what is Post delivery depression?
Giving birth brings with it many strong and positive feelings such as love, joy, and enthusiasm, but it may also bring with it some anxiety, frustration, etc. It is expected that these emotions will fluctuate between positive and negative during the first weeks and months after childbirth, given the significant emotional and physical changes that women go through as they give birth to children and care for them.
But for many mothers, negative feelings such as depression and anxiety can overshadow the joy of the new family member. It is common for mothers to feel depressed and anxious two or three days after giving birth.
The mother may find herself crying for no reason, having difficulty sleeping, or doubting her ability to care for the new baby, which is known as “baby blues.”
According to Dr. Alison Stobie, a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at North Carolina State University College of Medicine in the United States, this is mainly due to the change in Progesterone.
Progesterone
Progesterone is one of the female hormones that is secreted mainly through temporary glands in the ovaries called the corpus luteum, and it is also secreted in a smaller amount through the adrenal glands and the placenta.
High levels of progesterone in the body may send nerve signals to the brain that reduce reactions in the body, or make the person feel a kind of numbness and laziness, so high progesterone may cause a woman to feel excessive fatigue.
Other symptoms of high progesterone include:
Impact on the ovulation process, problems in intimate relationships, irregular menstrual cycle
While the symptoms of progesterone deficiency in pregnant women vary, they are:
Headache and headache, mood changes, depression, constant anxiety, irregular menstrual cycle
For non-pregnant women:
Weight gain, severe mood swings, appearance of fibroids in the uterus, abnormal pain in the breast, abnormal cramps in the uterus
But according to UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) Hormonal changes are unlikely to be the only cause, as there are other factors that can lead to increased negative feelings after childbirth, such as prolonged periods of fatigue and exhaustion, difficulties in providing breastfeeding, and other postpartum complications.
Other factors also include:
Previous experiences of mental health conditions Biological causes Lack of support Difficult childhood experiences Exposure to abuse Low self-esteem Stressful living conditions Major life events
But with a good support system from family and loved ones, these feelings usually disappear within about two weeks without the need for treatment.
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is another form of baby blues and usually occurs between two to eight weeks after birth, but may occur up to a year after the baby is born.
One of the important aspects of depression Postpartum is not just a feeling of sadness, feeling intense anxiety is also a common feature of postpartum depression.
Among the symptoms of postpartum depression that should be paid attention to are a feeling of great burden, constant crying, lack of emotional connection with the child, and the mother’s doubts about her ability to care for herself or her child.
Symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to those of known depression, including:
Feeling sad and low-spirited Inability to enjoy pleasant things Fatigue or lack of energy Poor concentration or attention span Low level of self-esteem and self-confidence Interrupted sleep even when the child is asleep Change in appetite
The mother may feel isolated from her child or partner, or even have thoughts of harming herself or her child. It may be very frightening for the mother to have such thoughts, but she must remember that this thought does not mean that she will actually harm him.
The earlier a mother talks to someone she trusts about these feelings — a friend, relative, doctor or midwife, for example — the sooner she can get help.
The percentage of women suffering from this depression varies throughout the world, as it is estimated to occur at 22% of mothers in England, while its incidence does not exceed 11% in New Zealand, and in South Africa its incidence rate exceeds 30%, but in Tanzania it occurs in 12% of mothers.
However, many regions and countries remain devoid of any information about this disease, despite the fact that suicides that occur due to it constitute a major percentage of maternal deaths after childbirth.
It is believed that the occurrence of this type of depression is related to difficult social and economic conditions such as poverty and low standard of living.
This type of depression may also be the result of a lack of psychological and family support, and domestic violence may be a contributing factor to the worsening of the condition.
It is striking that those who suffer from this type of depression, and who do not have the opportunity for early medical consultation, rely in diagnosing their condition on their ability to express their feelings and the help of doctors. This is often not enough, as the reality of the symptoms of depression in mothers is overlooked, and how this can affect their psychological state, especially in societies that assume that childbirth is a happy event in the mother’s life, which diverts attention from the reality of her symptoms and ill mood.
What is the incidence of these cases in Arab societies?
Some studies were conducted on a group of women who visited a primary health care center in Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, during the six weeks after giving birth.
They were asked a set of questions about their experiences with anxiety and depression after giving birth, and the results showed that an estimated 20% of participants suffer from symptoms of both anxiety and depression, while another group suffers from symptoms of only one of these two conditions. This indicates a problem.
However, taking into account that the questionnaire was administered to women who visited health centers in person, estimating the extent of the problem may require further research including those who did not seek health care.
Many people assume that the incidence of these conditions in our society is low; Due to the availability of family support. However, this assumption is not necessarily true without confirmatory studies.
Religious beliefs may help overcome thoughts of suicide, but that does not negate the suffering that many mothers experience. This suffering can continue for a long time, affecting their psychological state, and may lead to relative difficulty in the mother’s relationship with her child, as its effects on both sides do not appear until after a long period of time has passed without intervention.
What are some ways mothers can use to support themselves if they experience postpartum depression?
Psychoeducation aimed at developing positive coping strategies, managing stress, and building support networks can help protect mothers from postpartum depression. This includes learning about and understanding mental health and wellness.
It’s similar to physical education, where you learn how your body works, how to take care of it, and the effects of different stresses on the body — but here we apply that to the mind and mental health. It is very important to have a support system at home to help take care of the mother’s mental health.
Ensure that the mother receives adequate care and support in her home
Are you getting enough sleep? Do you eat enough nutritional meals? There are many new parents who care for their children without taking care of their personal food needs. It is possible to find nutritious meals rich in protein, which can help the mother gradually return to her normal daily routine.
Consultation with a psychologist (treatment through dialogue with a psychological professional)
There are multiple types of psychological treatments [مثل العلاج السلوكي-المعرفي أو العلاج النفسي المتعلق بالعلاقات الشخصية] Which has proven effective in treating postpartum depression or anxiety. The mother should talk with her health care provider about how to find a mental health professional to help deal with these feelings.
Use of medications
There are a number of medications that are effective in managing the symptoms of postpartum depression and reducing their severity. Although there is a small possibility that small amounts of antidepressant medications will be passed to the baby through breast milk, they do not significantly affect the quality of the breast milk and the health of the baby. Since breastfeeding provides many benefits to the baby, the mother must consider these benefits against the small possibility that the effect of the drug could pass through breast milk. “In the absence of clear evidence of a negative effect,” Dr. Stobie recommends [للدواء على الطفل]“Taking treatment and continuing breastfeeding makes perfect sense.” Before starting any medication, the mother should consult with her health care provider to choose the best option for her.
Talk to other mothers who have gone through a similar experience
The mother often feels that she is the only one who experiences such feelings. The mother should talk with her health care provider about utilizing peer support and joining counseling groups that allow for the exchange of thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is also important to talk to friends and family members about these feelings.
A mother should be kind to herself
A mother may have high expectations of herself as a mother, but not everyone can meet all of these expectations at all times. The mother must overcome anxiety if she is unable to implement everything she had planned or if she feels a decline in her mood. A mother should treat herself kindly and be a friend to herself.
2023-11-05 07:58:19
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