Postpartum depression is a very real mental health condition and needs treatment just like any other medical condition. It can sneak into a woman’s life after what most consider to be a happy time. It can rob her of joy and the feelings of competency as a mother.
According to the March of Dimes, around 15% of women suffer from PPD but it is believed this could be up to 50% due to under reporting. Culture, ethnicity, age, and location appear to be a factor in whether women report the symptoms to their provider and seek treatment.
Around 80% of postpartum women may suffer from “baby blues”, which is considered normal. PPD is different and more serious than baby blues. Baby blues usually occurs anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks after birth. It may cause a new mother to cry a lot, have sleep difficulties, and be moody or cranky. It will improve with time and usually goes away after about 2 weeks.
PPD is different. It can occur past the typical 2 weeks and up to 12 months after the delivery of the baby. Feelings of overwhelming sadness, intense anxiety, despair, and difficulty bonding with the baby are a few of the symptoms. Other symptoms may include feeling like a failure, shame, guilt, panicked and scared all the time. Being unable to concentrate or performing daily activities, losing interest in things you normally enjoy are seen in these women. PPD can cause feelings of hurting themselves or the baby and even suicide.
The exact cause of PPD is not known but several factors may contribute to it. Extreme hormone changes after delivery are thought to be one factor. After delivery, there is a sudden drop in the hormones that supported the pregnancy. These hormones have been circulating in the women’s system for nine months and her body is used to this. After delivery of the baby and placenta, those hormones are gone within the first 24 hours. Other factors include a personal and/or family history of depression, stressful pregnancy or delivery, sick baby, fatigue, age and lack of support from family members are just a few contributing factors.
If you or a family member have these symptoms, treatment is available. Medication, counseling, or both are available and recommended. Women should keep their postpartum and well child appointments and talk about any of these symptoms to their healthcare providers.
There are screening tools that can be used to assist providers. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale or EPDS tool is a very effective screening tool and used by many clinics. It is a short questionnaire that is available for providers to open conversations with women that may be difficult for her to bring up on her own. It does not diagnose PPD but is used to screen potential problems. It is recommended these tools be given to new mothers routinely at their postpartum follow up exams and well child exams during the first year after giving birth.
As with many mental health conditions, PPD has not been taken seriously. It has been ignored or simply not considered real by women, families, and providers. Tragedies have occurred that may have been prevented by education and opening conversations.
Anyone having thoughts of hurting themselves or anyone else should seek treatment immediately. Tell someone, go to the closest emergency room, or call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Your feelings are valid, and you are important.
Suzanne is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner that was born and raised in Pampa, TX. She has been serving the Pampa area in Women’s Health for over 40 years and is at the Pampa Medical Group. She received her NP certificate from the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center at Dallas and her master’s in nursing from WTA&M in Canyon, TX
