"At first I thought what I was feeling was just exhaustion, but with it came an overriding sense of panic that I had never felt before. Rowan kept crying, and I began to dread the moment when Chris would bring her back to me. I started to experience a sick sensation in my stomach; it was as if a vise were tightening around my chest. A feeling of devastation overcame me. I hardly moved. Sitting on my bed, I let out a deep, slow, guttural wail. It felt as if it would never go away."

--Brooke Shields, Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression

After delivering a baby, many new moms are surprised when they experience a few days of feeling "blue." Some women find they cry easily and describe this time as feeling slightly "sad," or "being down."

To mothers and families it can seem like a strange feeling to have, especially after successfully delivering a baby. Some mothers think, "I should be happy, what's wrong with me?" Generally, this blue period lasts for several days or up to two or so weeks postpartum and then lifts. Given the hormonal shifts the woman is experiencing as her body readjusts to its pre-pregnancy state and the demands of her new role as mother, a few days of feeling a little blue is certainly not an uncommon occurrence.

Sometimes the baby blues persist and the feelings of sadness, disconnect and anxiety even begin to escalate. When that's the case, the new mom may be experiencing what's known as postpartum depression, a hormonally-caused problem that can cause a woman to become overcome by feelings of despair compounded by feelings of guilt over not being able to snap out of it.

Symptoms

Instead of feeling "just a little down," new mothers can feel uncontrollably miserable, become tearful daily, have problems sleeping (not just because the baby wants to feed or is crying), lose interest in doing anything, feel listless, lose their appetite, and feel an overall sense of disconnect and hopelessness. If these symptoms last for more than a week or two, a woman may be experiencing postpartum depression. This condition is more common than many people realize. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimate 1 out of 10 new mothers experience postpartum depression.

It is extremely important that mothers are aware of the symptoms of postpartum depression because:

• There is treatment and help for this condition.



• When left untreated, postpartum depression significantly diminishes the joy of motherhood.



• Postpartum depression can interfere with, or even negatively impact, the new and growing relationship between the mother and her baby.



• Research shows that infants of depressed mothers are at risk of experiencing depression, as well.

Women who suffer from postpartum depression can too easily go undiagnosed. Typically, an obstetrician will see a new mother only once postpartum, usually for a six-week check-up. The family physician or pediatrician may only see a new mother and child once during the first few weeks and then every two months for well-child check-ups.

New mothers know their normal range of moods and should actively seek help if they are experiencing depression that lasts for longer than a few days.

Causes

The exact causes are uncertain. Factors that have been considered include:

Emotional factors

• A diminished sense of importance or purpose--feeling let down--after getting through pregnancy and childbirth.



• No longer being pregnant and carrying the baby inside the body can trigger past losses.



• Worrying about the responsibility of caring for a new baby.



• A woman's personal history of what it can mean to be a mother parenting a child may bring up extremely negative or uncertain feelings.

Physical factors

• Drastic changes in the levels of hormones and other biologic substances as a woman's body switches from pregnancy back to its usual make-up and state.



• Sleep deprivation and exhaustion from taking care of a new baby.

Treating Postpartum Depression

The sooner postpartum depression is treated, the sooner recovery can begin--and the sooner the woman can more fully feel like herself and begin to enjoy life as a new mother.

There are therapists who are especially experienced at helping women who are suffering from postpartum depression. Therapy provides a safe, comforting, and confidential setting in which to receive the kind of help that can best assist in first relieving, then understanding, and finally recovering from the effects of this condition. With professional therapeutic help, it can take as few as one to two weeks for women to receive relief from their postpartum depression symptoms.

Link: Find a Therapist