Postpartum Depression Symptoms

Delivering a baby is one of the most pleasurable moments in the life of a woman. However, it can also be threatening and exhausting for some women. After delivering a baby, many women feel overwhelmed and confused. They are anxious about dealing with the responsibility of caring for the baby. 80% of women experience mild baby blues after childbirth. However, these symptoms will disappear on their own within a week to ten days. Postpartum depression symptoms are more severe than normal baby blue and are similar to something like reactive attachment disorder. These symptoms may begin at anytime within the first six months of delivery.

What Causes Postpartum Depression

Before understanding postpartum depression effects, it is advisable to understand what causes these symptoms. Hormonal changes, depression and serotonin, reduced marital satisfaction, a sense of loss, lack of support from spouse or other family members and disappointment in birth experience may cause postpartum depression symptoms. If you had experienced depression symptoms in the past or have a family history of depression or postpartum depression, you are more likely to develop this disorder.

What are Postpartum Depression Effects

Postpartum Depression effects are severe and long lasting, when compared to baby blues. Women may experience disturbed and upsetting thoughts, negative thoughts about the baby and guilty feeling. Constant fatigue, numbness, insomnia, lack of concern or excessive concern for the baby, social withdrawal from family and friends, lack of pleasure in life, loss of sexual interest, extreme mood swings, changes in appetite and suicidal thoughts are the common postpartum depression symptoms.

Postpartum depression is a serious condition that could harm the health of the mother and the baby. If you experience depression symptoms, you need to seek the help of your doctor for postpartum depression diagnosis. If left undiagnosed and untreated, the symptoms could become severe. You may even start experiencing restlessness, hysteric thoughts, acute anxiety and hallucinations. You may get thoughts of harming yourself or the baby. Bizarre behavior, rapid mood swings, confusion, extreme agitation and inability or denial of eating or sleeping may be experienced by some women experiencing severe depression disorder.

The effects of postpartum depression can be serious. Depressed mothers may be caring and loving their baby at times, but sometimes they may respond negatively. This inconsistency could disrupt the emotional bonding process between the mother and the baby. If a mother is normal, she responds to the physical and emotional needs of the baby consistently, which helps to create a secure attachment with the baby. Depressed mothers may not be able to respond to her baby’s cues. This in turn makes the child insecurely attached with the mother. Such children are more prone to develop behavioral and emotional problems.

Postpartum Depression Diagnosis

Postpartum depression effects are often overlooked, as new mothers tend to spend more time with their babies. It may take some time for the spouse and other family members to realize that they are depressed and require treatment. New moms are usually exhausted, as they get less sleep. Family and friend may think that lack of sufficient sleep and tiredness may be the reason for their strange behavior.  If you are a new mom, experiencing depression symptoms, you should consult with your doctor as early as possible. The doctor takes various tests to make postpartum depression diagnosis and recommend counseling, medication or some other treatment option.