The mother's mood swings after the birth of her child is common, and this is sometimes called postpartum depression, as some women develop what is called (the baby blues) in the first week after childbirth, in which the woman suffers from a low mood and a slight feeling of depression at the time when she expects to feel happy after having a child. About 70-80% of all new mothers experience some negative emotions or mood swings after the birth of their babies.
What causes baby blues?
The exact cause of the baby blues is not yet known. The sudden hormonal and chemical changes that occur in the body after childbirth may be the cause of the baby blues. These hormonal changes lead to chemical changes in the brain that in turn cause symptoms of depression and low mood.
In addition, the adjustment of a woman's life after the birth of a baby, with disturbed sleep, disruption of her usual lifestyle, and emotions from the experience of childbirth itself all contribute to the feelings of a new mother.
What are the symptoms of baby blues and postpartum depression?
Common symptoms may include:
- Feeling sad and wanting to cry for no apparent reason.
- malaise or sensitivity;
- Bad mood.
- Anxiety and insomnia.
All of these symptoms are normal, and usually only last a few days, although they often depend on how the baby is born, they can sometimes be noticed early on. Notable emotional signs of postpartum depression also include:
- Loss of interest in surroundings and not enjoying things that previously gave them pleasure.
- Impatience.
- irritability
- feelings of hopelessness
- Feeling unable to cope.
- Inability to enjoy anything.
- Memory loss or inability to concentrate.
- Excessive concern for the child.
- extreme tiredness
- Anorexia.
How long do postpartum depression symptoms last?
Symptoms of the baby blues usually appear for a few minutes to a few hours each day. These symptoms should lessen and disappear within fourteen days after delivery. Symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, or poor appetite are normal if the birth is recent, and are usually mild and do not prevent the mother from practicing her normal life, but she may feel increasing depression, which makes taking care of herself or her baby more difficult.
Seek help with postpartum depression
Many women feel overwhelmed about their struggles with grief after the happy event of a new baby in the family, and often don't talk about it, but talking about these feelings, changes and challenges is one of the best ways to deal with the baby blues.
It is important to seek help as soon as possible if the mother thinks she is depressed, or has experienced the previous symptoms, because these symptoms may last for months or get worse and have a significant impact on the health of the mother, her child and her family, and with appropriate support most sufferers recover completely, so it is advised Always speak to your GP or midwife as soon as possible to get appropriate medical support.
Postpartum depression treatment
The three main types of treatment for postpartum depression are:
- Self-help: Talking with family and friends about feelings, making time to do things that mom enjoys, getting as much sleep as possible at night, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet.
- Psychotherapy: the GP will be able to recommend self-help or referral to a course of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
- Antidepressants: These may be recommended if depression is more severe or other treatments have not helped. The doctor prescribes a medication that is safe to take while breastfeeding.
The patient talks to a general practitioner about the pros and cons of different treatments, and they decide the best option together. It may also be helpful to contact postnatal associations, as these groups provide communication with other new mothers and encourage them to support each other. Various social activities help with parenting skills. and maternity.
Avoid alcohol
It may seem that alcohol helps to relax and feel good, but it is actually a depressant that affects mood, impulse control and emotional control, and its effect will be greater if the woman is tired and exhausted. Therefore, one must be very careful about when and how much to drink, and not drink alcohol if the patient is taking antidepressants or sedatives.
Postpartum psychosis
Puerperal psychosis is rare, with only 1-2 in 1,000 mothers developing a severe mental illness requiring medical or hospital treatment after the birth of a child. This disease may develop within hours of birth and is very serious and needs urgent attention. Usually it starts with others noticing the mother's strange behavior. It is more likely to occur in the presence of severe mental illness or a history of such illnesses, or a family history of perinatal psychotic illnesses. Mother and child care units provide specialized treatment without separating mother and child, and most women make a full recovery, which may take a few weeks or months.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often results from a traumatic birth, such as in cases of prolonged or severe labor, emergency childbirth, or those involving obstetric difficulties. Other types of trauma may also develop, such as:
- Fear of death or the death of the child.
- Severe reaction to life-threatening situations.
The mother may experience symptoms of PTSD after childbirth, such as a feeling of re-experiencing the traumatic event and its manifestations, with or without symptoms of postpartum depression, and these symptoms may come immediately after childbirth or months later.
It is always advisable to talk to someone about the feelings the mother is going through. A midwife, GP or health visitor can all be of help. In addition, there are effective treatments available from specialists, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication.
How does a mother take care of herself when she is still depressed?
Birth?
The mother is advised to go outside to enjoy the fresh air and life outside the world of diapers, feeding and her tedious duties towards her child. Sometimes seeing different scenes and new perspectives for a few moments can make a big difference in a woman's feelings.
The mother is also instructed to seek help with meals, sharing with other children and their mothers, or any assistance that allows her to focus on the joy of having a new baby and not just the stress of new burdens.
The mother should not expect perfection and perfect feelings in the first few weeks, and should give herself time to heal from childbirth, adjust to new circumstances, and a new feeding and sleeping routine.
Taking care of the mother is the best way to reduce the symptoms of the baby blues, especially when she's talking to a trusted person about how you're feeling. Maintaining a balanced diet is important in these cases, having a new baby may result in not eating regularly, and excessive intake of simple carbohydrates may lead to more pronounced mood swings.
Prevention of postpartum depression and the role of omega-3s
Studies have shown that prenatal intake of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids plays a significant role in preventing the baby blues, as it reduces the risk of premature delivery and reduces the risk of postpartum depression in new mothers. Inadequate maternal intake of omega-3s has been linked to type 1 diabetes.
If the expectant mother does not eat fish regularly like salmon, cod, tuna and sardines, she may not get enough omega-3 which will make her feel sluggish and tired. Women who eat enough fish during pregnancy, or supplement with a high-quality fish oil product, are less likely to have baby blues. Fish oil supplements have become an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet for both mother and child.
Sources: NHS & American Pregnancy Association