Post Natal Depression (PND) - Postpartum Depression

According to association for post-natal Depression affects between 70000 and 100 thousand women and their babies every year. Post natal depression is more serious condition affecting upto 1 in 10 mothers. It may not start until a few days after the birth or may come on between 4 and 6 months after the birth which is why is often goes undetected as many people assume that Post Natal Depression starts as soon as a baby is born. It can lasts for months or even years and may never be suspected throughout that time. Onset may be gradual or it may appear dramatically and suddenly.

A women may have Post Natal Depression after her first child or after a subsequent child.

Many people confuse the baby blues with post-natal depression. But their is a mark difference between the two condition. The baby blues affects about half of all mothers. It starts within 2 to 4 days following birth of the child and disappears within few days. It is characterized by feeling, emotional, tearful, crime for no apparent reason and finding it difficult to sleep. Feelings of anxiety, guilt, fear and vulnerability are common too.

Symptoms of Post Natal Depression (PND) or Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression symptoms can mean anything from the woman becoming secluded all of the sudden to the woman talking about harming herself or others. Many of the symptoms of depression can occur in Post Natal Depression. Like -

Tiredness
feeling unable to cope
irritability
loss of appetite
sleep problems
anxiety
loss of interest in sex
difficulty in concentration or making decisions

Other symptoms of Post Natal Depression are general feeling of hopelessness and despondency, worries about being an inadequate mother, or not loving the child enough, crime all the time, panic attacks, fear about babies health, obsessional thoughts.

Post Natal Depression Treatment

The good news is that Post Natal Depression can be treated. Counselling can help, so too can looking after emotional and mental health. ANd if your are living with someone who has Post Natal Depression specially if you are a partner of someone with this illness, you can share the work load around the house and provide emotional support.

A more sever form of Post Natal Depression is puerperal psychosis which is fortunately very rare. This condition normally occurs within few weeks of birth and usually comes on suddenly. It may start with severe restlessness, elation and inability to sleep along with mood swings between lows and highs, hallucinations and delusions are also possible with disturb behavior that may require stay in hospital.

Causes of postpartum depression:

Postpartum depression may be caused by several reasons, these includes:

hormone changes in your blood that occur following childbirth.
Stress,
lack of sleep,
poor diet, or not enough help may cause depression.
family factors are also important, including the relationship a mother has with the child's father, and the support she receives from other people.
Women who have mental health problems before childbirth are more likely to feel depressed after having a baby.

How to help someone with post natal Depression

Treatment options in post natal Depression

What is Post Natal Depression - causes and Symptoms

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