Having a baby is supposed to be the happiest experience of your life. So why do so many new mothers experience the “baby blues”… and why does about one in every 10 of them develop longer-lasting depression after childbirth?
Feeding. Changing. Burping. Soothing… Newborns are high-maintenance creatures that require constant care, and it’s natural for a new mother to experience feelings of worry, tiredness or even unhappiness. But how do you know if these understandable feelings have developed into something more severe?
While everyone feels a little off-balance in the face of a major life change, the feelings of anxiety and sadness that are associated with postnatal depression are more severe, and could even interfere with your ability to care for yourself and your new baby. You may feel like a freak (‘Aren’t I meant to be happy?’ you might catch yourself thinking), but the truth it’s not abnormal.
Worldwide, 10 to 20% of new mothers experience some form of postnatal depression. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) lists three different types:
• The “baby blues”: mood swings that occur in as many as 80% of new mothers in the days after childbirth. “You might cry for no reason or feel impatient, irritable, restless, anxious, lonely, and sad,” Sadag claims. These feelings are considered normal and don’t usually require formal treatment – but joining a support group or talking with other moms can help.
• Postnatal depression: can happen a few days or even months after childbirth. The feelings are similar to the “baby blues”, but much stronger and more severe. “PPD often keeps a woman from doing the things she needs to do every day,” Sadag explains. “When a woman’s ability to function is affected, she needs to see her health care provider. If a woman does not get treatment for PPD, symptoms can get worse.” The good news is that while PPD is a serious condition, it can be treated with medication and counselling.
• Postnatal psychosis: a very serious mental illness that can affect new mothers. “This illness can happen quickly, often within the first three months after childbirth,” says Sadag. “Women can lose touch with reality, having auditory hallucinations (hearing things that aren’t actually happening, like a person talking) and delusions (strongly believing things that are clearly irrational).” Women who have postpartum psychosis need treatment right away and almost always need medication.
Other factors to consider
The University of Cape Town’s Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP) reports that 60% of its patients who present with PPD lack primary support from a partner or family‚ while 40% experience problems in their social environment ‚ and around 80% have more than one presenting problem.
Sadag lists a number of factors that can increase the risk of postpartum depression. These could include things like your age, a history of depression, and even the number of children you already have. (“The more you have, the more likely you are to be depressed in a subsequent pregnancy,” Sadag says.)
While it’s wise to look out for the symptoms of postnatal depression, Sadag points out that, “Only a health care provider can diagnose a woman with postpartum depression. Because symptoms of this condition are broad and may vary between women, a healthcare provider can help a woman figure out whether the symptoms she is feeling are due to postpartum depression or something else.” Click here to complete Sadag’s self-rating questionnaire, and consult your healthcare provider if you’re concerned in any way.
Whether you’re a blissfully happy new mum or a stressed-out sufferer of the “baby blues” (or worse), it’s worth keeping some coping mechanisms in mind. Ask for help, lean on your partner, don’t isolate yourself (but do screen phone calls!)… and above all, try to sleep when your baby sleeps. It might not chase those blues away, but at least it’ll give your mind and body some space to readjust and recover.
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