My sister is on her first pregnancy. She's already 32 years old and she's aware that first pregnancy at her age is not easy. She had me research about the possible things that she might experience during and after her pregnancy.
One issue that got my attention is the so called Postpartum Depression or the Post Natal Depression. I gathered information about the disorder and was shock at the range of things that might happen to a person suffering from it.
The last news regarding PPD I learned of was about a mother who killed her own son, eventually eating parts of it including the baby's brain. Gruesome. I was having a hard time finishing the story because I can't fully visualize in my mind how was she able to do such crime in her own son.
Although they separate issues, one contributory factor to having post natal depression is what we call Postpartum Exhaustion that is basically caused by inadequate sleep after giving birth. This can lead to the mother feeling depressed and eventually developed the symptoms for PPD.
According to a Wikipedia article regarding PPD, symptoms may be one of the following:
- Sadness
- Hopelessness
- Low self-esteem
- Guilt
- A Feeling of being overwhelmed
- Sleep and eating disturbances
- Inability to be comforted
- Exhaustion
- Emptiness
- Anhedonia
- Social withdrawal
- Low or no energy
- Becoming easily frustrated
- Feeling inadequate in taking care of the baby
- Impaired speech and writing
- Spells of anger towards others
- Increased anxiety or panic attacks
- Decreased sex drive
There are 3 major known factors to the possibility of developing Postpartum Depression to a mother after giving birth: formula feeding, a history of depression, and cigarette smoking although there were quite a lot of others that can be included in the list.
The best way to prevent depression to a mother who just gave birth is to keep her healthy. Good nutrition and enough rest are the 2 best ways to prevent the occurrence of such disorder. However, if the mother already has developed Post Natal/ Postpartum Depression, she may either do the following as treatment:
- Medical evaluation to rule out physiological problems
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (aka: Psychotherapy)
- Possible medication
- Support groups
- Home visits/Home visitors
- Healthy diet
- Consistent/healthy sleep patterns
