Health Answers

Do you or someone you know suffer from postpartum depression? Postpartum depression and baby blues mean the same thing and result in the same way. Postpartum depression is a very real emotional condition and event that some new mothers experience, one that causes great upheaval in their lives.

Depression is an emotional condition, those who experience it describe feelings of sadness, unhappiness, being miserable and easily irritated, along with headaches, exhaustion as well as feeling run down and inadequate. These feelings do not merely last for a few hours or just one day. True clinical depression interferes with daily life for an extended time.

Depression has various degrees, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Only a physician or psychologist has the ability to determine the degree of depression, which influences the treatments usable for controlling the problems.

Most often, baby blues refer to the mood swings a mother may experience several days after giving birth. She my be happy one moment and in the next begin crying. She may feel a bit depressed, inability to concentrate, lose her appetite or not be able to get any sleep at all.

Generally, these symptoms last about 3 or 4 days after the delivery of her child. This is a normal condition. It does not resemble a moderate or sever postpartum depression condition.

During this time, it is essential to have outside help at home, for the mother and father since this helps them ease through this period. The first few days for the father can be uncomfortable; especially dealing with the mood swings their wives experience. A support person can help in preparing meals or offer a shoulder for the mother to cry on, as this provides a break for both parents.

Postpartum depression may first appear as a milder form of baby blues or it might show up a few weeks following the birth. This is depression in a more moderate form.

In addition to the above symptoms, a woman who experiences postpartum depression will have symptoms that get in the way of daily activities, such as caring for the newborn. Other symptoms include:

- Insomnia

- A sense of failure

- Constant fatigue

- Sever mood swings

- Emotional numbness

- Loss of sexual interest

- Trouble concentrating

- Excessive worry over the baby

- Lack of joy, even for the new baby

- Withdrawal from family and friends

In part two I’ll  talk about different treatments available, including support groups,  anti-depressant medications, and other things.

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