Having a baby is a joyous time for most women. After childbirth, though, A lot of mothers feel sad, afraid, angry or anxious. Most new mothers have these feelings in a mild form called postpartum blues. Sometimes these feelings are called "baby blues." Postpartum blues almost always go away in a few days.
About 10% of new mothers have a greater problem called postpartum depression. Postpartum depression lasts longer and is more intense. It often requires counseling and treatment. Postpartum depression can occur after any birth, not just the first.
Baby Blues
A lot of new mothers are surprised at how weak, alone and upset they feel after giving birth. Their feelings don't seem to match the feelings they thought they would have. They wonder, "What have I got to be depressed about?"
In fact, about 70% to 80% of women have baby blues after childbirth. About two to three days after birth, they begin to feel depressed, anxious and upset. For no clear reason, they may feel angry with the new baby, their partners or their other children.
These feelings may come and go in the first few days after childbirth.
Postpartum Depression
Women with postpartum depression have such strong feelings of sadness, anxiety or despair that they have trouble coping with their daily tasks. Without treatment, postpartum depression may become worse or may last longer.
Postpartum depression is more likely to happen in women who lack the support of a partner or who have had:
- Postpartum depression before
- A psychiatric illness
- Recent stress, such as losing a loved one, family illness or moving to a new city
Reasons for Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is likely to result from body, mind and lifestyle factors combined. No two women have the same biologic makeup or life experiences. This may be why some women have postpartum depression and others don't.
Body Changes
The postpartum period is a time of great changes in the body. These changes can affect a woman's mood and behavior for days or weeks.
Levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop sharply in the hours after childbirth. This change may trigger depression in the same way that much smaller changes in hormone levels can trigger mood swings and tension before menstrual periods.
A lot of women feel very tired after giving birth. It can take weeks for a woman to regain her normal strength. Some women have their babies by cesarean birth. Because this is major surgery, it will take them longer to feel strong again.
Emotional Aspects
A lot of emotional factors can affect a woman's self-esteem and the way she deals with stress. This can add to postpartum depression.
Feelings of doubt about the pregnancy are common
The baby may be born early. This can cause stressful changes in home and work routines that the parents did not expect.
Lifestyle Factors
A major factor in postpartum depression is lack of support from others. The steady support of a new mother's partner is a comfort during pregnancy and after the birth.
Breastfeeding problems can make a new mother feel depressed. New mothers need not feel guilty if they can not breastfeed or if they decide to stop.
The Role of Myths
Women who have an idea of the "perfect mother" are more prone to feel let down and depressed when faced with the needs of day-to-day mothering. Three myths about being a mother are common:
Myth #1: Motherhood Is Instinctive. First-time mothers often believe that they should just know how to care for a newborn. In fact, new mothers need to learn mothering skills just as they learn any other life skill.
Myth #2: The Perfect Baby. Most women dream about what their newborn will look like. When the baby arrives, it may not match the baby of their dreams.
Also, babies have distinct personalities right from birth. A new mother may find it hard to adjust to the baby.
Myth #3: The Perfect Mother. For some women, being perfect is a never-ending goal. A mother may think she is not living up to the ideal. She may feel that she is a failure.
What You Can Do
If you are feeling depressed after the birth of your child, there are some things you can do to take care of yourself and your baby:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Ask for help from family and friends.
- Take special care of yourself.
- Spend time with your partner.
Call your doctor if your feelings do not lessen after a few weeks and you have trouble coping. Blues that don't go away after a few weeks may be a sign of a more severe depression.
Finally …
A lot of new mothers feel sadness, fear, anger and anxiety after having a baby. This is normal. It does not mean that you are a failure as a woman or mother or that you have a mental illness. Having these feelings means that you are adjusting to the A lot of changes that follow the birth of a child.
