More than 80% of new mothers will experience the Baby Blues,
somewhere between the third and fifth day after giving birth. With a little bit
of understanding and support, these baby blues usually pass within a few days.
Symptoms that a mother is experiencing the Baby Blues include irritability,
swinging low/ high moods, anxiety, crying and general emotional distress.
Post Natal Depression has a great amount of stigma attached
to it, and man misconceptions surrounding it. Suffering can range from mild, to
moderate, or severe. Many women are uneducated about the illness and as such it
goes untreated for quite some time.
There are a number of factors that are thought to contribute
to the likelihood of a woman getting Post natal Depression, but no single,one
identifiable cause. It can affect women of all cultures, all ages, and can
follow on from a miscarriage, stillbirth, normal vaginal delivery or caesarean
alike. Post Natal Depression can occur after a woman has her first baby, it may
only happen after a woman has her third, or fifth child, or even still, it may
happen after each of a woman's children's births. The odds of getting Post
Natal Depression are against you if you have already suffered from it with a
previous child, as 50% of women who experience Post Natal Depression with one
child will experience it with following children.
There are a number of symptoms that can be used to identify
and diagnose Post Natal Depression. Depending on the severity of the illness in
each individual, some or all of these may present themselves, some more
dramatically than others:
~ Sleep Disturbance
(such as insomnia- difficulty getting to sleep, constantly waking during the
night, or sleeping excessive amounts) not in conjunction with the new baby's
sleep patterns.
~ Appetite
Disturbance (not feeling hungry, refusal to eat, eating excessively)
~ Crying, or feeling
the need to cry without actually being able to cry
~ Feeling unable to
cope with everyday life, or feeling overwhelmed
~ Irritability
~ Aggressiveness, or
trying to blame everyone/ anyone else for everything going wrong- particularly
the way the Post Natal Depression sufferer is feeling
~ Negative or morbid
thoughts, even to the point of feeling suicidal, or wanting to harm oneself or
someone else (including the baby)
~ Fear of being
alone, or fear of being with other people
~ Loss of
concentration/ the ability to focus, and difficulty with memory
~ Feelings of guilt,
and feelings of inadequacy
~ Loss of confidence,
and self esteem, feeling as though the woman has “lost herself”
~ Feeling as though
there is no happiness in anything
The contributing factors to a woman getting Post Natal
Depression, can be put under three main headings- Psychological, Biological and
Social.
Psychological factors
that can contribute to this condition include- a difficult or traumatic birth
(including miscarriage and stillbirth), childhood traumas including physical/
sexual/ emotional abuse, relationship difficulties with partner/ immediate or
extended family, and certain personality types are believed to have a higher
predisposition to this illness- particularly people with perfectionism/
controlling issues.
Biological factors that are thought to contribute to this
illness include- family history (a genetic predisposition) of depression/ other
mental illnesses, personal history of depression and mental illness,
complications during pregnancy or childbirth, Post Natal Depression from a
previous pregnancy/ childbirth, nutritional deficiencies, and the hormonal
changes a woman experiences after delivery and the effect these hormonal
changes can have on a person's brain chemistry.
Social factors that can lead to Post Natal Depression may
include- lack of family and friends, lack of community support and social
isolation, financial difficulties, the woman's age, and stressful life events
including divorce, a death in the family, a serious illness in the family or
moving interstate.
Post Natal Depression may be difficult to recognise and
diagnose to treat in its early stages. There are a number of reasons for this.
Lack of education about Post Natal Depression in women, mean that they often
cannot recognise their symptoms and do not seek help for their illness. Fear of
losing one's child, is also another driving factor in staying silent about the
way a woman feels. The stigma and preconceptions surrounding Post Natal
Depression, or any mental illness, and the lack of community support and
knowledge regarding mental health issues is another factor as to why women
often do not come forward. Difficulties in diagnosing Post Natal Depression by
medical professionals- as there is some debate as to what is considered normal
transitional behaviour and feelings after giving birth and what constitutes as
Post Natal Depression, it is often not diagnosed until it has progressed to a
more severe case.
Post Natal Depression does not only affect the woman
experiencing it, but also her partner, child/ren, family and friends. It
impacts on the relationships the woman has with each of these people, and is
also thought to have an effect on the development of the infant.
If undiagnosed, and untreated Post Natal Depression may
become dangerous to the mother, the baby or to others. As the severity of the
depression increases as does the likelihood of suicide, self harm or harm to
others including the mother's own infant. Family, Friends and Partners may not
know how to approach these issues, but if they are concerned they should
contact a mental health professional, as these issues need to be addressed
gently but firmly, and quickly.
Once diagnosed there are a number of treatment options
available including one on one counselling, support groups and medication.
There are a handful of antidepressants that have been trialled and have been
shown to be effective in treating Post Natal Depression, whilst being safe for
breastfeeding mothers. A General Practitioner, or Mental Health Professional
will explore these options with the sufferer, and together decide on a course
of action suitable for the individual- depending upon the severity of the
depression, support available to the mother and wishes of the person suffering
Post Natal Depression.
Post Natal Depression, is a treatable and curable condition.
It is more common than you may think, with it effecting 15% of Australian
women. Globally between 10 and 20 percent of all mothers are effected, that's
at least 1 in 10 women.
More than the Baby Blues, Post Natal Depression is a common
mental health condition that more people need to be aware of.