The birth of the baby is an event to be celebrated by mom and family, it's time to make many plans. But sometimes it doesn't happen the way most people think. These are the cases of postpartum depression, where, sometime after the arrival of the little one, joy gives way to sadness, a feeling of emptiness and anguish.
Psychologist Luciana Rocha, a specialist in the maternal and child universes and author of the Tons da Maternidade program, explains that postpartum depression is characterized by any depressive episode that occurs during pregnancy or after delivery.
According to her, the greatest risks to the children of a depressed mother are related to neurocognitive and psychomotor development. These are children who receive less stimulation and, therefore, have significant delays in their development. They are also at greater risk of developing depressive symptoms and learning deficits in the future.
But one of the main problems is that they blame and judge the mother for this whole situation. “I realize that postpartum depression still causes some erroneous beliefs, as if the depressed woman was unable to care for her baby or put her life at risk or disqualified her as a mother. All of these beliefs are based on myths. A woman may have some difficulty caring for her baby alone, but in reality no woman should have to take care of her baby alone. Also, only the most severe cases are life-threatening, whether of the mother or the baby? In general, these cases are easy to spot and admit, requiring greater care. And no mother should be disqualified to care for her child if it is not in her conscious interest. There is no better or worse mother than another mother. This needs to be clear. Does a sick mother require care so that she can continue to be for herself and her children ?, explains the psychologist.
What are the symptoms of postpartum depression?
Some general characteristics may help to realize that a woman has postpartum depression. I often say that postpartum depression has three typical manifestations that require differentiated attention: the woman who cannot take care of the baby, who feels so helpless and so helpless that she prefers not to come close to her in order to protect her; the opposite of this case, which is the woman who overprotects the baby and believes that only she is able to understand and meet his needs, preventing contact with anyone, including the father; and the third, which is the most common and the most difficult to perceive, as it is a middle ground, the woman who cares for the baby as it should, apparently, but does not feel well and has symptoms typical of depression ?, explains Luciana Rocha . Within these frames, the main symptoms are:
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Depressed mood: Constant sadness, even for no apparent reason. Even though it's okay, the woman doesn't feel well, happy or peaceful. It's like being overwhelmed, tense, worried and sad all the time or most of the time.
Discouragement: Lack of spirit, lack of energy to carry out the activities, even the simplest and most ordinary, or those that were common or previously interested.
Loss of pleasure: No longer interested in the activities you were interested in before, not done or satisfied. It does what is needed and because it is needed only, fulfills obligations.
Tiredness: Constant feeling of tiredness and lack of energy. At the slightest effort, she is immensely tired. The feeling of tiredness is not directly proportional to the effort made.
Lack of concentration: You don't have enough energy to stay focused or focused for the least amount of time.
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Sleep and appetite disorders: Insomnia and excessive sleep are often reported. Sleep during the day and insomnia at night. Appetite is also generally affected by a lack of interest in food, but the opposite may also happen.
But according to the expert, it is difficult to identify these symptoms as they are similar to the mood state of this phase.
Causes and Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression
The problem may manifest itself during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. But according to the expert, the highest risk peaks for postpartum depression are: 30/40 days after delivery; third month; sixth month and one year?
Luciana also explains that, according to research, the causes of postpartum depression are multifactorial. That is, they involve physical, psychic and social factors. In addition, we also know that the higher the expectation, the higher the idealization with the baby, the greater the risk of depression. Among the common causes are:
- Rapid fall of hormones in the postpartum period;
- High expectations associated with maternity and postpartum;
- Personal history of depression, depressive or anxious episode during pregnancy;
- Highly desired pregnancy or requiring treatment such as artificial insemination or IVF;
- Failed social support? insufficient or poor support network;
- Obstetric complications and / or premature birth;
- History of sexual abuse or conflicting relationship with the mother;
- Conflicts in the marital relationship;
- Unwanted pregnancy;
- Low self esteem.
But it is important to differentiate postpartum sadness from depression. This varies according to the time and intensity of the symptoms and feelings involved. • In depression, the feeling of helplessness and disability is very common. In postpartum sadness, the most common feeling is strangeness. This sadness tends to last 15 or 20 days and end naturally. Postpartum depression tends to come after that and requires intervention? Says psychologist Luciana Rocha.
Read also: Puerperal Psychosis May Happen After Childbirth
How to treat postpartum depression
As soon as the woman or partner realizes that something is out of line, help should be sought. “Any time is a moment to ask for help, even if it's just purperal sadness, after all, this phase of the postpartum period is extremely painful, delicate and sometimes lonely, but it doesn't always have to be that way. In addition, the sooner help is sought, the greater the chances of disease remission early on and the greater chance of treatment success ?, explains the professional.
Often the first professional who identifies or distrusts maternal depression is the obstetrician or pediatrician. They are the ones who refer both psychiatrists and psychologists, who are trained professionals to make the diagnosis.
The treatments are different for each type of depression. There is the mildest, moderate, severe and severe. The latter two cases require joint psychological and psychiatric follow-up. The moderate depends on the case. For most women with mild depression, psychotherapy is sufficient.
When medications are needed, even the breastfeeding woman can be treated without risk to the baby. There are several medications that are completely compatible with breastfeeding, including breastfeeding on demand. However, in such cases, she needs to be accompanied by a psychiatrist who understands the pregnancy-childbirth cycle and child development well, or have a good pediatrician supporting her treatment and guiding the psychiatrist who accompanies her on the indicated medications. It is also very effective to participate in mothers' wheels, psychotherapy (individual, family or group), physical activity, balanced diet ?, explains.
The average duration of treatment also varies for each case. In lighter ones, it can only last six months. In the most serious, three years or even more. • Once treated, it is important to be alert to symptoms. Any return signal, however small, requires assessment as soon as possible. Otherwise, life goes on normally ?, he says.
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How to prevent postpartum depression?
The psychologist Luciana explains that it is possible to prevent postpartum depression, especially in women who have, at some point in life, any of the symptoms mentioned. There are projects, such as the Psychological Prenatal Program or Emotional Prenatal Program, which offer psychological support with the support of an interdisciplinary team, individually or in groups, to address expectations, planning and realities about pregnancy, childbirth, maternity, partner. and family.
The idea is to prepare the woman for the exercise of motherhood and the arrival of the baby, working all the transformations implied, from their potentialities and possible difficulties.
Support from family and close people after the birth of the baby is also important. The first tip for the family is patience. The second, love. This woman needs to be and feel loved, respected and welcomed by the family. Judgments do not help at this time. Charges, too, no ?, ends.
Postpartum Depression: What You Need to Know (April 2024)
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