POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
The following contains background
information on Postpartum
Depression (PPD). The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale is available to download and will assist you in the self-diagnosis
of PPD. If the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale indicates a high likelihood of PPD, we encourage you to call your physician
to guide you in the management of this treatable condition.
What differentiates postpartum
depression from the "baby blues?"
The baby blues are very common and affect about 70-85% of new moms. The
baby blues, also known as postpartum blues, usually start within three days of giving birth and can last up to 14 days. They
typically go away on their own without treatment and rarely require more than a few days of rest and support.
Postpartum depression (PPD) is
more intense and must be present for more than 2 weeks to distinguish it from the "baby blues." About
10% of new mothers suffer from PPD in the first year after giving birth. It
can occur after any birth, beginning any time after a woman delivers, but usually begins two to three weeks after giving birth.
PPD can last for a few months or up to a year and a half, or longer,
if untreated. PPD often requires counseling and treatment.
Are there predisposing
factors that increase a woman's risk of having PPD?
A personal or family history of depression or mental illness
puts one at higher risk for PPD. Other related factors are an unwanted pregnancy; a complicated or difficult
labor; a fetal abnormality; a lack of social support; and a temporary upheaval, such as a recent move, death of a loved one,
or job change. Women who have previously suffered from depression following
the birth of a child have an increased risk of becoming depressed
following a subsequent delivery. In women with a history of PPD, the
risk of recurrence is about one in three to one in four.
What causes PPD?
While the causes are not known, research
suggests that PPD may be triggered by the hormonal shifts that occur after delivery and are greatly exacerbated by the stress
of a major life change.
Are there obvious warning
signs of PPD?
Yes. Symptoms include deep sadness, irritability,
apathy, intense anxiety, lack of appetite, inability to sleep, crying spells, irrational behavior, and highly impaired concentration
and decision-making. Women with PPD have feelings of being overwhelmed,
are unable to cope with daily tasks, and feel guilty about not being a good enough mother. The
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale download on the bottom of this page can
assist in the diagnosis of PPD.
What is the most appropriate treatment for PPD?
PPD can be successfully treated
with medications, therapy, or a combination of both. Counseling may be all that is needed for women with mild symptoms. Special
consideration must be given to breast-feeding women, but a number of antidepressants can safely be used by mothers who choose
to continue nursing.
Source:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
