an option for you.

Our helpline is offered at no cost to you and with no obligation to enter into treatment. Neither PsychGuides.com nor AAC receives any commission or other fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a visitor may ultimately choose.

For more information on AACs commitment to ethical marketing and treatment practices, or to learn more about how to select a treatment provider, visit our About AAC page.

If you wish to explore additional treatment options or connect with a specific rehab center, you can browse top-rated listings or visit SAMHSA.

Recommended Reading: What Do People Do When They Are Depressed

Coronavirus Update: How To Contact A Gp

It’s still important to get help from a GP if you need it. To contact your GP surgery:

  • visit their website
  • a range of help and support is available, including therapy
  • depression is an illness like any other
  • it’s not your fault you’re depressed it can happen to anyone
  • being depressed does not mean you’re a bad parent
  • it does not mean you’re going mad
  • your baby will not be taken away from you babies are only taken into care in very exceptional circumstances

Screening For Postpartum Depression

Many methods have been tried and tested to screen women in the antenatal period for the possibility of developing PPD. One of the most frequently mentioned methods of screening is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale . It is a simple 10-question screen initially proposed by Cox et al. in 1987. The Antepartum Questionnaire , developed more recently by Posner et al., demonstrates a sensitivity of 80% to 82% and a specificity of 78% to 82% . In the studies developing the APQ, the rate of PPD rose from 10% to 17% from delivery to 6 weeks postpartum. The number of women who demonstrated more than mild depressive symptoms also continued to rise until approximately 12 weeks postpartum. Clinically, this screening technique appears to have usefulness.

Read Also: Is My 10 Year Old Depressed

Popular Articles
Related news