What is Postpartum Depression?

WHAT IS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION THE BABY BLUES Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that affects some women after childbirth. Mothers with PPD can experience feelings of extreme sadness and anxiety, which can make it difficult to complete daily activities and could have significant consequences for both the mother and family. The "Baby Blues" is a lot more common than PPD, and the symptoms of this condition usually happen in the first few days following childbirth, and are a lot less serious than PPD and normally don't need treatment. SYMPTOMS SYMPTOMS •Sadness •Severe mood swings •Intense irritability and anger •Feelings of shame, guilt or inadequacy •Withdrawal from family and friends •Difficulty bonding with the baby •Overwhelming fatigue •Insomnia •Loss of appetite •Loss of interest in sex •Changes in sleeping and eating patterns •Reduced libido •Crying episodes •lmpatience •Restlessness •Irritability •Anxiety 1 w7 系 常 家家 家常 7.3 ← FIRST TIME MOTHERS ARE WOMEN THAT GIVE BIRTH EXPERIENCE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION TIMES MORE AT RISK FOR PPD PPD CAN AFFECT AS MANY AS PPD AFFECTS 10% - 15% WOMEN WHO HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED 10% POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION HAVE A 50% OF MOTHERS IN THE 1ST YEAR CHANCE OF EXPERIENCING IT AGAIN IN ANOTHER PREGNANCY FOLLOWING CHILDBIRTH OF FATHERS WITHIN THE 1ST YEAR 00000●000 PPD CAN PERSIST FOR MONTHS OR YEARS WITHOUT TREATMENT PPD IS USUALLY TREATED WITH COUNSELING AND/OR MEDICATION Counseling treatment entails talking to a mental health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist or social worker. Postpartum depression counseling strategies proven to be effective are interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Medication treatment entails the use of antidepressants which act on mood regulation brain chemicals. These medications will however be ingested by the baby if breastfeeding. ahealthblog.com