What is Postpartum Depression? How much will it take?

With the happiness of hugging your baby after birth, fear, doubt and sadness may cover him. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at first. The situation we call postpartum depression is not a flawed state. Your feelings may differ and become a little more intense during this process.

What is postpartum depression, also called postpartum depression, how long does it last and how can you deal with your emotions in this process? We asked Expert Clinical Psychologist İpek Gökozan everything you were wondering about! Don’t miss the video lectures!

What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression, postpartum depression and postpartum depression are essentially the same thing. So what is puerperal syndrome ? It is normal for the mother to have a slight sadness in the first 15 days after birth (the puerperium). This is what we call the blues of birth.

This process does not take long and its symptoms are not as severe as depression. Symptoms such as emotional ups and downs, getting angry or sad easily, crying, deterioration in sleep hygiene, anxiety, and fatigue are expected. However, if the severity and duration of these symptoms begin to increase, we may be talking about postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression symptoms

Symptoms of postpartum depression include:

• Depressed mood or severe emotional ups and downs
• Serious crying spells
• Difficulty bonding with the baby
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Loss of appetite or eating more than usual
• Insomnia or a desire to sleep too much
• Inability to enjoy activities that were previously enjoyed
• Intense state of anger and anger
• Fear of not being a good mother,
• thoughts of worthlessness, inadequacy,
• concentration difficulties,
• Severe anxiety or panic attacks
• Desire to harm the baby or self
• Frequently thinking or planning death.

Although postpartum depression may lead to situations such as not wanting the baby or avoiding breastfeeding, we can say that this situation is seen in close to 50-70% of women who have just given birth. However, these feelings are expected to resolve spontaneously within 7 or 10 days under normal conditions.

Factors triggering postpartum depression

During pregnancy, many hormonal changes occur in the expectant mother. These changes continue after pregnancy and can trigger depression. In addition to biological factors, the approach of the social environment to the mother and spousal support play an important role in the formation of the depressive process.

The support, understanding and role that her husband will give to a mother in the postpartum period and the role she will assume in the care of the baby are very important. If the mother feels left alone, feelings of unhappiness and anxiety can be triggered.

From time to time, the new mother’s own mother or mother-in-law may have a lot of say in baby care. In such a situation, the mother may feel inadequate in baby care and the formation of emotions such as anxiety and anger becomes inevitable.

In addition to all these, the relationship of the new mother with her own mother can also cause pregnancy depression. If the new mother did not have a good relationship with her own mother when they were young, or did not have a loving bond; The new mother may be concerned about the establishment of similar negative ties in her relationship with her own baby. We call these “ghost emotions”. Well; The warm relationship between mother and child that cannot be established between the ages of 0-3 can be transferred from generation to generation and negatively affect the relationship that the new mother will establish with her own baby.

postpartum depression test

Specialist Clinical says that such tests can be found on the internet, but these tests are not valid and reliable. A non-specialist should not diagnose or diagnose with this type of test. Of course, the best move is to go to a specialist.

How many days does postpartum depression last?

How long postpartum depression lasts can vary from person to person. It is very difficult to give a specific time frame; It may take 6 months, it may take a year. Prolongation of the duration is a sign that the severity of depression is increasing. The higher the number of triggering factors and the mother’s predisposition to postpartum depression, the higher the probability of prolongation.

Does every woman experience postpartum depression?

Of course, not every woman experiences puerperal syndrome. There may be natural maternal sadness, but this may not turn into depression. The mother’s stress-free pregnancy period, good social support, and a loving bond with her husband can be counted among the protective factors against depression.

What is good for postpartum depression?

Social support is very important in this type of situation. His wife should be very understanding, should not blame the mother for not taking good care of the baby, and should accept that this is a disease process. It is important that family elders do not leave the mother alone and help her in baby care. However, it is also important not to miss the dose… It should not be forgotten that the mother, father and child are a new family and they may need special areas.

It is important to consult a psychiatrist or specialist psychologist in post-pregnancy depression and follow the steps determined for treatment. Treatments are arranged considering the breastfeeding process of the mother.

How is postpartum depression treated?

Postpartum sadness goes away on its own. However, if the natural sadness of motherhood has reached the level of depression; in other words, if the daily life functionality of the mother has started to deteriorate, it is absolutely necessary to get expert support. It is difficult for a mother who cannot care for herself and her baby, does not want to get out of her bed, sleeps all the time, and thinks about death, to get over this process on her own, and the situation is serious. In case of persistent postpartum depression, it is absolutely necessary to get support.

The following treatment methods can be used in the treatment of postpartum depression:

• Psychotherapy,
• antidepressant drug therapy,
• Antipsychotic drug therapy.

The most commonly used of these methods is psychotherapy and is generally sufficient for the treatment of depression. Drug treatment is preferred in very rare cases, and alternatives suitable for the breastfeeding mother can be used for this.