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What is Postpartum Depression (PPD)?
What are other peri-natal mood disorders and how common are they?
Who gets PPD?
What are the risk factors for PPD?
What are the signs and symptoms of PPD?
What are the treatment options for PPD?
How is PPD different from the baby blues?
What can family members/partners do?
How can I tell if I have PPD?
What is Postpartum Depression (PPD)?
- A generic, umbrella term describing symptoms of mental, emotional and physiological distress that people (primarily women) may experience up to one year after their baby is born.
- A biochemical illness
- The most common complication of childbirth
- Comes in range of mild to severe complications
- Is as real as having the flu or diabetes - can't just "shake it off"
- Causes are not quite clear - assumption that hormone fluctuations, psychological and social transitions, may highly contribute to its occurrence
- NOT "the blues"
What are other peri-natal mood disorders and how common are they?
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (3-5% of new mothers)
- Panic Disorder (about 10% of new mothers)
- Psychosis (1-3 per thousand new mothers)
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (up to 6% of new mothers)
- Bipolar Disorder (no available data as to how often it occurs)
- Postpartum Depression and/or Anxiety affect an average of 15% of new mothers (about 1 in 5)
Who gets PPD?
- Postpartum women, regardless of cultural, ethnic, class or education level, or religious affiliation.
- Men, as new fathers
- Adoptive parents
What are the risk factors for PPD?
- Depression or anxiety during pregnancy
- 50-80% risk if woman has had a previous postpartum depression
- Social isolation or poor support (high stress levels)
- Abrupt weaning
- Family or personal history of depression/anxiety
- Mood changes while taking birth control pill or fertility medication such as Clomid
- History of PMS or PMDD
- Thyroid Dysfunction
What are the signs and symptoms of PPD?
One or more of the following symptoms, ranging mild to severe:
- Irritability
- Exhaustion, insomnia
- Anxiety, tension, panic
- Poor concentration, memory loss
- Eating disturbances
- Lack of enthusiasm
- Obsessions, frightening recurring thoughts
- Rapid mood swings
- Tearfulness, hopelessness
- Self-doubt, low self-esteem
- Feeling distant/removed from baby and/or partner
- Feeling lack of love for baby and/or partner
- Thoughts of harming self and/or baby
- Just not feeling like yourself
What are the treatment options for PPD?
- Psychotherapy (counseling or therapy)
- Support groups
- Medication
- Alternative treatment options
How is PPD different from the baby blues?
| PPD |
The Baby Blues |
| Occurs in about 15% of women |
Occurs in about 80% of women |
| Is considered a disorder |
Is NOT considered a disorder |
| Onset at any point within first year after birth |
Onset usually within first week after birth |
| Symptoms may persist for several weeks or even months (especially if untreated) |
Symptoms may persist for up to three weeks |
NOTE: Both PPD and "the baby blues" share similar symptoms, such as tearfulness, fatigue, sadness, anxiety, feeling dependent, difficulty concentrating, BUT the symptoms differ in severity, onset, and persistence, leading to different treatment options and recommendations.
What can family members/partners do?
- Provide support and encouragement
- Address situation with health care practitioner of choice
- Encourage woman to seek help
- Let the new mother express her feelings and frustration freely
- Don't take her criticism personally
- Encourage her to practice good self care (ie: exercise, eat right, etc.)
- Help her as needed (with child care, housework,etc.)
- Direct your frustration/anger at the situation and the illness, not the new mother.
- Be aware that you may get depressed or need help too. Seek help as well. Talk to your physician, a therapist/counselor, a friend, pastor, rabbi or get the help of a knowledgeable and competent doula for assistance in your home.
How can I tell if I have PPD?
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS) is a scale used by many doctors to assist in determining whether a mother may be suffering from Postpartum Depression. Click here if you would like to access the EDPS.
REFERENCES
Bennett, Shoshanna S. PhD. and Indman, Pec, Ed.D., MFT. Beyond the Blues: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression. Moodswings Press, 2003 (first edition), 2006 (second edition).
Bennett, Shoshanna s. PhD. Postpartum Depression for Dummies. Wiley Publishing, Inc. 2007.
Postpartum Education for Parents
www.sbpep.org
UIC Perinatal Mental Health Project
www.psych.uic.edu/research/perinatalmentalhealth/nhc_information.htm
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