Post-partum depression

Do you feel like crying for no reason? Are you sad when you feel you should be the happiest woman in the planet after having a baby? These feelings are normal. They are feelings of melancholy or sadness that overwhelm the mom after having a baby. However, if this sadness continues or gets worse, you should check with your doctor immediately. Postpartum depression is very frequent and the good news is that most women respond well to treatment.

Baby-blues or post-partum depression?

Postpartum depression is an increasingly wide-spread disorder, sometimes due to its tragic consequences for the mothers or the babies of mothers who haven’t been diagnosed or treated. Post-partum depression is more than just the sadness or melancholy that many mothers feel after living birth. It is an illness, just like depression, over which you have no control (just as you can’t control your pancreas if you have diabetes) and that requires treatment.  

But, how can you know if you have post-partum depression? Following are a series of questions that will help you determine whether you may have this disorder.  Mark the response that describes how you have been feeling in the last seven days, and add up the points in parenthesis at the end of each response.

1. I have been able to laugh and see the lighter side of things … 
    a) As much as usual (0)
    b) Not as much as usual (1)
    c) Definitely not as much as usual (2)
    d) Not at all (3)

2. I look to the future with anticipation.
    a) As much as usual (0)
    b) Less than before (1)
    c) Definitely less than before (2)
    d) Hardly ever (3)

3. I blame myself unnecessarily when things go wrong. 
    a) Yes, most of the time (3)
    b) Yes, sometimes (2)
    c) Not very frequently (1)
    d) No, never (0)

4. I have felt anxious or worried for no apparent reason.
    a) Not at all (0)
    b) Hardly ever (1)
    c) Yes, sometimes (2)
    d) Yes, often (3)

5. I have felt fearful or panicky for no apparent reason. 
    a) Yes, a lot (3)
    b) Yes, sometimes (2)
    c) No, not a lot (1)
    d) Not at all (0)

6. I feel overwhelmed.
    a) Yes, most of the time I feel I cannot deal with most things (3)
    b) Yes, sometimes I feel I don’t

7. I have felt so sad that I’ve had trouble sleeping.
    a) Yes, most of the time (3)
    b) Yes, sometimes (2)
    c) No, not very frequently (1)
    d) Not at all (0)

8. I have felt sad or miserable
    a) Yes, most of the time  (3)
    b) Yes, frequently  (2)
    c) Not too often (1)
    d) Not at all (0)

9. I have felt so sad that I’ve cried.
    a) Yes, most of the time (3)
    b) Yes, quite frequently (2)
    c) Only occasionally (1)
    d) No, never (0)

10. It has crossed my mind to hurt myself.
    a) Yes, very frequently (3)
    b) Sometimes (2)
    c) Hardly ever (1)
    d) Never (0)

If you score 12 or more, you may be suffering from post-partum depression and you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Source: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Treatment

The first step to get treatment is to ask for help. Speak honestly with your husband, with your family or with your doctor about how you feel and ask for help. There are treatments available that will help you feel better in a short time.  

The most common treatment for post-partum depression is a combination of medication and therapy, just like with regular depression, and the response is usually quite fast and good. Many moms who have experienced post-partum depression have been able to enjoy their babies again, as well as motherhood.

Remember that postpartum depression is not something you can control and it’s not about “snapping out of it” or “smiling and being happy”, like some people may tell you. Post-partum depression is an illness that requires treatment, just like any other illness.

Related Posts:

1. Depression After Pregnancy: What Is Depression After Pregnancy?
2. Symptoms Of Postpartum Depression
3. What Causes Depression After Pregnancy
4. Signs And Symptoms Of Depression After Pregnancy