It may be hard to admit that she can’t stop crying, that she can’t concentrate on anything, that she feels inadequate and worthless. The person she knew as “herself” feels lost and she worries that she may never feel “normal” again. Perhaps way down deep somewhere she harbors a thought or fear that she may harm her own baby or herself and that fear chokes her and she dare not mention it. She may not even know or understand these feelings enough to articulate them. People around her are waiting for her to “snap out of it” or she appears to be doing so well caring for the baby that no one even notices. In the meantime a new mother suffers because the words may not come to express the problem or the fear to admit that something is wrong, and she keeps back the call for help.
What is post-partum depression?
Actually, there is no single or accepted definition. It is actually a term used to cover different emotional problems that can occur in a mother in the time around birth. Postpartum depression can occur during pregnancy, immediately following birth and anytime within the first year.
What causes it?
The cause remains unspecified. The greatest consensus to date is that the cause is interactions among physical, psychological as well as social factors. Some older, as well as recent studies have strongly linked certain biochemical factors as predictors for the development of postpartum depression in women. The most consistent and well known risk factor however is a history of depression or signs of depression during pregnancy.
What can be done about it?
Early identification is the key. Screening in the antenatal period for risk factors as well as the use of standardized postpartum depressions screens such as the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Screen or the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale Psychotherapy (PDSS) are all very useful tools to identify women who may be experiencing problems. Once identified, a thorough evaluation can be made by a health care provider and the proper treatment started. Psychotherapy, medication and support groups are powerful tools in the management of postpartum depression. Most women CAN and WILL start feeling better with the appropriate help.
Please join me on March 4th at 9:15 a.m. in front of Dillard’s at Citadel Mall for a free talk on “Baby Blues.”
by: Angela Raney, RN, MSN
Request an appointment with a MUSC provider.