After birth, the woman should be expected frequent and sudden changes of mood, however, how to distinguish between "normal" in a bad mood from postpartum depression? If psychological changes in the nature of the newly-minted mom hardly fit into the norm, this may be several reasons: chronic sleep deprivation (a huge impact on your mood and attitude towards others), physical illness or disease, increased anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and postpartum psychosis.
According to the doctors, postpartum depression are subject to five-seven out of ten women. As a rule, post-natal depression - a slight and temporary conduct disorder, which occurs on the third or fourth day after birth and reaches its climax in the fourth or fifth day.
The most common symptom postpartum depression - crying for no reason. It is also possible flushes of energy and love for others, which are replaced by melancholy and despair. Other symptoms - mild irritability, anger and hostility, constant headaches, feeling of unreality, overwork and devastation, as well as unrelenting anxiety. The list of symptoms is also necessarily include sleep disorders - is irreplaceable companions of women in the sequence of depression.
Easy postpartum depression usually takes place without interference and without a trace in two weeks; if the same symptoms, and after this period, the diagnosis should be reconsidered. Help friends and relatives, such as assistance in taking care of the baby, help a young mother's sleep and help with household chores or tips on caring for your baby can support its fallen spirit. Women who have experienced postpartum depression once, this situation is often repeated and in subsequent pregnancies.
If the symptoms of mild depression persist for more than two put, the disease becomes severe. What if the woman is completely out of control? Then we deal with "postpartum psychosis." This is a rare complication of postpartum depression, which occurs in one - two out of a hundred women survivors of the DWP.
It is possible thatpostpartum psychosis associated with bipolar disorder (t. e. manikalno-depressive psychosis); it often occurs in women suffering from schizophrenia or mental disorder that has not been diagnosed before birth. The first symptoms (delusions of persecution, the most severe depression or schizophrenic manifestations) postpartum psychosis appear two weeks after birth.
In addition to all the symptoms of the DWP, postpartum psychosis patients also happens to delusions and hallucinations on the theme of the child. Often, when this mother feels fear for the child and believes he is constantly exposed to mortal danger.
Treatment of postpartum depression
Treatment of postpartum depression begins with ... correct diagnosis; in some cases, only one definition of "disorder" manifested by symptoms, can improve the well-being of women and little to calm her down. Treatment of postpartum depression should be both medical and psychological. Before you diagnose the DWP should consider physical illnesses (eg diseases of the pituitary or thyroid gland). The heaviest and most heavily treatable symptom DWP - sleep disorders.
After diagnosing the DWP very effective can be provided group therapy. Also useful training for child care, support and attention of family and friends, as well as recommendations on infant feeding. Extremely effective medication that does not require stopping breastfeeding.
Despite the fact that antidepressants are still passes into breast milk, there is no evidence that they are harmful to health and well-baby (antidepressants but be sure to discuss with your doctor).
Tips to combat postpartum depression:
- Seek immediate medical attention as soon as you notice the first symptoms of the DWP. The doctor will make the program of treatment of the disease. Follow her!
- Regularly communicate with your doctor. Tell your doctor about all the new symptoms or side effects of drugs.
- Try to deal with stress. Many of the symptoms of the DWP, and manifestations of motherhood, unpredictable and emotionally exhausting. We are programmed to pay attention to all power and a child - do not forget that the child first and foremost need a healthy and loving mother.
- Ask the father of the child and family to help you in taking care of the child. Separate duties.
- Do not be ashamed to ask for help if you need it. This is not a confession of weakness. It only says that you are a man, and nothing human ...
- Housework can wait; HOME is your responsibility - how to sleep.
- The existence of the DWP, its symptoms and treatment of every woman should know that already bore or just getting ready for it. The main thing - to know that postpartum depression is treatable.