Postpartum Depression Information - Part 1

Arming yourself with Postpartum Depression Information is truly vital to all pre and postpartum women. I describe Postpartum Depression, also called the "baby blues", as the range of emotions, physical and behavioral, some mothers experience after the birth of a baby. Postpartum Symptoms can range from mild to severe.

In this and subsequent articles, I am going to tell you vital postpartum depression information beginning with an overview of postpartum depression and continuing with the causes of postpartum depression, postpartum symptoms, postpartum treatment and other valuable information.

I am all to familiar with Postpartum Depression. After I had my daughter 9 years ago my doctor never discussed postpartum depression with me. I took my baby girl home and the next 6 weeks were just a blur. I thought I was going crazy!! I had all the classic postpartum depression signs but no one had ever told me that I might experience what I felt.

Postpartum conditions are presented in three levels. Postpartum blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis. Postpartum blues do not generally affect a woman's ability to care for herself or her baby. Postpartum depression interferes with a woman's ability to care for both herself and her baby. Postpartum psychosis is the most serious postpartum disorder.

POSTPARTUM BLUES

A woman with the the "baby blues" tends to cry more easily. She may be sad, tearful, experience some sleeplessness and have raw emotions.

"Baby blues" are quite common and are not generally considered an illness.

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

Postpartum depression is an onset of depression that begins soon after delivering a baby. Statistics show that postpartum depression occurs in about 10% of women. The postpartum symptoms begin within a few days of delivery but can mask themselves up to two months after delivery.

The risk factors for postpartum depression include previous major depression, inadequate family and friend support and prior antisocial behavior.

Postpartum Symptoms include excessive crying, loss of appetite, suicidal thoughts or tendencies, and thoughts of harming the baby.

POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS

Postpartum psychosis is the most serious postpartum condition.

Postpartum psychosis is rare. The signs of postpartum psychosis usually show up within 3 weeks of giving birth. The major postpartum symptoms are delusions and hallucinations or both.

A woman experiencing postpartum psychosis can appear well temporarily which will fool a physician into thinking that she has recovered. However, she really continues to be experiencing the postpartum symptoms.

If postpartum psychosis goes untreated, there is a good chance that the depression will come back even after the postpartum period and also after another birth.

I hope this postpartum depression information has been useful to you. In my next article I will discuss the causes of postpartum depression.