Conditions & Diseases: Psychological & Mental Health

Depression

Postpartum Depression Introduction & Overview

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a severe form of depression that affects women after they give birth. Usually, it occurs a few hours later or in the first 4 weeks after birth, but there are cases when it begins one year later.

Postpartum depression symptoms include: sluggishness, fatigue, exhaustion, hopelessness, appetite and sleep disturbances, agitation and irritability, difficulty concentrating and thinking, uncontrollable crying, mood swings (highs and lows), feelings of worthlessness or guilt, lack of interest in the baby, negative feelings toward the baby or intrusive thoughts of harming the baby, excessive preoccupation with the child’s health, loss of interest in things that were pleasurable in the past, loss of energy, social withdrawal, and even thoughts of death or suicide.

The exact causes that trigger postpartum depression are not known, but clinical experience and medical research suggests there are three major factors involved:
(1) Hormonal changes (a woman experiences major hormonal fluctuation after giving birth to a baby. The level of serotonin decreases after delivery).
(2) Situational risks (giving birth to a child represent a major change and transition in a woman life and can cause lot of stress).
(3) Life stresses (ongoing stressful events increase the pressure a pregnant woman feels, a situation that can lead to postpartum depression).

A women faces the risk to experience postpartum depression if:

• She had a mood or anxiety disorder prior the pregnancy.
• She suffered from depression after a previous pregnancy.
• She is under the age of 20.
• She has experienced a stressful event during the pregnancy (illness, death or illness of a loved one).
• She had a difficult, emergency, or premature delivery.
• She did not plan or do not want the pregnancy.
• She has a alcohol problems, uses illegal drugs or smokes.
• She has a dysfunctional relationship with her husband or boyfriend.
• She has a history of suicide attempts.
• She has financial problems or difficulties.
• She was raised in a dysfunctional environment with poor emotional support offered by the parents.

Article by Alina Morrow,
MS Psychology
OmniMedicalSearch.com
Depression Bibliography