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Symptoms and Risks of Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a serious illness that can occur after the birth of any child, not just the first. Studies show that it is even more prevalent in second births, perhaps because of the extra stress put on a mom when she realizes there are two lives dependant on her instead of one. Regardless of what the cause of postpartum depression is, the good news is that it is easily treatable if properly diagnosed.

Depression after having a baby may or may not be serious. Some women have a very mild and short-lived form of depression called the “baby blues.” There are many hormonal changes going on in a woman’s body during and after pregnancy, and the fluctuations of these hormones after birth may cause some feelings of sadness or ambivalence about the new baby. This is entirely normal. However, in postpartum depression, symptoms begin within six months postpartum, are more severe than the “baby blues,” and last much longer than a few days or weeks.

Some women may not realize that they have crossed from having a little sadness to a serious disorder. There are certain signs that a woman or her family can use to determine if professional help is needed. Besides the usual depressed mood and fatigue, symptoms specific to postpartum depression include:

• Feelings of numbness. Not feeling the range of emotions that come with having a baby is a red flag. Having neither joy or elation, sadness or baby blues is abnormal and should be seen as a sign of a bigger problem.

• A lack of interest in the baby. It is hard to imagine that a new mother would have no interest in her newborn baby, but lack of interest in anything is a hallmark sign of depression. The new mom with postpartum depression may feel inadequate to care for the baby, leading to the disinterest.

• Excessive concern for the baby. On the opposite spectrum, a depressed mother may be overly worried or obsessively-compulsive about raising the new baby. This may include not letting friends or family near the baby.

• Severe mood swings. Women with postpartum depression often have swings of emotion greater than the usual experience by women during stressful times. If a friend or family member is affected by these swings, they should be considered severe.

It may be possible to predict postpartum depression in some women, as there are certain risk factors associated with the disorder. These may include:

• A history of depression. A tendency to have depressive episodes, including after having a baby, raises the risk of it reoccurring during the first year after birth.

• A history of severe premenstrual syndrome. Episodes of severe PMS may signal that a woman’s body is unable to effectively deal with large shifts of hormonal adjustments. It is these hormonal changes that are thought to contribute to postpartum depression.

• A particularly stressful pregnancy. A troubled pregnancy, including an early delivery or complications, may create an even more stressful environment for the new mother once she returns home to care for her baby.

• Marriage or pregnancy issues. Marriage trouble, or an unsupportive spouse, may contribute to stress after the birth of a new baby. Also, having an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy is a risk factor of postpartum depression.

It is important to remember that becoming depressed is not a sign of inadequacy or failure, but a physiological reaction in your body caused by the combination of giving birth and raising a child. If you properly understand the risks, causes, and symptoms of the disorder, getting your life back to normal will be much easier than living a life while suffering from postpartum depression.