Postpartum depression (PPD) can occur any time within the first year after having a baby but usually begins within days or weeks after delivery. It is estimated that one in nine new mothers will experience some degree of PPD, regardless of age or number of children. Many factors can lead to PPD. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, it’s important to review and address all possible causes. As an experienced psychotherapist in New York City who has also worked as a postpartum doula, I have helped many new mothers identify the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression.
Signs of PPD
Most women experience a variety of emotions after having a baby. There’s great joy, but there’s also a little worry – wanting to be a good mother, making sure the baby is all right, wondering how you’ll function with little sleep, concerns about juggling other responsibilities. These are all normal thoughts. But for some women, these normal concerns can feel more intense and can cause anxiety. Emotions can get out of hand and you may want to feel overjoyed but you find yourself feeling sad, angry, and/or depressed, leaving you with little energy or motivation. You might feel as though you aren’t able to care for the baby or that you can’t connect with the baby.
Do not dismiss these feelings as “baby blues” and don’t let anyone else tell you that you’re overreacting or that “this, too, shall pass.” Only by addressing your feelings will they pass. Sometimes the feelings may be so severe that you can’t address them yourself; you need your spouse or family to help you.
PPD can range in intensity from mild to severe and usually last more than three weeks postpartum. Common signs that you may be experiencing PPD include:
- Excessive or severe mood swings, anger, sadness
- Feelings of worthlessness or failure
- Inability to bond with your baby
- Withdrawal from friends, family, and activities you love
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
- Excessive sleepiness or an inability to sleep that cannot be attributed to childcare
- Overwhelming fatigue or lethargy
- Inability to think clearly or as well as before
- Fear and doubt of your abilities as a mother
Possible causes of PPD
Causes of PPD can include biological factors, personal history, lifestyle, stress, and personal situations. Each should be examined so that your PPD can be quickly addressed and treated. Some causes include:
- A history of depression or mental illness
- Hormonal imbalance, especially if there is a previous history
- Brain chemistry changes due to hormones and nutrition
- Poor diet or consuming food or beverages that your body responds to negatively
- Stress
- Lack of emotional or financial support
- Lack of help with the baby
- Complications in childbirth
- Lifestyle changes brought about by adding a baby to the family
- Genetic disposition with a family history of PPD
Finding help for PPD
In my current practice, I help couples through the challenging first few weeks (or months, as needed) after a baby is brought home. I work with both mother and father to circumvent possible triggers in the environment that can lead to PPD. In this way, we are sometimes able to prevent it from occurring or reverse it when it shows up.
It’s not a matter of just discussing your feelings. It’s important to set up the necessary support that the new mother needs. Historically, new mothers had the help of a wider community, experienced mothers giving them advice and taking charge when the mother needed to rest. Unfortunately, few families have that type of supportive environment in our modern society. Developing a support community or interacting with support groups can make a world of difference, helping to ease the anxiety of new mothers.
Fathers also often need emotional support, though they are less likely to recognize the need or ask for help. This is why it is important to work with both mother and father to help set the family up for success from the earliest days of the baby’s life.
A multi-pronged approach
My approach, then, is multi-pronged. Evaluation of one’s feelings leads to a deeper exploration of causes. When actionable causes are discovered, such as stress, past traumas, or lack of support, we seek solutions together to address those causes. When there is a history of depression, therapy may lead to deeper healing.
It may also be necessary to engage the help of a medical doctor or nutritionist to address any biological factors that are causing the symptoms of PPD. Concurrent with addressing the biological and nutritional issues, we can work to establish lifestyle changes that will further ease the depression. For instance, we may develop a plan for a family member or friend to take charge of the baby at a certain time of the day to allow the mother or father to nap, split the family chores or demands of other children, and create a sleep and exercise schedule that offers more rejuvenation.
All possible solutions are evaluated and implemented when dealing with depression, including PPD, since there are many possible factors. If you’re experiencing postpartum depression, or if you have not yet given birth and you are already feeling stress or anxiety, don’t try to deal with it alone. Talk to your partner, your loved ones, and your doctor about what you’re experiencing. Don’t let anyone dismiss it. You deserve to experience joy and health as you bring a new baby into the world. Find a counselor or therapist in your area experienced with postpartum depression. If you are in the NYC area, reach out to see how I can help you.