Depression After Pregnancy: What Is Depression After Pregnancy?

Depression after pregnancy refers to the negative thinking and feelings
of despondency that many women experience after the birth of a child.

In addition to the sad, lifeless feelings that accompany any
depression, women who suffer from depression after pregnancy often fearthat their baby will somehow be harmed and may worry that they are “bad” mothers.

Depression after pregnancy may be mild, moderate, or severe, and may be temporary or long lasting. But it is treatable, manageable, and in some cases, preventable. Depression after pregnancy is generally divided into three types:

• The baby blues, also called maternity blues, natal blues, or postpartum blues, is a temporary “down” period common among new mothers. Tearfulness, fatigue, irritability, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, and other signs of the baby blues usually begin one to two days after birth and may last up to three weeks.

• Postpartum depression is a mood disorder characterized by negative thinking patterns and feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and despondency. Unlike the temporary baby blues, postpartum depression deepens and lasts beyond
  the first month after birth. The new mother may feel like she has fallen into a dark hole, have obsessive thoughts, and find herself unable to shake troublesome worries.

• Postpartum psychosis is a rare form of postpartum depression that affects one in every thousand women. It usually begins within three to ten days after a woman gives birth. These women experience a break with reality: they may lose weight quickly without dieting, go without sleep for more than 48 hours, or experience delusions and hallucinations. Postpartum psychosis is a crisis that requires immediate professional intervention.

Note:

Although depression after pregnancy usually appears shortly after childbirth, it can begin at any time during the first year. If symptoms occur after the first months, they may be more subtle and difficult to detect. Spouses or family members may notice changes before the new mother does.

Related Posts:

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2. Symptoms Of Postpartum Depression
3. Symptoms Of Postpartum Psychosis
4. What Causes Depression After Pregnancy
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