Postpartum depression is a type of depression that begins during pregnancy or a few weeks after birth. The vast majority of women experience emotional changes during pregnancy or immediately after birth due to hormones. This is called 'pregnancy blues'. This change in mood resolves on its own in a short time, without the need for treatment. However, in some women, this mood change can reach a level that can be diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder.
If a woman shows depressive symptoms during pregnancy or within four weeks after birth, she may be diagnosed with Major Depression with onset around the time of birth.
In postpartum depression, mothers may feel like they are being crushed under the burden of their babies or feel empty. They may also feel disconnected from their babies, which can often cause them to feel guilty and not enjoy motherhood. Constantly walking around in a tearful state may also occur; Women may experience symptoms such as mood fluctuations and inability to enjoy life. In addition to these, behavioral symptoms such as moving away from people, lack of self-care, losing control, tendency to fight, and not leaving the house also occur very frequently.
WHAT IS PREGNANCY/MATERNITY SAD?
It may occur in the form of mild depression, pessimism, unhappiness, emotional instability, confusion, fatigue, intolerance, attachment to relatives, and easy and frequent crying, which are within the normal range seen in mothers who have just given birth. This condition usually lasts for a maximum of 15 days and disappears with social support. The biggest causes of motherhood sadness include factors such as concerns about the birth process and the baby, and awareness of the responsibilities that the role of motherhood brings to the woman.
EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS
- Feeling sad and unhappy
- Feeling of guilt and inadequacy
- Feeling of worthlessness
- Decreased interest and desires
- Inability to enjoy life
- Crying a lot or not being able to cry
- An unstable mood
- Being irritable condition (getting angry easily)
- Breed experiencing hand reluctance
CHANGE IN THOUGHTS
- Experiencing thoughts of harming the baby and/or yourself - Self-criticism
- Self-blame
- Thinking that you're a bad mother
- Confused and unclarified thoughts
- The thought of being seen as worthless by others
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
- Sleep disorders
- Eating disorders
- A general loss of energy
- Slowing down or restlessness
- Feeling irritable/ tense
- Decreased libido and withdrawal from sexual intercourse
WHAT CAN CAUSE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?
- Depression during pregnancy
- Unexpected vital events (death, etc.)
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Early or late pregnancy
- Early or late/unwanted marriage
- Problems between spouses (distrust, lack of communication, etc.)
- Sexual trauma stories
- Having many children
- Having experienced depression in previous pregnancies
- Having had a high-risk pregnancy
- Premature birth, traumatic birth
- Pregnancy and birth experiences ending in loss.
- The baby needs intensive care.
- Those who are trying to cope with other difficulties in their lives. - Insufficient social support.
- The woman or her husband being unemployed -infant separation (the situation of the mother being physically separated from her baby)
POSTNATAL DEPRESSION TREATMENT
Treatment varies depending on the woman's symptom severity and type. Joining a support group, receiving therapy, or taking postpartum depression medication may be necessary for treatment. Talking treatment is very important in this period. provides development. Depression left untreated is dangerous for both mother and baby.
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