Postnatal Depression

Postnatal depression generally occurs about four weeks after childbirth. However, postnatal depression can suddenly descend on women after childbirth for up to a year. Postnatal depression affects up to 10-15% of mothers every year. Postnatal depression can also affect 10% of fathers.

Postnatal depression affects each women differently. There is no set pattern for the symptoms of postnatal depression:

• Sadness
• Feeling unworthy to be mother
• Inability to concentrate
• Feelings of guilt
• Irritability
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Physical symptoms can be headaches, fatigue and shortness of breath
• Crying jags
• Obsessive thoughts
• Repetitive thoughts
• Excessive worry
• Feeling numb and out of control
• Abusing drugs or alcohol in an attempt to gain control of your life
• Dark thoughts about harming yourself or your baby
• Disruptive sleep patterns
• Feeling that life is spiraling out of control
• Feeling that your life is over
• Limbs feel like they are asleep

In the now infamous trial recently concluded of Andrea Yates, Ms. Yates drowned her five children while her husband was at work. After three days and 12 hours of deliberation, the jury returned the verdict of Not Guilty by reason of insanity. The insanity defense stood strong claiming that postnatal depression along with a long history of depression drove Ms. Yates to commit this act.

Make no mistake about it, postnatal depression is a real disease. The most severe form of this disease postnatal psychosis takes no prisoners.

This baby blue stage is thought to be linked to the dramatic hormonal changes taking place in mothers during the first year of childbirth.

Mothers whose babies do not sleep throughout the night, often become plagued with self-doubt as their internal clock and chemistry are set off kilter.

Are single mothers more at risk at developing postnatal depression?

Currently there are no studies out indicating that single mothers are more at risk. Certainly mothers who are isolated all day with their infant, or women who are stressed, have undergone a bad birthing experience carry more of a risk for developing postnatal depression. But no one really knows the true cause of postnatal depression. Mothers, who have battled bouts of depression in their lives, show a higher risk factor to develop this disease.

Treatment is available and postnatal depression can be cured. Find someone you trust to talk you through the bad points. Talk to your family doctor about drugs to even up your mood (consider what drugs you should take if you are breastfeeding).

Even though at times, thoughts become dark when suffering from postnatal depression, with proper treatment there exists hope for escape.