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What is the difference between “baby
blues,”postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis?
The baby blues can happen in the days right after childbirth
and normally go away within a few days to a week. A new mother
can have sudden mood swings, sadness, crying spells, loss
of appetite, sleeping problems, and feel irritable, restless,
anxious, and lonely. Symptoms are not severe and treatment
isn’t needed. But there are things you can do to feel
better. Nap when the baby does. Ask for help from your spouse,
family members, and friends. Join a support group of new
moms or talk with other moms.
Postpartum depression can happen anytime within the first
year after childbirth. A woman may have a number of symptoms
such as sadness, lack of energy, trouble concentrating, anxiety,
and feelings of guilt and worthlessness. The difference between
postpartum depression and the baby blues is that postpartum
depression often affects a woman’s well-being and keeps
her from functioning well for a longer period of time. Postpartum
depression needs to be treated by a doctor. Counseling, support
groups, and medicines are things that can help.
Postpartum psychosis is rare. It occurs in 1 or 2 out of
every 1000 births and usually begins in the first 6 weeks
postpartum. Women who have bipolar disorder or another psychiatric
problem called schizoaffective disorder have a higher risk
for developing postpartum psychosis. Symptoms may include
delusions, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and obsessive
thoughts about the baby. A woman may have rapid mood swings,
from depression to irritability to euphoria.
What steps can I take if I have symptoms
of depression during pregnancy or after childbirth?
Some women don’t tell anyone about their symptoms
because they feel embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty about feeling
depressed when they are supposed to be happy. They worry
that they will be viewed as unfit parents. Perinatal depression
can happen to any woman. It does not mean you are a bad or “not
together” mom. You and your baby don’t have to
suffer. There is help.
There are different types of individual and group “talk
therapies” that can help a woman with perinatal depression
feel better and do better as a mom and as a person. Limited
research suggests that many women with perinatal depression
improve when treated with anti-depressant medicine. Your
doctor can help you learn more about these options and decide
which approach is best for you and your baby. The next section
contains more detailed information about available treatments.
Speak to your doctor or midwife if you are having symptoms
of depression while you are pregnant or after you deliver
your baby. Your doctor or midwife can give you a questionnaire
to test for depression and can also refer you to a mental
health professional who specializes in treating depression.
Here are some other helpful tips:
- Try to get as much rest as you can. Try to nap when the
baby naps.
- Stop putting pressure on yourself to do everything. Do
as much as you can and leave the rest!
- Ask for help with household chores and nighttime feedings.
Ask your husband or partner to bring the baby to you so
you can breastfeed. If you can, have a friend, family member,
or professional support person help you in the home for
part of the day.
- Talk to your husband, partner, family, and friends about
how you are feeling.
- Do not spend a lot of time alone. Get dressed and leave
the house. Run an errand or take a short walk.
- Spend time alone with your husband or partner.
- Talk with other mothers, so you can learn from their
experiences.
- Join a support group for women with depression. Call
a local hotline or look in your telephone book for information
and services.
- Don’t make any major life changes during pregnancy.
Major changes can cause unneeded stress. Sometimes big
changes cannot be avoided. When that happens, try to arrange
support and help in your new situation ahead of time.
How is depression treated?
There are two common types of treatment for depression.
- Talk therapy. This involves talking
to a therapist, psychologist, or social worker to learn
to change how depression makes you think, feel, and act.
- Medicine. Your doctor can give you an
antidepressant medicine to help you. These medicines can
help relieve the symptoms of depression.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk with
their doctors about the advantages and risks of taking antidepressant
medicines. Some women are concerned that taking these medicines
may harm the baby. A mother’s depression can affect
her baby’s development, so getting treatment is important
for both mother and baby. The risks of taking medicine have
to be weighed against the risks of depression. It is a decision
that women need to discuss carefully with their doctors.
Women who decide to take antidepressant medicines should
talk to their doctors about which antidepressant medicines
are safer to take while pregnant or breastfeeding.
What effects can untreated depression have?
Depression not only hurts the mother, but also affects her
family. Some researchers have found that depression during
pregnancy can raise the risk of delivering an underweight
baby or a premature infant. Some women with depression have
difficulty caring for themselves during pregnancy. They may
have trouble eating and won’t gain enough weight during
the pregnancy; have trouble sleeping; may miss prenatal visits;
may not follow medical instructions; have a poor diet; or
may use harmful substances, like tobacco, alcohol, or illegal
drugs.
Postpartum depression can affect a mother’s ability
to parent. She may lack energy, have trouble concentrating,
be irritable, and not be able to meet her child’s needs
for love and affection. As a result, she may feel guilty
and lose confidence in herself as a mother, which can worsen
the depression. Researchers believe that postpartum depression
can affect the infant by causing delays in language development,
problems with emotional bonding to others, behavioral problems,
lower activity levels, sleep problems, and distress. It helps
if the father or another caregiver can assist in meeting
the needs of the baby and other children in the family while
mom is depressed.
All children deserve the chance to have a healthy mom. All
moms deserve the chance to enjoy their life and their children.
Don’t suffer alone. If you are experiencing symptoms
of depression during pregnancy or after having a baby, please
tell a loved one and call you doctor or midwife right away.
To read the rest of this article on Depression During and
After Pregnancy from WomensHealth.gov, please click here:
http://www.4woman.gov/faq/postpartum.htm
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