Giving birth is a wonderful experience……. Most of the time. Facebook, Instagram and society in general try to convince us, often irrationally, that something is wrong, especially with the mother when she does not feel the joy and gratitude characteristic of the occasion. Mothers and sometimes fathers are left alone when what they feel is despair and sadness after having a baby. Let's talk about Postpartum Depression.
Symptoms of postpartum depression generally begin just after the birth of the child, and include: symptoms such as sadness, mood swings, loss of appetite, crying, difficulties attaching to the child, problems sleeping and eating too much or too little, inability to enjoy motherhood, irritability, anger, guilt, thoughts of harming the baby, suicidal ideation, paranoia and hallucinations.
The causes of Postpartum Depression are not completely identified, but there are some factors that correlate with most of them, such as physical changes. After giving birth, a hormonal decrease in estrogen and progesterone occurs, which can contribute to postpartum depression. Other hormones produced by the thyroid also decrease untimely, which can cause fatigue, dizziness, concentration problems and sadness.
On top of that, Many mothers feel family and cultural pressure about how they should feel and care for their children. Relationships with spouses change when a new child arrives and resentment and personalization of problems fueled by the lack of time and space for communication between couples are not uncommon. That means that a very important space of support for women may not exist.
One of the most common characteristics I have seen in my clinical practice is that new mothers are convinced that their children are in danger if they are with her. They feel so insecure about taking care of them that they prefer another family member to do it for fear of hurting them. This feeling is very invalidating for a mother.
Although it is not possible to predict whether someone will have postpartum depression, some indicators have proven to be good predictors, such as whether there has been a previous episode, a history of depression in general, stress, whether the baby or mother has health problems, difficulties breastfeeding, unplanned pregnancy, etc.
How to prevent and what to do?
If you have had a history of depression, tell your doctor immediately when you become pregnant, that way the doctor can monitor the symptoms and medicate if necessary before and after the baby is born. Establish a support network by identifying people with whom you feel you can talk, without being judged. Look for information about postpartum depression that has scientific validity and stay away from the “prescriptions” offered by Facebook or Instagram. Rest, try to sleep, eat healthy and exercise little by little, as you can, without asking too much of yourself, but also without asking anything of yourself. Accept that giving birth is a momentous change in your life and you will have to rethink and reorganize everything. Understand that just because your parents or grandparents never mentioned postpartum depression doesn't mean they didn't go through it, but rather that they probably didn't feel safe talking about it. And finally remember that a qualified therapist will always be helpful in providing a confidential, accepting and educational space.
Ingrid Pedre
She is Cuban living in Texas, a psychologist in therapy works, specialist in anxiety and depression, specializing in adolescents, adults and Couples.
Schedule an appointment with Ingrid!
