Postpartum depression describes a mood disorder of moderate to severe depression that occurs in a woman within a year after the birth of her child, but it most often develops within three months after birth. This mood disorder affects around 14 percent of women. It’s normal for women to experience a mild depressed mood for a few weeks after giving birth, but if it persists then it may turn into postpartum depression.
Doctors believe this condition can be caused by a combination of things both physical and emotional. Some causes are thought to be the sudden change in hormones after birth, sleep deprivation, alcohol or drug use, personal or family history of depression, and if you’re a mother under the age of 20.
1. Insomnia
Insomnia is difficulty falling asleep, lack of quality sleep, waking early, or a combination of all three. Insomnia can happen during any stressful time in a person’s life. Many new parents deal with insomnia right after their child is born. Children often wake during the night and need attending. This cuts into the sleep of an already stressed parent. The lack of sleep can stress you out more, making it even more difficult to get quality sleep.
There are other stressors that can come with a new child. Money may be tighter because of parents taking time off work. Parents may find that they do not have as much time for each other as they did before their child was born. All these stressors can result in a new parent developing insomnia.
2. Loss of Appetite
Loss of appetite is when you feel less desire to eat, or you feel full after eating a very small amount of food. Loss of appetite can be caused by many health issues, including depression. Depression causes the loss of interest in many things. It can make you feel like there’s no point in doing things. It can also drain your energy, so you don’t feel like doing things. A person who loses their appetite carries the risk of developing malnutrition. Malnutrition can exacerbate depression.Proper nutrition is very important for mental health. Appetite should return once the postpartum depression is treated.
3. Irritability
Everyone experiences short bouts of irritability, especially during stressful life events. It’s normal for you to have bouts of irritability when going through a big change like having a new child. If the irritability is constant or you find yourself getting set off at the smallest things, you may be experiencing postpartum depression. Irritability can make you feel restless and short tempered, as if you’re always close to snapping. When irritability is caused by depression, it is a sign that the depression has become severe. You should speak to your doctor about diagnosis and treatment if you’re worried about postpartum depression.
4. Difficulty Bonding
Many women who experience postpartum depression will have difficulty bonding with their baby. This can make women feel immense guilt, which can worsen their depression. There’s immense pressure on new mothers to immediately bond with their newborn, but it’s not uncommon for people to need time before bonding with their new baby. Adults bond with each other over time as they spend more time together. Some people bond with their body in much the same way. If you think that your difficulty bonding is caused by postpartum depression, then you should contact your doctor about diagnosis and available treatment options.
5. Anxiety
Anxiety is characterized as extreme nervousness, restlessness, bouts of panic, fear, nausea, dry mouth, and being unable to put your worry aside. When you have anxiety it’s possible to experience anxiety attacks. Anxiety can progress slowly, so you may not at first notice that you are developing it, until it is impacting your life. It’s not uncommon for people with postpartum depression to experience anxiety. The anxiety should alleviate as you go through your treatment for depression, but it can be treated as a separate issue if it persists. Anxiety is not fatal, but it can be debilitating if not treated.
6. Guilt
Guilt is a common symptom for postpartum depression. Guilt is when you feel that you have done something wrong, whether you have or not. Many people who experience the condition often feel that they have brought these issues on themselves or that they are somehow broken for not experiencing the birth of their child with the kind of happiness that they feel they should. This leads them to feel guilty, and it can worsen their depression. The condition is not something that anyone can chose to or not to develop. It’s a medical condition that deserves treatment, so you can begin enjoying life and your new baby.
7. Mood Swings
Mood swings can be a whirlwind to deal with. You may oscillate from irritability to sadness to joy and back again within a short amount of time. Mood swings aren’t limited to these emotions. The emotions that are swung through will vary depending on the individual experiencing the mood swings, but irritability and anxiety are two of the most common. This can cause embarrassment if you’re unsure why your moods seem to be so up and down. Mood swings may feel like you’re on a never ending emotional rollercoaster, but your moods will settle to a more normal level once you’ve been treated for your postpartum depression.
8. Panic Attacks
Panic attacks and anxiety attacks are the same thing with a different name. Panic attacks can happen suddenly with little warning, or you may feel a steady build-up of anxiety until it overwhelms you. A panic attack is when your anxiety swells in intensity suddenly and becomes overwhelming. You may experience sweating, shaking, dizziness, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Some people mistake panic attacks for heart attacks because they share similar symptoms. Your panic attacks will alleviate as you progress through your treatment. While not fatal, panic attacks can be frightening. You should contact your doctor is you are experiencing panic attacks.
9. Fear
With everything else on this list that people can experience with postpartum depression, it’s probably not a surprise that the condition can make you fearful. This fear normally stems from the person suffering from the condition worrying that they have or will fail as a parent. Parenthood is a tough job with a lot of responsibility, so it’s natural to have some worries when your child is first born. The fear shouldn’t take over your life though. If you are experiencing extreme fear after the birth of your child, you should contact your doctor and discuss the possibility of a postpartum depression diagnosis.
10. Fatigue
Fatigue affects your mental and physical capabilities. It is more than just drowsiness because it can’t be alleviated by an adequate amount of sleep. It’s a persistent lethargy and exhaustion that can make simply daily tasks feel impossible to carry out. You might have to sit down several times while trying to carry out your daily chores. You can develop a foggy brain from it that makes it difficult for you to concentrate on anything. You may find yourself constantly losing you train of thought when you’re fatigued. It’s normal for new parents to feel some fatigue, but you should contact your doctor if it lasts for more than a few weeks.
11. Weight Gain or Loss
Depression can affect your body in the form of weight gain or loss. It’s natural to gain some weight when you are pregnant, but if you rapidly put on more weight after the birth of your child, you may be experiencing emotional eating because of postpartum depression. You are more likely to see weight loss if you are also experiencing the symptom of a lost appetite. Many people strive to lose weight after putting on weight while pregnant, but rapid weight loss can damage your body. If you find your weight rapidly rising or falling, you should set up an appointment with your doctor.
