How to Avoid Postpartum Depression

[article] The birth of a baby is a stressful and exciting time. That is why doctors tell new parents to focus on post-pregnancy care. But, while many people think of the first year as a happy time, postpartum depression (PPD) can occur any time during the first year after giving birth. It's normal for any new mom to have some sadness after delivery, but many women experience more than just the "baby blues. Doctors don't know exactly what causes postpartum depression. Still, it's believed to be a combination of changing levels of hormones, fatigue, sleep deprivation, stress, and the dramatic changes that come with having a new baby. Women are most at risk for postpartum depression if they have had depression during pregnancy or have had a previous episode of postpartum depression. However, many women who develop PPD have never been depressed before. In addition, women who have had severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or family members with depression may also be at higher risk.

Postpartum depression is expected — as many as 1 in 7 mothers experience postpartum depression. Although the symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to those experienced with other forms of depression, they are more intense and long-lasting. As a result, they can interfere with your ability to care for yourself and your baby. Postpartum depression symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after birth but may begin later — up to six months after birth. For some women, these symptoms are severe enough to require treatment from a health care provider. The good news is that most women who experience postpartum depression get better with support and treatment. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioural changes in some women after giving birth.

According to the DSM-5, a manual used to diagnose mental disorders, PPD is a form of major depression that begins within 4 weeks after delivery. Therefore, the diagnosis of postpartum depression is based not only on the length of time between delivery and onset but on the severity of the depression. Postpartum depression is a condition many new mothers experience. It's not just sadness, fatigue or stress that comes with having a new baby. Postpartum depression is more severe and lasts longer than the "baby blues." Postpartum depression usually develops within the first few weeks after delivery, but it may begin several months later.

What causes postpartum depression?

The cause of postpartum depression isn't clear. It's likely to be a combination of physical and emotional factors. The chemical changes involve a rapid drop in hormones after delivery. The actual link between this drop and depression is still not clear. But what is known is that the levels of estrogen and progesterone, the female reproductive hormones, increased tenfold during pregnancy. Then, they drop sharply after delivery. By 3 days after a woman gives birth, the levels of these hormones drop back to what they were before pregnancy. In addition to these chemical changes, having a baby's social and psychological changes creates an increased risk of depression.

Most new mothers experience the "baby blues" after delivery. About 1 out of every 10 of these women will develop a more severe and longer-lasting depression after delivery. In addition, about 1 in 1,000 women develop a more severe condition called postpartum psychosis. Sometimes, lack of breast milk production can also cause postpartum depression. To solve this problem, you can have natural breast-milk enhancers. andMe's Lactation Booster is one of the best pregnancy supplements filled with the goodness of Ayurveda. It is 100% vegan and contains no chemical preservatives.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression:

Postpartum depression can be complicated to detect in new mothers because the symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to those experienced by many women following childbirth. The symptoms of postpartum depression include:

A sad feeling that does not go away
Trouble sleeping, even when the baby is sleeping
Trouble eating or losing weight without trying
Feeling tired all the time or having no energy
Feeling like you are not a good mother, wife, or partner
Have trouble taking care of yourself or your family
Not enjoying things you used to like doing
Having trouble thinking, remembering things, making decisions, or concentrating
Feeling worthless and guilty for no reason
Feeling nervous and worried all the time
Having thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby
Severe fatigue
Lower libido
Crankiness and anger
Loss of pleasure
Depressed mood
Lack of concentration
Thoughts of hurting someone else

Life hacks of dealing with postpartum depression:

Postpartum depression is a treatable psychological disorder. You can manage it effectively, and you will feel better. But first and foremost, it is essential to reach out to your healthcare provider and ask for help. Do not struggle with postnatal depression alone. It is not your fault that you are depressed, and being depressed does not make you a bad parent.