Postpartum Depression
Childbirth is a joyful and unforgettable experience, and the physical and psychological effort that accompanies childbirth usually continues during the first days of childbirth, in addition to the feelings that accompany the birth itself, there may be a change in mood, usually reflected in crying, anxiety, excessive irritability and others.
This phenomenon is known as postpartum depression, and it appears in most women, usually between the fourth and tenth day of childbirth. It is important to know that postpartum depression can reappear in the next pregnancy in 50% - 100% of cases. Also, women who are more likely to suffer from depression not related to childbirth.
Groups Most At Risk Of Postpartum Depression
There are a group of groups most vulnerable to postpartum depression, as follows
Women under 20 who do not receive regular medical treatment
Women who have more than 6 children
Women who did not receive adequate parental support in
adolescence
Postpartum Depression Symptoms
Symptoms of postpartum depression appear during the first three
months after childbirth, and this depression is similar in its symptoms and features to other depressive states that are not related to pregnancy and childbirth. Symptoms of this problem include the following
. Mood deterioration
. Carelessness
. Disturbances in appetite and sleep
. Excessive agitation
. Fatigue and lethargy
. Lack of self-esteem and guilt
. Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
Low mood
. Emotional disturbances
. Fidgeting
. headache
. Negative thoughts about the newborn
. Suicidal thoughts in severe cases
Causes And Risk Factors For Postpartum Depression
Symptoms of this type of depression are associated with a significant decrease in the levels of hormones in the body, and there are some factors that can be considered as one of the causes of depression, including the following
. Anxiety and stress
. previous depression
. Mood changes
. Hypothyroidism
. Hyperthyroidism
It is important to know that there is no relationship between postpartum depression and the educational or cultural level, gender of the baby, breastfeeding, method of delivery, and whether
the pregnancy is planned or not
Postpartum depression complications
Diagnosis of this case is based on having a conversation with the woman and clarifying her feelings towards herself and the newborn. The medical team uses a questionnaire to collect information and find out many things that indicate the following
. Thoughts about self-harm
. Depression
. Carelessness
. Inability to enjoy daily activities
. malaise Disruption of daily functioning at home
. Difficulty communicating with people and the surrounding environment
Postpartum Depression Treatment
,Postpartum depression is treated by various psychiatric drugs
where the drug is selected according to the side effects, and whether the mother is breastfeeding or not. It is important to know that all antidepressants pass into breast milk, so this point must be taken into account. It is recommended to start with half the usual dose and then gradually increase it, and the medication should be continued for 6 months to prevent depression from occurring again, but if the treatment does not respond within 6 months, it is advised to go to the psychiatrist for consultation. A specialist doctor should be consulted to determine the appropriate treatment for the patient's condition, which can include the following
Taking some medications: These include sertraline, which is a drug recommended during breastfeeding, as well as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Electroconvulsive treatment: The chances of recovery are high, as the patient's condition improves within 2-3 months. [video|26|How do antidepressants work
Postpartum Depression Prevention
Postpartum depression can be prevented by taking a drug from the family of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Comments
Post a Comment