What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum can happen during pregnancy or within first year after childbirth. Most of the women are suffers from postpartum depression. When women are in postpartum depression may lack her energy, not be able to meet her child's needs for affection. Because of this she may feel guilty and lose confidence. As a result depression will increase. Her mood is also changes per minute like for a moment she will laugh and another moment she will cry. This is nothing depression and in scientific language postpartum depression. Postpartum is nothing but illness like any other disease.

If you are feeling like this and you are new mother then you have what are called "Baby Blues". Some women get feel down for a several weeks.

What is Difference Between "Postpartum" and "Baby Blues"?

Postpartum and Baby blues are differing in duration and even its effects are also different on mother and her child. Thus the depression after childbirth is called as baby blues and the depression within one year after childbirth are called as postpartum. Baby blues appears on third or fourth day after pregnancy whereas postpartum appears at any time within one year after delivery.

How Many Tyepes of Postpartum Depression?

There are three types of postpartum depression.

• Postpartum Blues

  Postpartum blues is also called as "baby blues". Baby blues affects more that 50 to 75 percentage women. It happens after delivery. Symptoms of baby blues are sadness, anxiety, and continously crying without any reason. This condition is generally begins in first week or 3 or 4 days after pregnancy. In this condition you need your familiar help.

• Postpartum Depression

  Postpartum depression is serious condition that postpartum blues and out of 10 women 1 should get affected by this. If this is your second time of postpartum depression then you have take care. Because postpartum depression is like risky at second time. In postpartum depression you may feel like constant crying, anger, as well as feelings of guilt, anxiety, and not capable to take care of baby. This depression needs treatment of psychotherapy or antidepressants. This treatment is very effective for women. Symptoms of postpartum depression last up to one year.

• Postpartum Psychosis

  This condition requires antidepressants treatment. This condition happens rarely in women mean in 1000 women 1 should get affected by postpartum psychosis. A symptom of postpartum psychosis appears after delivery but it lasting from week to number of months. Feeling of women in this condition is like anger, always in confusion, feelings of sadness and shame, restlessness. This condition requires emergency antidepressants treatment because there is increased chances of suicide.

Causes of Postpartum Depression

Main cause is that the rapid drop in hormones after pregnancy. The level of estrogen and progesterone in women are increased tenfold during pregnancy. Estrogen and progesterone, these are the reproductive hormones of women. After three days, levels of estrogen and progesterone drop back to pre-pregnant levels. These changes we can call as chemical changes. There are also social as well as psychological changes associated with baby.

Postpartum Depression Symptoms

Symptoms of postpartum depression is as follows

• Loss of interest in life
• Lack of energy
• Loss of appetite
• More sleep than usual
• Increased crying
• Feeling anxious
• Unexpected weight loss or weight gain
• Fear of harming the baby or oneself
• Sluggishness
• Fatigue
• Exhaustion

How One Can Prevent Postpartum Depression?

Yes, using following tips prevents postpartum depression.

• Don't be too much realistic
• Limit visitors
• Take help from your close one
• Take rest
• Take exercise
• Try to avoid drug, alcohol.
• Take good diet
• Spend time with your partner

Following are Steps to Follow If You Have Symptoms of Depression

First of all be frank and say frankly that I am in depression if you have in depression. Some women don't tell anyone about her symptoms because they feel embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty. They worry about her baby. They think that they are unfit parents. Postpartum depression can happen to any woman. So don't worry about you and your baby.

Best solution is discussed with your doctor about your symptoms of depression. Your doctor will take test whether you are depression or not. You can also refer to your mental health professional.

Some Helpful Tips

• Take rest as much as you want.
• When your baby naps, at that time you try to nap.
• Don't put pressure on yourself.
• Take help from your family members.
• Frankly talk about your feeling with your husband, mother, father, your friends or any one who is close to you.
• Always spend time with someone. Don't stay alone for long period.
• Don't make any major decision about life during pregnancy.

Postpartum Depression Treatment

Postpartum depression needs special treatment. There are two types of treatment that can reduce depression.

• Psychotherapy
• Medication

The treatment includes following steps

• Medical evaluation to rule out physiological problems
• Psychotherapy
• Psychotherapy
• Possible medication
• Support group

It is important that women being continue with treatment even after they feel better.

Resources for Fighting Depression:

• Self Help for Depression
• End Depression Now
• Conquer Stress, Depression & Anxiety