Postpartum depression is a state of sadness that a woman experiences after delivery. It is associated with the pain one undergoes during labor and also the challenges that come with being a mother. In some severe cases, the mothers have been reported to reject their own children. There has been a lot of input by different health organizations to try and put in place mitigating measures to minimize the effects of this condition.
Causes
The causes of this condition are diverse. It has been difficult to associate this kind of depression with a single cause. Recent studies have indicated that a majority of the cases that were reported were as a result of a number of causes.one of the major causes is the sudden changes in the hormone levels after a woman gives birth. The rapid changes in hormones in the body are said to trigger depression in some women. Stress that is associated with pregnancy challenges is also one of the causes that have been responsible for this condition. Women in poverty-stricken areas, those with drug addiction problems and those that are in war-prone areas stand the highest risk of suffering from this condition. The responsibility of motherhood is sometimes overwhelming to young mothers and in some instances make them slide into depression.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this kind of depression may vary among different women and may also depend on whether the particular condition is mild or severe. Nevertheless, there are symptoms that are common in most of the reported cases of postpartum depression. These symptoms include despair, sadness, fatigue, difficulty in bonding with the baby, lack of appetite and sleeplessness. In some severe cases, the patient may have a temporary loss of memory and difficulty in paying attention.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of this condition can only be done by a doctor. However, if you are a mother who has just delivered and have the symptoms stated, you can take time and visit your doctor to ascertain whether you are suffering from this kind of depression. The doctor will conduct some tests and be able to give you the prognosis within a very short period of time.
Medication
In most cases, the doctor may recommend that the patient takes some antidepressant that will help reverse the condition. These drugs are meant to suppress the stress-causing hormone and liven the patient. Most of these drugs are safe for consumption and do not affect breastfeeding. However, it advisable to have regular checkups to avoid any form of relapse.
Treatment
Most patients respond to antidepressant and recover fully without any form of relapse. However, in some severe cases, the treatment may take abnormally long and may need close monitoring from the doctor. In general, most of the cases of this depression are treatable and most patients recover fully and continue with their lives. They even have subsequent pregnancies and successful deliveries.
Most mothers who have suffered from this condition are usually advised to go for counseling sessions even if the treatment was successful. This is partly meant to create awareness and also minimize on relapse cases.